The second is that the lane is named after a woman who witnessed the activities of smuggling gangs in the area and had her tongue removed to prevent her from informing authorities.

[2][3][4] The author Alex Preston wrote about 18th century smuggling in the area in his 2022 historical fiction novel Winchelsea.

According to Preston, the lane was named after a local publican's wife who had her tongue removed for reporting the activities of the Hawkhurst smuggling gang in the 1740s.

Milligan was acquainted with the singer Paul McCartney who, knowing he lived there, wrote a poem about Dumb Woman's Lane which he recited on a visit.

[1][2][6][7][8] Dumb Woman's Lane has achieved a level of notoriety because of its controversial name, which has been reported as affecting house prices.