Dumb Woman’s Lane is a narrow, single-lane road that heads south from Udimore Road down the valley towards Winchelsea.
The lane is notable for its unusual name, which is believed to originate from an 18th-century mute woman who lived nearby or from a local tale involving smuggling gangs and a woman who was silenced to prevent her from informing authorities.
The lane gained additional recognition as the home of comedian Spike Milligan from 1988 until his death in 2002. “It’s built from concrete blocks. It’s blank, blank, blank. That’s why I hate it – because I own it” he told Paul Merton on Room 101 in 1999.
Milligan’s connection to the area is remembered locally, and the lane’s signposts often attract visitors who take photographs.
Dumb Woman’s Lane has also been mentioned in literature and music, including a poem by Paul McCartney inspired by the lane.
