🔗 Share this article

Families whose relatives buried in resting places vulnerable to coastal erosion argue that a lack of decision over how to tackle the issue is creating avoidable anguish about the final resting places of their departed family.

A Looming Danger to Ancient Graveyards

The council have identified three burial grounds in the villages of Happisburgh, Trimingham, and Mundesley as being in danger of being consumed by the sea in the next few generations.

A newly published study on the situation sets out a range of options, from taking no action to exhuming remains and relocating them in more secure sites. Authorities maintain it is for local people to decide how to proceed.

“At the moment we’re in limbo. It upsets me. My parents intended this to be their last home, but it won't be because of the sea.”

Estimates indicate at least a portion of one graveyard could fall into the sea in the next 80 years, but some locals worry it will happen much sooner. “I think it’s got under 20 years, if you consider what’s happened in the last 30 years,” one said.

Troubled by the Past

One resident remembered a childhood visit to the neighbouring settlement of Eccles, which has largely vanished into the sea, along with its church and graveyard.

“It was possible to see people’s bones,” she said. “Certain people hold this romantic idea that people’s remains will just get washed out to sea. That is not the case. Individuals will take bones as souvenirs and go plundering graves looking for treasures. That is completely undignified.”

“I’m worried that the identical fate that happened at Eccles will happen here and there’ll be bones on the shore. I would feel disgusted by that.”

A Soldier's Resting Place in Jeopardy

Along the shoreline is situated the grave of a former paratrooper killed while serving overseas. His parent said she lost sleep after learning her child's grave might one day be moved.

“It does disturb me to think this may not remain his lasting resting place,” she said. “To our family it’s an important place to go.”

She believes, new interments should stop but says it is too soon to disturb current plots. “My preference for now is to take no action and closely monitor, but an early decision needs to be made when a critical moment has been attained.”

Seeking Answers and Clarity

The lack of agreement over when and how to tackle the challenge has left grieving relatives feeling frustrated and worried.

Some want more coastal protections to slow the unavoidable loss and to allow burials to continue for now. Others contend the time for relocation is approaching.

“The situation is very emotive,” a family member stated. “The council’s report was thorough, but now there’s confusion about how it is implemented. And everybody is avoiding responsibility over who is accountable.”

A coastal manager said the graveyards were owned and managed of the church authorities. “Ultimately it is down to them to decide the direction to take. We are here to assist them through that process with residents.”

It was also stated there was ample time to weigh all the choices. “This concerns many years before it begins getting lost.”

“There is no common view on what should happen yet. It requires productive community discussions to find the appropriate answers for each village.”

The possibility of the loss of the historic sites was described as one of “immense sadness for the area,” but faith leaders also referenced a belief in resurrection, offering a spiritual viewpoint on the temporal loss of hallowed earth.