🔗 Share this article

Loved ones whose relatives buried in graves vulnerable to coastal erosion say that indecision over how to tackle the problem is creating avoidable anguish about the eternal homes of their loved ones.

A Looming Danger to Ancient Churchyards

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

A recent report on the situation details a range of options, from taking no action to disinterring bodies and relocating them in more secure locations. Authorities maintain it is for the community to determine how to move forward.

“At the moment we’re in limbo. It upsets me. They intended this to be their last home, but it isn’t going to be because of the encroaching sea.”

Estimates suggest at least part of one graveyard could be claimed by the sea in the next 80 years, but some residents worry it will happen far earlier. “I think it’s got less than 20 years, if you look at what’s happened in the last 30 years,” a farmer stated.

Haunted by the Ghosts of Eccles

One resident remembered a childhood visit to the neighbouring village of Eccles, which has almost entirely disappeared into the sea, including its place of worship and burial ground.

“You could see people’s bones,” she said. “Certain people hold this romantic idea that people’s remains will just get carried away to sea. That is not the case. Individuals will collect remains as souvenirs and go grave robbing in search of valuables. It’s completely disrespectful.”

“I’m worried that the same thing that happened at Eccles will happen at Happisburgh and there’ll be bones on the beach. I’d be disgusted by that.”

A Soldier's Resting Place in Jeopardy

Further up the coast lies the burial plot of a former paratrooper who died while serving overseas. His mother expressed she lost sleep after discovering her child's final plot might one day be relocated.

“It truly trouble me to think this won’t be his permanent resting place,” she said. “To our family it’s an significant site to visit.”

In her view, new interments should cease but says it is too soon to disturb existing graves. “My preference for now is to do nothing and closely monitor, but an early decision needs to be made when a tipping point has been attained.”

Seeking Solutions and Clarity

An absence of agreement over when and how to tackle the challenge has left grieving relatives feeling frustrated and anxious.

Several families are calling for additional sea defences to slow the unavoidable loss and to allow funerals to continue for now. Different voices argue the moment for moving graves is approaching.

“It is very emotive,” said one relative. “The council’s report was thorough, but now there’s uncertainty about how it is taken forward. And all parties is washing their hands over who is accountable.”

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

It was also stated there was ample time to weigh all the options. “This concerns many years before it starts to be lost.”

“There is no common view on what should happen yet. It requires good local conversations to find the appropriate solutions for each community.”

The possibility of losing the historic sites was described as one of “immense sadness for the area,” but church representatives also spoke of a doctrine in life after death, offering a spiritual perspective on the physical disappearance of hallowed earth.