🔗 Share this article

Families of people laid to rest in graves at risk from coastal erosion state that a lack of decision on how best to tackle the problem is creating avoidable anguish concerning the eternal homes of their loved ones.

An Impending Threat to Ancient Graveyards

Local authorities have singled out three church graveyards in the communities of Happisburgh, Mundesley, and Trimingham as being at risk of being swallowed by the ocean in the next few generations.

A recent report on the issue sets out a series of options, from taking no action to exhuming remains and reburying them in safer sites. Authorities say it is for local people to decide how to move forward.

“Right now we’re in a state of uncertainty. It upsets me. My parents intended this to serve as their final resting place, but it isn’t going to be because of the sea.”

Estimates indicate at least a portion of one graveyard could be claimed by the sea in the next 80 years, but some residents fear it will happen much sooner. “I think it’s got less than 20 years, if you look at what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” one said.

Troubled by the Past

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

“You could see people’s bones,” she said. “Some have this romantic idea that the deceased will just get washed out to sea. They won’t. People will collect remains as mementos and go grave robbing looking for valuables. It’s completely undignified.”

“I’m worried that the same thing that befell at Eccles will occur at Happisburgh and there’ll be skeletons on the beach. I’d be appalled by that.”

A Paratrooper's Grave in Peril

Further up the shoreline lies the grave of a former paratrooper who died while working abroad. His parent expressed she could not sleep after learning her son’s grave might one day be moved.

“It truly trouble me to think this won’t be his permanent home,” she said. “For us it’s an significant place to go.”

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 Answers and Certainty

An absence of agreement over when and how to handle the challenge has resulted in bereaved families feeling frustrated and worried.

Several families are calling for more sea defences to delay the unavoidable loss and to permit funerals to continue for now. Different voices contend the moment for relocation is drawing near.

“The situation is very emotive,” said one relative. “The official study was really good, but now there’s uncertainty about how it is implemented. And all parties is washing their hands over who is accountable.”

A coastal manager confirmed the graveyards were under the care of the church authorities. “Ultimately it is down to them to choose the direction to take. Our role is here to assist them through that journey with communities.”

He added there was time to consider all the options. “We are talking decades before it starts to be lost.”

“There is no common view on what should be done yet. It requires good community discussions to find the right solutions for each community.”

The possibility of the loss of the historic sites was labeled one of “immense sadness for the local community,” but faith leaders also referenced a doctrine in life after death, offering a spiritual perspective on the physical disappearance of sacred ground.