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Families of people laid to rest in resting places vulnerable to shoreline retreat argue that indecision on how best to address the problem is creating avoidable anguish about the eternal homes of their departed family.

An Impending Danger to Historic Graveyards

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

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

“Right now we’re in limbo. It causes me distress. They 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 waves in the next 80 years, but some residents worry it will happen far earlier. “In my view it’s got under 20 years, if you consider what’s happened in the last 30 years,” one said.

Haunted by the Ghosts of Eccles

One resident remembered a school trip to the nearby village of Eccles, which has almost entirely disappeared into the sea, along with its church and graveyard.

“You could see human remains,” she said. “Certain people hold this idealized notion that the deceased will just get washed out to sea. That is not the case. People will collect remains as souvenirs and go grave robbing in search of valuables. That is completely undignified.”

“I fear that the same thing that befell at Eccles will occur here and there’ll be bones on the beach. I would feel appalled by that.”

A Soldier's Resting Place in Jeopardy

Further up the shoreline lies the grave of a former paratrooper who died while working abroad. His parent said she lost sleep after learning her son’s grave might one day be moved.

“It truly disturb me to consider this may not remain his permanent resting place,” she said. “For us it’s an important 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 must be made when a critical moment has been reached.”

Seeking Solutions and Certainty

The lack of agreement over the timing and method to tackle the problem has left grieving relatives feeling exasperated and worried.

Several families want additional sea defences to slow the inevitable erosion and to permit burials to proceed for now. Others contend the time for moving graves is drawing near.

“It is very emotional,” a family member stated. “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 local official said the burial sites were under the care of the church authorities. “Ultimately it is up to them to choose the direction to take. We are here to help support them through that process with communities.”

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

“Currently, there exists no common view on what should be done yet. We need productive community discussions to find the appropriate answers for each community.”

The possibility of the loss of the churches and graveyards was labeled one of “profound sadness for the local community,” but faith leaders also referenced a belief in resurrection, providing a spiritual perspective on the physical loss of hallowed earth.