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Loved ones whose relatives buried in resting places at risk from shoreline retreat state that indecision over how to tackle the problem is creating avoidable anguish concerning the eternal homes of their departed family.

An Impending Threat to Historic Graveyards

Local authorities have singled out three burial grounds in the communities of Happisburgh, Trimingham, and Mundesley as being in danger of being swallowed by the sea in the next few generations.

A recent report on the situation sets out a series of possible actions, from doing nothing to disinterring bodies and reburying them in more secure locations. Authorities maintain it is for local people to determine how to move forward.

“Right now we’re in limbo. It upsets me. They wanted this to be their final resting place, but it isn’t going to be because of the sea.”

Projections indicate at least part of one graveyard could fall into the sea in the next 80 years, but some locals worry it will happen much sooner. “In my view it’s got less than 20 years, if you consider what’s happened in the last 30 years,” one said.

Haunted by the Past

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

“It was possible to see people’s bones,” she said. “Some have this romantic idea that people’s remains will just get washed out to sea. They won’t. Individuals will collect remains as mementos and go plundering graves looking for treasures. It’s completely disrespectful.”

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

A Soldier's Grave in Jeopardy

Further up the shoreline is situated the grave of a ex-soldier killed while working abroad. His mother said she could not sleep after discovering her child's final plot might one day be moved.

“It does trouble me to consider this won’t be his lasting resting place,” she said. “To our family it’s an significant 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 do nothing and closely monitor, but an early decision needs to be made when a tipping point has been reached.”

Searching for Answers and Certainty

An absence of agreement over the timing and method to tackle the challenge has resulted in grieving relatives feeling frustrated and anxious.

Some are calling for additional sea defences to slow the inevitable erosion and to allow funerals to proceed for now. Others argue the time for moving graves is approaching.

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

A local official said the burial sites were owned and managed of the local diocese. “In the end it is up to them to choose the direction to take. Our role is here to help support them through that process with residents.”

It was also stated there was time to weigh all the choices. “We are talking many years before it begins getting lost.”

“Currently, there exists no common view on what should be done yet. It requires productive local conversations to find the right solutions for each community.”

The possibility of the loss of the historic sites was described as one of “immense sorrow for the local community,” but faith leaders also spoke of a belief in resurrection, providing a spiritual viewpoint on the temporal disappearance of hallowed earth.