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Families whose relatives laid to rest in resting places at risk from coastal erosion argue that indecision over how to tackle the problem is creating avoidable anguish about the eternal homes of their departed family.

An Impending Danger to Ancient Graveyards

Local authorities have singled out three burial grounds in the villages of Happisburgh, Mundesley, and Trimingham as being at risk of being swallowed by the ocean in the coming decades.

A newly published study on the situation details a series of options, from taking no action to disinterring bodies and reburying them in safer sites. Officials say it is for the community to determine how to move forward.

“Right now we’re in a state of uncertainty. It upsets me. They intended this to be their last home, but it won't be because of the sea.”

Projections suggest at least a portion of one churchyard could fall into the sea 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 look at what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” one said.

Haunted by the Past

One resident recalled a childhood visit to the neighbouring settlement of Eccles, which has almost entirely disappeared into the water, including its church and graveyard.

“It was possible to see people’s bones,” she said. “Some have this idealized notion that people’s remains will just get washed out to the ocean. They won’t. Individuals will take bones as souvenirs and go plundering graves in search of valuables. It’s completely undignified.”

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

A Paratrooper's Resting Place in Jeopardy

Further up the shoreline lies the grave of a former paratrooper who died while serving overseas. His parent said she could not sleep after discovering her child's final plot might one day be moved.

“It truly disturb me to think this won’t be his lasting home,” she said. “For us it’s an important site to visit.”

She believes, new burials should cease but says it is too soon to exhume current plots. “My preference for now is to do nothing and closely monitor, but an early decision needs to be made when a critical moment has been attained.”

Seeking Solutions and Certainty

The lack of consensus over when and how to handle the problem has resulted in bereaved families feeling exasperated and worried.

Some are calling for additional sea defences to delay the unavoidable loss and to allow burials to proceed for now. Others contend the time for moving graves is drawing near.

“The situation is very emotional,” a family member stated. “The council’s report was thorough, but now there’s uncertainty about how it is implemented. And everybody is washing their hands over who is accountable.”

A coastal manager said the graveyards were under the care of the local diocese. “In the end it is up to them to decide the path to take. Our role is here to assist them through that journey with communities.”

He added there was time to consider all the choices. “We are talking many years before it begins getting lost.”

“Currently, there exists no unified opinion on what should happen yet. We need productive community discussions to find the right solutions for each village.”

The prospect of the loss of the historic sites was labeled one of “profound sadness for the area,” but church representatives also referenced a doctrine in life after death, providing a spiritual perspective on the physical loss of sacred ground.