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Families whose relatives buried in resting places vulnerable to coastal erosion argue that a lack of decision over how to address the issue is causing them unnecessary distress about the eternal homes of their departed family.

An Impending Danger to Historic Graveyards

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

A newly published study on the issue details a range of possible actions, from taking no action to exhuming remains and relocating them in more secure sites. Authorities maintain it is for the community to decide how to proceed.

“Right now we’re in a state of uncertainty. It causes me distress. They intended this to be their final resting place, but it isn’t going to be because of the encroaching sea.”

Projections suggest at least part 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 look at what’s happened in the last 30 years,” one said.

Haunted by the Past

A local business owner remembered a childhood visit to the nearby settlement of Eccles, which has almost entirely vanished into the sea, including its place of worship and burial ground.

“It was possible to see human remains,” she said. “Some have this romantic idea that people’s remains will just get carried away to the ocean. They won’t. People will collect remains as souvenirs and go grave robbing looking for treasures. That is completely undignified.”

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

A Soldier's Grave in Peril

Along the shoreline is situated the grave of a ex-soldier who died while serving abroad. His parent said she lost sleep after learning her child's grave might one day be moved.

“It does disturb me to consider this may not remain his permanent resting place,” she said. “To our family it’s an important site to visit.”

She believes, new burials should cease but says it is too soon to disturb existing graves. “My preference for now is to take no action and watch carefully, but an timely resolution needs to be made when a tipping point has been reached.”

Searching for Answers and Certainty

An absence of consensus over the timing and method to handle the problem has left bereaved families feeling exasperated and worried.

Some are calling for additional coastal protections to delay the unavoidable loss and to allow funerals to proceed for now. Others contend the moment for moving graves is approaching.

“The situation is very emotive,” a family member stated. “The council’s report was really good, but now there’s uncertainty about how it is implemented. And all parties is avoiding responsibility over who is responsible.”

A local official said the burial sites were under the care of the church authorities. “In the end it is down to them to decide the path to take. Our role is here to assist them through that process with residents.”

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

“Currently, there exists no common view on what should be done yet. We need good community discussions to discover the right solutions for each village.”

The possibility of losing the churches and graveyards was described as one of “profound sadness for the local community,” but church representatives also referenced a belief in life after death, providing a spiritual viewpoint on the physical loss of hallowed earth.