 The story of the village is inseparably linked with the sea. For residents of Happisburgh, and for hundreds who visit each year, the sea represents many different things: a source of livelihood; a place of recreation and fun; a sight to gaze at and wonder over; a worrying, unpredictable, dangerous and potentially destructive power.
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Happisburgh has lost land to the sea throughout the centuries. The rate of erosion has been erratic - at times large areas have disappeared overnight, and at others the cliff has remained virtually the same for some years. |
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For centuries, fishing came second only to agriculture as the main occupation in Happisburgh. While some men worked from small boats close inshore – known as ‘long shore fishing’ – others joined the deep-sea fleets and were away from the village for months at a time. ‘Long shore’ fishing continues today. |
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George IV's interest in sea bathing made it a popular pastime for the upper classes during the latter part of the 18th century, when, as Prince of Wales he visited Brighton. |
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Almost every seaside village between Wells and Lowestoft had a company of beachmen. These companies made it their business to go to the aid of any ship in distress, and whatever the weather or risks involved, the flare of rockets and boom of minute guns from a stricken vessel never went unheeded. |
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The Norfolk Coast has always been treacherous for seafarers, and the Haisbro Sand, about nine mile off Happisburgh, has been the cause of disaster hundreds of vessels and claimed countless lives. |
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1789
During a severe winter storm 70 sailing ships and 600 men were lost off the Norfolk coast. An Inquiry which drew attention to the complete lack of warning lights between the fire beacon at Cromer and the candle powered light at Winterton resulted in Trinity House building two lighthouses at Happisburgh. |
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