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The Geography Department |
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Happisburgh 2001 Sunday 13 May 2001
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The beach approach ramp was under severe pressure the last time Happisburgh was visited, and waves were still crashing over the entrance on this day, despite the tide being far from high.
800-11050016.jpg (119114 bytes)
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The beach from the base of the ramp, showing the sandy cliffs and beach, and the revetments.
800-11050018.jpg (119768 bytes) |
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With something approaching absolute precision, the wooden revetments stretch way to the north-west. Holidaymakers see little of the sea behind such barriers, but are protected, as on this day, from a stiff north-east wind!
800-11050020.jpg (115351 bytes) |
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A close-up of the cliffs taken from the same spot. The wet conditions has led to mass-movement and a slumped lobe has slid across the beach. 800-11050021.jpg (152682 bytes) |
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Looking south-east from the ramp across concrete-filled sheet-piling to the present revetment defences, broken as they curved inland at the southern end of their run. Beyond these defences the coast has receded 50 metres and continues undefended in a series of embayments.
800-11050017.jpg (96455 bytes) |
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A study of a section of revetment.
800-11050019.jpg (126603 bytes) |
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Freshly bulldozed cliff material, showing signs of gullying from heavy rain, mark the southern end of the revetments. On the skyline are the bungalows in the front-line of coastal erosion at Happisburgh. The beach has disappeared here.
800-11050022.jpg (131534 bytes) |
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A zoom of the above photograph shows up ribs of old revetment defences, and old groyne stretching across the beach, that appears to have patches of rubble in places. A caravan on the cliff-top represents a possible way forward for living on this coast.
800-11050023.jpg (136412 bytes) |
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The last bungalow, freshly decorated and with the rubble from the previous bungalow pushed into the sea.
800-11050024.jpg (110385 bytes) |
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The end of defences is marked by erosion of both land and sea defences, and a beach in the embayment. The last bungalow should be a marker for coastal retreat some years to come.
800-11050031.jpg (143526 bytes) |
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The debris from the last bungalow we saw in 1996 is mixed in here with other rubble. Defences on this southern elbow have been shredded by wave attack.
800-11050027.jpg (149440 bytes) |
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The cliffs of the unprotected coast were oozing moisture after the wet winter, applying a sheen to the clay layers. The beach shows the passage of slumping and washed-out sediment.
800-11050025.jpg (172031 bytes) |
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The scene at the coastal elbow at Happisburgh. The last houses atop very wet cliffs and a surprisingly wide beach, composed of graded sand and shingle zones.
800-11050028.jpg (129393 bytes)
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A zoom of the houses and Happisburgh church, which is located with the main part of the village, several hundred metres inland.
800-11050030.jpg (125966 bytes) |
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Taken largely for the beach and cliff features, but this wide view will provide a fair reference for future years. Cliff falls feed a beach displaying several low berms and high-tide lines.
800-11050032.jpg (132741 bytes) |
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The lighthouse provides a backdrop to these low cliffs.
800-11050033.jpg (128981 bytes) |
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Towards the south-east the embayed coastline becomes clear, with a wide, flat beach. However, the base of the cliffs show all the effects of being attacked regularly by wave action (lack of vegetation cover and slumping).
800-11050034.jpg (107385 bytes) |
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A final look over the beach, sea and village.
800-11050035.jpg (112653 bytes) |
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The road back from the sea. The housing here comprises two rows, and two roads. This is the seaward track and to its left the coastal bungalows, being attacked along a line towards the photographer.
800-11050036.jpg (109248 bytes) |
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Norfolk Happisburgh Beach Road coast erosion defences neglect revetments rip rap groynes beaches lighthouse lifeboat station |
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North Norfolk and Happisburgh Index
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