Why were the coastal Defences built in Happisburgh?

Sea Defences at Happisburgh Groynes were constructed along the shore to try to stop erosion during the 1950s. Sea defences were built in 1959 to slow the erosion. Changes in government policy mean that coastal protection in Happisburgh is no longer fundable from central government.

What happened to the sea wall at Happisburgh?

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.

How many homes have fallen into the sea at Happisburgh?

35 homes
In the last 20 years, Happisburgh has lost some 35 homes to the relentless work of the waves – in the way that other beaches might feature the ghostly ribs of a shipwreck, a walk along the sands here reveals the echoes of abandoned domesticity – brick foundations sit at the base of the collapsing cliffs and once-buried …

What are the three coastal Defences?

Contents

• 3.1 Groynes.
• 3.2 Sea wall.
• 3.3 Revetments.
• 3.4 Breakwaters.
• 3.5 Gabions.

Why was the sea defences at Happisburgh built?

Sea Defences at Happisburgh The civil parish shrank by over 0.2 km² in the 20th century by the erosion of its beaches and low cliffs. Groynes were constructed along the shore to try to stop erosion during the 1950s. Sea defences were built in 1959 to slow the erosion.

Where is Happisburgh on the North Sea coast?

Happisburgh, Norfolk location map Happisburgh, on Norfolk’s North Sea coast, is a village with a population of 1400 people in about 600 houses. The village contains a notable stone church dating from the 14th century, an impressive manor house, listed buildings and a famous red and white striped lighthouse (Figure 1).

Why are houses falling into the sea in Happisburgh?

The coastal part of the village is subject to frequent coastal erosion: houses that used to be over 20 feet (6 m) from the sea now sit at the edge of a cliff and are expected to fall into the sea.

When was the last time Happisburgh defences were breached?

19th February 1996 During a prolonged gale and snowstorm the defences were breached and another bungalow was perilously close to the cliff top, eventually succumbing to the sea. March 1999 Encroachment continued, resulting in the destruction of more bungalows and an increasingly large bay.