In the thirteenth century, Dunwich was one of the largest East Anglian ports with around 3000 inhabitants.  There was a thriving trade with the Baltic countries, the Netherlands and France.  But in 1286 much of the town was swept away in a storm and later in 1328, the harbour was destroyed in another storm.  Dunwich is a small village now with one pub, The Ship, a museum and a large fish and chip café, situated on the beach.

The marshes and lagoons behind the beach are protected by a substantial shingle bank.  We walked for a good way along the beach and back by the marsh before exploring the village and the church with the remains of a leper chapel.

There are still a few fishing boats that work off the beach

The shingle bank at Dunwich

Winter sun on the sea

This photo gives a better idea of the shingle bank, which protects the marshes

Beattie scavenges the beach!

Incoming tide

We meet a local fisherman
In the distance is Sizewell nuclear power station

This piece of driftwood has come from a Russian vessel that spilt its load in the English Channel a week ago.
  The following day, a lot more wood turns up on the Suffolk coast!

Wading birds take advantage of these lagoons behind the shingle bank

Beattie explores

The way back to the car

We disturb a bird on the marshes - I think it is an egret

The café on the beach at Dunwich.  In the winter it is closed.

Dunwich village and The Ship Inn

The museum at Dunwich

St James church was built in 1832 after the last of the old churches was abandoned.  All Saints finally fell into the sea on 12th November 1919.

The Leper Chapel
The chapel is all that remains of an 800 year old hospital that cared for lepers.  This side of the railings was a hall where the lepers were treated.
It was an open area so the lepers could participate in the services.  It was part of the treatment.

The outside walls of the Leper Chapel

The last buttress of All Saints church.  It was all that was left when the building succumbed to the ravages of the sea.  It was rebuilt here in 1923.

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Comment from Gary
Lovely photos from your latest walk along the beach Derek, Tim loves to go exploring when he goes to the beach there are so many new smells for him to investigate!
Gary ...

Comment from AT
That one plank of wood has now been joined by a pile on the car park some 10' tall and covering the size of half a football pitch.

Comment from Gary
Derek - I've just been reading the latest edition of Country Walking magazine and they say Dunwich beach is one of their top 3 winter beach walks, looks like it may get a little more crowded thanks to them!!!!!
Gary ...
 

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Photographs taken with a Fuji MX-2900 Zoom or a Canon EOS 20D
Copyright © 2009 Derek Cockell     All Rights Reserved