The ghosts of Covehithe

Covehithe is a hamlet which lies on the North Sea coast around 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Southwold and 7 miles (11 km) south of Lowestoft. 

In the Middle Ages Covehithe prospered as a small town (no signs of that today!) It takes its modern name from the de Cove family who held land there at that time, and the fact that it had a hithe, or quay, for loading and unloading small vessels.There is also archaeological evidence of the linen industry having been carried out at Covehithe until the 18th century.

So that`s where the wealth came from, like many ports on the coast, but now you could be forgiven for not knowing the village existed at all.

A walk along the beach on a gorgeous day, gives you some idea of how deserted the area has become today.. It is just so peaceful on a day like this but, I reckon, very scary in stormy seas. 

The coastline in the Covehithe area suffers from the highest rate of erosion in the UK, and the settlement has suffered significant loss of land and buildings in the past. By the 17th century in fact, it had fallen victim, like nearby Dunwich, to coastal erosion. 

There were, about 10 years ago (2009), many trees standing like sentinels along the beach. Great to photograph - but now gone ! 

The large church of St Andrew, which had been built on the back of its wealth, was largely pulled down, although its tall tower remains, and a smaller church was erected among the ruins in 1672. (below) 

The west end of the 17th-century church is built against the tower. Its fabric includes much material re-used from the older church, and some brick. Its roof is thatched. 

Plain and simple.  Both the north and the south doorways have been re-used. The east window dates from the 19th century. At the west end are 15th-century pews with poppy-head carving. The wooden pulpit contains some 17th-century carving. 

The church has this 15th-century carved octagonal font. 

Walking around the ruins it is somewhat difficult to imagine the wealth which built this massive church. However, this was not uncommon in the middle ages. Much wealth was accumulated by the churches, which came to an end when Henry thought the church had far too much, and he and his mates could use it better. Like fighting the French etc! 

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What can be seen at Walton on the Naze?

Walton is a traditional seaside town on the east coast, unique in that it is surrounded on three sides by the sea. Its three miles of gently shelving sandy beaches facing south-east stretch from Frinton to the Naze. To the north, the sea sweeps round the Naze into the backwaters, known as Hamford Water, and the Walton Channel stretches right down to Walton Mere, only 300 yards from the main beach. The Naze, as well as being a natural open space, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) famed for its fossils found in the Red Crag cliffs.

As well as these glorious natural features, Walton is known for its pier – the second-longest in the country – its yacht club and marina, and its iconic tower at The Naze from where panoramic views can be enjoyed of the Walton backwaters, Harwich and Felixstowe and the Suffolk coast. 

The coast of East Anglia is always subject to erosion and the day of our visit to Walton demonstrated the effects which a stormy period on the North sea can have on the area 

These beach huts would normally have a bit more sand in front, but it has been washed away leaving a nasty gap between bottom step and the beach! 

Another view of an area normally deep in sand. 

One has to wonder haw many years before the famous tower is in danger? Built in 1720 by Trinity House as a navigational aid for ships making for Harwich Harbour – is now an art gallery and tea rooms 

More of the cliff has slid toward the sea

Somehow, there is always an odd shoe.

.... or a glove! 

So to some wildlife. In a row - shame about the empty end posts! 

Sanderling seen on the beach 

What are you doing down there? 

Three is a crowd. 

These swirls are the “castings” of a worm. Various species of lugworms are found in sandy marine mud all over the world. They ingest the sandy mud at one end, and excrete digested sand at the other. They can process a cubic centimeter or more of sand every hour. The worms digest the bacteria and other microorganism in the sand, in much the same way that earthworms process soil. So, some images of worm poo! 

Patterns in the sand 

The colour green. Seaweed coating the steps to the beach.

Under the pier. A view toward the sea as the tide retreats

Colours

Gulls inviting themselves to lunch 

The remains of a WW2 pillbox on the beach. The Walton of today is a somewhat different place to that of WW2 due to it`s proximity to the entrance to Harwich . A good taster of how the area was in that period can be found here.

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What we saw in Walton

One of our favourite seasides is Walton On The Naze, and it was to Walton, as is generally known, that we decided to spend the day. It's surprising what you can see when you are not in a hurry, and having a camera and photographs in mind. A good starting point is at the landmark point of the Naze Tower. 

The Hanoverian tower, more commonly known as the Naze Tower, is situated at the start of the open area of the Naze. It was a navigational tower, constructed to assist ships on this otherwise fairly feature-less coast. Visitors can climb the 111-step spiral staircase to the top of the 86-foot (26 m) tower for a 360 degree view of the beach and countryside. The Naze Tower features a museum with exhibits about the tower, the ecology and geology of the Naze, and the coastal erosion problem. The tower also features a private art gallery on six floors with changing exhibits several times a year, and a tea room. 

The present tower was built in 1720–21 by Trinity House, and was intended to work in conjunction with Walton Hall Tower to guide vessels through the Goldmer Gap. Towers at Naze and at Walton Hall are marked on a map of 1673 by Richard Blome, which in turn was based on a map drawn up in the late 1500s. The present Naze Tower therefore replaced an earlier construction at a similar location. It was of particular benefit to ships using the nearby port of Harwich. Both the current Naze Tower and its predecessor had beacons or lamps lit at the top, providing an early form of lighthouse. 

Over the years, the tower has had a variety of uses. In the eighteenth century it was a tea house, operated by the actress and aristocrats' mistress, Martha Reay. It was a lookout during the Napoleonic Wars and again during the Great War of 1914–18. In the Second World War it was used as a radar station, with its crenellations removed to accommodate a radar dish. 

Another view of the tower, this time from the beach below the cliffs. It's beginning to look rather precarious, however, looks are deceptive as it is someway back from the edge still.

As these later images show, the Walton cliffs are eroding at an alarming rate - as is a lot of the Suffolk and Norfolk coast line.

Walking back toward the town, I noticed this dog peering down at us. I did think he would scramble down at one point but it didn`t.

Not sure what the man was doing, if anything, but the gulls were very active overhead.

Green symmetry.

How a long focus lens alters the perspective. They are close, but not quite as the image would suggest.

More symmetry or repetition.

Gulls swooping around this couple enjoying their lunch

Five in a row - and all facing the same way!

Yet more symmetry under the pier - watch the tide!

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