Maybe it wasn't such a long ago that my Grandparents would take my two brothers and me on the occasional summer Sunday day trip to one of the nicest locations, then and now, on the North Norfolk Coast. Indeed, Mundesley was one of their most popular choices at the time, and I will always remember carrying my Granddad's home-repaired, and sometimes home-made, deckchairs and wind breaks (his secret was Hessian sacks) all the way down the cliffs.
 Photo of Mundesley Beach
As well as the many blankets, sandwiches and tea flasks my grandmother had prepared, all down to the wonderful silver sands and gentle but powerful waves of the seemingly endless north Norfolk blue sea line. I can also remember, not surprisingly, being less interested in the food or resting in the sun behind the windbreaks or on the deckchair-laden makeshift campus that was soon erected, than in excavating the sands to create castles and water filled moats, or in burying either of my brother’s neck deep in it. And although the sea was normally very, very cold most of the year round, this didn't seem to trouble us too much either.
 Photo of Mundesley Coast Guard
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 Fishing boat at Mundesley
Mundesley, unlike Cromer, Sheringham, and the Runton's, at this time was not overpopulated with Crab and Lobster boats, nor did it have any large number of fishing boats, so the shoreline & soft silver Norfolk sands did not smell off dead, dried, salty fish, discarded by the fishermen without thought, nor was it covered in their sun bleached bones or decaying entangled fishing nets. The worst thing in the summer was the heavy smell that these other locations possessed. No, Mundesley was quiet enough to afford not only the space to park without too many side distractions like amusement arcades, and it was one of the Victorians' most favoured holiday locations in its heyday.
 Fishing boats on Mundesley Beach
This can be seen from the few remaining magnificent Hotels and other structures created in that age, the Poppyline railway line being one of them. That is before Lord Beecham decided it was a good idea to axe most of East Anglia's rural train networks, and the Poppyline (as it was called) was just one more that had to go. Thus Mundesley, like so many other such coastal villages on the Poppyline's route, declined to sleepy village status once again. It could be said that evolution such as this goes a long way to adding charm and history in such places, and I am also inclined to agree, but it is sad though that so many wonderful features of Norfolk life have now gone forever. |
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Like so many other North Norfolk coastal villages, Mundesley was overwhelmed with floods in the 50's, and the promenade beach huts were washed away, as well as more permanent dwellings, some inland. These were replaced with new huts and the Café was built on the promenade, and it will always remain a memorable place for me because it was the only shop on the shoreline and was always well stocked with ice creams, buckets and spades, cricket sets and kites to name but a few of the treasures in stock. We used to camp there overnight when very young, and a warm cup of tea was always very welcome before skinny dipping in the freezing early morning sea. This café has since been mostly rebuilt in brick, and as far as I know, is no longer trading due probably to the lack of tourism in this location today.
 Photo of Jet Sking at Mundesley
The wooden promade and beech huts were later replaced with massive steel-braced concrete sea defence walls, not now perhaps so imposing, but they must then have been a major issue at the time of their construction, with many parts now crumbling away after many years of cruel beatings from the sea. There are also a number of sea defences along this stretch of coastline, most in need of replacement, and the new idea is to import massive boulders, perhaps from Norway, and dump them on strategic parts of the coastline to hold back the sea. However, its widely believed that much more needs to be done if we want to cease the erosion that is happening so swiftly to this part of the Norfolk coastline, especially on both of Mundesley's other flanks, Overstand to the north and Happisborough to the east.
Text author and copyright © 2007 : Chris Crane |
