Defending Britain’s Shores

England’s military heritage under direct threat from coastal erosion

English Heritage, in association with Suffolk County Council, has published Suffolk’s Defended Shore, a new book which highlights the increasing threat of coastal erosion to England’s coastal heritage, and in particular its historic military defences.

England’s coast is dynamic and in places rapidly eroding by an average one metre per year and as a result it is estimated that thousands of historical sites and buildings are under the threat of being literally washed out to sea.  For the first time, the book shows the full extent to which Suffolk’s coastline has evolved throughout the 20th century using valuable aerial photographs examined for English Heritage’s National Mapping Programme, a countrywide survey of all available aerial photographs largely from WWII through to the present day.  The images highlight Suffolk’s key role in the defence of England against the threat of attack through its many examples of military fortifications and structures.

Sarah Newsome, English Heritage Senior Investigator (Archaeological Survey & Investigation) and one of the book’s author, said:  “The aerial photographs examined as part of the National Mapping Programme provide a different, and often unique, perspective on coastal defences, particularly those constructed in World War II. Photographs taken during and immediately after this war sometimes provide the only visual record of the rapidly evolving defences from this period.  They also tell us a great deal about how the coast is changing and what has already been lost to the sea. “

Many of Suffolk’s historic military remains have already become victims of coastal erosion including Walton Castle, the Roman fort at Felixstowe which was lost to the sea by the mid-18th century.  Built by the occupying Roman army to defend the province against the attack of bands of Germanic and Scandinavian pirates, it was strategically placed between the mouths of the Rivers Deben, Orwell and Stour.  Today it lies about half a mile out under the sea, but is visible from the beach at Old Felixstowe at very low tides.

Another example is Slaughden Martello Tower near Aldeburgh, a small quatrofoil 19th-century defensive fort dating from the time of the Napoleonic wars.  Photographs dating from 1941 document the tower complete with its associated defensive ditch but later images taken in 2000 show that much of the tower’s ditch has eroded away.

In order to fully gauge the extent of coastal erosion, English Heritage is currently conducting a national programme of Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Surveys (RCZAS), which is due for completion by 2010. The coastline of Suffolk has been surveyed, and the latest findings have been fed to the writing of this book.

Greg Luton, Regional Director for English Heritage in the East of England, said:  “We all welcome the publication of Suffolk’s Defended Shore. Research such as this will inform the management of these precious archaeological resources and as changes gather momentum, works such as this become an even more valuable tool for specialists and members of the public alike.”

Suffolk’s Defended Shore is available from all good book shops or online, via the English Heritage Book Shop, price £14.99.

See also Suffolk's Defended Shore