Skip to content

Hemsby: Fifth home on Norfolk cliff edge demolished

Shaun Whitmore/BBC A house is partially demolished next to the cliff edge with a bright yellow digger next to a blue skip.Shaun Whitmore/BBC
The home was the fifth to be demolished on The Marrams in Hemsby in less than a week

A fifth home close to a cliff edge in Norfolk has been demolished amid fears it would fall into the sea.

Recent erosion on the coast at Hemsby has led to homes teetering on the edge and part of an access road being washed away.

The resident looked on in tears as her house was torn down.

A 2,000-tonne consignment of granite has begun to arrive, which will be installed as a revetment defence on the shoreline.

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Claw digger demolishes wooden home on The Marrams in Hemsby, NorfolkShaun Whitmore/BBC
Residents have been in tears as their seaside home have been demolished
Map showing Hemsby beach at the detail of where demolition work has taken place north of The Marrams

The coastal stretch at The Marrams has been battered by high spring tides and strong winds during the last two weeks.

Demolition work by Great Yarmouth Borough Council is taking place on the north side of Hemsby Gap - a break in the dunes used by lifeboat crews to access the beach.

Another resident whose house was in danger has managed to move his home further inland.

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Aerial few of the final property on The Marrams, the north side of Hemsby Gap, being demolishedShaun Whitmore/BBC
About 2,000 tonnes of granite is being added to the beach to defend the cliffs
presentational grey line

Timeline of events

  • The beach at Hemsby was closed off on 25 February because of significant erosion
  • At-risk homes were evacuated on 10 March amid fears properties could fall into the sea
  • During that evening's high tide, a playhouse and shed toppled over the cliff
  • The first homes on The Marrams began to be demolished a day later
  • On 16 March, one homeowner managed to get his property moved from the cliff edge
  • About 2,000 tonnes of granite is being added to the beach
presentational grey line

An emergency public meeting of residents on Friday night heard a proposal to take their case for better coastal defences to government.

Chris Patten from Hemsby Lifeboat said a "war chest" had been started to allow them to employ a barrister who specialises in such cases.

"Government has control of the purse strings and can change policy," he said.

Lorna Bevan, who founded the group Save Hemsby Coastline and runs The Lacon Arms pub on the coast, said there was a strong economic case to protect the village which "brings in £88m every single year" through tourism.

presentational grey line

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]