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Disappearing Act
On a considerable corner of northeast Norfolk, floods caused by fierce seawater forced their way through dunes and spilled across miles of low-lying land, spoiling farmland and destroying homes.
Over 108 people were reported dead.
Is this 2008? No - 1287. Turning the pages of history, much the same catastrophe occured in 1622. At that time over 2,000 men were pressed into repairing the dunes and repelling what 17th century chroniclers called "the extraordinary force and rage of the sea."
Dramatic floods retruned in 1938 and 1953 (this time the death toll stood at 307 people). The 1950s disaster triggered the construction of miles of concrete sea defences to protect this part of the English east coast.
These are now crumbling.
The current plan of government environmental agency Natural England could be described as "just give up."
Natural England has suggested allowing the "realignment" of 25 miles of coast: In plain language, wiping part of Norfolk off the map.
The argument goes that natural erosion and rising tide levels have made the struggle to defend parts of the coastline an unwinnable battle. Rather than spend billions facing down the inevitable, man should retreat to a position which can be better defended and allow the sea to do its work.
Possible result: The loss of 600 homes, six villages, five medieval churches, four fresh-water broadland lakes, historic windmills, precious natural wildlife reserves and valuable agricultural land.
Defeatist? Anti-human? The inevitable result of a government seemingly determined to wipe out England in every other respect?
The English King Canute (1016-1035) tried to instruct his assembled subjects in a demonstration on the south coast of England that even with monarchial control and practical building work, no man can turn back the tide.
After 1,000 years, has his teaching finally sunk in?
