Newly released aerial footage has delivered a stark visual testament to the relentless power of coastal erosion at Hemsby in Norfolk, a community now bearing the grim title of Britain's most eroded coastline. The videos, shot decades apart, illustrate the dramatic and devastating loss of land that has forced the demolition of homes and shattered a community.
A Coastline Erased Before Our Eyes
The compelling evidence comes from Mike Page, 86, who first filmed the Norfolk village from a small plane in 1998 and repeated the journey this weekend. The contrast is shocking. The earlier clip shows a generous, sandy buffer of dunes and beach separating a line of colourful wooden chalets from the North Sea. Today, that protective zone has vanished entirely, consumed by storms and pounding waves, leaving cliff edges perilously close to back doors.
A total of 34 properties have been lost in just the past 12 years. The crisis is accelerating, with Great Yarmouth Borough Council beginning the demolition of 11 more homes last month. Earlier this month, a further 14 homeowners received evacuation notices after atrocious conditions and Storm Goretti stripped away another 30 feet of land in a single week.
A Community Living on the Edge
For residents, the geological process has become a deeply personal tragedy. Mike Page, who grew up nearby in Gorleston, explained the escalating threat. "Over the past 20 years, it has only been wooden houses and chalets which have been lost to the erosion," he said. "But we are now at the point where the coastline keeps receding - and it's going to be brick houses."
He described a community under immense strain: "The locals are going insane and people have been evacuated. It's terrifying knowing that so many livelihoods are teetering on the edge of collapse. But unfortunately with erosion, there's nothing much you can do to stop it."
The scale of loss is vast, with Hemsby estimated to have lost around 1,000 feet of its coastline since the 1970s. Major weather events have acted as brutal catalysts. The 'Beast from the East' storm in 2018 claimed seven bungalows, followed by 11 further demolitions in 2023. Despite attempts at defence using concrete tubes and sea walls, nothing has halted the advance.
Personal Stories of Loss and Despair
The human cost is etched into the experiences of those forced to leave. Carol Boyes, 80, was evacuated from her home on January 2nd. She recalled almost 100 feet of land between her property and the sea when she moved there 23 years ago. "We wouldn't have bought the property if we'd known that was going to happen," she said. "We were told 'You're all right here'. It's gone too quick."
Others face an uncertain future with limited resources. Eric Forbes, 59, living with multiple health conditions, lamented the lack of a 'Plan B'. With local rents high, he faces financial ruin after losing a home he had already paid for.
Some residents fought back with extraordinary measures. Former Grenadier guardsman Lance Armstrong twice used heavy machinery to drag his chalet back from the cliff edge, even contemplating a military-grade airlift. Ultimately, the land it originally stood on fell into the sea in November 2023.
The council has been offering temporary accommodation and support, but the future of the village remains in question. Mr Page holds onto hope for Hemsby's spirit, calling it a "great and interesting place" historically and geographically. Yet, for those on the front line, the only choice left is often to leave, as the relentless sea continues its march inland.
