HAPPISBURGH

The lovely coastal village of Happisburgh (pronounced "Haisbro") is dominated by two main buildings - the red and white candy striped lighthouse and the large village church with its tall tower. Both of these buildings are located on mounds, giving wonderful views over the surrounding countryside. The pretty village lanes are lined with cottages, many of which are built from flint and thatch. The sandy beach extends for miles in both directions, but is dominated by the cliff protection barrier, helping to slow the rate of cliff erosion which has been pretty devastating in Happisburgh (some properties have been lost to the sea). The village contains a pub, small shop and tea-rooms. The nearby gardens at East Ruston Old Vicarage are well worth a visit.

View a detailed tourist information map of Norfolk

We start our tour of Happisburgh on the beach - where access is via a tower of steps ... this is because this section of coast has been eroded into the sea, causing damage to local roads and paths.

You can see why the erosion has taken place when you watch the waves crashing ashore and notice the soft cliffs!

and looking South - notice the bay developing, this is where most of the damage has been caused.

These defences have only had a limited effect.

and sadly this row of Victorian terraces are now very close to going over the edge and into the sea.

In a commanding position, overlooking the sea is the large village church of St Mary's. It has a very tall tower (110 feet). Inside, the church is very spacious and contains some medieval features, such as the backlight to the rood at the east end of the nave. The church also has a splendid 15th century octagonal font and a stained glass window showing an English knight.

The church graveyard contains the graves of sailors drowned in accidents off the coast of Happisburgh. The worst took place in 1801 when the ship Invincible was wrecked offshore with the loss of 400 lives. The Invincible struck a sandbank called Hammond's Knoll, just east of Happisburgh, due to strong wind and tides. Many of the dead are buried in a communal grave at the north end of the graveyard. Ships still travel along this treacherous stretch of coastline.

Next to the church is the village pub "The Hill House" and just below the pub is the colourful village sign. The sign depicts some key points in the history of the village. The figure on the right of the sign is Edric the Dane, who prior to the Norman Conquest was lord of the village. After the Norman's kicked him out, the village eventually passed on to Roger Bigod, whose daughter Maud – on the left of the sign – married William d'Albini, who was given the village at Maud's wedding! In the centre is the Rev Thomas Lloyd who claimed the reason that children were not being baptised was because their parents could not afford to pay for a party afterwards! He offered to put on a party himself, and on Whit Sunday 1793, he baptised 170 children!

The village has many flint and thatch cottages situated on pretty village lanes. Along the main street you will find St Mary's Church Room (which serves teas) and the recently extended attractive primary school.

Also in the main street is this small thatched building, perhaps an old toilet? if you know then please tell us!

not all properties are small however, there is a lovely big house surrounded by trees.

Small old thatched building in Happisburgh

The red and white striped lighthouse was built in 1791, originally one of a pair - the pair formed leading lights marking safe passage around the southern end of the treacherous Happisburgh Sands - but it was not always effective, as the graves in the churchyard show. The lighthouse was recently featured in the ITV series Kingdom.

The lighthouse is privately owned, but opens its doors to the public certain weekends including Easter and August Bank Holiday. Inside, the 96 stone steps wind their way up the inside to the light at the top (134 feet above sea level).

When you reach the top, you can see the working lamp, 500 watts of light and visible for about 18 miles. The views of the coast and village are spectacular - on a clear day you can see for about 13 miles.

This charming, cosy and characterful, traditional brick and flint cottage is ideally located just 200 yards from a glorious sandy beach. Formerly an old coach house, it sits with its own pretty patio garden within the grounds of the owners' home in one of Norfolk's most picturesque coastal villages.

Set on a peaceful country lane just half a mile from glorious sandy beaches, these newly converted, traditional brick and flint barns are ideally located for enjoying north Norfolk's many attractions. Boasting their own garden and patio areas with hot tubs, they adjoin the owners' home 9 miles from Cromer, whilst the Norfolk Broads, with their boat hire, foot and cycle paths and waterside inns, lie to the south. Pretty fishing villages, pubs serving local seafood, bird reserves, seal watching trips, steam train rides and Norwich are a short drive.

River Farm - Honing, 4 Miles from Happisburgh - East Norfolk

Just 4 miles from the beautiful, wide sandy beaches and safe bathing at Mundesley and Happisburgh, these three spacious and very comfortable single storey cottages enjoy a gloriously unspoilt and peaceful location, with far reaching views on all sides. Lovingly converted from a handsome barn complex set around a courtyard, each cottage boasts its own enclosed lawned garden and patio within the courtyard and to the rear is a shared meadow where children can safely play.

At nearby East Ruston are the gardens of the Old Vicarage. These gardens are one of the most remarkable and enjoyable gardens made in recent years. Created by Alan Gray and Graham Robeson, now 15 years old and expanding at a rate of knots, it is a feast of formal design, and decorative exuberance.

East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens near Happisburgh

Happisburgh summary of what to SEE and DO

Tour Index

Introduction
Map
Beach & Cliffs
Parish Church
Village Centre
Lighthouse
East Ruston Gardens

Nearby Tours

Norfolk

Norfolk Broads

Norfolk Coast

North Norfolk

East Norfolk

Acle

Aylsham

Blakeney

Cromer

Great Yarmouth

Holkham

Holt

Horning

Horsey

Mundesley

North Walsham

Overstrand

Potter Heigham

Sea Palling

Sheringham

Stalham

Weybourne

Winterton on Sea