The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-12-05

Nothing Left of It Except some Ivy
Clad Ruins

coast line which have been subjected
20 greater change and devastation than
that of East Anglia, lying between
Aldeburgh and Lynn Century after
century the sea has slowly but surely
gained its victories over the land, and
to-day IL carries on the siege with una
batting energy. The East Anglican
shores offer but frail barrier against
the swinging North sea rollers; often
nothing but narrow ridge OF MARIAN
grown hillocks of drifted sand lies be-
tween the fretting beach surf and the
low-lying marshland, stretching inland
for many miles. Already the ocean bed
OF Norfolk and Suffolk is strewn with
the ruins of villages, towns and even
cities that once were conspicuous land
marks of the coast, and fitted out many
ships to fight their country's battles in
Englands early wars.
Between Southwold and Aldeburgh.
on the Suffolk coast, in an out-of-the-
way corner of the country, where the
screech and roar OF the railway are yet
unheard, is sparsely populated village
of about two score cottages, all that
now remains OF Dunwich, the old time
seat of government and capital of East
Anglia. Once the largest and most
flourishing city in eastern England.
the residence of kings, the see OF n
bishop. seat Of learning and port or
considerable trade. now It's glory has
departed, it's palaces, churches, monas-
tcries, streets and markets have disap-
peared beneath the waves. Before the
Norman conquest the sen had com
menced It's work OF devastation, nor did
IL cease its siege when the ruin of tbs
great city was accomplished.
There are grounds for belief that the
old city OF Dunwich stood on the site OF
n settlement OF the Roman legions who
conquered the Iceni, and their tqueen,
Boadicea. Subsequent TO the Norman
invasion 10 increased rapidly in populn-'
ton and prosperity. or the importance
of the place in the time of Richard /.
some idea may be gained from the fact
that il was fined 1000 marks for unlaw-
fully supplying the kings enemies with
corn. while Ipswich and Yarmouth. now
two OF the three principal towns in
East Anglia, were only ordered 10 pay
the sum Of 200 marks each. In the reign
OF Henry III. IL was town of good note,
''abounding in much riches and sundry
kinds OF merchandise At tho Begin
ming OF his reign King John granted
charter of liberties 10 the town, by
which the inhabitants we're allowed To
marry their sons and daughters as they
pleased, and 20 give, sell. ca dispose OF
their property as they thought fit.
Under this same charter, which cost the
men of Dunwich 800 marks, ten falcons
and Ave gerfalcons, they were granted
"all wrecks OF the sea-"
About this time Dunwich, which WAS
probably at the height of its prosper
fly is described as n large city.
with many roads, streets, public build
ings and churches. The greater part OF
IL stood upon hill, the base OF which
was washed by the sea. It's town hall
was an imposing building, it's port was
crowded with shipping. In addition TO
numerous churches IL had monasteries
Of the Franciscan and Dominican
friars, each with its own church. In
the reign of Edward |. Dunwich sent
two members to parliament.
All this time the sea was carrying on
n ceaseless and irresistible siege of tho
coast. Each succeeding winter saw
fresh breaches made in the sand dunes
between the beach and the marshes, and
frequent falls from the crumblng
cliffs. On the night of January l. 1886.
violent storm wrought great havoc
upon the borders OF the town. The sen
made extensive -scToachments and sew
eral churches were submerged. During
the next 20 years more than 400 houses
collapsed. Later on The Church of st.
Leonard disappeared, and before the
end OF the century two other churches
were undermined by waves. ST. John
the Baptist's was the next TO go, to be
followed before the year 1909 by the
chantries of SO. anthony. st. Francis
and ST. Catherine. by this time two OF
the city gates. the South Gate and ths
Golden Gate. had been washed away.
and only about n quarter of the old
town was left standing. The church and
buildings OF the Knights Templars dis
appeared during the reign of Charles
l.. and i'm 1877 the sea reached the mar
lSet place, when the townsmen sold tho
materials OF the old cross. At the be
ginning OF the eighteenth century the
Jail fell prey 20 the sea, which in f72o
destroyed the last traces of the church
yard of ST. Peters. the church having
previously fallen over the cliffs.
OF later-wrought destruction we
read that lin l7i0 the wind. blowing
very hard from the northeast, and con-
tinuing for several days. accustomed ter
rible devastations; for q great part OF
the cliffs was washed away. with the re-
.mains of 81. Nicholas churchyard, as
also a great road leading TO the town.
Kings holm. otherwise called Leon
ards marsh. was laid under water
Several foundations were uncovered
also pipes of nm ancient acqucduct. In
the following year, when trench was
/ a.. y al n