The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-11-28

ming OF his reign King John granted =
charter OF liberties TO the town, by
which the inhabitants were allowed "a
marry their sons and daughters as they
pleased, and 20 give. sell, or dispose ct
their property as they thought fit.
Under this same charter. which cost the
men Of Dunwich 300 marks. ten falcons
and five gerfalcons. they were granted
"all wrecks of the sea-"
About this time Dunwich. which wa,
probably at the height Of its prosper.
ity, IS described rs Q large city,
with many roads. streets. public build.
ings and churches. The greater part Of
]. stood upon hill. the base Of which
was washed by the sea. Its town hall
was an imposing building. its port was
crowded with shipping. In addition ~
numerous churches VI had monasteries
of the Franciscan and Dominican
friars, each with its own church. In
the reign of Edward I. Dunwich sent
two members to parliament.
All this time the sea was carrying on
ceaseless and irresistible siege OF ths
coast. Each succeeding winter saw
fresh breaches made in the sand dunes
between the beach and the marshes. and
frequent falls from the crumblirS
cliffs. On the night of January /, 1850.
a violent storm wrought great havoc
upoa the borders of the town. The sea
made extensive Entertainments and ser
eral churches were submerged. During
the next 90 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 60, 70 be
followed before the year 1909 by the
chantries of st. Anthony. ST. Francis
aud st. Catherine. BY this time twe Of
tho city gates. the South Gate and ths
Golden Gate, had been washed away,
and only about a quarter OF the old
town was left standing. The church and
buildings of the Knights Temp.nrs die
appeared during the reign OF Charles
=, and in 1877 the sea reached the mar.
1set place. when the townsmen SOLD the
materials of the old cross. At the be-
ginning Of the eighteenth century thu
Jail fell prey to the sea. which In 172s
destroyed the last traces of the church
gard of st. Peters, the church having
previously fallen over the cliffs.
OF later-wrought destruction W
S>ad that sin 174o the wind. blowing
very hard from the northeast. and con.
tinuing for several days. oceassoned ters
rible devasta tions: for great part OF
the cliffs was washed away, with the re-
mains Of St. Nicholas churckyard. as
also a great road leading 10 the town.
Kings holm. otherwise called Leon-
ards marsh was laid under water.
Several foundations were uncovered.
also pipes OF IN ancient acqueduct> I'm
the following year, when trench wrs
dug TO drain the marshes. several gold
coins and curiosities were discovsred.'
The collapse Of the town hall sBd othst
public buildings practically completed
the ruin Of the old tswr.
To-day. Of its atbrys and churches,
streets and markets. mills and houses,
all that renains are the ivy-eisd ruins
OF Grey FrIarz. the old Frspc.sesa mons
astery. the cYumblng walls OF All
Saints church and q few scattered cot
tages. The church stands on the brow
OF the cliff, overlooking The ocean.
which has swallowed up the homes ard
been the grave ofsouany Gifts worship
crs. Bare and rooness. buHeted By the
sea winds. and with tbe dirre Of the
winds drawing nourafuI echoes from
its grey walls. IL awaits the fate Of the
city which. like Dsbylsn, has fallen
rzii Nall Gaz~tte.