The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-13
A LOST ENGLISH CITY.
All That Remains To-day of It's
Many buildings Are the IrOn-CIad
Ruins of Two Churches and a Few

ruins OF Two Churches and a Few
Colleges.
From the Pail Mall Gazette.
There are few sections Of the British
coast-line which have been subjected TO
greater change and devastation than that
Of East Angela, lying between Aldeburgh
and Lynn. Century after century the sea
has slowly but surely gained its victories
over the land, and to-day It carries on the
siege with unabating energy. The East
Anglican shores offer but frail barrier
against the swinging North Sea rollers
often nothing but narrow ridge of mar
ram-grOWn hillocks of drifted sand lies
between the fretting beach surf and the
loW-lying marshland, stretching inland for
many miles. Already the ocean bed off
Norfolk ana Suffolk is strewn with the
ruins OF villages, towns, and even cities
that once were conspicuous landmarks Of
the coast, and fitted out many ships to
night their country's battles in England's
early wars.
Between southwold and Aldeburgh. on
the SUFFOLK coast,in an out-Of-the-way cor
ner OF the country where the shrek and
roar OF the railway are as yet unheard
Is parsely-populated village of about
two score cottages, all that now remains
OF Dunwich, the old-time SCAT OF govern
ment and capital of East Anglia. Once
the largest and most flOurishing CITY in
Eastern England. the residence Of kings
the see Of bishop, a seat Of learning and
a port Of considerable trade. now its glory
mas departed, IT'S palaces, churches, mon
asterles, streets and markets have dis
appeared beneath the waves Before the
Norman conquest the sea had commenced
It work OF devastation, nor did it cease ms
accomplished.
There are grounds for belief that the
old city of Dunwich stood on the Site of
settlement of the Roman legions who
H1HfIN Nnn H. -.
adieea. Subsequent to the Norman inva-
sion IT increased rapidly in population and
prosperity. OF the Importance of the place
IN the time of Richard l some idea may
be gained from the fact that 1t was fined
1000 marks for uHlawfully supplying the
kings enemies with corn while Ipswich
and Yarmouth, now two of the three
principal towns in East Anglia were only
| ordered to pay the sum Of 200 marks each
In the reign OF Henry II 1t was a town
or good note, Astounding In much riches
and sundry kinds of merchandise" At
the beginning of his reign, King John
granted a charter of liberties to the town
by which its inhabitants were allowed to
marry their sons and daughters as they
pleased, and to give, sell or dispose Of
! their property as they thought fit Under
| this same charter, which cost the men
! OF Dunwich 500 marks, ten falcons and
gerfaleons, they were granted "all
/ wrecks of the sea"
About this time Dunwich was probab lv
| at the hight of its prosperity, and is de-
scribed as a large city, with many roads.
| streets, public buildings and churches.
! The greater part of 1t stood upon a hill.
| the base of which was washed by the
| sea. It's town hall was an imposing build
! ing, its port was crowded with shipping.
! In addition to numerous churches, 1t had
] monasteries Of the Franciscan and Domin-
| lean friars, each with its own church. In
| the reign of Edward l Dunwich sent two
! members to parliament.
| All this time the sea was carving on a
! ceaseless and irresistible siege of the
| coast. Each succeeding winter saw fresh
! breaches made in the sand dunes between
/ the beach and the marshes and frequent
| falls from the crumbling cliffs On the
| night OF Jan. /, 1886, a violent storm
| wrought great havoc upon the borders of
| the town. The sea made extensive en-
/ croachments and several churches were
| submerged. During the next twenty years
! more than 400 houses collapsed Later on
| the church Of st. Leonard disappeared, and
| before the end of the century two other
| churches We're undermined by the waves.
| St John the Baptist's was the next to go
| to be followed before the year 1909 by the
| chantries of st. Anthony, st. Francis and
| ST. Catherine By this time two of the city
| gates, the South Gate and the Golden
/ Gate, had been washed away, and only
| about Quarter of the old town was left
1 standing. The church and buildings of the
| knights Templars disappeared during the
| reign of Charles I, and in 1877 the sea
reached the market place, when the towns