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Winterton-on-Sea
Winterton lies on the Norfolk coast between Hemsby
and Horsey. This stretch of
coastline has always been a notoriously dangerous area
for shipping - as the number of graves of shipwrecked
sailors in the churchyard attests. Some of the older
houses in the village are also built from the timber
from shipwrecks.
In Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe the
eponymous hero is himself shipwrecked off Winterton and
has to fight his way to the shore in a rowing boat:
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'While we were in this condition, the men yet labouring
at the oar to bring the boat near the shore, we could
see (when, our boat mounting the waves, we were able to
see the shore) a great many people running along the
strand, to assist us when we should come near; but we
made slow way towards the shore; nor were we able to
reach the shore til, being past the lighthouse at
Winterton, the shore falls off to the westward, towards
Cromer, and so the land broke off a little the violence
of the wind. Here we got in, and, though not without
much difficulty, got all safe on shore, and walked
afterwards on foot to Yarmouth...' |
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Just north of Winterton lies Winterton Ness which is a
sand bank which has built up over several hundred years.
While researching for his novel Armadale
Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) visited Winterton and met a
girl called Martha Rudd - who later returned to London
with him and became his partner for the rest of his
life.
The following anonymous rhyme presents a disparaging
view of the Winterton - and some of its neighbours:
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Pakefield for Poverty
Lowestoft for Poor,
Gorleston for Pretty Girls
Yarmouth for Whores,
Caister for Water Dogs
California for Pluck:
Beggar old Winterton -
How Black she do look! |
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Links:
All Saints' Church |
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Supported
by Norfolk Tourism