The Sea Breaks Through

From the collection of

East Anglian Film Archive at the University of East Anglia
The East Anglian Film Archive, the UK's first regional film archive, offers a unique record of the East of England's social and cultural history. As part of the University of East Anglia, we continue to lead moving image heritage research and inspire audience participation through community projects and events. Our collections represent a broad range of amateur and professional creativity, from 1896 to the present day.

The Sea Breaks Through


On February 12th 1938, extreme weather caused the North Sea to battle against the North and West Norfolk coast. The area around Horsey, south of Sea Palling, was extensively flooded after the storm breached the dune defences, and the sea crashed against the cliffs and destroyed homes. The cliffs have a long history of gradual coastal erosion with a number of homes being lost to the sea over the centuries. This film is a record of the aftermath of the storm and the work to restore.


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