COVEHITHE

Covehithe stands high on the cliffs overlooking the North Sea between Lowestoft and Southwold, over the years much of the village has been lost to the sea due to coastal erosion. The village was never large; at its height it only had around 300 souls yet the magnificent perpendicular church was out of all proportion to the population, and was said to have been paid for by a wealthy benefactor, one William Yarmouth . In 1672 the church authorities agreed to the building of a smaller church within the walls of the old one. This smaller church was built by utilising material from the original structure.

On the way to Covehithe I passed this lovely Bluebell wood on the Benacre Estate.

Even today the ruins of the original St Andrew's church look impressive, in its heyday it must have been magnificent with its large stained glass windows . The tower that contains some of the oldest bells in the country has recently undergone extensive repairs and for hundreds of years has been a landmark to shipping on this part of the coast.

The present church of St Andrew built inside the walls of the original.

One of the present church doors seen through the remains of an original doorway.

One of the few houses in the village.

Lovely Cherry blossom overhanging this gateway.

A Red Admiral butterfly, the first butterfly I've seen this year.

Most of the houses left in the village can be seen in this picture.

The road out of Covehithe...

Literally!