Volunteer divers have captured the first-known images of underwater structures believed to be the remains of a medieval village swallowed by the North Sea some 700 years ago. The photographs and video, taken off the coast of Norfolk in the United Kingdom, show massive stone formations jutting from the sandy seabed, according to the British Sub-Aqua Club.
The site is thought to be the lost town of Shipden, a settlement that thrived during the High Middle Ages before being consumed by the sea in the 14th century. Divers from the East Anglian branch of the British Sub-Aqua Club surveyed and mapped 25 man-made features as part of the Alfred Savin Project's investigation. The effort marks the first time these features are believed to have been photographed.
Among the discoveries were structures built from flint, a common building material in medieval Norfolk, along with cut stone and the remains of stone foundation structures known as caissons. Some of the structures remain eight to 10 layers of stone high despite centuries underwater. Researchers believe the caissons may have been part of a 14th-century attempt to hold back the sea, though their exact purpose has yet to be determined.
The North Sea is known for rough and dangerous conditions, but the water was unusually still during the summer dives, allowing the team to photograph and map the seabed features. Lead diver Nick Schiller said the team initially set out to search for additional remains of the Victoria, a vessel that wrecked on Church Rock in 1888. «However, it's been a bonus to help the Cromer team to take some steps forward in understanding the town of Shipden and the port of Cromer,» Schiller said.
Historical records note that Shipden was home to a modest population in the High Middle Ages. The Domesday Book, the survey that recorded land and populations across England following the Norman Conquest, listed just 117 residents in 1086. The town also had three acres of meadow, a harbor, two churches and woodland capable of supporting 36 pigs. By the 14th century, its name gradually disappeared from records and the area became known as Cromer.
Legend holds that the tower of St. Peter's Church survived beneath the waves on a formation known as Church Rock. However, the recent findings suggest that Church Rock, long believed to be connected to the lost church, may instead be the remains of medieval sea defenses. For now, the location of the church remains a mystery.
Peter Stibbons, chair of the Friends of Cromer Museum and director of the project, said researchers are examining medieval records alongside the physical discoveries to gain a better understanding of the area. «Those of us brought up in Cromer have always known the story of Church Rock, so it's a big step to saying the legend may be incorrect,» Stibbons said. He added that the team is «putting forward ideas rather than conclusions» at this stage.
The investigation continues as researchers compare the underwater features with historical documents, hoping to piece together the fate of a town that vanished beneath the waves centuries ago.