Walberswick
| Walberswick | |
|---|---|
 Walberswick |
|
 Walberswick
|
|
| Walberswick shown within Suffolk | |
| Population | 380 (2011) |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Southwold |
| Postcode district | IP18 |
| Dialling code | 01502 |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
Walberswick is a village and civil parish on the Suffolk coast in England. It is at the mouth of the River Blyth on the south side of the river. The town of Southwold lies to the north of the river and is the nearest town to Walberswick, around 1 mile (1.6 km) away. Walberswick is around 11 miles (18 km) south of Lowestoft on the North Sea coast. It is 7 miles (11 km) east of Halesworth and 28 miles (45 km) north-east of the county town of Ipswich.
Coastal erosion and the shifting of the mouth of the River Blyth meant that the neighbouring town of Dunwich, 3 miles (4.8 km) to the south, was lost as a port in the last years of the 13th century. Following a brief period of rivalry and dispute with Dunwich, Walberswick became a major trading port from the 13th century until World War I. Almost half of the properties in the village are holiday homes.
The name Walberswick is believed to derive from the Saxon Waldbert – probably a landowner – and "wyc" meaning shelter or harbour. At the top of the village is the 15th-century St Andrew's Church, which has been reduced in size since its medieval heyday. The size of the remaining St Andrew's ruins demonstrate how large the parish church once was.
The name 'Walleburyswyke', appearing in a Latin legal record, dated 1440, may refer to the village.
The World War Two defences constructed around Walberswick have been documented. They included a number of pillboxes, landmines and flame fougasse installations. The beaches were protected with extensive barriers of scaffolding.
...
Wikipedia