Heather at Dunwich

We started off bright and early this morning to photograph the heather whilst it is still in flower, at Dunwich along the Suffolk coast. Heavy rain was forecast for this afternoon, and they weren't wrong, so we thought we would try to beat the weather first thing. As we were deciding to call it a day the heavens opened and we got drenched, never mind we got some lovely photographs which was the whole point of the trip.
In Anglo Saxon times Dunwich was the capital of the Kingdom of East Anglia, but the harbour and most of the town have since disappeared due to coastal erosion. At its height it was an international port similar in size to 14th century London.
It's decline began in 1286 when a storm surge hit the East Anglian coast and it was eventually reduced to the size it is today, it's population at the 2001 census was 84. In the Domesday Book of 1086 it is described as having three churches with a population of 3000. Most buildings present in the 13th century have disappeared including eight churches, it is now a small coastal 'village' although it retains it's status as a town.
The remains of a 13th century Franciscan Priory and the leper hospital of St James can still be seen.
A popular local legend says that at certain tides, church bells can be heard from beneath the waves.