Did you know this about
forgotten coastal resorts?
Did you Know?
Freiston Shore, in the 19th century was a popular seaside resort with visitors arriving by charabancs, two hotels and horse racing on the beach - barely a trace remains.
In this remote area was a former borstal, now known as HMP North Sea Camp. In the 1930's the boys began reclaiming land from the sea to create farmland. Using hand tools and their own miniature railway track, they built banks which by 1979 had reclaimed a staggering 650 acres. However, the final section had pushed dangerously far out and couldn't be defended, known by the prison as a 'bank too far'.
Saltmarsh diffuses the power of the waves more effectively than a seawall, so to improve flood defences the Freiston Shore coastline was realigned in 2002. This may sound wrong but a hole was cut in the seawall to let the sea in, allowing the development of new saltmarsh, better absorbing wave power. This would create a new reserve, RSPB Freiston Shore for wintering and breeding birds.
