The Bells

'When the bells sound, that is when the best fishing is to be had'.

Dunwich was once an important trading point.  The town is thought to have had eighty ships, five religious orders and two seats in Parliament during its heyday under Edward I. However, in 1286 fierce storms swept much of the town into the sea and the Dunwich River was partly silted up. Residents fought to save the harbour but this too was destroyed by an equally fierce storm in 1328. Another large storm in 1347 swept some 400 houses into the sea.

By the mid-nineteenth century, Dunwich was described as a decayed and disfranchised borough. A new church, St James, was built in 1832, after the last of the old churches, All Saints was abandoned. One of the tower buttresses was salvaged and now stands in the current Georgian era Church of St James.

Dunwich at the turn of the 21st Century is a small coastal "village", though retaining its status as a town. The coastline at Dunwich is made up of soft rock (sands, gravels and clays); these are easily eroded by the sea.  The remains of a Franciscan priory Greyfriars stands alone on the cliff top, a 13th century monastic ruins. It was abandoned due to the advancing sea around 1328. It was rebuilt further inland (outside the original city limits) and the ruins survive to this day. A little further inland stands the east end of the chapel of the medieval leper hospital of St James, where you can still make out the original altar. It's one of only a handful of leper chapels still left in the country and was directly joined to the leper hospital dating back to the 12th Century.

The Hobby Lanterns

Around Dunwich heaths you may see the Hobby Lanterns they look a little like Will-o-the-Wisp. They are attractive impish creatures but you may be 'will-led' by them as they jump about and cause mischief.

In time gone by it was said that the hobbies would blow your lantern out and that you must not travel along these areas between Michaelmas and Christmas." One story says that a man was returning home walking near the heaths and just as he came off the marsh area on to the heath he got "will-led," and was taken away from his direct path and did not find himself again till he was nearly one-and-a-half miles over ground with marsh ditches. "When you get 'will-led' by Hobby Lanterns, you must take off your stocking and turn it, or turn some other garment. When people turned their garment they found themselves again."

The Devils Gap

On the old track over Dunwich Walks there is a raised grass area with a gap which is called “The Devil's Gap." Near this, a small square piece of heath land was carefully kept clear, no one knows why. 

Several people report apparitions near Dunwich walks some are all white in a shroud, or grey. One tale says that a man was coming home with a friend when he saw someone standing by the roadside, he said good evening. In passing he touched the person and felt a shiver, he began to run. But was thrown back into the roadside, He said the side which touched the ghost felt numb and it is said that you should never touch a ghost but always give them plenty of room.

It has become local superstition that in this area more often than not you should expect to encounter a ghost and consequently be thrown across the road.

There have also been encounters with a huge black figure and a white female form along with the sound of clanking chains heard.

Tales of Dunwich

Franciscan Monks Walk the Ruins - On the Dunwich coastline, ghostly monks wander the ruins, a reminder of the loss of eight churches that have been taken by sea erosion since the twelfth century.

Invisible Children- Children's laughter has been heard on the beach, too late at night to belong to mortal youngsters.

Ghostly Figures - The cliff paths by Greyfriars is where a ghostly figure searching for something that has long been lost.

Nature Spirits - A little nature spirit has been caught on camera watching over the cliffs along the beach.

Phantom Squire - On nights of the full moon, riding his fastest racehorse, this phantom squire landowner charges around the heathland worrying the locals.

Invisible Animals - Herds of invisible grazing animals were once heard by locals moving along the roads in this area. The creatures are also said to be heard on the beaches, where green pastures once lay.

The Bells Still Ring - Once a busy port town, sea erosion has reduced this location to only a few dozen houses. The church that once stood on the cliffs has been washed out to sea, and it is said the bells can be heard ringing on still moonless nights. Divers exploring the ruins of the old town that once stood on the cliffs have often reported a strange feeling that they are not alone under the sea.

The Sailor - A ghostly figure of an Elizabethan sailor slowly walks down to the sea before hopping into his boat and taking sail.