Discover the village that fell into the sea
Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire
One dark night in 1664, while local people were attending a wake, the whole village of Runswick slipped into the sea…
Thankfully, all the villagers escaped but by morning there was only one house left standing… the house of the man whose funeral they had attended!
Like other Yorkshire coastal villages, most of the villagers were fishermen, around which a great deal of superstition revolved. Any mention of pigs, women or eggs on the way to their boats would lead to the cancellation of the day’s activities.
There are also stories of hobs (household spiritis) and goblins that were said to frequent the moors and coast - some troublemakers, others dispensing help and good luck.
Runswick Bay is still one of the most picturesque fishing villages in England and provides the perfect hub from which to explore the Yorkshire’s heritage coast.
Content provided by Discover Yorkshire Coast