Happisburgh history

I must confess that my ears prick up any time I hear or read the name Happisburgh, because it's where my grandfather was born.

Peter mentioned in the latest newsletter the discovery of prehistoric human footprints on the seashore at Happisburgh in Norfolk. There was also a fairly recent announcement of discovery of flint tools in the same location. The British Museum site on the Happisburgh project says 'The deposits found at Happisburgh containing artefacts have been named the Hill House Formation, after the Hill House public house, in Happisburgh village, 200 metres from the site and directly above the inland continuation of the ancient river channel.

Well, this is particularly pleasing to me as my GG parents ran the Hill House! In 1901 my 9 year old grandfather Gilbert John Cubitt, born Happisburgh, was recorded at Hill House Hotel. The household was headed by his widowed mother, Emma Dorcas Cubitt, who continued to run the hotel until her death in 1919, when she was succeeded by my great aunt. (Sherlock Holmes aficionados may already know of the hotel in another context)

 

Alright Peter, let us into the secret - how is it pronounced?

 

You will find this mentioned on the forum in my post of Dec19th.

I heard the name spoken so may times in my childhood that it was quite a surprise to find how it was spelt. Norfolk place names for you!