(sou)+Topography

This remarkable system of creeks was responsible for the settlement of 8 communities, each of which in Saxon times had its own quay and access to the sea. The two inland villages of Wangford and Reydon maintained trading quays on the Blyth well into the middle of the 19th century.

Over the centuries, coastal erosion and the deposition from rivers and streams has led to the blocking of the northern inlets serving South Cove and Frostenden turning them into extensive freshwater marshes.

Now, only the port of Southwold is accessible through the mouth of the Blyth that was first cut through the shingle bank in the 16th century. Before then, Southwold and Walberswick could only accesss the sea via the natural mouth of the Blyth at Dunwich.

It is likely that at one time, Southwold was an island community, being cut off from the mainland by the tidal inlet now known as Buss Creek. 'Buss' was the name of a particular type of medieval Dutch trading vessel.

//Fro= Frostenden; Sco=South Cove; Wan=Wangford; Rey=Reydon; Eas=Easton Bavents; Sou=Southwold; Wal=Walberswick; Dun=Dunwich.//