metal on beach

I'm scratching my head a bit, I can't remember seeing anything like that before on the beach.  I don't suppose you took a picture did you?

No pics I'm afraid. If you look closely on the beach they are all amongst the stones. Thousands of tiny pieces.They are mainly flattish. I wondered if it was something to do with the military history of the area?

Could it be something used as ballast on cargo ships ?

Hmm, perhaps. But I have not noticed it on the other nearby beaches such as Walberswick.

Hi Rachel

Thanks for your question. I'm a little baffled but will head out later and see what I can find. There are many pieces of metal that are remnants from the WW2 dragons teeth and tank traps, but these are mostly spikes, not small pieces as you've described. I'll have a look and make some enquiries and post an update soon.

Cor what a job, eh?

'Hold the fort Guys, I'm just popping down to the beach for 20 minutes!!!!'

Oh how I envy you sometimes. :)

Hello Rachel,although I am not in your area we had a recent story in the local paper "TWO tonnes of coiled spikes, thought to be anti-tank devices, have been removed from a section of Northam Burrows’s Pebble Ridge. The recent high tides had exposed the coils and were thought to be erected at that location more than 60 years ago because of the natural gap in the sand dunes."

I wondered if this was similar to your recent find,but only a suggestion

Hi Rachel

Having had a close look on the beach, I couldn't see any evidence of bits of metal. I did, however, find what I think might be the source of your question. There are a number of disks, upto 10 cm diameter, that look at first glance like rusted metal. These are actually bits of fossilised clay or shale that are regularly exposed by coastal erosion. The only metal I could find was remains of the dragon's teeth and rusted scaffold poles.

I hope this answers your question. If not, perhaps you could take a photo of the mystery items for us.

Ian