Explore Bude’s Changing Coast Through Time
Discover how thousands of years of natural processes and human activity have shaped Bude’s coastline with our new interactive online map.
Created by the Maritime Archaeology Trust as part of the Future Coast Bude project, this free digital resource brings together archaeology, historic maps, photographs and artwork to reveal how Bude’s coast has continually changed – and what those changes can tell us about the future.
The project is funded by Defra and the Environment Agency and led by Cornwall Council.
Click here to explore the interactive viewer
Understanding the past to plan for the future
From submerged prehistoric forests and ancient flint tools to historic harbour structures and seaside development, the new resource reveals how natural processes and human activity have shaped Bude’s coast over thousands of years.
By combining these different types of evidence, the Maritime Archaeology Trust has created a series of accessible “coastal change narratives” for key locations including the Sea Pool, Crooklets Beach, the Breakwater and the dunes at Summerleaze.
These stories show that coastal change is not new, but the way we respond to it is evolving.
A unique role for archaeology
While modern monitoring tracks coastal change over decades, archaeology provides a much longer perspective.
Buried peat deposits, submerged landscapes and historic structures reveal where the coastline once lay and how it has shifted over time. This long-term view helps identify patterns of change, understand the impact of past engineering, and provide valuable context for future decision-making.
A coast shaped by people as well as nature
The project also highlights how people have interacted with Bude’s coast through time, from early communities adapting to rising sea levels, to the construction of the canal and breakwater in the 19th century, and the development of the town as a popular seaside destination.
Historic photographs, postcards and artworks bring these changes to life, showing everything from working beaches and sand mining to the growth of tourism and coastal defences.
Supporting future decisions
The Future Coast Bude project is exploring how the town can adapt to rising sea levels and changing storm patterns.
By providing a clear, evidence-based picture of how the coastline has changed in the past, the Maritime Archaeology Trust’s work helps inform discussions about how it might change in the future.
This includes understanding where natural processes once operated freely, how engineering has altered the coast, and what this means for managing risk while protecting the character and heritage of Bude.
Related Projects: