The Lion Pillar, Sutton-on-Sea, Lincolnshire. On 31st January 1953 exceptional weather conditions combined with a spring tide produced one of the worst floods in living memory for the east coast of England. Over 300 people lost their lives and damage in today's money was estimated at over £5 billion. The flooding was caused by a storm surge caused by the wind pushing the sea towards the coast coupled with low air pressure. Soon after darkness fell, Lincolnshire bore the brunt of the storm. Sand was scoured from beaches and sand hills, timber-piled dunes were breached, the landward slopes of embankments were eroded, concrete sea walls crumbled, the promenades of Mablethorpe and Sutton-on-Sea were wrecked, and seawater broke through to flood agricultural land. The Lion Pillar is all that remains of the original sea defences and promenade at Sutton-on-Sea.

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