Why did early visitors come here?

Like today Southwold was a seasonal resort. The earliest visitors were nomads who came almost like day-trippers. They moved north as the ice retreated, in search of meat, fruit and nuts, but returned south to their homeland in Europe as it got colder again. Later, as the climate improved and living became easier, people spent longer here, making it their second home as many do today.

Later still, people stayed in the area but still moved around seasonally. Finally they settled permanently and became primitive farmers because the climate and geology made this a sustainable choice.