EROSION IN ESSEX AND SUFFOLK. 223 



with the yj^fo Ordnance Survey Maps of 1874. ^^ Walton and Frinton the 

 loss is practically confined to areas bare of shingle. The existence in the 

 cliffs of potholes of sand and gravel containing water is also a cause of 

 subsidence ; the water breaking out on the base, carrying the sand with it, 

 loosens large masses of the upper part of the cliff. The loss of land at Walton 

 and Frinton has gone on from time immemorial :' but it has been noticed that 

 since the construction of the Harwich Harbour Conservative Board's Works 

 at Landguard Point there has been a greater scarcity of oiiingle on the beach 

 at Walton and Frinton. Part of Landguard Common and the land at the 

 mouth of the Deben is formed of ' blown sand ' (locally called ' Benthills ') 

 covering the top of a shingle beach, their height being from 3 to 10 feet 

 above high water-mark. The Benthill at Landguard Point is increasmg 

 in consequence of the Conservancy Board's jetty. The sand is not blown ovea 

 the land, this being prevented by the 'bent grass' or 'marram.' With his 

 report Mr. Bruff presented tracings showing the Harwich Harbour Con- 

 servancy Board's Works at the entrance to the harbour, and the scouring away 

 to Landguard Point to the S.W., and accumulation of beach to the N.E. of 

 the same. And he referred to the various reports presented to and published 

 by the authority of Parliament. 



In the same report Mr. W. Teasdell, C.E,, stated that at Gorleston 

 Suffolk, the cliff had gone back from 200 to 300 feet within the last 40 years 

 within the last 6 years, 60 feet ; the cliff's are sand 80 to 90 feet high. 



At the British Association meeting for 1895 {B.A . Bep. p 678) 

 our member, Mr. John Spiller, F.C.S., furnished some details on 

 " Recent Coast Erosion at Southwold and Covehithe," Suffolk. 

 The report was pubhshed in full in the Supplement to the East 

 Anglian Daily Times, Sept. 13th, 1895, '■'"^t the following abstract 

 will be sufficient for the present purpose : — 



" Owing to the prevalence of northerly winds, culminating in a moderate 

 gale on May i6th (1895) the tide rose to an unusual height all along the East 

 Coast, and attacked the soft sandy cliffs between Dunwich and Covehithe, 

 creating a new cove at the northern extremity of Southwold, and sweeping 

 away the roadway at the back of the beach to the extent of half an acre at 

 this particular spot. The Cliffs at Eastern Bavents and Covehithe likewise 

 suftered considerably, and this loss being reported to Mr. W. Whitaker 

 induced that gentleman to lend his maps with certain measurements noted 

 thereon for the purpose of exact comparison. Thus provided, the author 

 walked o\er the ground and took fresh measurements at the several points 

 along the route, which resulted in the determination of the amount of cliff- 

 waste since 1882 and i88g, and this, stated briefly, was as follows; — 



I At a Local Government Board enquiry with regard to the Frinton Council's application 

 for leave to borrow £1,760 for sea defences and cliff preservation, held on October 31st, 1902, 

 it was stated that the encroachment of the sea at Frinton during the last 50 years had been 

 very severe. Sixty yards of clifi had been lost since 1S74. This was at the rate of about 

 10 feet per annum. Near the eastern extremity of the parish there was an old stone groyne 

 where a large bed of sand had accunmlated, and damage done to the cliffs there had been 

 checked to a large extent. 



