49 



VII. 

 COAST EROSION, 1897. 



BY 



CAPTAIN McDAKIN. 



The shingle is still leaving the coast from Dover eastward 

 to Walmer, a distance of seven miles (the extent of this report 

 to the east). 



No remarkable falls of the cliffs have taken place on this 

 side of Dover. In the early part of the year there was a small 

 fall about a quarter of a mile west of the South Foreland light. 

 The remarkable fissures opening on the top of the cliff, 

 mentioned in previous report, between South Foreland and 

 " Signal Ho," in map, continue to increase and point to a fall of 

 considerable quantity in a short time. 



To the West of Dover, about the end of February last, 

 three falls took place from Shakespeare Cliff, see map and 

 accompanying photographs, quite altering the face of the cliff, 

 and is supposed to be the most considerable since 18 10. In the 

 bromide permanent photograph (A) the Coast Guard station is 

 indicated by the flagstaff and hut ; in (B) they have disappeared. 

 They were removed, the condition of the cliff being considered 

 dangerous, and they have not up to this time (3 years) 1897, 

 been replaced. 



On the 5th Februar}', 1897, a fall of about 70 tons took 

 place at the back of 163 Snargate Street, Dover (Wood & Co.'s), 

 and a fall from the Castle cliff at the rear of the Guilford 

 Battery. 



The falls from the West cliff between Shakespeare cliff and 

 Folkestone were foretold in the previous reports, through the 

 translation of the protecting shingle and destruction of the 

 undercliff. A considerable factor has also been the erosion of 

 the sea and slipping forward of the undercliff, caused by the 

 numerous springs sapping the base of the cliff. This is very 

 noticeable at the West end of Abbotscliff. There is also a 

 downward displacement of the cliff, at the top, near Wine 

 Houses, in map where some crosses + + + show a downward 

 movement + , + of the centre cross. 



There is a small slip of the ferruginous beds capping the 

 cliflF, about 450 feet above sea level, a quarter of a mile west of 



