“RATE OF EROSION OF THE SEA-COASTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES. 411 
very great, and we constantly had to employ gangs of men in refacing the front 
top of the river walls. On the north side or left bank of the Medway, at the 
of Grain, where the large fort was built for the protection of the entrance to the 
ver, &c., the sea or estuary made great inroads in the foreshore of clay or mud 
ch formed the foot of the glacis of the fort. The sea-walls and groynes built at 
point opposite the dockyard at Sheerness had to be constantly repaired and kept 
order, or the foreshore would have gone altogether. The action of the sea or 
uary in this case, as well as at Sheerness generally, was most effective when the 
ind was N.E. and the tides high; there was scarcely any shelter from the N.E., the 
ter was driven up with great force over the walls, and the shingle at the groynes 
s disturbed ; and at the great storm during the frost of January 1881, the sluices 
ich should have let the surface-water out were frozen, and the whole of the low- 
2 ground was flooded and afterwards frozen, which did a great deal of damage 
property, and caused much malaria afterwards. 
The direction of the groynes generally was N.E. towards the prevailing wind, and 
the accumulation of shingle to windward was often 6 or7 feet higher than the 
other side. There was scarcely any movement of shingle when the wind was westerly 
nd from the south, as the coast-line was well protected by the adjoining banks and 
als. With regard to the abstraction of shingle from the foreshore at Sheerness, 
0 doubt the proprietor of the foreshore at Marine Town used to sell the shingle to 
builders and others, but as the sea-wall at this place was considerably retired in 
position, I am not sure that much harm was done in my time. At Garrison Point, 
inside the line of fortifications, we allowed a small amount of shingle to be taken for 
building purposes, but only on the river-front. Beyond Cheyney Rock and towards 
Warden Point, a great deal of shingle was taken away by builders and others to make 
concrete. My own opinion is that, as a rule, none should be allowed to be taken 
from Sheerness, as the whole front is really artificially kept up, and the shingle is a 
very important factor in the matter. Where there is a great accumulation of shingle 
groynes it may be allowed, in exceptional cases, to remove shingle for W.D. 
purposes. 
_ With regard to the coast-line from Folkestone to Dungenessand Winchelsea, with 
Which I was acquainted in 1882 and 1883, I would state generally that the sea is 
king inroads near Folkestone towards Hast Wear Bay, caused no doubt by the 
cour of the sea thrown on the foreshore by the piers of the harbour; but the three 
towers on the cliff above are not affected thereby. The S.-E, Railway Company are 
tecting the frontof the town near the Pavilion Hotel and Pier, and towards 
ndgate many groynes have been constructed. Sandgate Castle has, I believe, been 
en over by the S.-E. Railway Company, and I imagine they will protect the 
eshore there. The sea-walls at Seabrook and Hythe were much damaged by a gale 
in 1882, from want of the proper number of groynes; these have, I believe, since 
been provided by the 8.-E. Railway Company. 
From Hythe to Dymchurch and Dungeness, as I understand, the Lords of Romney 
Marsh keep up the canal sluices, sea-walls, groynes, &c., and do it very well; doubt- 
less they prevent shingle from being taken. From Dungeness to Winchelsea the 
ame rule applies, and except where the foreshore of the towers and forts occasionally 
intervenes, I imagine the whole coast-line is protected by these Commissioners of 
Levels. The movement of shingle towards Dungeness Point from the westward is 
yery apparent ; it is caught up there, and the foreshore is gradually increasing. At 
me time the sea came up to Winchelsea, Lydd, and New Romney, although they 
now a considerable distance inland. I should say that the sea is encroaching a 
e between Dungeness and Rye, but Rye Harbour is becoming shallower. I 
not imagine shingle is allowed to be taken from the foreshore here, except under 
very careful supervision. 
_ From Winchelsea to Hastings I know but little ; except that near Hastings, at Rock- 
-Nore Cliffs, one very large stone groyne has been built, and one is in course of con- 
action near the Practice Battery, which effectually keep up the shingle and prevent it 
ng eastward and undermining the cliffs and damaging the Fisherman’s Town. The 
ole front of Hastings and St. Leonards is protected by sea walls and groynes kept 
by the local authorities, and I imagine shingle is only allowed to be taken in small 
tities for public building purposes. From Hastings to Bopeep and to Bexhill 
derable inroads have been made by the sea, and some of the old Martello-towers 
ve gone. The lord of the manor or local authority at Bexhill is building a sea- 
ll there to protect the front and form an esplanade ; but at the neighbouring fore- 
re west much of the ground has been recently washed away, and until Pevensey Bay 
OD 
