416 REPORT—1885. 
At Pegwell Bay are low cliffs of marly ‘Thanet Beds,’ which are succeeded by 
nearly flintless Chalk cliffs (in the bay), except the junction-bed with the Tertiaries 
which contains numerous nodular and tabular flints. There are also large tabular 
Sandstone blocks, which occur in the Tertiary bed, and which are termed ‘ moorlogs’ 
in the Ordnance maps. It is at this point that the present mouth of the Stour dis- 
charges its waters into the sea. 
The remaining eastern coast-line from Pegwell to the North Foreland consists of 
Chalk headlands, about fifty feet in height, containing, for the most part, tabular and 
nodular flints. 
The sea opposite the before-mentioned coast-line is called the ‘Downs,’ and at 
some distance from the shore are the dreaded Goodwin Sands, and numerous shoals 
that divide the tidal currents. The prevailing, or most rapid, current runs from south 
to north along this line of coast. 
The northern shore-line from Whitstable to a little beyond Herne Bay is com- 
posed of London Clay cliffs, which vary from forty to seventy feet in height. From 
Beltinge (east of Herne Bay) to Reculvers the lower part of the cliff is composed of 
sand, with occasional Sandstone blocks, the latter more numerous towards Reculvers. 
From this point eastward, as far as Cliffend, at Birchington, the shore is a marsh 
below high-water line, protected by artificial embankments. 
From Birchington to Foreness, near the North Foreland, the cliffs are of Chalk, 
nearly devoid of flint, ranging from thirty to fifty feet in height. 
The sea opposite this northern shore consists of the mouth of the River Thames, 
which has numerous shoals, the largest and most remarkable of which is known as 
the ‘ Margate Sand,’ being of a like character with the Goodwin Sands, to the south 
of the Isle of Thanet. The tidalcurrent runs east and west ; strongest from the east. 
Sea-Beaches. 
On the southern shore of this district are sea-beaches, for the most part under- 
neath the cliffs, and piled up along shore, so as to form a natural barrier to the 
waves. These beaches have been travelling, and are still travelling, from the south 
towards the north. Artificial barriers across these beaches, at right angles to the 
shore, arrest this action, but the tendency of the sea-current is always to sweep 
round such obstructions, and the impinging force in such cases carries away the 
beach which had accumulated to leeward. 
At Dover the construction of the Admiralty Pier has caused the beach to accumu- 
late to the south-west, and, by the sweeping round of the tide, to remove the beach to 
the north of the town. A great change is perceptible in this respect since I have known 
the coast. 
At St. Margaret’s Bay the beach has diminished, and between here and Kingsdown 
a large quantity has been swept away during the last few years. Towards Walmer 
there has been a large accumulation, which is now rather stationary. 
To the north of Deal and towards Sandown Castle the shore is being rapidly cut 
back. The beach alone here forms a natural barrier, and protects the low land 
behind it. Any cause tending to weaken or destroy this would cause the sea to 
inundate the Lydden Valley, some hundreds of acres in extent. The sand-hills beyond 
form a like natural protection. 
In times past, the accumulations of sand blown on shore by the south-westerly 
winds have caused gain of land from the sea. At the same time, the prevailing 
currents have thrown back the mouth of the Stour more and more to the north, 
which has further gained from the sea a tract of land now protected by the sand 
hills. 
At Pegwell Bay the sea has gained greatly on the land, washing away the cliff at 
a rapid rate, as my sketches taken here in 1849, 1868, and 1884 show. 
From Ramsgate Harbour to the North Foreland, the shore below the cliff is 
covered with sand at high water mark, and there is little or no beach. Some falls of 
cliff have taken place, but the shore has not been materially cut back since I have 
known it. 
From Walmer to the North Foreland there are very few groynes, and beach has been 
largely abstracted at different times artificially. Though some of the local authorities 
have prohibited this removal, it still goes on at places. Such removal must be pre- 
judicial in exhausting the supply of material moved by the sea. ' 
The northern shore of this area has comparatively little beach, and its removal 
should be strongly opposed. From the Foreness Point to the extreme end of the 
