910 REPORT— 1888. 



mischief northward being due apparently to the protection afforded by the Isle of 

 Thanet. 



During the degradation of this particular length of coast the beach south of Deal 

 at Walmer and Kingsdown appears to have somewhat increased, though not at the 

 same rate as formerly ; this at first appears anomalous, but as Kingsdown, where such 

 an extraordinary accumulation of shingle has taken place, is half-way between Dover 

 and Sandown, it appears to have benefited by the motion of shingle from the south- 

 ward and westward, or from the northward.' 



To show the extreme peril that the lands to which this mole of shingle has hitherto 

 acted as a barrier are now in, it is only necessary to refer to the fact that these 

 formations, in such a situation as this, when in equilibrium, are usually about 10 feet 

 above the range of high water of spring tides ; at the end of the esplanade the bank 

 is 11 feet above this level ; opposite the mill, 9 feet 9 inches ; 500 feet north of the 

 esplanade, 7 feet 8 inches ; 800 feet, 7 feet 3 inches ; and adjoining the ' Good In- 

 tent,' it is only 6 feet 3 inches above this level ; north of the Castle the crest is usually 

 from 8 to 9 feet above, until we come to the partial breach at 1,500 feet northwards, 

 where the shingle and sand are only 6 feet above high tides. North of this there are 

 even worse places, being only from 3 to 4 feet above at 1,700 and 2,000 feet north- 

 wards ; and at one particular place, viz., 2,165 feet north, where there is a sudden 

 dip caused by the breach of 25th ultimo, and the sand-hill cropping through the 

 crest, it is only level with the range of high spring tides, viz., 19 feet above Datum, 

 which figure deducted from those on the crest on plan, will give the relative heights 

 above high water extreme spring tides. South of Battery No. 1 the beach where it 

 has spread over the land is equally low, being only from 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet 

 above. North of the Battery we find the crest again from 8 to 9 feet above high 

 water. 



In reference to the first item of your instructions, viz.: — 



' What are the best measures for preserving Sandown Castle from destruction ? ' 



I beg to report that I consider the only effectual way of doing this would be by 

 paving the bays between the groynes with stone, at a slope of about 7 to 1, terminated 

 by a curved face meeting the base of the Castle walls, the margin next the sea to be 

 sheet piled, or protected by a toe of large stones laid in a deep trench. At first it 

 might be sufficient to protect the two bays adjacent to the centre groyne in this way ; 

 should no accumulation take place in the north and south bays, an extension of the 

 paving would be necessary; but as I consider these groj'nes act injuriously by their 

 great height, creating cross eddies and overfalls which sweep out the shingle after it 

 is deposited, I recommend the planks of the north and south groynes being removed 

 to the mean level of the beach north and south of these defences, and the planks of 

 the centre and intermediate groynes to the level of the adjacent shore ; the effect of 

 this had best first be tried before encountering the expense of paving ; a wall should 

 be erected north of the Castle to the extent of your boundary to check the beach, and 

 this might serve as an example to the landowners, or the revetment should be raised : 

 this is imperatively required, likewise at the Battery, to prevent the beach retreating 

 on the land, which, in travelling westward or landward and southward, at the same 

 time, is heaped up against the walls of the Castle and Battery, and were counter 

 walls, sufficiently high, erected in the directions shown, they would have the effect 

 of driving the shingle seaward of these defences. No permanent benefit would, how- 

 ever, result from this without the wall was made continuous from the Castle to the 

 Battery, and from this latter northward to where the beach is stable or unaffected by 

 this landward motion ; for should short lengths only be executed to the limit of the 

 property of your Board, the shingle would drive past, and eventually the ends be 

 undermined, as we now see in operation at the end of the esplanade wall at Sandown, 

 which will shortly render the continuation of this wall imperative unless a re- 

 accumulation of beach hereafter takes place. 



A good deal of mischief is done by the sea getting inside the moat, and at low 

 water finding its way out again under the foundations, which in all probability was 

 one of the causes of the failure of the former cross walls. I would recommend (if 

 the material could be readily found) that the moat should be filled to the level of the 



' The degradation of the shore from St. Margaret's to Dover is almost as remarkable 

 as in the district now under notice. 



[February 1863 : Notices from Her Majesty's Board of Works now posted against 

 removal, consequent on loss of beach at S. Foreland, Sandown, &c. ? Admiralty Pier, 

 Dover.] 



I 



