OBSERVATIONS ON CHANGES IN SEA COAST OF UNITED KINGDOM. 261 



rate of erosion is about the same. The town of Filey is protected by a 

 sea-wall. No groynes exist at Speeton, and shingle and sand are being 

 constantly removed during the winter months ; but on the southern side 

 of Flamborough Head (at Sands Road), one groyne has been built which 

 retains the beach sufficiently to enable carts to get down to and to remove 

 the sand. This loss is stated to have no apparent effect. At Bridlington 

 Quay parades and a sea-wall prevent subsidence to the north and south of 

 Bridlington Harbour, where there was formerly an annual loss: of about 

 six feet. Piles are driven in close to the sea-wall, and groynes prevent 

 the scour of the beach and retard the travelling sand and shingle. To the 

 north of Wilsthorpe Gap groynes protect the beach, but do not prevent 

 subsidence of the cliff. At Flamborough Head, Bridlington Bay, fresh- 

 water springs cause the initial slipping of the cliff. The Divisional Officer, 

 writing from Bridlington Quay concerning the coast from 3^ miles north 

 of Filey Brig to Grimston Garth, 9 miles south of Hornsea, states that 

 shingle, sand, and stones are removed from most places, except from Atwick 

 Gap to Garton Gap, where the beach is protected by order of the Board of 

 Trade. Along this coast, from Bridlington Quay to Spurn Head, pi-acti- 

 cally the whole coast is receding at an average rate of 6 feet per annum, 

 where not especially protected, as in Bridlington Harbour. 



Groynes exist at Hornsea, both to the north and south of the village, 

 and keep the shingle in place ; elsewhere the loss appears to be between 

 3 and 4 feet per annum. At Withei-nsea groynes in a very bad state of 

 repair are placed 100 yards apart, but the average annual loss is 9 feet 

 per annum. Shingle is not removed. At Sandlemere and Hompton an 

 annual loss of 9 feet per annum is also recorded. 



From Kilnsea Warren to Spurn Point, a distance of 4 miles, groynes 

 retain and build up a good beach ; nevertheless the annual loss is given 

 as 6 feet. Three observations of definite change witnessed have been 

 supplied on Form II. The first relates to a large fall of clay in June 1899 

 at Pampletine Cliff, Filey. The mass was 60 yards in length by 9 yards 

 in breadth, having a depth of some 100 feet. Such slips, which are not 

 uncommon, are produced, not merely by the encroachment of the sea, but 

 also through heavy rains and springs. At Ulrome (between Hornby 

 Eunnell and Atwick) about 15 feet of cliff disappeared in 1899; the 

 average annual rate is estimated at 6 feet. The cause is locally attri- 

 buted to the scarcity of sand at the base of the cliff ; and it is noted 

 that the loss is greatest where the cliffs are highest. 



An undated report (probably 1899-1900) from Kilnsea records a very 

 rapid loss of land. In two months these slips reached the extent of 

 50 yards inland and 100 yards in length, and occurred at intervals along 

 some five miles of coast. Additional information, received in July 1903, 

 from Withernsea states that a large quantity of cliff has been washed 

 away since 1899 or 1900 from Wareholme, Garton, and Dimlington. 



The shingle is not removed from Hornsea to Kilnsea. 



The Humber Estuary. 



The records for the Estuary of the Humber are also fairly complete 

 up to and beyond Barton. On the northern bank Cherry Cob Sands and 

 Sunk Island Sands show slight gains, due to the building of five chalk- 

 stone groynes. On the southern bank, the more northerly part of Clee- 

 thorpes shows some gain : it is protected by a sea wall and groynes. 



