264 REPORT— 1903. 



At Happisburgh the groynes put down in 1893 were carried away by 

 gales in 1895, and the annual loss is estimated at 9 feet ; but the writer 

 was informed in July 1903 that the yearly loss between Harboro' Gap 

 and Ostend Gap is about a foot. 



Five groynes have been placed ' near Eccles steeple,' and prevent the 

 beach from scouring away, while ridges of thorns are placed in trenches 

 at the foot of the sandhills. The average height of these hills is 15 feet. 

 Since 1899 an encroachment of 8 to 12 feet has taken place between 

 Eccles Point and Horsey Gap, the greatest loss being at Eccles Beach. 



For one mile north of Winterton Ness there has been an annual loss 

 of about 6 feet, with ' a corresponding gain to the south of that point.' 



A similar loss is recorded between California and Caister Points, but 

 groynes erected by the Midland Railway Company H mile north of 

 Caister have there caused an increase of sand and shingle. 



The cliff north of Baker's Score at the end of Corton village sustains 

 an annual loss of 3 feet, but erosion is prevented south of this point by 

 Mr. Colman's defences. North-easterly winds appear to be very destruc- 

 tive to this coast (and also easterly and south-easterly), since by removing 

 the beach they allow the tide to get close up to the cliff. With westerly 

 winds the sand again makes up to the depth of 4 or 5 feet. 



Between 1899 and 1903 about 50 yards of land have been washed 

 away from Pakefield Cliff for the length of a mile ; but opposite the 

 coastguard station (at Lowestoft) a gain of 20 yards has taken place for 

 a length of some 600 yards. A report, dated February 1900, remarks 

 that the footpath has been lost between the lighthouse and the R.N.R. 

 battery through high tide and wind. The heavy loss on Lowestoft Ness 

 has been referred to above. From Kessingland C.G.S. an outline of the 

 coast has been forwarded (from Pakefield Gap to Covehithe, a distance of 

 about 6 miles) contrasted with its appearance fifty years ago, i.e. in 1849. 

 During that time the shore has receded nearly 1,200 feet to the north 

 of Kessingland Church and at Covehithe. 



Around Southwold an encroachment of 30 to 40 feet has taken place 

 since 1899, giving an average yearly loss of 10 or 12 feet from Covehithe 

 to Dunwich (G^ miles) ; and in a report of earlier date the estimate is still 

 higher. From 500 yards north to 500 yards south of Thorpe C.G.S. the 

 sea has encroached (August 1899) 150 feet since 1882 ; a northerly wind 

 greatly increases the height of the tide, and there are no groynes or other 

 protection. Between East Lane C.G.S., Bawdsey, and Woodbridge Haven 

 there has been a yearly loss since February 1900 of about 15 feet, appli- 

 cable to H mile of coast. Groynes have been built locally. Between 

 Felixstowe Pier and Felixstowe Point (2| miles) the coast gains through 

 being groyned. North-easterly winds tend to wash the beach to the 

 southern side of the groynes, south-westerly to the northern. A southerly 

 wind tends to make the beach, a northerly having the contrary effect. 



Groynes have been built at intervals along the Sheringham, Cromer, 

 Overstrand, Mundesley stretch of coast. As above mentioned, they existed 

 formerly at Happisburgh ; while allusion has been made to those built 

 at Eccles, Winterton, and Caister. Immediately to the south of Great 

 Yarmouth the coast is unprotected ; but groynes have been constructed 

 locally between Gorleston and Corton. Lowestoft and Southwold have 

 certain coast-defences ; the south beach at the former place has a system 

 of Case groynes ; and thirty have been constructed at Soutlawold, wliere 

 they are stated to have a good effect. 



