-266 REPORT— 1903. 



On the western side flints are collected and sent to Stafford for the manu- 

 facture of pottery, and sand and gravel are removed for making concrete 

 and for building purposes. At Shoreham groynes have been placed 

 1^ mile west of the harbour, and accumulate the shingle &c. 



Compai'ing the erosion which occurs on the various parts of the 

 Kentish coast, it would appear that the northern shore is the greatest 

 sufferer, the amount of erosion decreasing in passing from the eastern to 

 the southern coast and the borders of Sussex. Omitting those localities 

 where the shingle gains, and also those where there is a loss in one place 

 And a gain at another, as in parts of E.ye Bay, the relative losses on the 

 three parts of the coast may be roughly expressed by the figures 61, 59, 

 and 54, these representing percentages of loss on the total number of 

 •observations. 



As before, various points of interest will be noticed in sequence in 

 passing round the coast. In the parish of Minster, Sheppey, about two 

 acres of cliff fell in January 1903, half way between the Coastguard Flag- 

 staff and Bell Farm. 



Eastward very little change is reported from Whitstable since 1899, 

 •except for a slight increase of shingle near the old coastguard buildings 

 at Swale Cliff, with, however, a considerable loss near the new station, 

 where in May 1903 about an acre fell, and the whole edge is reported as 

 seeming to be in a crumbling condition. 



At Heme Bay, from Hampton west of the old pier to Hampton 

 Point, a distance of a mile, a report dated July 1903 records falls 

 •of cliff owing to the beach being scoured away. Near Hampton the 

 yearly loss has been 15 to 20 yards, but gradually less northward 

 for the remainder of the cliff. Moreover, the loss of land increases 

 rapidly each year. Hampton Pier causes a scour to the west, but 

 •collects the shingle on its eastern side. To the west of this pier four Case 

 .groynes have been erected to protect the cliff. 



Frequent slips and falls of cliff occur at Reculvers during the rainy 

 season after a long pei-iod of dry weather or when a thaw sets in after a 

 irost. No important changes are reported since 1899 between Cold 

 Harbour on the east and Beltinge Lane on the west, but the cliff between 

 Reculvers and Heme Bay loses about 4 feet per annum. Groynes have 

 been erected by the High Commissioner of Sewers, by Mr. A. CoUard and 

 Miss A. Monckton. For a mile W.S.W. of Birchington Station towards 

 Heculvers the average yearly loss through falls of the cliff has been 6 feet. 

 At the termination of the cliff groynes are placed, and cause a large 

 accumulation of shingle which is not removed. 



From the east end of Margate to the North Foreland the annual loss 

 ■of land is about one-tenth of an acre, for heavy falls of the chalk cliff 

 take place in wet or frosty weather. 



From the North Foreland to Dumpton Gap (Broadstairs C.G.S.) four 

 falls of cliff took place in 1901, and three in 1903, the average yearly loss 

 since 1899 being about one-fifth of a foot. For one mile south of the coast- 

 guard station at No. 2 Battery, Deal, the annual loss is 12| feet. South 

 of this again the coast is stationary, while at Kingsdown, as above 

 mentioned, the beach is ' making ' to the north of the station. To the 

 south, however, the loss has been heavy. A carriage drive formerly 

 existing south of this station to St. Margaret's Bay is now destroyed, 

 although a margin of 50 yards of land lay once on its seaward side. At 

 high spring tides the sea now reaches the base of the cliffs. To the north 

 of the coastguard station shingle is I'emoved in large quantities. 



