OBSERVATIONS ON CHANGES IN SEA COAST OF UNITED KINGDOM. 267 



The losses of cliff at St. Margaret's Bay form the subject of a number 

 of reports on Form II. In Februai-y 1900 between 400 and 500 tons of 

 chalk fell from the western end of the bay ; in March of the following 

 year the sea made breaches in the foreshore ; while in December two falls 

 are reported of 100 and 500 tons, the first one mile N.E. of the bay, the 

 second half a mile S.W. of South Foreland High Light. In February of 

 1902 800 tons of chalk fell from the cliff 200 yards east of Cornhill 

 C.G.S., while in November and December of the following year a fall of 

 100 tons of chalk took place about one mile north of the bay, and one of 

 1,500 tons from ' Fan Bay,' 600 yards east of Cornhill C.G.S. In March 

 ■of the same year (1903) the sea, aided by a strong wind from the N.N.W., 

 «cut into the foreshore between North Point and Ness Point at various 

 places ; some of the hollows thus formed were 100 feet in length with 

 .a width of 30 to 50 feet. 



At Black Rock (the eastern end of Dover Parade) the sea has 

 ■encroached about 40 feet in the space of twenty years. The works 

 .at Dover, now nearing completion (July 1899), are probably the cause 

 ■of certain alterations in the beach. Thus in the winter of 1898 the 

 .shingle was taken away by the sea from a point 600 to 700 yards east of 

 the Promenade Pier and collected at the western extreme. The Dover 

 Harbour Board are placing two new groynes with the intention of recover- 

 ing it. 



At Sandgate extensive damage has been done to the foreshore and 

 sea-wall during the ten years fi-om 1899. Groynes have been built and 

 act favourably in retaining the beach. 



Near Hythe the tram lines near the old Lifeboat House have been 

 undermined, and No. 17 Martello Tower is considered to be dangerous 

 for the same reason. 



To the S.W. the coastguai-d station at St. Mary's has been given up 

 by reason of the encroachment of the sea. Here the groynes are reported 

 to have but little effect on the travelling shingle, although a temporary 

 accumulation of sand may be produced in the summer. The heads of 

 these groynes ' are a long way from the beach,' and the east winds carry 

 the shingle on towards Dungeness or Greatstone Point. 



The coast around Dungeness is of considerable interest. As above 

 mentioned, gains are reported on the lee side, i.e. to the north of the 

 head, for some 6 miles ; but at the point itself and to the W.S.W. variable 

 conditions obtain. During the months of January and February 1899 

 * about 1 2 yards of beach inland ' were washed away by the sea : the 

 •exact po.sition is not stated, but presumably from the western side. A 

 report, dated July 1903, records an average gain to the shore at the 

 Point of about 12 or 15 feet per annum, with, however, losses to the 

 westward of about 4 to 6 feet, the district included being from Dungeness 

 Point to three miles westward. It is worth remarking that two new 

 lighthouses are being built. From 1^ to 3 miles west of Dungeness light- 

 house the average loss to the coast is 3 feet per annum (1903), an earlier 

 observer remarking that the ' former Hope and Anchor Inn is now on 

 fold of beach, and extraordinary spring tides wash the base.' A few 

 groynes have been constructed to protect the sluice that drains Dengemarsh, 

 and in 1902 a new groyne was laid down at Dengemarsh Gut. 



To the north-east of Hastings, at Haddocks, Fairlight, and Eccles- 

 bourne, falls of cliff are frequent, and at Bexhill information gathered 

 from a member of the coastguard who has known this part of the coast 



