OBSERVATIONS ON CHANGES IN SEA COAST OF UNITED KINGDOM. 273 



Devon. 



Of the Devonshire coast between Sidmouth and Teignmouth no records 

 have been received, but between Babbacombe and I'orcross, in Start Bay, 

 eight observations are to hand. No alterations are reported, except that 

 the inner harbour of Torquay, modified by piers, is gradually filling up, 

 and that in the neighbourhood of Paignton the sea encroaches at the 

 eastern end of Goodrington Sands and on Preston 8ands. At the latter 

 place a sea-wall is being built. Elsewhere groynes, Arc, are absent, but 

 shingle is removed from the neighbourhood of Babbacombe and from 

 Hallsands, Torcross. Erosion was formerly seriously imperillincr the 

 existence of the beach used by fishing-boats in Babbacombe Bay ; but a 

 fishing pier erected at the eastern extremity of the Bay in 1889-90, and 

 carried out in a northerly direction for 1 20 feet as a protection for the 

 fishing- boats, has also caused shingle to accumulate along the shore of 

 the bay within its shelter. 



Tlie Start district itself is unequally affected. On the eastern side of 

 the estuary of the Avon loss is recorded from Start Point to within a 

 short distance of East Portlemouth, although the encroachment is but 

 slight. In the estuary of the Salcombe River no change has occurred 

 during the last forty years (up to the summer of 1899), nor is there altera- 

 tion as far as West Cliff, midway between Bolt Head and Bolt Tail. 

 Losses, however, occur westward from this locality as far as Freshwater 

 Cliffs (about H mile west of Ringmore). Sand and shingle are removed 

 from the neighbourhood of Hope Cove [? Thurlestone Sands]. 



Cornwall. 



From this point westward along the coast, round Land^s End, and 

 along the northern cliffs of Cornwall as far as Bude (after which the 

 records are fewer) is a stable region of comparatively small changes. 

 These are as follows : — 



At Downderry, in Whitesand Bay, the unprotected coast loses about 

 6 inches per annum. No sand is removed. 



To the west of Looe there is a slow encroachment on a low clay cliff — 

 partly protected, however, by a stone wall. 



In the neighbourhood of Porthscatho there is also a slight loss ; at 

 Polcarnick and Pendower roads have been destroyed. The coast is 

 unprotected, and sand is removed for building purposes. 



Near St. Mawes, from Killigerran Head to St. Just Creek, .3 feet of 

 cliff has been lost in seventy years, owing apparently to clay soil giving way. 

 There are no groynes. 



At the Lizard between Lean Water and Soapy Cove a slight loss 

 occurs, ' where the cliffs are composed of mica schist.' 



Movement of the shingle, in accordance with prevalent winds, occurs 

 to the north-west of Mullion, between Porthleven and Gunwalloe, a 

 succession of south-easterly gales bringing it towards Porthleven to the 

 extent of 10 to 15 feet in depth, whereas south-westerly gales remove 

 it, though not to the same extent, towards Gunwalloe. 



From this locality round Mount's Bay itself losses are rather more 

 frequent— as, for instance, in Prussia Cove, especially at spring tides and 

 with a heavy sea, where the cliff is composed of clay and sand. Locally 

 the latter is removed. Erosion also occurs on the eastern side of Mount's 



1903. T 



