262 H. W.Pearson — Oscillations of Sea-level. 



contains now only about 20 acres, was immediately previous to 

 A.D. 709 six miles long by four broad and covered by forests" 

 (loo. cit.). Abbey of Whitby, erected in 658, is reported to have 

 been a mile from the sea. The distance in 1816 was little more than 

 200 yards ("Gallery of Nature," p. 394). The passage between 

 the Isle of Thanet and the coast of Kent, which remained in " perfect 

 state " so long as the Eomans remained in Britain, " in Bede's time 

 (circ. 675 to 735), and perhaps an age before that, began to decline 

 by diminishing its breadth, etc." (S. R. Wilson, " The Isle of Thanet 

 Guide," p. 6). 



Data as to High-Water Period of about 350 a.d. 



Norwich, "in the time of the Saxons, was situated on the banks 

 of an arm of the sea, an estuary which has since become a region of 

 cultivated fields" ("Gallery of Nature," p. 396). "The former 

 Roman port of Alaterva (Cramond, Scotland), the quays of which 

 are still visible, is now situated at some distance from the sea, and 

 the ground on which it stands has risen at least 24^ feet." In other 

 places the debris scattered on the bank show that the coast has risen 

 about 26^ feet. Now by a remarkable coincidence the ancient wall 

 of Antoninus, which at the time of the Romans served as a barrier 

 against the Picts, comes to an end at a point 26 feet above the level 

 of high tides " (" The Earth," p. 537). The Isle of Thanet was 

 separated from the rest of Kent in the time of the Romans by 

 a navigable channel, through which fleets sailed (" Principles," 

 p. 529). During the course of the third century tradition tells us 

 that the island of Walcheren was separated from the Continent 

 (Reclus, "The Ocean," p. 153). "The Hythe coast must have 

 risen quite 30 feet since Roman times " (Geol. Mag., April, 1885, 

 p. 145). Valerius Maximus states that a bank was erected in 

 280 A.D. to keep out sea and storm from the Temple of Serapis 

 (Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc, 1847, p. 213). Note this is evidence that 

 the sea was rising at that time, and had reached an elevation about 

 equivalent to its present level. 



Sir Charles Lyell and Sir Archibald Geikie believe with many 

 others, including Smyth, that there had been a considerable upheaval 

 of the shores of the Firth of Forth since the period of the Roman 

 occupation (Geol. Mag., 1866, p. 426). Mr. Smyth shows on the 

 same page that the upheaval must have been at least 24^ feet. 

 Mr. G. A. Lebour argues from the standpoint of geology, tradition, 

 and history that the city of Is in Lower Brittany was submerged 

 in the reign of King Gradlon, in the fourth or fifth century (Geol. 

 Mag., 1871, p. 300). Sir J. A. Picton describes a Roman wharf 

 in the Rood-eye (Chester), now the racecourse, but formerly a haven 

 for ships, with a considerable depth of water (Proc. Liverpool 

 Geol. Soc, vol. vi, p. 39). Note ordnance map (6 in.), No. 38-11-16 ; 

 seems to show that a rise of the sea-level equivalent to 24 or 25 

 feet would be necessary to allow this ancient dock or this old haven 

 to be again put to their original uses. 



Hengist and Horsa, the Saxons, landed at Ebb's Fleet, Thanet, 



