328 



Butterfield : Notes on the Growth of Spurn. 



To the west of Spurn lies that part of the Humber shore 

 known as Sunk Island. It was originally an island, but is not 

 now, having- been attached to the mainland. 



In 1660 its locality was marked by two huge sandbanks with 

 a deep channel between them, and shortly after this channel 

 began to silt up and the sandbank pushed itself above the level 

 of high water. In 1684 seven acres were enclosed, and shortly 

 after 1728 the channel at the back closed up completely. In 

 1744 1,561 acres had been enclosed, and by 1850 7,000 acres 

 had been embanked. 



Further reclamations have since been made, and Mr. Geo. 

 Bohn, M.Inst.C.E., the Engineer for the Crown, is at present 

 engaged in warping up another large tract of foreshore. By 

 the plan will be seen the nature and date of the various 

 reclamations. 



Sunk Island. 



Needless to say this reclaimed land is second to none in 

 England either for arable or pasture. 



The following details are from a boring made by Messrs. 

 Easton & Amos in 1846 at Sunk Island : — 



feet. 



Alluvial Soil 



5 



Sand... 



30 



Clay 



9 



Silt and Water 



14 



Chalk, Clay, and Stones... 



17 



Gravel 



30 



Clay 



5 



Chalk reached at no feet below the surface. 



Naturalist, 



