dicular, and about 88 feet in height. Since the 6-inch Ordnance map of 1876 was published there has been no great loss of land, but several heavy falls of cliff, amounting to some thousands of tons, as at the Cornhill Coastguard Station, two miles east of Dover, on February 23, 1891, and the still larger one at the Abbot's Cliff Coastguard Station (Lydden Spout) early in the present year. The recession of the coast line westwards from Dover to Folkestone is no doubt caused by the uncertain foundation of underlying Gault clay, which retains the water passing through the porous chalk, the sea carrying away the débris: this is particularly the case where groynes or piers at right angles to the shore have intercepted the shingle coming from the west, that to the eastward of such obstructions gradually passing away in that direction, and not being replaced by fresh accretions from the west. The shore, being undefended by the shingle beach, is exposed to wave action. The The Folkestone pier intercepts the shingle that at one time defended East Wear Bay, the Folkestone Cliffs, and the West Cliffs, Dover. Admiralty Pier, Dover, has in like manner robbed the foreshores of the Esplanade, Dover, and the East Cliff, Dover, of their shingle, making costly revêtements and sea-walls necessary. APPENDIX III. VARIOUS SCHEDULED RETURNS: REPLIES TO PRINTED QUERIES CIRCULATED BY THE COMMITTEE. Hampshire Coast. By RICHARD F. GRANTHAM, M. Inst.C.E. 1. Part of the coast of Hampshire, cast of Christchurch, opposite Highcliffe, and the village of Newtown. 2. a. Cliffs composed generally of a bed of sharp gravel, varying from 13 to 18 feet in thickness, overlying the slippery Barton clay. b. 80 to 100 feet. 9. a. I have not had an opportunity of measuring this. d. From 3 to 4 inches. 10. I should say stationary. 13. The degradation of the cliffs is due to the water issuing from the base of the gravel over the slippery clay surface. 14. The face of the cliff has slipped away at a rate of 3 feet per annum, taking an average line of about mile in length during the last twenty-two years. This is the rate as ascertained during that period, and it is probable that this has been the average rate for a longer period. The shingle beach appeared to me to be stationary; so now that drains have been laid up the slipped slopes of the cliff to remove the water issuing between the gravel and clay, the slopes will become consolidated, and slipping will no longer take place. 15. It must be explained that the course of the channel of the river Avon formerly ran parallel to the beach eastwards for some distance from its mouth in Christchurch Harbour, but certain works executed some time ago by some landowner at the mouth had the effect of diverting the course straight out to sea, and thus the channel parallel to the beach has become stopped. No doubt this is the cause of the present stationary character of the beach, for otherwise erosion would take place, and the slipping of the cliff further facilitated by the undermining of the toe. 16. No. 17. No. Sussex Coast. By RICHARD F. GRANTHAM, M.Inst.C.E. (1) Opposite Lancing. 1. Sussex coast, opposite Lancing. It is that portion which lies between 'Shop's Dam' and the gap in the Worthing and Lancing Road, referred to in my father's returns, Nos. 11 and 12 in the Committee's Report, dated 1885. 2. The main features of that part of the coast are described in those returns, but I have, within the last two years, constructed nine groynes between Shop's Dam and the gap in the road, a distance of about 1,100 yards. 3. That is westwards of the groynes erected under my father's superintendence; but I have had an opportunity of making a survey of that part of the coast, which shows exactly the rate at which the sea has been advancing opposite Lancing. 8. Partly of shingle, partly of sand foreshore. Opposite the Coastguard Station, west end of Lancing, chalk rocks and flints, covered with seaweed, can be seen at low water slightly above the level of the sand foreshore. In storms the flints are loosened, raised up, and washed up on the shore. 9. The shingle lies in the form of a high bank, thus: HW.OST. Sand FIG. 2. Surface of land The base of the shingle bank is about 500 feet broad, and the top of it is about 6 feet above H.W.O.S.T.; the land behind is below the level of H.W. Formerly, in storms, the sea washed the shingle back, encroaching further and further on the low-lying land. There is a 'fall' of shingle, but this varies according to the state of the sea. It is generally just above H.W. springs. 11. I think that until the groynes were erected the quantity of shingle remained constant, but it was perpetually being driven back. 12. a, b, and c. The new groynes point south-east at a rather greater inclination with the shore line than those erected by my father. Their length is 300 feet, and the width apart is 400 feet, except the three groynes at the west end, which are 350 feet in length and rather closer together. d. The top end is 18 feet above O.D. and 8 feet above H.W.O.S.T. e. Timber partly memel, partly beech. f. Although they are not yet planked up, and although there has been an unusual number of heavy gales during the past winter, 1893-94, they have completely arrested the encroachment of the sea, so that no damage has been done, nor has any shingle been swept back over the bank. The groynes will be planked up in time as the shingle and sand accumulate. 13. a. No. d. No. 14. Before the groynes were erected the sea had washed the shingle back, so that opposite the Coastguard Station at Lancing the high-water mark was at the date of my survey (1891) 320 feet further inland; and at a distance of 160 yards west of Shop's Dam, 70 feet further inland than it was at the date of the Ordnance Survey (1875). 15. The influence of the new groynes in accumulating shingle had at first a slightly deteriorating effect on the accumulation at the groynes my father erected, but the gales of the past winter have brought up an immense quantity of shingle, and those groynes are now filled again. 16. No. 17. No. (2) Between Selsea Bill and Chichester Harbour. 1. Sussex coast, between Selsea Bill and Chichester Harbour. 2. Low cliff, varying from 4 to 11 feet above high water ordinary spring tides. The cliff is composed of loamy clay mostly, but at the west end of the bay there is gravel and sand about 4 feet below the surface. Clay appears on the shore at low water. 3. North-west to south-east. 4. South-west. 5. South-west. When the wind is westerly or south-west the shingle travels from about mile east of Chichester Harbour eastwards to Selsea Bill, and from the mile east of Chichester Harbour westwards. When the wind is easterly the shingle travels westwards from about 2 miles east of Chichester Harbour. 6. Flood tide eastwards; ebb tide westwards. 7. (1) a. 16 feet 6 inches; b. 12 feet 6 inches. (2) Probably about 9 or 10 chains; say 200 yards at springs, more at very low springs. B. Sand mostly. There is some mud near the cliff, opposite Bracklesham Farm. Shingle lies up against the foot of the cliff all the way. 9. a. Varies from 15 yards east to 24 yards west at ordinary seasons, but these would vary in different seasons. b. High water, spring tides, does not quite cover it. c. I have stated this in answer to Question 5. d. About 9 inches across every way. e. The shingle formed one continuous slope when I saw it, and I should not think this varied. 10. I should say the quantity of shingle was generally maintained, the quantity depending on different seasons. 11. Some has been taken away for repairs of parish roads; but this is only a small quantity, and the removal is now stopped. 12. A weak form of groyne has been tried both at Thorney Farm and at Cockham Manor. The piles at the former are still standing, but those opposite Cockham have disappeared. They were evidently weak, and required so much repair that they were abandoned. a. At right angles to the shore. b. and c. They appeared about 100 feet long, and from 80 to 100 feet apart. e. Beech timber. 13. a. From the end of Bracklesham Lane, and from the end of Cockbush Lane. b. and c. Repair of parish roads by the waywardens. d. I should say not. 14. All the way along, at a considerable rate. a. From 6 to 8 feet per annum opposite Bracklesham Farm; about 8 feet between Bracklesham Farm and Cockham Manor Farm. b. 10 to 13 feet opposite Cockham Manor Farm. C. During the winter 1891-92 the rate must have been from 15 to 20 feet opposite Cockham Manor Farm, from the appearance of the remains of parts of the cliff. d. These measurements agree with a comparison of the 1-inch Ordnance map, surveyed in 1805, and the 6-inch Ordnance map, surveyed in 1873. 15. There is nothing along this line of coast to cause an accumulation of shingle, so what is there is deposited and left to be carried on or taken away by the sea. There is, however, an increasing accumulation of shingle on the east side of 16. None. 17. No. 19. I should add that from opposite Marsh Farm to Thorney Farm there is low-lying land below the level of high water. This is partly protected by a ridge of shingle similar to that opposite Lancing. The sea is, however, constantly sweeping this ridge backwards and encroaching on the land. (3) About 1 Mile between Littlehampton and Bognor, Sussex. 1. A small portion of the English coast midway between Littlehampton and Bognor, Sussex, for about one mile in length opposite the old Coastguard Station, in the parish of Middleton. 2. It varies from low clay cliffs from 8 to 10 feet above H.W.M. to land which is below the level of H.W., but protected by the accumulation of beach. 3. Generally east and west, but at the east end of the frontage it trends rather towards the north. 4. South-west. 5. South-west, but the south-east wind will assist in piling up shingle when the groynes are placed in a certain direction, in this case pointing south-east. 6. I believe the flood tide flows eastwards until about 1 hour before H.W. It then turns and flows westwards. 7. (1) a. 16 feet. b. 11 feet (Admiralty Tide Tables). (2) I should say about 400 yards, but am not quite certain. 8. The area covered by the tide near H.W.M. consists of shingle, under which is a yellowish loamy clay. The foreshore consists of sand overlying chalk marl. 9. a. In the general line of coast about 150 feet in breadth, but there is a bay or sudden bend in the coast line where it measures about 270 feet, there being a large accumulation of shingle in this bay. b. In the general line, roughly speaking, about half the breadth would be above H.W.S.T., and about half below that level on the windward side of the old groynes, but less than that proportion below HW.S.T. on the leeward side owing to scour. d. The largest are chalk flints, and would measure about 6 to 8 inches. e. The surface of the shingle is formed in spring' and neap fulls.' I took several sections of the surface in September, 1888, and found that they varied in height according to the situation. Thus in the bay the spring full' is about 4 to 5 feet above H.W.S.T., and the neap full' about level with H.W.S.T. In the straight line of the coast the spring full' is about level with H.W.S.T., and the neap full' about 4 feet below it. These differences may be due to the higher level of the planking on the groynes in the bay. 10. The shingle was being swept away in places when I first went there in September last owing to the defective state of the groynes, but it is now accumulating since I built new and more substantial groynes. I cannot say the rate. 11. The diminution was due, as I have said, to the worn-out condition of the old groynes. 12. a. The old groynes for the most part are at right angles to the shore-line. b. I measured eight of them, and their lengths average about 240 feet each. c. All sorts of distances apart, but they would average about 100 feet. d. The old groynes have existed for many years, but I cannot say how long. The shingle of the spring full,' on the windward side of the old groynes, was about level with the top of the planking of the old groynes, but on the leeward side it is in some places 4 and 5 feet, and in others 8 feet, below the top of the planking. e. Timber piles and planking. f. They arrest the travelling of the shingle on the windward side, but on the leeward side, as generally happens in all right angle' groynes, the sea scours out the shingle, and thus H.W.M. encroaches nearer the land. [N.B.-I have referred here to the old groynes, but the new groynes I have built this winter are placed in a different direction, viz., pointing south-east. They are of timber, but are more substantially built than the old ones. The effect of them, which I ascribe to the direction, has been very striking, since they have been finished in accumulating beach and sand, both on their windward and leeward sides, so much so that the lower ends of the old groynes have been already nearly buried under the sand. They are each about 250 feet long, and are placed there about 400 feet apart, so that there will be rather less than one half the original number to maintain. 13. No. 14. a. Where there are cliffs, which I have referred to, they are gradually being worn back at the rate of about 4 to 5 feet per annum; but where the land is below high water the beach arrested by the groynes protects it. The beach, however, has occasionally at those low points been driven back inland and covered small parts of the estate. d. I have no data of this kind. e. No; where there is beach the cliff is still being worn back. 15. a. There is shingle all along the frontage I refer to, and it would in the low places be dangerous to the land if it were swept away for any length. b. In places where shingle has been swept away and the shore left bare it has been entirely due to the defective state of the groynes. Where substantial new groynes are erected they do for a time arrest the travelling of the shingle and deprive the coast further westwards of so much as they absorb; but when the groynes fill up towards the top of their planking, although if properly built and placed they may still continue from time to time to collect more, the greater quantity passes on to the westwards, the remainder going to increase the fulls,' and so drive the H.W.M. seawards. The result of this action may be seen between Lancing and Shoreham, further westwards, where, according to my measurement, owing to the groynes the beach has gained some 40 to 50 yards in breadth, driving high water so much seawards during the last ten years. 16. No. 17. No. 18. I do not think there are any. 19. It should be observed that this part of the coast is not protected by any seawall. It is dependent for its protection on the accumulation of beach; and as the beach can only be secured by the groynes, their proper construction and maintenance are of course of vital importance to the landowner where the land lies below the level of high water. Norfolk Coast. Great Yarmouth. By Major A. G. CLAYTON, R.E., Norwich. 1. Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. 2. Flat sand. 3. North and south. 4. Variable. 5. a. North-west. b. West north-west. c. Shingle does not travel. 6. North and south. 7. (1) a. 4 feet. b. 3 feet. (2) About 50 yards. 8. Sand; but at certain periods, generally spring and autumn, banks of shingle are thrown up. 9. d. About the size of a walnut. e. The shingle is in detached banks only. 10. Apparently diminishing. 11. Yes. 12. There are no groynes. 13. a. Between high and low water. b. Ballast for fishing smacks and for roads chiefly. d. No. 14. No. 16. No. 17. Yes. a. Deres. b. 5 feet and feet d. No. e. No. Cromer. By W. JAMES K. FROST. 7. (1) a. 16 feet. b. 12 feet. (2) a. 200 yards. b. 100 yards. 12. a, b, c. Tracing annexed showing particulars. d. (a) 8 feet (above usual beach level), tapering seawards to 3 feet. (b) From 8 to 4 feet. (c) From top of groyne to 3 or 4 feet. e. Timber. f. Accumulation of beach and protection |