EROSION IN ESSEX AND SUFFOLK.
223
with the 1/2500 Ordnance Survey Maps of 1874. At Walton and Frinton the
loss is practically confined to areas bare of shingle. The existence in the
cliffs of potholes of sand and gravel containing water is also a cause of
subsidence; the water breaking out on the base, carrying the sand with it,
loosens large masses of the upper part of the cliff. The loss of land at Walton
and Frinton has gone on from time immemorial:" but it has been noticed that
since the construction of the Harwich Harbour Conservative Board's Works
at Landguard Point there has been a greater scarcity of shingle on the beach
at Walton and Frinton. Part of Landguard Common and the land at the
mouth of the Deben is formed of 'blown sand' (locally called 'Benthills')
covering the top of a shingle beach, their height being from 3 to 10 feet
above high water-mark. The Benthill at Landguard Point is increasing
in consequence of the Conservancy Board's jetty. The sand is not blown over
the land, this being prevented by the 'bent grass' or 'marram.' With his
report Mr. Bruff presented tracings showing the Harwich Harbour Con-
servancy Board's Works at the entrance to the harbour, and the scouring away
to Landguard Point to the S.W., and accumulation of beach to the N.E. of
the same. And he referred to the various reports presented to and published
by the authority of Parliament.
In the same report Mr. W. Teasdell, CE., stated that at Gorleston
Suffolk, the cliff had gone back from 200 to 300 feet within the last 40 years
within the last 6 years, 60 feet; the cliff's are sand 80 to 90 feet high.
At the British Association meeting for 1895 (B.A. Rep. p 678)
our member, Mr. John Spiller, F.C.S., furnished some details on
"Recent Coast Erosion at Southwold and Covehithe," Suffolk.
The report was published in full in the Supplement to the East
Anglian Daily Times,'Sept. 13th, 1895, but the following abstract
will be sufficient for the present purpose: —
"Owing to the prevalence of northerly winds, culminating in a moderate
gale on May 16th (1895) the tide rose to an unusual height all along the East
Coast, and attacked the soft sandy cliffs between Dunwich and Covehithe,
creating a new cove at the northern extremity of Southwold, and sweeping
away the roadway at the back of the beach to the extent of half an acre at
this particular spot. The Cliffs at Eastern Bavents and Covehithe likewise
suffered considerably, and this loss being reported to Mr. W. Whitaker
induced that gentleman to lend his maps with certain measurements noted
thereon for the purpose of exact comparison. Thus provided, the author
walked over the ground and took fresh measurements at the several points
along the route, which resulted in the determination of the amount of cliff-
waste since 1882 and 1889, and this, stated briefly, was as follows;—
1 At a Local Government Board enquiry with regard to the Frinton Council'? application
for leave to borrow £1,760 for sea defences and cliff preservation, held on October 31st, 1902,
it was stated that the encroachment of the sea at F'rinton during the last 50 years had been
very severe. Sixty yards of cliff had been lost since 1874. This was at tbe rate of about
10 feet per annum. Near the eastern extremity of the parish there was an old stone groyne
where a large bed of sand had accumulated, and damage done to the clifis there had been
checked to a large extent.