GROSION BY THE SEA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVI, Issue 22, 2 June 1906, Page 15

GROSION BY THE SEA.

A writer in the “Revue Scientifique.’’ speaking of the inroads of the sea upon the borders of England, says that between Kibble and Dee. on the east coast, the land has been submerged since the fourteenth century, and the work is still going on. The walls of a castle that only 50 years ago stood half a mile from the sea are now washed by the waves. Near La mi’s End a whole region of 227 square miles has disappeared with more than 100 towns and villages. Since the time of Edward I. the area of the Duchy of Cornwall has been greatly reduced. and plainly so since 1776. At Selsea. Sussex, ships now cast anchor along a line that is called “the park.” and which was formerly a park for deer. At Bexhill on Sea a submerged forest is visible at low tide. In Suffolk and Yorkshire many towns have been overwhelmed in comparatively recent times. Four hundred houses were carried away in a single year at Dunwich. Between 1535 and 1600 four churches disappeared. In 1399 Henry IV. disembarked at the port of Ravensburgh. but since 1538 Ravensburgh is no more. Easton, once an important town, could count, a century ago. only a dozen inhabitants and two houses. The 33 years from 1867 to 1900 were marked by a reduction of the area of Great Britain from 56.964.260 in 56.782.053 acres. In a third of a centurv the loss has been 182.207 acres.