Lyme Regis case study: Historical development
Contents a. The Cobb b. Sea Defences East Cliff and the town frontage c. Landslides Lyme Regis homepage		The frontage of the town has always been subject to significant marine erosion: breaches of the sea wall and landslides. There have been numerous attempts to prevent and repair this damage.
Back to the top Lyme Regis homepage		a. The Cobb The Cobb dates back to the 13th Century and displays many repairs and extensions since that time. Below is a simply summary of the construction that can be seen today. 16th or 17th C Exact date of quay and buildings uncertain 1723 Prospect of Lyme by William Stukeley 1793 Construction of the southern Arm 1819-20 High Wall construction using Portland stone 1824 The Great Storm - extensive damage The wrecking of the Unity 1825 Substantial repairs to the High Wall 1834 Low Walkway constructed 1842 & 1848 Victoria Pier constructed 1849 North Wall constructed 1857 Construction of the causeway 1970’s Southern Arm rock armouring 1986/7 Concrete aprons and extensive strengthening Strengthening the Cobb from within
Back to the top Lyme Regis homepage		b. Sea Defences East Cliff and the town frontage Pre 1787 Masonry sea wall at Long Entry, East Cliff 1787 Pre sea wall 1787 First sea wall built along eastern frontage 1820’s Lucy’s Jetty constructed 1830’s Cobb Gate Jetty constructed 1830’s Cottages built 1849 North Wall constructed Pre 1850 Sea wall and retaining wall constructed Pre 1854 Sea wall constructed 1901 Sundial House built The sea wall early in the 19th century with Sundial House. Note the active landslides through what is now Langmoor Gardens 1903 Mass concrete retaining wall constructed 1920’s Toilets and shelters constructed 1920’s Breach of Sea wall Breach of the sea wall below Langmoor Gardens in the 1920s early 20th Century State of East Cliff in the early 20 Century An illuminating view of the town 1924 Bay Hotel built Late 1920’s Toilets constructed 1940’s Sea wall collapse and re built 1940’s Retaining wall constructed 1957 East Cliff sea wall constructed 1960’s Shelters constructed 1960’s Sheet piling retaining wall constructed 1963 Sheet piling (Cobb Road) constructed Mid 60's East Cliff groynes constructed Work to place groynes along the front of the wall. Note the lack of shingle Early 1970’s Elevated walkway constructed Early 1970’s Shelters constructed 1974 Breach of sea wall 1974: people survey the damage to the eastern end of the sea front 1978-9 Entire sea wall encased and reinforced A major refurbishment operation to cover the soft and eroding Blue Lias sea walls 1974 or 89 Storm 1993-5 Phase I Cobb Gate to Long Entry - new sea wall, rock armour and sewerage works The award winning Phase 1 under construction 1998 200 tonnes of rock armour placed at end of East Cliff sea wall
Back to the top Lyme Regis homepage		c. Landslides 1902 Langmoor Gardens - Large scale reactivation of system 1915 Marine Parade - Widespread failure of sea cliff 1924 Loss of the Charmouth Road Major slip through Black Ven, cutting the old Lyme Regis to Charmouth road 1925 Langmoor Gardens - Whole system reactivation 1947 Lister Gardens - Failure of rear scarp 1951 Cobb Road - Failure of east side of road 1959 Monmouth Beach - Mudslide surges 1960 Lister Gardens - Failure of frontal slope 1961 Cobb Road - Failure of east side of road 1963 Langmoor House Whole system reactivation and re grading of the slope to a more stable angle 1969 Pine Walk - Reactivation of upper cliff 1969 East Cliff Lane - Failure of lane 1970 Spittles Lane - Failure of lane and cliff to south 1971 Library Cottage - Shallow failure of sea cliff 1973 East Cliff - Cliff top recession 1976 East Cliff Loss of bungalow due to slippage 1977 Cobb Road - Failure of rear scarp 1977 Langmoor Gardens - Failure of frontal slope 1979 Alexandra Hotel - Failure of rear scarp 1979 Spittles Lane - Failure of lane 1982 London Inn - Shallow failure of sea cliff 1983 Monmouth Beach - Mudslide surge 1984 Cobb Road - Shallow failure of rear scarp 1986 The Spittles Whole system reactivation to the east of the town 1987 Monmouth Beach - Mudslide surge 1988 Langmoor Gardens - Failure of frontal slope 1993 East Cliff - Cliff top recession 1994 Langmoor Gardens - Failure of frontal slope 1998 Football Ground Gabion retaining wall overturned 1998 Monmouth Beach - Shallow failure of sea cliff 1999 Stile House - Failure of rear scarp 2000 Polly Victoria Buildings badly damaged, closed and internally braced
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