| Principal
Findings |
| 1. |
In
the 18th century there was once a substantial continuous beach along
the whole of the Lyme Regis frontage. |
| 2. |
The
beaches are in long-term decline and are now a small fraction of
their original volume. |
| 3. |
The
decline is part of a natural process of fragmentation of the beaches
along the East Devon /West Dorset coastline . |
| 4. |
The
seabed and shore platform have undergone considerable erosion and
lowering over the last two centuries. |
| 5. |
Limestone
quarrying in the 19th century accelerated cliff and foreshore erosion
in the Devonshire Head area. |
| 6. |
There
is now very little natural supply of beach-forming shingle. |
| 7. |
The
connection of the Cobb to the mainland in the 1750’s has resulted
in the interruption of the west to east longshore drift and the
substantial build-up of Monmouth Beach on its western side. |
| 8. |
There
has been little sediment input to Monmouth Beach since the 1840’s
when the Humble Point landslip interrupted longshore transport.
|
| 9. |
The
growth of Monmouth Beach at the Cobb has been at the expense of
the western part of the beach. |
| 10. |
The
western 'tail' of the beach is moving eastwards. |
| 11. |
There
has been a reorientation of the western end of the beach towards
the south-west. |
