The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-20 00:00:00

GRAND EXPLOSION AT SEAFORD
CLIFF.

The blasting a portion of Seaford Cliff—an opera-
tion which has for some time past excited much in-
terest and attention in the scientific and engineering
world—took place yesterday, in the presence of an
immense concourse of spectators. Seaford, it may
be stated, is a small town, or rather village, lying on
the coast between Brighton and Hastings, and about
throe miles to the east of Newhaven. It is one of the
Cinque Ports, and had the honour of, being repre-
sented in Parliament by Pitt and Canning. Its popu-
lation scarcely amounts to 1,000.
The extensive operations which have been recently
carried on, and were yesterday completed, at Seaford
Head, have been rendered necessary by the changes
which the sea is slowly, but perpetually, working in
the aspect of the coast, and by the operation of which
harbours and estuaries, in some places, are being filled
up, and portions of the shore continually swept away
in other localities. It is said that in the reign of
Charles 11. a 64-gun ship could float in the harbour
of Rye, vhere now no vessel above 200 tons can
enter.
Hastings, which formerly had a commodious har-
bour, now has none, and vessels lying off the coast
are in hourly danger of being driven on the beach
and wrecked. In like manner, Seafurd, which, three
centuries ago, was possessed of a convenient port, is
now separated from the sea by nearly half a mile of
low marshy shingle, and the result was, some dozen
years since, the rise of Newhaven as a port. The
coast from Newhaven Head to Seaford Head, a semi-
circular sweep of about three miles, is, for the greater
part of the distance, below high water mark, and is
only defended from the sea by the bank of shingle
which is being gradually, by the action of the waves,
swept out of the bay ; and if this barrier is once
carried away a vast tract of low-lying country will
be inundated and rendered useless. It has bren as-
certained that the tendency of the shingle is to travel,
by the action of the tides, from west to east, and the
object of the blasting of the cliff yesterday was to
throw down a mass of chalk so as to form a groyne
or breakwater, la hich would prevent the shingle being
carried out of the bay. How far the object of arrest-
ing the further encroachments of the sea, and prevent-
ing the beach travelling to the eastward, will be at-
tained by the formation of this chalk groyne remains
to be seen ; but it is confidently anticipated that the
effect will be to protect the extensive tidal mills
erected at the mouth of Newhaven River by Messrs.
Catt, and also the forts and martello towers on the
coast.

Having thus briefly stated the object for which
hese extensive operations were undertaken, we now
proceed to give some account of the works them-
selves. Seaford Cliff is the termination of a chain of
hills running from the interior. It commences to
the east of the town of Seaford, rising somewhat
abruptly to the height of about 200 feet, and pre-
senting a perpendicular wall of rock for about a
quarter of a mile, running in a straight line, and al-
most overhanging the sea, which at high water
washes its base. The rock is of considerable hard-
ness, and is composed of layers of consolidated chalk,
in which black flint is embedded, dipping to the west
at an acute angle. The centre of the cliff is about
250 feet high, and this was the point selected for the
engineering operations. In the face of the cliff, about
.50 feet above high water mark, the main gallery was
commenced, by means of a long wooden ladder and
stage. Much difficulty was experienced at starting
in making an opening in the solid rock, but as soon
as a footing had been obtained the work went on
rapidly. The gallery, which was 6 feet high
by 5 feet wide, was carried into the rock for
a distance of about 70 feet, with a rise of one
in three. Returns were then made, right and
left, in the form of a T, extending about thirty feet
on either side. At the ends of these returns two
chambers were constructed of seven feet cube, and
lined with wood, and in each of these chambers
12,000 lbs. of gunpowder were deposited, the aper-
tures being " tamped," as the engineering term is,
with bags of sand. The returns, and about fifty feet
of the main gallery, were filled up with chalk, so as
to form an effectual resistance to the explosive force
of the gunpowder in that direction. The distance of
the centre of the charge to the face of the cliff was
about seventy feet, and the height from the base about
the same. On the top of the cliff it was originally
intended to sink a semicircular trench defining the
portion of the cliff to be detached ; but the hardness
and solidity of the rock conapelled an alteration in the
plan. Five shafts were then sunk, following the
semicircular line of the trench, but of these only
three were completed when the blasting took place.
They were sunk to the depth of forty-one feet, and
at the bottom of each was placed a charge of 6001 b.
of powder, and the shaft then filled up with chalk.
From each of the chambers wires were carried over
the face of the cliff to a wooden shed, erected about
170 or 180 feet in the rear of the cliff. These wires
were covered with tape, and varnished, to prevent
them being injured by the action of the atmosphere
or friction. Wires were also carried in the same way
from the three shafts on the summit of the rock to
the same shed, and in this shed the galvanic bat-
teries, by means of which the charges were to be
fired, were placed. There were two of Grove's large
batteries, and one of Smee's, and they were in charge
of one of the engineer officers, whose duty it was to
see to their security, and complete the arrangement of
the wires at the proper moment—the arrangement
being that the two large chambers were to be fired
simultaneously, and the three shafts immediately
afterwards. The whole of the works were under
the superintendence of Sir John Burgoyne, and the
engineer officers detached upon the service where
Captain Frome, and Lieuts. Ward, Crossman, and
Greatore x, with fifty-five of the sappers and miners,
who have been constantly employed on the cliff for
the last seven weeks. We are gratified to be enabled
to add, that, although there were several narrow
escapes and trifling casualties, no serious accident oc-
curred during the progress of the works.
During the whole of the forenoon of yesterday
special trains were running from London, Hastings,
Brighton, Lewes, and every point within fifty miles
of the scene of operations ; and the fineness of the day,
and the vast scale on which the blasting was to take
place, brought together several thousand spectators.
The point of conveyance for all the visitors was the
thriving little town of Newhaven, and here the diffi-
culties of transport began to manifest themselves.
Everything that could run upon wheels was pressed
into the service, and made as gay as paint and gaudy-
coloured calico could effect. Many thousands, how-
ever, preferred walking three miles across the rough
shingly beach rather than submit to the extravagant
fares demanded for a jolt in a van or market-cart.
From the summit of the cliff, to which the visitors
were allowed to proceed during the early part of the
day, the view was extremely fine. The sea was un-
ruffled by a breeze, and presented a " boundless beau•
tiful plane," studded with yachts, steamers, boys, fish-
ing and pleasure boats, gaily decorated with flags and
streamers. Looking seaward on the extreme left, up
the Channel, Beachy Head forms the prominent and
commanding termination of the view, at the distance
of about eight miles. The cliff then recedes, forming
the vast sweep of Pevensey Bay, where, 800 years
ago, William the Conqueror leaped on shore and
grasped the beach, turning his fall into an omen of
future victory. Nearer still, and almost under the
spectator's feet, is Cuckmere Haven, and turning in-
land the eye ranges over a beautifully diversified and
well-cultivated country, embracing Alfriston, Win-
dermere Hill, Walburton Church, &c. On the right
lies the little town of Seaford, almost at the base of
the cliff; the martello tower and fort, at present
occupied by the party of Sappers and Miners, in
front; and beyond these the coast-guard station
and the long level sweep of coast which ter-
minates at Newhaven and the Castle-hill, celebrated
for its ancient Roman remains, and its geological
treasures. Behind these lies Bishopstone and
the Ouse Valley, with Rodmill l ills in
the distance, the whole presenting a succession of
charming pictures, which looked to unusual advantage
in the brilliant sunshine, and studded with groups of
visitors, all wending their way to the scene of opera-
tions at Seaford. The top of the cliff for a circuit of
about half a mile was marked out by a line 'of staffs
with, red flags, and these were continued on to the
beach at about the distance of a quarter of a mile on
either side of the cliff. Up to twelve o'clock crowds
were moving about on the summit, many of them
smoking cigars with the most perfect nonchalance,
although under their feet lay more than twelve tons
Of gunpowder, which a single spark would ignite,
but with as much real safety as if the tremendously
explosive materials were 100 miles off. To avoid the
least risk of danger to the public, the following notice
was extensively posted up in the neighbourhood of
Seaford :
"The public is infarmed that the explosion of the
mines in the cliff at Seaford will take place this day,
Sept. 19, at three o'clock, PM. London Railway
time.
" Persons are requested not to pass the line of sen-
tinels marked out by the banderols with a small red
fisg, as within that line there is danger, as the ground
will be suleject to the action of the mines.
" At two o'clock a union jack will be hoisted at
the shed on the cliff, and another on the top of the
tower, preparatory to the explosion; and at half-past
two they will be hauled down to warn people of
danger.
" At three o'clock the flags will be again hoisted,
when immediately afterwards the mines will be fired.
G. G. LEWIS, Colonel Commanding,
Royal Engineers, South•west and Sussex District."
At half-past two o'clock the flags on the marten()
tower and in front of the shed were hauled down, and
the vast crowds who had been scattered over the cliffs
and along the beach advanced as closely as the line of
sentinels would permit, the great bulk being congre-
gated on the beach, as it was then nearly low water,
and a good view could be obtained of the face of the
cliff. Large numbers were also assembled on the