The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
SWALLOWED BY THE SEA.
Facts illustrating the Remarkable Raw
ages of the Ocean.

Facts illustrating the Remarkable Raw
ages of the Ocean.
Shakespeare tells us ''the seas
thief, and our experience fully corrobo-
rates his. Our coasts have been tho
roughly ravaged by the relentless forcc
of this powerful element, and many are
the towns and villages that have fallen
victims to its Unsuitable NAV. No doubt
the sea has always been washing away
our crumbling cliffs, and many traditions
still linger of ancient cities and vast
tracts of land forever buried beneath the
wave. Let us recount few.
On the coast of Yorkshire, from Flam-
borough head to Spurn point, the dam
age done by the sea for ages has been
very extensive. Prof. Phillips estimates
the loss of land at the rate of about two
and quarter yards per year on an aver
age. Many villages have been washed
from its shores which are now forgotten.
On some of our old maps we may read
such items as HEARTBURN, washed away
by the sea-" Clyde, lost in the sea-"
'Here stood Auburn, which was washed
away by the sea-" The Rev. r. Wilton,
NJ. A., has composed o graceful little
poem on the latter place. 1t is said that
the ruins Of Auburn are still to be seen
opposite Auburn house. Bridlington
quay has been subjected to many ravages;
in 1887, after stormy weather. the whole
was scene of ruin, houses being de-
stroyed and the north pier severed from
the land. Houses have frequently been
taken down to save them from being
swept into the sea. Seventeen or eigh-
teen hundred years ago We are told that
B t-e,{,% ,%S,l
on Filey Bay (their Felix Portus); how
much remains of it now? Within the last
twenty years Prof. Phillips tells us of
the discovery of the traces of building
on the very edge Of the cliff, rudely
paved, with corner-stones mortised in
the middle for upright posts; central
stone; the floor covered from foot to a
foot and a half deep with the bones of
animals used for food; great amount of
pottery, nearly all Roman; coins, and
many other things, showing it to have
been large residence luxuriously kept,
possibly part of pratorium.
Outhorne is another departed village.
In 1928 its clurchyard remained with
only one tombstone, which the sea soon
claimed for its own.
On the coast of Lincolnshire the ray
ages of the sea, though not extensive,
have still been very considerable From
Grimsby to Skegness there are still many
visible vestiges of submarine forest.
Dugdale, however, attributes its sub
mersion to an earthquake. Itterby Owle
and Clee Ness were SO despoiled and
flooded that they originated the local
term, "Gone to Humber"
At Thrunscoe q church, village, and
seven hundred acres of land are said te
have been destroyed by the sea, and neal
the low-water mark stones have beer
| found which seemed to have belonged to
a..church. About sixty years ago a fish
erman drew up large bell-clapper il
| the meshes of his net. Near Sutton-in
the Marsh and Huttoft there are agair
| distinct traces of a submarine forest; a
the former place a great part of st
Clements is said to have been washed
away centuries ago with its origina
| church. At the lowest Gibbs of the tide
| q great number of islets and decayet
trees may be seen. When the late ST
Joseph Banks examined these islets-o
clay huts as they are sometimes called
the people told him that their ancestor
| could discern the ruins of the old churcl
at very low water.
At Addlethorp and Mablethorpe trace
of a submarine forest are especially visi
ble Birch, fir, and oak are the tree
which are the most distinguishable; tn
the soil in which they are fixed and t.
which they grew is soft, greasy clay
above which is a stratum of decaye,
leaves and other vegetable matter severa
inches thick.
According to Lyell, at Sheringaam, o.
the coast of Norfolk, there is now dept
of twenty feet of water, where forty
eight years ago there stood cliff fift
feet high, with houses upon it. The on
cient villages of Shipden, Wimpwell, an
Eccles have been lost. The site of ancien
Corner is now part of the Germa
ocean, the inhabitants having gradual
retreated inland to the present town.
In Suffolk, at Dunfiich, once the lare
est seaport on the coast, the loss ha
been very great. Monasteries, churches
and public buildings have at differen
times been destroyed, including four hur
dred houses at once. The town is no.
reduced to small village with about tw
hundred inhabitants.
In the time of Queen Elizabeth
Brighton, in Sussex, stood where tn
chain pier now stretches into the ses
Part of the town was destroyed in 1861
and in 1903 and 1705 the remainder wa
overwhelmed, consisting of one hundre
and thiateen houses.