Coastal erosion near Ulrome, TA1756
| Sun, 11 May 2014 23:36 robinstott |
For a workshop we ran for geography teachers at the Geographical Association conference, April 2014, SJB suggested illustrating coastal erosion in Holderness, the southeastern part of the East Riding of Yorkshire. We used a set of four images to show the dramatic dissolution of the low clay cliffs by the North Sea. I've since found more images and have assembled them here in date order. They are by several contributors whose viewpoints differ because, mainly by the nature of the process, the accessible viewpoint tends to move south and west as earlier positions disappear. The general location is the same, between Skipsea and Ulrome, several times called Cobble Gap, sometimes Skipsea Cliff or Skipsea Sands; the OS map offers the name Tranmere Cliff. The photographers' heartfelt and astonished comments are well worth reading. Similar sequences for other stretches of this coast could be assembled though there may be fewer photos currently. December 2005 – December 2007 The short wooden posts on the left in the first photo appear to be those at the edge in the second. The telephone poles nearest the edge in the first photo have gone. In the third photo note the new fence.    May 2008 – September 2009 "…reckoned to be the fastest eroding coastline in Europe." In the first photo below, note the roof of a bungalow appearing above the third caravan on the left.      January 2010 – December 2011 In the fourth photo below, the road and the footpath to landward have almost completely disappeared. The bungalow is clearly visible now that the caravans, seen in May 2008, have been removed. The hardstandings they were parked on progressively fall on to the beach. The telephone poles and wires have presumably been taken down. In the fifth photo the line of the post and rail fence has been adjusted.      June 2012 – June 2013 The viewpoint is forced south and west. The post and rail fence dangles over the cliff. Bit by bit the hardstandings disappear. In the third photo below, the black-tarred bungalow has presumably been dismantled and taken away, leaving only a small chalet or outbuilding, seen at the back in earlier photos. It also appears that the whole seaward row of caravans beyond the bungalow have been towed away.    December 2013 The second photo below is the nearest approach to the second photo in the top row, taken over six years before in August 2007. The third photo below was taken from a viewpoint further north than the others.    March and April 2014    |
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