Brighton beaches after the storms of October 15 and December 8, 1886

Abstract

Considerable damage was done by the storms of October 15 and of December 8, 1886, to the beach and sea-works at Brighton; and having been present on these occasions there, the following remarks include observations made upon the events and results affected. The whole sea-front of Brighton is now faced by sea-walls of various heights, style, and extension seawards, built, as they were, at various periods, as necessity or money induced; and these are all fronted by open shingle or gravel beaches of different inclinations, and interrupted or protected by numerous groynes projecting out to the sea. These storms carried away great quantities of this stony shore out into deep water, or further eastward beyond Brighton, and washed away garden terraces, seats, and small sea-works in front, and the piles and frames of the Electric Railway, so that the rails collapsed on to the denuded shore. It, however, did not appear that either the Chain Pier or West Pier had been damaged materially, except by a few smaller binding or girder beams having been carried away underneath the platforms; and there was no loss of ship, or boat, or life on the coast alongside. The damage was effected chiefly by the great ocean storm-swell, which came on in long lines of unbroken crests 3 or 4 per min., and on getting into shallower water curled over, and fell with cataract-like force, and pounded the beach like a steam hammer, and then shot up the slopes, carrying the debris up with