On the Contortions in the Chalk at Flamborough Head

Abstract

The Photographs issued with the volume of proceeding’s for the current year illustrate a series of gigantic contortions in the Chalk at Flamborough Head in Yorkshire. Between the eastern extremity of the Head, where the Lighthouse is placed and the Speeton Cliffs, is a distance of about 6 miles, and the part of the cliff from which the Photograph is taken is nearly midway between the two, at a place designated Staple Nook, a small bay in the Bempton Cliffs. The northern shore of the bay is formed by a promontory of the chalk which has been pierced and forms an archway: this is called on the ordnance map Scale Nab. The opposite extremity of the bay is formed by a series of arched rocks which is styled ‘Old Door,’ the popular name amongst the fishermen is always ‘Staple nook.’ The Cliffs at this part of the coast are quite inacessable, and the sea washes up to their base at every tide. North and south of the contorted strata at Staple Nook, the sea never leaves the perpendicular face of the Cliff which descends sheer into the water to a considerable depth below the tide at low water mark. The only means by which access can be got to this part of the beach is by boat from the North Landing at Flamborough, and only thence in fair weather. The great cliffs, beautiful in their stupendous grandeur, and the sunken and treacherous rocks extending seawards at their feet, demand the ...