Dragon Posted 15 June , 2009 Share Posted 15 June , 2009 At Spurn recently, I came across Godwin Battery, which is being eroded by the sea and slowly crumbling into it. I can post photos if anyone's interested. I didn't go inside. I would be interested to know its history. Archive photos would be worth seeing. Can anyone enlighten me, please? Thanks Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil@basildon Posted 15 June , 2009 Share Posted 15 June , 2009 This is a constant problem down the east coast from Yorkshire to the Thames estuary. It is simply impossible to save heavy concrete and stone structures such as this as the sea is constantly washing out the sand beneath them. The sea in many places is actually undermining flood defences and sadly it would be at an enormous financial cost to protect all structures on the east coast. The priority is peoples homes and even some of those have been allowed to fall into the sea. Spurn Head itself is no more than a spit of sand created by tidal action and it is remarkable that Godwin Battery still survives. Many WW2 structures here in Essex have allready been lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 15 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 15 June , 2009 I understand that military activity over the last couple of centuries has prevented Spurn Head from behaving in its natural way. As you say - being undermined: Overview. I have others... Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobL Posted 15 June , 2009 Share Posted 15 June , 2009 If anyone wants an update on Spurn Point at any time, let me know - a mate of mine is on the full time RNLI crew there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil@basildon Posted 15 June , 2009 Share Posted 15 June , 2009 Spurn Head is constantly changing, indeed a couple of times recently it was in danger of becoming Spurn Island! Dredging and draining and the construction of sea walls has been going on along the East Coast for hundreds of years, Spurn Head itself has only existed for less than a thousand years and is now maintained to protect the port of Grimsby from northern gales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 15 June , 2009 Share Posted 15 June , 2009 Gwyn See: http://www.wilgilsland.co.uk/page12.html Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 15 June , 2009 Author Share Posted 15 June , 2009 Thank you for the link, Dave. The ruins were completely unexpected for me. I was simply aware of Spurn's fascination for birdwatchers (which I'm not) and hadn't made the connection with its role as a defensive position. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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