How Seaford Made a Breakwater!

 

Probably the most thrilling event in the 19th century history of Seaford was the attempt to create a breakwater in a second during the year 1850. The design was to protect the beach opposite the town from the encroachments of the sea.

 

With this intention it was decided to blow down a great part of Seaford cliff, and it was judged that the fallen chalk, jutting out to sea, would give the protection desired at a minimum of cost and labour.

 

The blasting of the cliff was advertised to take place on September 19: great crowds of People from the countryside gathered as near to the cliff as they dare. and a special train brought others from London. Seven tons of gunpowder were used. and the charge was fired by voltaic battery. It was estimated that the explosion brought down no less than 200.000 tons of chalk.

 

Alas! the promoters of this enterprise had failed to reckon with Neptune, and most of the fallen cliff was washed away by storms. Eventually Seaford was protected from the ocean by the present sea-wall, which was built by the Seaford Bay Estate company in 1881.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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