Swanage Beach Landslip Evolution The sea cliffs of Swanage Bay, situated in the far east of the Isle...

Swanage Beach Landslip EvolutionThe sea cliffs of Swanage Bay, situated in the far east of the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, are becoming increasingly degraded by the elements (the sea and the weather). Over the past few years many tonnes of cliff debris have subsided down onto the beach, with potentially more to come.

Leeson House have taken series of photos from a number of set positions along the beach to see how the cliffs change. Most series of photos include a before and after photo, with the before photo taken on 28th November 2012, with the after photo taken on the 22nd August 2013 (unless otherwise stated).

Aerial photos taken from Dorset Explorer and Google Earth. Photographs from the top of the cliff in Ballard Estate taken with thanks to Russell Thompson of Cumulus Outdoors.

Location of Swanage in relation to the United Kingdom.

Location of the beach at Swanage.

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28th November 2012

22nd August 2013

28th November 2012

22nd August 2013

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28th November 2012 22nd August 2013

28th November 2012

22nd August 2013

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Old Beach Huts

28th November 2012 22nd August 2013

28th November 2012

22nd August 2013

28th November 2012

22nd August 2013

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Land Slide

28th November 2012 22nd August 2013

28th November 2012

22nd August 2013

28th November 2012

22nd August 2013

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28th November 2012

22nd August 2013

28th November 2012

22nd August 2013

28th November 2012 22nd August 2013

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28th November 2012

22nd August 2013

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28th November 2012

22nd August 2013

The Pines HotelThe Pines Hotel, perched on top of the sea cliffs, prides itself on having “unrivalled” sea views over Swanage Bay. The owners, however, are in a battle with the elements to stop both the beer garden and the hotel itself from slipping into the sea. Several landslides in the last couple of years lead to the hotels private steps onto the beach being shut in June 2013. For a period of 11 weeks the cliff had engineering works carried out to try and halt the subsidence. www.pineshotel.co.uk/main.htm.The houses directly to the north of the hotel in the Ballard Estate are facing similar problems.

View southwards towards the Pines Hotel, 11th January 2013

View northwards from the Ballard Estate, 11th January 2013

View of the base of the landslides beneath the Pines Hotel (left) and the Ballard Estate (left), 26th January 2013.

Engineering workers below the Pines Hotel trying to stabilise the cliffs from further landslides over the summer of 2013. Picture taken on the 22nd August 2013.

Photos courtesy of Swanage Coastguards, and taken over an unknown period in December 2012.

Before After

Before After

View onto Swanage Beach from a garden in the Ballard Estate, 11th January 2013.

A very active mudflow at the base of the landslide below Ballard Estate, 26th January 2013.

Other useful links• Swanage landslide caught on camera

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-20825271

• Freelance journalist photoswww.demotix.com/news/1705853/further-cliff-subsidence-swanage-causes-safety-concerns#media-1705814

• Local newspaper reports www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/10124955.Beach_closed_off_after_landslip_at_Swanage/