Whenever I am asked about sea defences I seldom see beyond still vivid memories of storm breakers sweeping over the sea wall a couple of hundred yards from my home. In fact the problems go way beyond that and can be divided into headings such as the list on the left.
Storms provide the most dramatic images, but Cliff Erosion has destroyed much of the island over the centuries.
Shingle drifts towards the Medway. It builds up on one side of groynes and obstructions creating drops of several feet in places. Plants are getting a foothold on some of the higher shingle banks. Although most of the island is prone to sea flooding, the lowest areas are also at risk from other sources.
Much of Sheerness as well as Sheppey is below sea-level and so is prone to flooding. You can find references to this as far back as Samuel Pepys, when he was responsible for dockyards and was choosing sites to defend the Thames. Parts of the current sea wall around Sheerness was built following the 1978 floods. I believe The sea wall along Marine Parade was built in the 30s following flooding in 1927. It was raised and strengthened after 1978. A shingle bank was created between Bartons Point and the Leas, I believe in the 60s.
gerald.skinner@virgin.net
The sea wall between Bartons point and the white house was build by Mowlem following the 1953 floods. There is an excellent book commissioned by the Essex County Council called "the Great Tide" which details the causes and effects of the '53 floods. The same floods caused the building of the sea wall from near the Dockyard to Queenborough. I believe this was one of the breached sections.