Barton on Sea Golf Course, taken in April 2017, from the cliff top walk, now nearly closed due to erosion, Barton On Sea, New Milton, Hampshire, England.
Cliff Top Walk at Barton on Sea.
This cliff top walk is getting every dangerous now due to the erosion all along the cliffs from Barton on Sea to Milford on Sea. I did this walk in August 2012 and it was ok then. However I again walked all along the cliff tops from Barton on Sea car park at Marine Drive East to Milford on Sea ( not the start or finish of the walk I might add ). In 2017 April I again did this long walk which had become very dangerous in parts. The local council had erected signs warning people of the dangers and actually closing the cliff top walk. In parts the original path has disappeared and in others it had become so narrow, it was very near the cliff tops. So beware and take advice from people who know this walk before attempting it. It is no longer 100% safe.
The coast at Barton on Sea is particularly well known for its geological content, being home to many fossils in the Barton geological beds. A cliff - top path runs between Barton and the village of Milford on Sea. From there, the Solent Way stretches all the way to Emsworth, on the West Sussex border. It is also well known for the fact that it was the first place in England to try rock groynes.
People have lived in the area of Barton since prehistoric times. Several bronze age funerary urns were uncovered in Barton during the early 20th century, although most of them have been lost or destroyed. While Barton is a common English place-name, the etymology of Barton-on-Sea is unique. It means Beorma’s Farm, and appears twice in the Domesday Book, as Bermintune and as Burmintune. Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, and friend of William the Conqueror, held both Barton manors in 1086.
The village is separated from the beach by a 35 - metre high cliff although there are connecting paths. The cliffs are frequently used for paragliding. At the eastern end of the village is the Barton-On-Sea Golf Club, which is notable for comprising three loops of nine holes.
Barton on Sea has had for many years a problem with coastal erosion. In the past, the cliffs have eroded away at a rate of up to one metre a year, and several buildings have been lost. In the early 1900's the grassy promenade at the top of the cliffs was 100 metres wide, today it is around 20 metres at its furthest points. The erosion was not helped by sea-defences farther west at Bournemouth starving Barton of sediment needed in its beaches to protect its cliffs. Some coastal protection measures at Barton were installed in the late 1930's but fell into disrepair during World War II. In 1964 a series of timber groynes and a cliff drainage system was installed along 300 m of the sea-front. This was followed in 1965-8 by a timber revetment backed by large rocks; an extension to the drainage system; and some rock groynes. Later improvements have consisted of replacing the timber groynes with rock groynes; and replacing the timber revetment with a rock structure of dark grey limestone boulders to protect the toe of the cliff. Today’s cliff slip problems are largely due to inland water seepage. There have been recent experiments with vegetation defences ( planting shrubs, plants and trees on the cliff face ) to prevent rotational cliff slump, and therefore slowing the retreat of the cliff towards land which is in use.
To the west of Barton is Naish, now a holiday park, but which was once a farm estate with a history dating back to the 14th century. To the west of that is Chewton, notable for the chine called Chewton Bunny running down to the sea. To the east of Barton is Becton, now the golf course, but which was once a farm with a history dating back to the Domesday book ( the Saxon name means Becca's farm ). Another chine called Becton Bunny can be found here, but it has become much reduced by coastal erosion
Barton on Sea Golf Course, taken in April 2017, from the cliff top walk, now nearly closed due to erosion, Barton On Sea, New Milton, Hampshire, England.
Cliff Top Walk at Barton on Sea.
This cliff top walk is getting every dangerous now due to the erosion all along the cliffs from Barton on Sea to Milford on Sea. I did this walk in August 2012 and it was ok then. However I again walked all along the cliff tops from Barton on Sea car park at Marine Drive East to Milford on Sea ( not the start or finish of the walk I might add ). In 2017 April I again did this long walk which had become very dangerous in parts. The local council had erected signs warning people of the dangers and actually closing the cliff top walk. In parts the original path has disappeared and in others it had become so narrow, it was very near the cliff tops. So beware and take advice from people who know this walk before attempting it. It is no longer 100% safe.
The coast at Barton on Sea is particularly well known for its geological content, being home to many fossils in the Barton geological beds. A cliff - top path runs between Barton and the village of Milford on Sea. From there, the Solent Way stretches all the way to Emsworth, on the West Sussex border. It is also well known for the fact that it was the first place in England to try rock groynes.
People have lived in the area of Barton since prehistoric times. Several bronze age funerary urns were uncovered in Barton during the early 20th century, although most of them have been lost or destroyed. While Barton is a common English place-name, the etymology of Barton-on-Sea is unique. It means Beorma’s Farm, and appears twice in the Domesday Book, as Bermintune and as Burmintune. Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, and friend of William the Conqueror, held both Barton manors in 1086.
The village is separated from the beach by a 35 - metre high cliff although there are connecting paths. The cliffs are frequently used for paragliding. At the eastern end of the village is the Barton-On-Sea Golf Club, which is notable for comprising three loops of nine holes.
Barton on Sea has had for many years a problem with coastal erosion. In the past, the cliffs have eroded away at a rate of up to one metre a year, and several buildings have been lost. In the early 1900's the grassy promenade at the top of the cliffs was 100 metres wide, today it is around 20 metres at its furthest points. The erosion was not helped by sea-defences farther west at Bournemouth starving Barton of sediment needed in its beaches to protect its cliffs. Some coastal protection measures at Barton were installed in the late 1930's but fell into disrepair during World War II. In 1964 a series of timber groynes and a cliff drainage system was installed along 300 m of the sea-front. This was followed in 1965-8 by a timber revetment backed by large rocks; an extension to the drainage system; and some rock groynes. Later improvements have consisted of replacing the timber groynes with rock groynes; and replacing the timber revetment with a rock structure of dark grey limestone boulders to protect the toe of the cliff. Today’s cliff slip problems are largely due to inland water seepage. There have been recent experiments with vegetation defences ( planting shrubs, plants and trees on the cliff face ) to prevent rotational cliff slump, and therefore slowing the retreat of the cliff towards land which is in use.
To the west of Barton is Naish, now a holiday park, but which was once a farm estate with a history dating back to the 14th century. To the west of that is Chewton, notable for the chine called Chewton Bunny running down to the sea. To the east of Barton is Becton, now the golf course, but which was once a farm with a history dating back to the Domesday book ( the Saxon name means Becca's farm ). Another chine called Becton Bunny can be found here, but it has become much reduced by coastal erosion