Sandgate Castle to Marine Point (MU 20/9 – 20/11)

East of Sandgate Castle the seawall is constructed from masonry and concrete with a wide and undulating concrete promenade behind. The seawall is fronted by a shingle beach with rail/timber groynes. This area suffers regular localised flooding from wave overtopping and is susceptible to rapid beach loss due to the downdrift erosion effects of the four rock groynes that are updrift of this frontage.

The seawall ends approximately 400m east of the castle where the general ‘embayed’ nature of this section has enabled the beach to persist without formal defences. The only protection from wave attack is provided by the garden walls and paths, which are supported by timber breastwork fronted by a simple rock revetment. Although under typical conditions these ad hoc defences have performed adequately, under extreme conditions, or if beach levels fall, then it is likely that the defences will fail under direct wave attack.

At Marine Point a high concrete retaining wall, fronted by a narrow shingle beach with rail/timber groynes, protects the backshore. The steel sheet piled and concrete toe dissipates some of the incident wave energy, but is not substantial enough to prevent erosion in the long term. This wall is in very poor condition and is susceptible to severe undermining and has been repaired on many occasions.