Introduction

The sea has always influenced the coast and its use. The sea moulds the coast and yet on this coast, surprisingly little has been lost by erosion. Erosion of the shoreline exposed the rocks and geological structures, allowing scientists and amateurs to explore the history of the earth. Without the sea’s impact, this coast would not be a World Heritage Site.

Access to and shelter from the sea influenced the siting of ports. This affected the arrival and spread of migrants, disease and invasive animal and plant species. Since the eighteenth century, the sea’s influence on climate, and therefore on health, became the most important stimulus for growth as health resorts gradually dominated the coastal landscape.

Erosion

Apart from the landslides at Lyme Regis and Portland (see Impacts of Landslides and Coastal Change), erosion of the cliffs was not regarded as a serious problem until the nineteenth century when building began on cliffs at Bournemouth and Southbourne. There are few references to features taken by the sea. Many early maps identify the present-day location of Old Harry as Studland Castle. There is no evidence of a castle. Is this simply a reference to the castellated form of the Old Harry stacks?

Keeping harbour mouths open was vital, so at Christchurch there were several attempts to manage the harbour mouth.

Ports and transport (see also Marine Resources)

The estuaries of the south coast of England and the river valleys extending into the mainland provided access points for trade. Recent archaeological investigations in Poole Harbour revealed Britain’s first “cross-channel port”, dating from the Iron Age (see History on the Seabed). There were Roman harbours at Christchurch and Hamworthy and possibly another near Weymouth. The port at Poole was important, but Wareham, Melcombe (now Weymouth), Bridport and Lyme Regis were also important for trade with their hinterland.

Defence

Defence against invasion from the sea played an important role in Dorset’s coastal landscape. As early as the sixteenth century, defences were planned.

Copy of a sixteenth century map showing planned coastal defences on the Dorset Coast (DCC).

The Royal Navy’s large artificial harbour at Portland gave rise to a wide range of activities and industry supporting the Navy. These included the development of sonar on Portland. The Royal Marines at Poole and the Tank ranges at Lulworth use the coast and its waters today.

Migrants

In many respects, the most significant migrations from Dorset in recent centuries were the enforced transportations of agricultural workers to Australia and the spread of Poole people to Newfoundland.

Disease and health

In earlier times, the main risk of disease entering the country was at the ports. Nowhere was this greater than at Melcombe in 1348 with the arrival and spread of plague.

However, the eighteenth century belief that the sea was good for health ultimately had the biggest impact on the coastal landscape. The coastal climate was the greatest natural influence of the sea, but Health Resorts became the vogue (see Leisure Hours).

Vincent May