CoastView - The pier and beach at Rottingdean

At Rottingdean a Downland valley reaches the sea, and there is a break in the cliffs, known as "The Gap". In olden times the village was very isolated and inhabited mainly by fishermen, farmers and smugglers, now it overflows with bungalows for the retired and the homes of Brighton commuters.

	This photograph was taken in about 1900, when Rottingdean boasted a pier, which served a sea-going tram named "Pioneer", but more generally known as "Daddy Long-Legs". This tram was the invention of the Brighton engineer, Magnus Volks, and ran between Rottingdean and Kemp Town. The rails were mounted on concrete blocks set in the chalk shore platform, and the tram had stilt legs (with wheels at the base) so that it could operate not only at low tide but also at high tide. The tram made its maiden journey in November 1896 but soon after was badly damaged in the storm that wrecked Brighton's Chain Pier. After extensive repairs it was brought back into service, but in 1901 the line had to close when Brighton Corporation decided to extend the Kemp Town groynes further out to sea across the track bed. The tram can be seen at Ovingdean pier in the far distance. Also discernable is the track bed leading to Rottingdean. Note the three-story house on the far side of the Gap. In this picture it is still some distance from the cliff edge.
	The same scene in about 1920. The pier has gone (it was dismantled in about 1910) and cliff erosion has claimed part of the road in the foreground. The western end of the house on the far side of the Gap has had to be demolished; the remainder stands perilously close to the cliff edge, and is about to suffer the same fate. Notice also how much the sea has encroached in the center of the picture.
	Rottingdean Gap today. The beach has been artificially recharged and rock groynes have replaced the old wooden structures. The track bed of the old tramway is just discernable on the foreshore.

The almost total change in scenery at Rottingdean can also be seen in the two image taken from the beach.

	Rottingdean Gap seen from the beach in about 1912. The pier has been dismantled, but the concrete blocks that once supported the tramroad remain.
	The scene today. The beach has been artificially recharged and the cliffs have been walled in to prevent the sea eroding the soft chalk and overlying sands and gravels. Modern flats dominate the skyline.