Damage to:- Whitby West Sea Wall
Beach café, toilets and office
Temporary railings & ornate railings
Sandsend embankment (added 6th Dec. 2013)
Sandside Cafe, Sandsend (added 9th Dec. 2013)
Storm uncovers foundations of old pier/jetty - Sandsend*
*WSAA Chairman William Atkinson has fished this coast line for over 50 yrs
and has never seen them before (until today Sun. 8th Dec. 2013). IMG7213-IMG7215
Pictures by Peter Horbury
Thursday 5th December 2013
Late afternoon I had been in Whitby town centre photographing the tidal surge as it flowed over the harbour & dock walls and engulf the streets causing much damage to businesses and homes alike. Later that night received a phone call to get down onto the west cliff beach promenade to photograph the destruction, and sheer power of the tidal surge.
Time photographs were taken 22.15 - 23.14 hrs - Thursday 5th Dec. 2013. Whilst on the beach, despite low water due at 23.55 hrs, 0.5 metres, wave wash was still touching debris and sea walls every now and then.
Looking at the photographs taken earlier in the day thankfully the River Esk was not in full flood, as little rain had recently fallen, but conditions, damage and the wider flood plain would have been a lot worse. Businesses & homes would have been flooded with muddy water as opposed to relatively clean sea water. Fresh water, having a lower Specific Gravity (SG 1.000), would have been on top of the incoming tidal surge of sea water (SG 1.025).
'If', the River Esk had been in full flood then the water level would, I'm told (SBC Engineer), would have been 1 metre higher.
Time photographs were taken 22.15 - 23.14 hrs - Thursday 5th Dec. 2013. Whilst on the beach, despite low water due at 23.55 hrs, 0.5 metres, wave wash was still touching debris and sea walls every now and then.
Looking at the photographs taken earlier in the day thankfully the River Esk was not in full flood, as little rain had recently fallen, but conditions, damage and the wider flood plain would have been a lot worse. Businesses & homes would have been flooded with muddy water as opposed to relatively clean sea water. Fresh water, having a lower Specific Gravity (SG 1.000), would have been on top of the incoming tidal surge of sea water (SG 1.025).
'If', the River Esk had been in full flood then the water level would, I'm told (SBC Engineer), would have been 1 metre higher.
IMG7079 Concrete ramp, wall and railings have been pulled down by the sea, below old toilet block.
|
And in day light Friday 6th after another high tide.
|
IMG7080
|
IMG7081
|
IMG7082 Concrete ramp and railings now on the beach.
|
IMG7832 20/12/2013
|
IMG7083 Paul Dryden stood on the now, lifted & uneven footpath.
|
IMG7084 Steel door to old toilet block had been burst open by force of sea.
|
IMG7085 Outside old toilet block, looking down what was the ramp to the beach.
|
IMG7086
|
IMG7987
|
IMG7088 Large section of railings, now on the beach. Spa Pavilion in background.
|
IMG7089 Entrance to West Cliff lift used as storage for beach chalets. Doors washed away!!! See the door hinges.
|
IMG7090 Shattered water pipe.
|
IMG7091 Boulders and log stumps litter the promenade.
|
IMG7092 Not one railing is left standing!!
|
IMG7093 The sea has some power to do this!!
|
IMG7094 Doors no longer
|
IMG7095 That IS the door on the floor!!
|
IMG7096
|
IMG7097 Beach cafe roller door.
|
IMG7098 Beach cafe roller door stoved in but where are all the coping stones from the wall?
|
And this was after round one, with high water due in the morning at 06.01 hrs, 5.5 metres there is little anything can be done over night. A report was made to the relevant authorities about the damage to the Beach management Centre.
IMG7099
|
IMG7100
|
IMG7101 Life buoy was found 80 yards further down.
|
IMG7102 Ornate railings also ripped off.
|
IMG7103
|
IMG7104 Ornate railings chucked up against the wall.
|
IMG7105 Norwegian granite, part of the rock armour washed up, some is on the other side of the wall.
|
IMG7106
|
IMG7108 Deceptive but it took some force to raise this.
|
Side on, in day light.
|
IMG7109 Ornate railings dressed with sea weed, with huge gaps where they are missing.
|
IMG7110 Norwegian granite rock armour.
|
IMG7111 This block must weigh over a tonne.
|
IMG7112 And another.
|
IMG7113
|
IMG7114 30 metres up the embankment.
|
IMG7115 That is an end off the sea wall (to the left) and a section of ornate railing..
|
IMG7116 Life ring 25 metres away.
|
IMG7117 Torn away like match sticks!
|
IMG7118 Beach Cafe kitchen, doorless.
IMG7119
|
IMG7120
|
IMG7121 Concrete seating torn away.
|
IMG7122
|
IMG7123 Manhole cover washed away, mind your step.
|
IMG7124
|
IMG7125
|
IMG7126
|
IMG7127
|
Late afternoon around Whitby town centre - 16.00 hrs onwards
Thursday 5th December 2013
This was when the rush of water first came to The Station Inn.
|
SBC van driver on wrong side of road, enroute to SpecSavers.
|
|
|
You can add your own caption to this one!!
Staff at Yorkshire trading keep the store dry, unlike Trenchers - flooded. They were still serving food and had to carry diners out as restaurant flooded.
|
Tidal surge floods Endeavour Wharf car park.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Co-Op launch a new tall ship.
|
Flotsam or jetsam?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pantomime time. It's behind you officer! No it's not. Oh yes it is!!
Slip way at Band Stand, bottom of Khyber Pass, as a surge pushes up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All hands to rescue contents of cellar.
|
Corner of the Marine Café Thursday evening.
|
Corner of the Marine Café Friday afternoon.
|
Ground floor room with a view. Dolphins completely submerged.
|
The dolphins fully exposed Friday afternoon.
|
That container is, erm, floating.
|
Cargo container's final resting place on Friday afternoon.
|
And then the lights went out.
|
|
Friday 6th December 2013 - daylight
Taking a walk through Whitby and on to the sand, walking to Sandsend, where more tidal surge destruction is clearly evident.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'Furthur'
Should of gone to Specsavurs |
|
|
|
|
IMG7148 Tate Hill beach littered with a life buoy and road bollards.
|
IMG7149 Tidal surge up slipway.
|
IMG7150 More lifebuoy and traffic bollards.
|
IMG7154 Lifebuoy (picked up & returned to life guard station).
|
The cave is no more
IMG7153 The cave is no more, as the roof collapses.
IMG7155 One can see the thickness and ease with which the tidal surge ripped up the concrete ramp.
|
IMG7156
|
IMG7157 Railings laid in the sand.
|
IMG7158 In the cold light of day the force of the tidal surge is clearly visible.
|
IMG7160 Not even these hand rails were spared.
|
IMG7161
|
IMG7163 workmen making repairs.
|
IMG7159
|
This is what the 'very unpopular railings' looked like as the beach chalets were being positioned for the summer.
|
IMG7164
|
Some will be jumping up and down with glee, now that the temporary railings are destroyed but we, the tax payers, will bear the financial loss of SBC.
IMG7165 workmen making repairs.
|
IMG7166
|
IMG7169 Even the tarmac was ripped up from this footpath.
|
IMG7170
|
IMG7171
IMG7173 Tossed up like match sticks.
|
IMG7172
|
IMG7174 Lifebuoy missing?
|
IMG7175 Rubbish shows high tide mark, frightening!
|
IMG7177 Lifebuoy and railings.
|
IMG7178 End of concrete wall ripped off.
IMG7179 This one didn't quite get lifted over!
|
IMG7180 Fellow walker looks on at the destruction in total disbelief.
|
IMG7181
|
IMG7182 Yes high Tide was UP THERE, very frightening!!
|
IMG7184
|
IMG7185 Norwegian granite tossed up to & over the wall!! Note the high tide mark here to the upper right.
|
IMG7186 More boulders.
|
IMG7187
|
IMG7188
|
IMG7189 No grass, no gravel, all washed away.
|
IMG7190
|
IMG7191 Aussie just loves posing!
|
IMG7193
|
IMG7195 Fresh cliff falls.
|
IMG7196 Fresh under cutting.
|
IMG7198
|
IMG7201 Sand has been ripped away.
|
IMG7201 Large clay rounds cover the beach.
|
IMG7204
|
Sandsend sea defences took a battering
and continued, as the holes got bigger over the weekend
IMG7206
|
IMG7207
|
IMG7208 Huge chucks of concrete have been ripped away.
|
IMG7209
|
IMG7678 Sunday 8th December 2013
|
IMG7679 Sunday 8th December 2013
|
IMG7210
|
IMG7211 Lunar landscape
|
IMG7212 Lunar landscape.
Are these the foundations for an old pier / jetty?
|
Shortly after posting, last night 6th Dec. 2013, had a phone call from Brian Harland who thinks these are not groins, but the foundations of an old pier / jetty. Can anyone confirm either way?
WSAA's longest serving member William Atkinson, with over 50 years fishing this coast line, has never seen these before, looking at the equidistant spacings, would also concur the possibility of it being the foundations for a pier / jetty. There is a possibility it is linked to Raithwaite Hall, as a previous owner was Mr William Headlam. |
IMG7213 Eerie these groins look now fully exposed.
|
IMG7214 Pier or jetty foundations?
|
IMG7215 Pier or jetty foundations?
|
IMG7216 Wow could fit a bus in that!!
|
IMG7217
|
IMG7218
|
IMG7219
|
IMG7658 Sunday 8th December 2013.
|
IMG7220 Not again!!!!!!
|
IMG7221 Lone dog walker looks out of place amongst the rocks.
|
IMG7222
|
IMG7223
|
IMG7224
|
IMG5657 Sunday 8th December 2013.
|
IMG7225
|
IMG7656 Sunday 8th December 2013.
|
IMG7226 Reminiscent of Dr Who eerie!! Could fit a car in that.
|
IMG7655 Sunday 8th December 2013.
|
IMG7228 All the sand has gone!
IMG7229
|
IMG7654 Sunday 8th Dec. 2013
|
With another good sea running tonight (Friday 6th Dec. 2013) how much more damage will have been done?
Sunday 8th December 2013
Sandsend cantilever footpath
IMG7644
|
IMG7645
|
IMG7646
|
IMG7647
|
|
Cantilever footpath, above and below where the sea pounded the sea wall and forced the boards off the footpath.
|
IMG7648
|
Temporary footpath erected over top of damaged cantilever footpath
|
|
Sandside Cafe - Sandsend beach - Nr Whitby
IMG7710
|
ING7709
|
IMG7649
|
IMG7650
|
IMG7651
|
IMG7652
|
Additional 'Gabion baskets', like those visible in images 7649, 7650 & 7652 are required to support embankment.
IMG7653
Sandsend beck
IMG7711
|
IMG7712
|
IMG7713 Wilf Noble's men, WSAA members, Iain 'Simmo' Simpson & Scott 'Pippen' Moore have been busy digging trenches through all the sand under the Sandsend bridge so water can flow again, both down the beck and out of land drains.
----------0----------
Pier / jetty foundations on Sandsend beach, below lifebuoy. Interesting construction technic.
The square holes, dug through shale, which is very slippery to walk on is laden with fossils. The main support, once placed in the hole is then packed with more timber. This additional timber is to stop the sand and rocks from wearing away the main support.
There are 13 posts visible.
The square holes, dug through shale, which is very slippery to walk on is laden with fossils. The main support, once placed in the hole is then packed with more timber. This additional timber is to stop the sand and rocks from wearing away the main support.
There are 13 posts visible.
IMG7718
|
IMG7721
|
IMG7673 all 13 posts visible.
|
IMG7672 RH
|
IMG7671 LH
|
IMG7670 RH
|
IMG7668 LH
|
IMG7669 RH
|
IMG7667 LH
|
IMG7666 RH
|
IMG7664 LH
|
IMG7665 RH
|
IMG7662 LH
|
IMG7663 RH
|
IMG7661 LH
|
IMG7660 RH
|
The main support, once placed in the hole is then packed with more timber. This additional timber is to stop the sand and rocks from wearing away the main support.
Sandsend - remedial works commence - 11th Dec. 2013
Speaking to an elderly couple walking on the beach, (this afternoon Wed. 11th Dec. 2013) told me the storm of 1953 was more destructive, in that all of Sandsend front was washed away virtually to the front door of the Beach Hotel. They too, had not seen the pier foundations before.
IMG7699 sand ramp for easy access.
|
IMG7700 sand ramp to gain easier access.
|
IMG7701 sand ramp and concrete has been broken up.
|
IMG7702
|
IMG7703 ramp made and boulders used to fill crater.
|
IMG7704 crater being filled with large boulders.
|
IMG7705
|
IMG7706
|
IMG7707 New hole appears.
Friday 13th December 2013 remedial works continue
IMG7714
|
IMG7715
|
IMG7716
IMG7723 wave action is washing out the clay embankment.
|
IMG7717
|
IMG7722 wave action is washing out the clay embankment.
|
NYCC Highways & Wilf Noble Construction make repairs - Wed 18th Dec 2013
Rain showers and rainbows as NYCC Highways make repairs with Wilf Noble Construction & Plant Hire, Ruswarp.
Not an easy task tamping cement on such an incline.
Dumper truck of cement is lost in void of broken Sandsend sea defences.
|
|
A beautiful full rainbow at Sandsend this morning.
Friday 20th December 2013
Broken ornate railings have been cut off and taken away.
IMG7813
IMG7818
IMG7820
|
IMG7817
IMG7819
IMG7821
|
New mud slide - to monitor.
IMG7814
|
IMG78155
|
IMG7816
|
IMG7823 All boarded up & secure - North Beach Café - Bar.
IMG7826 Access to lift all boarded up & secure.
IMG7828 Life Guard station, remedial work has begun.
IMG7829
IMG7831 You get an idea of the thickness of the concrete ramp that was torn away by the tidal surge.
|
IMG7830
IMG7832
|
IMG7833
|
IMG7834
|
IMG7835
|
IMG7836 Railings buried in sand.
|
Groins
IMG7837
|
IMG7839
|
IMG7840
|
IMG 7838
IMG7845 Cave no more.
|
IMG7841 Just hanging on.
|
IMG7842
|
IMG7843
|
IMG7844
|
Saturday 21st December 2013 - Sandside Cafe - Sandsend Nr Whitby
|
|
Work has begun installing 'Gabion baskets', to support the embankment.
Saturday 28th December 2013
On closer inspection of the failed railings, casting flaws, i.e. 'air pockets', clearly visible in the ornate alloy legs, could these weaknesses have contributed to quantity of broken railings?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mounting nuts & bolts securing leg to promenade missing and previously repaired legs.
|
|
|
|
IMG7925
|
IMG7926
|
IMG7928
|
IMG7929
|
IMG7930 Access to lift all secure.
|
IMG7931
|
Doors boarded up but still a lot of work to do before summer.
IMG7933
|
IMG7932
|
Friday 3rd January 2014 - Sandside Cafe - Sandsend Nr Whitby
Work by NYCC continues to install the 'Gabion baskets'.
IMG8003
|
IMG8004
IMG8005
|
IMG8006
|
IMG8007 the sand has returned and the Raithwaite jetty has been buried again.
|
Wednesday 8th January 2014 - Sandside Cafe - Sandsend Nr Whitby
Work by NYCC & Wilf Noble Construction, continues to repair sea defenses as work to install the 'Gabion baskets' is complete, bar some top soil and grass seed at Sandside Cafe.
|
|
|
|
Tuesday 21st January 2014
Recent heavy seas have moved the sand yet again, and revealed some 'under cutting' of the sea defences. Work repairing the sea wall, at the 'Life Guard Office/Station', is progressing well, with shuttering up and ready to pour concrete.
Under cutting of sea defences
|
|
|
Shuttering ready for concrete
|
|
|
Shuttering ready for concrete
|
Under cutting of sea defences below Spa
|
Wednesday 22nd January 2014 - Sandside Cafe repairs complete and looking good.
Sandside Cafe - Sandsend Nr Whitby
|
Sandside Cafe - Sandsend Nr Whitby
|
Sandside Cafe - Sandsend Nr Whitby
|
Sandside Cafe - Sandsend Nr Whitby
|
Friday 24th January 2014
Ramp repaired and new railings fitted
|
Ramp repaired and new railings fitted
|
NYCC Highways & Wilf Noble Construction have completed repairs to Sandsend sea defences - photographs taken on 22nd Jan 2014
Thursday 27th March 2014
|
|
Starting to look good with all the new railings replacing that horrible crowd control fencing that was lost / damaged in the tidal surge.
Missing railings, nearer the old Black Steps, have been replaced all made by TH Dick & Co Ltd. Beach chalets as bright and colourful as ever all lined up ready for Easter. Beach Cafe has had a lick of paint and looks good with the new roller doors. |
|
|
|
|
|
Monday 14th April 2014 - North Beach Caf'e or Café - typo
|
|
Spot the spelling mistake
|
New steel doors for the lift access tunnel
|
Thursday 17th April 2014
New railings continue to be installed, new coping flags on the wall - looking good as the beach chalets brighten up the promenade.
|
|
|
|
|
|
15th October 2014
scaffolding still in place as works continue to repair the cantilever walk way
nearly a year later
|
↑ - Beach groins are no longer maintained.
↓ - New hard wood super structure. 
|
|
|
Published Thursday 5th December 2013
Last edit Sunday 7th December 2014
Last edit Sunday 7th December 2014