The Coastguard Cottages at Birling Gap, a little west of Beachy Head

This cottage was a good 10 yards from the cliff edge at the beginning of winter. The storms have removed f beach material which protected the cliff (to a depth of 3 or 4 feet), with the effect that the steps from which this photo was taken no longer reach the beach level at their foot. (I think the removal of beach material is an effect of local intense storms, as opposed to long swells from storms well out in the Atlantic which tend to build up beaches - anyone with precise knowledge?).

But the erosion here was definitely concentrated at the foot of the dry valley leading down to the Gap, creating an embayment where there was previously a straight line of cliff edge, suggesting that a local high water table had weakened the chalk selectively.

FWIW and for those not familiar with groundwater problems, the A32 at Farringdon, featured in a previous set of photographs, was still closed by flooding last weekend (31 Mar). For the extent of groundwater flooding on the Downs still happening see http://www.shoothill.com/FloodMap/ 

AN image that the wife did not like as used to visit around there...

A32 finally re-opened today 8th April.