The Remains of the Godwin battery on the beach at Kilnsea at the head of Spurn point on Yorkshires East Coast, UK. Initially constructed during the First World War, the Godwin Battery was added to during the Second World War. It comprised of gun emplacements, search light, barracks, officers’ mess, and a hospital. This section of coastline is the fastest eroding coastline in Europe. The soft boulder clay cliffs are easily eroded and have been eroding since Roman Times, but recently the climate change impacts of increased stormy weather, increased heavy rainfall events and sea level rise have accelerated the rate of erosion. The average rate of attrition is 1.5metres per year, last year it was 5 metres.

destruction damage infrastructure cost weathering erosion collapse cliff sea cliff boulder clay coast east coast yorkshire uk north sea sea coastal erosion kilnsea beach climate change global warming unstable danger dangerous collpase collapsing gravity undercut sea level rise barrier concrete defences coastal defences protection smashed broken damaged abandoned godwin battery second world war war defences gun emplacement battery angle lean leaning tilt tilting