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386 THE SUSSEX COAST |
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hath forsaken us and besides the importable charge in defending the rage of the sea from eating up our ways to the town and maintaining the jetties and places of refuge for our few fisher-boats yet remaining," &c. But nothing seems to have been done. De Foe gives a gloomy account in 1724. "Its Trade is in Hops, Wool, Timber, Kettles, Cannon, Chimney-backs, &c. ... It is a very great Misfortune that its Harbour has been so much damaged by the Sea, and neglected; for it is almost filled up in several Places, where it was formerly the deepest, and most convenient. Some considerable Families, who have Lands near, have taken Advantage of this, to extend them further upon those Sands, which the Sea in Storms has thrown up against them; and by digging Ditches, and making Drains there are now Fields and Meadows where antiently was nothing but Water. By this Means Ships of but a middle Size cannot come to any convenient Distance near the Town, whereas formerly the largest Vessels, and even whole Fleets together could anchor just by the Rocks on which the Town stands. . . . But it being by the Means I have mention'd, and by the Inning of the Channel and waste Lands thereof, which prevented the Flux and Reflux of the Tide, in Danger of being utterly lost, an Act of Parliament was procured in the Year 1721, which declares, That no new Walls, Banks, Dams, or Stops, shall thereafter be erected on either Side of the Water, that might stop or alter the Flux or Reflux of the Sea, between the Mouth of the Harbour, bounded by the Camber and Castle-Points, and New Shutt near Craven-Sluice, and that all such new erected Walls, Banks, Dams &c. that should thereafter |
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