Walton-on-the-Naze is a small town located on the east coast of England in the county of Essex. The town is situated on a stretch of coastline that is vulnerable to erosion and flooding due to its exposed location and the shape of the land. As a result, the town has a long history of sea defences being constructed in order to protect it from the sea.
The first recorded sea defences at Walton-on-the-Naze were built in the 16th century. These defences consisted of a wooden wall that was constructed along the edge of the beach. The wall was made of wooden logs that were buried in the sand and held in place by large stones. This wall was effective in protecting the town from flooding, but it was also prone to damage from the sea and had to be regularly repaired.
In the 19th century, the sea defences at Walton-on-the-Naze were improved upon. A new sea wall was constructed using brick and concrete, which was more durable and able to withstand the force of the sea. This new sea wall was also higher than the previous wooden wall, which meant that it was able to protect the town from higher tides.
In the 20th century, the sea defences at Walton-on-the-Naze were further strengthened. A series of groynes were constructed along the beach in order to trap sand and help to build up the beach. These groynes were made of wooden piles that were driven into the sand and covered with concrete. They were effective at trapping sand and helping to build up the beach, but they also had the side effect of causing erosion on the beach opposite the groyne.
More recently, the sea defences at Walton-on-the-Naze have been improved even further. A new seawall was constructed using a combination of concrete and steel, which is even more durable and able to withstand the force of the sea. In addition, a beach nourishment scheme was implemented, in which sand is brought in and used to build up the beach in order to provide additional protection against erosion.
Overall, the sea defences at Walton-on-the-Naze have evolved over time in order to better protect the town from the sea. The use of different materials and construction methods has allowed the town to adapt to the changing conditions of the sea and to continue to thrive in the face of potential flooding and erosion.
