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Seven Sisters Cliffs The Seven Sisters cliffs have been witness to the demise of many ships and seafarers, the local inhabitants being quickly on the scene to rescue crew and salvage any valuables. And since 1563, there have been at least 25 shipping casualties between Birling Gap and Cuckmere Haven. The first occupiers of the area were prehistoric people; many items of evidence to their presence here have been recovered in the form of tools fashioned from the hard flint found within the chalk - these include axes, some polished or smoothed. The coast of Sussex was notorious for smuggling exploits and the remote shingle beach situated at Cuckmere Haven is where scrapers and arrowheads have been found. The white rock was formed under the sea millions of years ago from minute marine algae and fragments of seashells. The cliffs are receding at about 30-40cm each year on average. The process is intermittent with major falls occurring after heavy rain or rough seas, often two of three times per year. Where these falls occur they protect the base of the cliffs from the sea, and usually there are no falls in the same places for eight or nine years until the sea undercuts the cliffs again. The Visitor Centre is situated in an 18th century barn and provides useful information on the cliffs and the country park with displays and exhibitions. The area has a long and interesting history, including some fascinating shipwrecks, which you can discover on a series of shorewalks, and you can use your bike to explore the other areas of the park if you have time.
Seven Sisters Country Park |
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