Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for ALUM BAY

ALUM BAY, a semicircular bay, about 7 furlongs wide, on the N side of the western extremity of the Isle of Wight; near the Needles, and 2¾ miles WSW of Freshwater Gate. Cliffs of snowy chalk overhang it on one side; cliffs of bright variegated colours, streaked like a ribbon, overhang it on the other; and these combine with green turf above them, and with the fine bold headland of Headon Hill on the E to form a scene of uncommon force and beauty. "The chalk," says Sir H. Englefield, "forms an unbroken face, everywhere nearly perpendicular, and in some parts formidably pro jecting; and the tenderest stains of ochreous yellow and greenish moist vegetation vary, without breaking, its sublime uniformity. This vast wall extends more than a quarter of a mile, and is probably nearly 400 feet in height. Its termination is by a thin edge of bold broken outline; and the wedge-like Needle Rocks, rising out of the blue waters, continue the cliff, in idea, beyond its present boundary, and give an awful impression of the stormy ages which have gradually devoured its enormous mass. The pearly hue of the chalk is beyond description by words, and probably out of the power of the pencil. Deep rugged chasms divide the strata in many places, and not a vestige of vegetation appears in any part; all is wild ruin. The tints of the other cliffs are so bright and so varied that they have not the appearance of anything natural. Deep purplish-red, dusky blue, bright ochreous yellow, grey nearly approaching to white, and absolute black succeed each other as sharply defined as the stripes in silk; and after rain the sun, which from about noon till his setting, in summer, illuminates them more and more, gives a brilliancy to some of these nearly as resplendent as the high lights on real silk." Copperous stones, lignite, alum, pipe-clay, shells, and fossils are found on the shore; and a siliceous silvery-looking sand, long in high request for the glass and porcelain works of London, Bristol, and Worcester, abounds at the sea-base of Headon Hill. Landslips some times occur of considerable extent; and one, not many years ago, fell with a depth of between 200 and 300 yards, and carried off to the sea the tools and works of the diggers at the sand-pits. A cavern, called Mother Larges' Kitchen, pierces the chalk cliffs at a part which can be reached by the shore. A strong fort, called Victoria Fort, mounting 52 guns, was recently constructed at Cary's Sconce where the cliffs decline. An excellent hotel, the Needles, is near the head of the bay.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a semicircular bay"   (ADL Feature Type: "bays")
Administrative units: Hampshire AncC

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