Just over 170 years ago an unusual solution ...

...to the erosion of the chalk cliffs was planned.  Thousands of pounds of explosives were inserted into the cliffs and detonated. The idea was that the chalk would crumble and form a barrier in the sea.  It was a great day out for hundreds of people, but unfortunately it got washed away!

Kevin Gordon's article.

Charles Dickens was a sight-seer and wrote about it in Household Journal.

More here.

And here.