The Undercliff

The Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs National Nature Reserve is one of the most important wilderness areas in Britain.  The entire reserve is formed from landslides, and is particularly famous for the occurrence of an enormous landslide at Bindon on Christmas Eve 1839.  These landslides still occur today, creating an internationally important mix of habitats from dense scrub and woodland to open ground, with many special plants and animals.  English Nature manage the reserve and visitors are required to keep to the South West Coast Path than runs through it.  The journey on foot between Lyme Regis and Axmouth is an awe-inspiring and strenuous walk.

The Bindon Landslide 1839

The Bindon Landslide became famous and attracted national publicity and thousands of visitors.  People visited by paddle steamer and a piece of music, the Landslide Quadrille, was written for it.  Many beautiful prints and engravings were made.  Today they provide an invaluable record that catalogues how the environment has changed over time.  In particular how woodland has colonised the area.

There are many historical landslides dating from at least the seventeenth century.  The 1839 event was described by two eminent scientists of they day: William Conybeare, then the vicar of Axminster and William Buckland, professor of Geology at Oxford.  Their work is possible the earliest scientific description of a landslide and their explanation is still useful to current research.

The 1839 landslide is of a type known as a blockslide.  A huge piece of land, known locally as Goat Island, moved towards the sea, leaving a deep chasm.  The front edge of the landslide was uplifted out of the sea forming  a small natural harbour.  Although it proved to be a short-lived feature, questions were asked in Parliament about whether it could become a port for the Navy.