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<h1><i>Hengistbury Head: An Introduction</I></h1>
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Hengistbury Head is a scenic and historic headland near the town of Bournemouth on the south coast of England.
It stands mid way between Poole harbour and Hurst spit and forms the main
division between Poole and Christchurch Bays.<br><br>
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<br><b><i>The crumbling Southern cliff-face of Hengistbury Head seen from the<br> beach directly below the plateau known as Warren Hill</i></b>.
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Hengistbury Head incorporates many different habitats and supports a wide variety wildlife and rare plant species.
It is also a site of significant archeological importance.
For many years it has been a site of scientific interest and a major tourist attraction. Each year it attracts visitors from all over the
world. Hengistbury Head is also a major educational resource and is heavily used as the foundation and subject for a range of studies
related to local history and the environment.
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<b><i>An Overview of Hengistbury Head from Google Earth<br></i></b>
50º 43` 00.00 N 01º 45` 00.00 W </font>
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<p><i>Notice the narrow isthmus to the left of Hengistbury Head. This area
is known as Barn Field. <br>This is the area causing some concern regarding a
possible future breach. <br><br>You can just about trace the meandering course of the twin rivers through the shallow
drying Mudeford Harbour and out through the narrow exit known as The Run.<br><br>
The End of the Long Groyne at the East seaward end of Hengistbury Head extends to approximately where Hengistbury Head
beach was in the 1850's<br><br></i>
Google Earth is part of the free GooglePack S/W and provides excellent zoomable satellite images of Hengistbury Head<br>
<b>Note:</b> You need to select the USA version of GooglePack to get Google Earth<p>
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Many visitors to Hengistbury Head enjoy hiking and rambling across its natural, yet accessible
terrain. In the Summer the sandy beaches in particular, are a major draw for families. The lowland area to the West of Hengistbury Head is extensively
use for kite flying and is also a popular picnic site.
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<br><b><i>The view Westward across the Double Dykes and the lowland area<br> known as Barnfield, popular for kite flying and picnics</i></b>.
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<center><p><i>For further environmental and historical information use the custom search engine and data repository at<br><br>
<a href="http://www.ancientplaces.co.uk" target="_top">www.ancientplaces.co.uk</a><br>
searches are targetted at relevent high quality sites only<br><br>and for a change of scenery there is also<br><br>
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<br><b><i>The view North east across Mudeford Harbour from Warren Hill,<br> the summit of Hengistbury Head.</i></b>.
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Over a million visitors per year climb up Hengistbury Head to the grassy plateau of Warren Hill. Only a few know of her structure
or of her long and rich history. Fewer still know why, or how, she has been so badly damaged in recent centuries by man. Hengistbury Head is a truly important
place, not only because of the archeological finds or its abundant wildlife but also because it allows us a glimpse of how careless and unfettered exploitation
of natural resources can have a malelovent affect for centuries after the exploited resource runs out.<br><br>
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<br><br><b><i>A View towards Poole harbour entrance from Warren Hill</i></b>
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<center><p><i>The 61 images on this site are free to use for school or college projects.<br><br>There is another 30 at<br>
<a href="http://www.ancientplaces.co.uk" target="_top">www.ancientplaces.co.uk</a><br><br>Many of Hengistbury Head and Christchurch.<br><br>
As well as providing satellite images of the whole world with Google Earth, the free Google Pack also provides and excellent and easy to use
photography program</i>
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<p><font size="3">
The initial formation of Hengistbury Head dates back approximately 60 million years although
newer alluvial-based deposits have been laid down as well and the later of these date back
less than 10,000 years. Until comparatively recent geological time Hengistbury Head was
several kilometres inland.</font><br><br>
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<td width=30%><p><i>In the distance, past the Long Groyne at the eastern end of Hengistbury Head is the Isle of Wight, separated from
Hengistbury Head by the stretch of sea known as the Solent. Just visible at the far right hand end of the Isle of Wight is the
Needles Rocks and Lighthouse. They are easily visible from Hengistbury Head on a clear day.</i>
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<center><br><b><i>A View Eastward from Warren Hill</i></b></center>
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Hengistbury Head forms a natural breakwater protecting a small natural harbour formed in it lee
from the prevailing southwesterly wind. A long sand spit has formed trailing off the end of the
Head. This sand spit forms the easterly perimeter of Christchurch Harbour. The sand spit is known
under several names including Mudeford spit, Mudeford beach and locally as the Island. Without
Hengistbury Head it is probable that most of the town of Christchurch and all of Christchurch
Harbour would cease to exist. Poole bay and Christchurch bay would merge and become one. </font>
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<td width=30%><p><i>The constantly changing sand spit formed off the eastern end of Hengistbury Head. For a brief period in
the 17th century a channel was dug through the spit so vessels could avoid the treacherous natural entrance to Mudeford harbour. But it
lasted only a few years before being abandoned. Today the spit hosts a 17th century building known as the Black House (now holiday flats), a cafe
and a motley array of beach huts.</i>
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<br><b><i>A Northern view from Hengistbury Head down Mudeford Sandspit</i></b>
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Hengistbury Head had been subject erosion ever since the southerly chalk ridge, which stretched
from the Needles in the Isle of Wight to the Old Harry rocks near Studland was breached by the
sea. The sea invaded the river valley between the ridge and the Head and rapidly eroded the
soft rocks to the south of the Head. This erosion was slowed, if not stopped, by the
accumulation of hard iron stone boulders that were left from the erosion of the softer rocks
in which they were embedded. The rate of erosion has increased rapidly since the mid 19th
century when the Hengistbury Mining Company removed a great deal of the hard iron ore boulders
(known as doggers) from the beach. They also dredged many tons of the doggers from
the inshore waters around the Head. These doggers had formed a natural defence against the sea
and their removal caused a very serious instability in the natural system that had developed
and had kept the whole region relatively stable for at least 2000 years. Since the 1930's
a great deal of time and effort has been put into rectifying the situation. A lot of money has
been spent, mainly by Bournemouth Council in the construction of breakwaters and groynes. While
these schemes have generally been successful, almost half of the Head, including one of the
original promontories have been lost.</font>
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<p><i>The Ironstone doggers (or boulders) that protected the base of Hengistbury Head for so long are a strange concretion built up
over many thousands of years in a stagnant bog environment. They are very rich in iron, which was one of the primary reasons
why they were gathered up and taken away in the 1850's.</i>
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<center><p><b><i>Only a few Ironstone Doggers remain on the beach</i></b></center>
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Hengistbury Head was arguably the premier port for the import of continental goods such as
Italian wine in around 100 BC. Some have referred to it as the first truly urban settlement in
England. The influence of the settlement at Hengistbury declined during Roman times and finally
ended as they left. Hengistbury Head has not been subject to human habitation for a considerable
time although abandoned plans for house building and leisure development did have a significant
effect upon the Head during the early part of the 20th century. </font>
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<td width=30%><p><i>The Double Dykes was a ramp and ditch defence built to defend the Iron Age settlement on Hengistbury Head
It is probable, that before the massive erosion that took place from the 1850's onward, that the Double Dykes curled round to the east at
their southern end. Hengistbury Head formed a natural fortress and was ideally suited as an iron age trading port.</i>
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<br><b><i>A view down the Iron Age defences known as the Double Dykes</i></b>
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The archaeological and ecological importance of Hengistbury Head was formally recognised after
a detailed archaeological survey (1915) conducted by Mr. Bushe-Fox. This survey was conducted as
a direct result of the campaigning of a local historian named Herbert Druitt. Druitt had
tirelessly sought to protect Hengistbury Head from the ravages of developers.
Without his intervention the Head would have probably been a total loss. Hengistbury Head was
purchased by Bournemouth Borough Council in 1930 from Gordon Selfridge. Selfridge had planned to
build a mansion on the summit. At this time Hengistbury Head was suffering from catastrophic
erosion, whether the rapid erosion caused Selfridge to abandon the development is unknown. Since
then Hengistbury Head has been safe from the developers, although tourism has had a significant
and detrimental effect upon the environment, especially where tourists have decided to leave
the designated paths and scramble over the thin sandy escarpments. Many places on Hengistbury
Head have crumbled and have been left denuded of vegetation.</font></p>
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Hengistbury Head has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) along with most
of Christchurch harbour and the lowland marshes of Stanpit that lie at the junction of the
rivers Stour and Avon as they enter Christchurch harbour. </font></p>
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<td width=30%><p><i>A leisurely stroll along the little road on the northern side of Hengistbury Head leads you through one
of the oldest natural forests in England. You also pass the scar of the 19th century quarry and the remains of Hollways Dock, a
loading station where most of the Iron stone doggers were shipped from. Ironically this place, which is primarily responsible
for the long term damage to Hengistbury Head is now a special place within the whole of this SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest)
and is a haven for wildlife.<br><br>
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<center><p><b><i>The small lowland forest on the northern side of Hengistbury Head
is one of the oldest natural forests in the country</i></b></center>
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Hengistbury Head is a beautiful timeless place. In the grand scheme of things Hengistbury Head
is doomed to be washed into the sea. We are fortunate to be able to enjoy its windswept vista
and admire the truly magnificent views across both Christchurch harbour and out across the
Solent. Try and treat her with care, then at least as many as is possible of the future
generations may enjoy this natural spectacle as we do today.</font></p>
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Kind Regards<br>
Bill Rees<br><br>
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<td colspan=3><P><font size="3">More detail on various aspects of Hengistbury Head can be found on these links<br><br></font>
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<td><a href="geolframeset.htm" TARGET="_top">Geology</a></td>
<td><a href="histframeset.htm" TARGET="_top">History</a></td>
<td><a href="coastal.htm" TARGET="frame2">Coastal Protection</a></td>
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<!--<td> </td>-->
<td><a href="http://www.stourvalleyway.co.uk" target="_top">The Stour Valley Way</a></td>
<td><a href="stanpit.htm" TARGET="frame2">Stanpit Marsh</a></td>
<td><a href="links.htm" TARGET="frame2">Books & Links</a></td>
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<td><a href="hengistburyGE.php" TARGET="frame2">Satellite Images</a></td>
<td><a href="steamerpoint.htm" TARGET="frame2">Steamer Point</a></td>
<td><a href="siteinfo.htm" TARGET="frame2">Site Information</a></td>
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