LONDON SINKING.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 409, 16 April 1937, Page 2

LONDON SINKING.

Flood Danger Grows. London is sinking into the sea, *o the Royal Geographical Society tells us, and this year she has completed ano her inch in that seaward journey. London has sunk SO feet in -all, but it has taken 5000 years to do it. It has not sunk at a regular rate either, but by fits and star f., and the Royra] Geographical Society says that the “next 50 years are likely to show startling changes.” '‘There are many wave in which geologists can asccr ain what has happened in the pas: and forecast with reasonable accuracy what is likely to happen in the future. Th are a historical check on many things.” For instance, in the reign of Henry VIII., Cardinal Wolsey built the Bridewell 1 Palace on the embankmen* at Blackfriars. He would not be likely to build a palace v.tiere the ground floor, would be flooded at

I every high tide. Yet that is where J the palace was. When they were laying -t.be foundations for Unilever i House, which ctands on the site of : :he old Bridewell Palace, the palace ; wharf was found to be seven feet be- ; low the ordinary high tides of to-day. : Geologists say that London has not punk the usual amount every decade. I There was a period of about 200 years • when the subsiding ceased and then ■ there occurred such a quick sinking ! hat wide areas were flooded. A tide only 15 feet above the spring j level would submerge most of the city o-day. Sea 'waves would reach to Richmond- and large areas of Kent j.nd Essex would be permanently sub merged. London's danger comes from the sea up the river, rather than from the sources down, as is the case with American floods.