Larian Studios Forums General Chat Chat (Anything) Around the World in ??? Days

OK, everybody get up and let's get going. Today we are exploring the chine and I
don't want to waste a moment. So much to see, so much to do, and so little time to
do it in. Get up. Get up. Get up. Ah, come on everybody it is 7:00. If we don't
get started soon, we aren't going to have time to see anything. Gal would you
please get out of that bed and get a move on. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


Shanklin Chine



'Chine' is a local word and now used only in the Isle of Wight and Dorset. It is
of Saxon origin and means a deep narrow ravine, formed by water cutting through
soft sandstone leading to the sea. The Saxon name for Shanklin was "Scenc-hlinc"
or "cup in the rising ground." Think, too, of the chine of a boat - the shape of
a cup - or chine as in an animal's backbone - a deep scooped-out cut.
Formation of the Chine has taken place over the last 10,000 years. The stream
would originally have flowed into the River Eastern Yar when Sandown Bay was
land. This stream is continually cutting its way back to the foot of the Downs
from whence it springs. In the latter half of the last century, stones were laid
at the top of the waterfall to arrest this progress. There are a continuous
series of spring lines on the cliff faces in the Chine. It is unique in the
quality of its flora and fauna. With a drop of 105ft to sea level, and just over
a quarter of a mile, the Chine covers an area of approximately three acres.

Map so no one has the excuse of getting lost. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />




The Chine is famous for its flora and fauna. There are at least 150 varieties of
wild plants and more than 50 species of moss and liverworts have so far been
recorded, some of them extremely rare. Ferns, grasses, wild garlic, horsetails,
golden saxifrage, wild fuchsia, winter-flowering heliotrope - to name but a few
- all grow in profusion.

Wonder how many we could spot. Hey, how about a game to see who can name the
most? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Did everybody bring their books? If not then maybe this will help
some of you.




Pictures as we make our way up the chine and through to the seaside. What a
beautiful place.




Originally "The Hot Brine Baths", this popular thatched pub nestles on the beach
at the foot of Shanklin CHine. And yes Jurak, I did say the word pub. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Fisherman's Cottage



Fisherman's Cottage was built in about 1817 by the same Mr. Colenutt who made
the path through the Chine and who was the first to operate bathing machines. In
1845 it was leased to his son-in-law, James Sampson, who also provided visitors
with hot brine baths - considered very beneficial in those days.

The sea-water was piped to a large tank and then heated in a copper boiler. The
bath was moved in 1970 to inside the lower entrance.

Shan <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/alien.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />