Furzy Cliff

Weymouth Bay: Bowleaze Cove and Jordon Hill, painted by John Constable in 1816–17, including Furzy Cliff.
View of Bowleaze Cove from the top of Furzy Cliff.

Furzy Cliff is located on the coast near the village of Preston, just to the east of Weymouth, Dorset, England. It is at the northeastern end of Weymouth Beach, looking out over Weymouth Bay to Portland Harbour and the Isle of Portland. Close by to the east is Bowleaze Cove. Just inland to the north are Jordan Hill and the remains of the Jordan Hill Roman Temple. On the top of the cliff there is a large grass area with good views.[1]

Furzy Cliff consists of Oxford Clay with a thin Corallian Limestone layer over this.[2] Mudslides frequently occur on the narrow undercliff and the base is mainly made up of clay material.[3][4] Fossilized examples of Gryphaea dilatata, commonly called "devil's toenail", an extinct species of Jurassic oyster, can be found in the Oxford Clay.

In 1816–17, the artist John Constable painted Weymouth Bay: Bowleaze Cove and Jordon Hill, including Furzy Cliff, while on his honeymoon, viewed from the beach at Bowlease and looking west.[5] The painting is now in the National Gallery, London.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Furzy Cliff, Dorset, April 2006.
  2. ↑ Isle of Portland and Weymouth Bay (Portland Bill to Redcliff Point), SCOPAC.
  3. ↑ Furzey Cliff and view towards Redcliff Point, 1996.
  4. ↑ Richard J. Chorley, Stanley Alfred Schumm, David E. Sugden, Geomorphology, Routledge, 1985. Geomorphic processes and landforms, page 392.
  5. ↑ Weymouth Bay: Bowleaze Cove and Jordon Hill, The National Gallery, London, UK.

Coordinates: 50°38′07″N 2°25′39″W / 50.6352°N 2.4275°W