The historical change and evolution of the coast can be seen in the numerous old photos, postcards, and paintings that exist of the coast in Dorset, Devon and Normandy.

The coast does not stay the same. It is in a state of constant change from the action of the wind, waves and tide both above and below the water. It is important for us to recognise the dynamic environment of the coast when planning for the future, and studying old images of previous coastlines helps us understand and predict how the coast might change.