Arun and the Shingle Banks

This is my own personal slightly mad theory about the wicked intentions of the spirit of the River Arun in Littlehampton where it meets the sea. The river has been diverted umpteen times over a very long period of time, centuries actually. The most outrageous of these, seems to have been to have the river past in front of Arundel Castle at the whim of an earlier Duke of Norfolk. I stress that that is just, as I see it, and only delving into records would prove or disprove this idea worrying, pecking, itching in my fanciful brain.

A few years ago, after a prolonged series of winter storms, a new shingle bank appeared just a little way off the beach just about half a mile east of the point where the river meets the sea. Later on several lesser shingle banks have arrived at points in the direction of Worthing further to the east.
These banks are now well settled. They are very interesting to explore and at low tide on a nice day are much fun to dog walkers and kiddies. The banks seem to disappear from sight almost entirely at full tide. There is this wrap around effect that I very much enjoy watching when you study the incoming tide on a rough day. The water swells up and passes either side of this ever growing barrier, first from the west and then from the east before crashing down on the beach. To my mind, the  water seems to be ending further and further up the beach towards the promenade and Sea Road beyond.

Well, there you have it, the latest ramblings of an imaginative old bat. The poem on the subject written some time ago follows here.

Coming of Rage 

The River Arun has long been prone to flooding

Thru past centuries Arun fought against being fought

Unruly child of nature; a vandal in the budding

Long since held his own reins sending spurs clubbing

A whole history of lords and dukes who thought

They could bring him to heel though gain was naught 

The same head banging mistaken work repeated

Diverting the course wrought by flow now defeated

A rivers irritating curves gentleman farmers cut

To suit whim and pocket trimmed where banks jut

Each submission with arrogant air was greeted

The rich men lodging in homes next to the river abut 

Brought down to the sea by a more convenient route

Every spiteful cut, a simple line, flow now money serves

The powerful gloat and at nature cock a snoot

Greed becomes a spiteful, fearless, insatiable brute

The graceful snaking river slakes off luscious curves

Turned into an obedient, servile service chute 

Now again rebellion rises when abuse becomes too cruel

Resentment starts to boil within the independent heart

Distant memory of past times of original current own rule

So summon up medieval skills formed inside dark art

The temporarily tamed spirit calmed from centuries school 

Longs to return to follow it’s since hidden ancient chart  

Enough of changed direction and industrial domination

Slow returning to his one time impetuous youthful rage

Call upon the eddies and undercurrent tools to swage

Recalling from swirling rapids clutch where he came of age

Tear free from what they made by force an ignorant mutation

Deepest anger simmering slowly through violent gestation 

So many natural curves hacked away who can answer why

Greatham Bridge, Houghton, Offham, Burpham, to Arundel haven

Piers built at the mouth to snap the great sand bar once so high

The tidal water separated so from the sea cut that sea river array

Lashed away from it know pattern spitefully and deliberately graven

Twitching riffles deep power surges form the roiling rivers cry 

Biding time to turn back the clock drifting into new age silting

Work the currents strength and mesh into elaborate quilting

Empowering the undercurrent long enslaved and wilting

Rebuild the shingle bar piece by piece to reform old ways

Rise up into the light old glory days again to praise

Patience of centuries cast of like old reptile skin flays 

Then shall the River Arun at long last from servitude rise

To greedily reclaim all the his stolen canals and ditches

Where once he gracefully flowed now to flooding he switches

Again to create his own artistic work and sing his own reprise

Without warning stealthily usurps his old wealth, his prize

Useless resistance swept away like gnat bite twitches 

Only then shall the River Arun once more make peace

Where once a regal river did glide tranquilly the valley through

Will be the calm waters of Lake Arun thus anguish release

Gratefully in freedom of the watery habitat white swans who

Declare new safe nesting sites, man and river wars cease

Nature standing on the winning side on this occasion, smiles