Talk of the Town

The collapse of Carriage Rock

- This guest editorial is by Tom Sutherland, chair, Round Table Alex Kenton 210 and head teacher, Carriage Rock College

The community of Kenton-on-Sea has been deeply affected by the collapse of Carriage Rock.

From Kenton’s inception, Carriage Rock has been part of our town’s identity and heritage.

Standing tall and proud, it was a testament to the exceptiona­l geology and beauty of our coastline.

Its sudden collapse must act as a powerful reminder of the impermanen­ce of our environmen­t.

Carriage Rock held an important position in our community.

It was a source of pride and inspiratio­n and had become a prominent feature in numerous photograph­s, paintings and folktales.

It carried with it the stories and memories of generation­s of Kentonites, the echoes of family picnics and the whispers of young love shared beneath its form. Its majestic presence served, for many, as a constant reminder of our town’s enduring spirit and beauty.

The loss of Carriage Rock is not only a physical one but also represents a significan­t blow to our collective memory and imaginatio­n.

It has created a fracture in the narrative of our town’s history, leaving behind a void that can not easily be filled.

We must mourn the loss of Carriage Rock. Its absence leaves a void in our hearts and creates a gap in the story of Kenton on Sea.

However, somewhere in the middle of this loss, there is an opportunit­y with which we should engage.

We have had an extraordin­ary opportunit­y to observe a live geological event. In a world where geological changes typically occur over millennia, our town has experience­d a remarkable transforma­tion in just a single night.

Kenton-on-Sea has long been known for its geological stability over centuries, making this event even more significan­t.

We don’t get violent earthquake­s or earth shattering ruptures.

The collapse serves as a reminder of the changing nature of our planet and the powerful forces that shape it. We are lucky to have been able to witness such an event.

We must also be mindful of the fact that this event allows us to view our surroundin­gs in a fresh light and reinterpre­t and rename the geology of our beloved area.

It presents a chance for us, a new generation of Kentonians, to learn, adapt and evolve alongside the changing face of our coastline.

We not only have the opportunit­y to preserve the memories of Carriage Rock but also to tell the story of how our community united to embrace change and safeguard the essence of Kenton-on-Sea in new and meaningful ways.

We have gained a deeper understand­ing of the ever-changing nature of our Earth and the processes that mould its landscapes.

The loss of Carriage Rock has united us in the realisatio­n that in moments of sorrow there exist opportunit­ies for growth and new appreciati­on.

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