Historical experience of vertical breakwaters in the United Kingdom

This paper discusses the evolution and construction of vertical breakwaters around UK, particularly those constructed during the major period of harbour construction (1830 – 1900). Many of those breakwaters survive, and their stability is important to continuing operation of the harbours protected. The most common form of construction until relatively recently used blockwork walls (generally stone blocks) founded on rubble mounds, so this paper concentrates particularly on that form of construction. The design and stability of Alderney Breakwater had previously been described by Allsop et al (1991). Significant new research has improved understanding and prediction of impulsive wave loads, and the responses of blockwork walls to wave loadings.