| Description | Research material relating to the hydrogeology/stability of the Folkestone-Dover Chalk block relating either to the stability of the Folkestone Warren railway line or research for the construction of the Channel Tunnel, comprising:
1)Historical research into the landslides and other instability issues with the construction and upkeep of the Folkestone Warren railway line, compiled c.1997-1998. Comprises mainly photocopies of reports from Railtrack and local newspapers dating from 1840s-1980s.
2) Folkestone-Dover Chalk block - photocopies of reports on the hydrogeology and cliff stability, 1980s.
3) Photographic research -
a) Black and white copy photographs of the Folkestone Warren railway line, 1915-1955 notably the aftermath of the landslide of 1915, from Network Rail's archive
b) Black and white aerial photographs (and a few in colour), contact sheets and negatives by Aero Industrial Photographic for Transmanche Link Joint Venture of the Folkestone-Dover Chalk Block, notably the Abbot's Cliff fall, 1987-1988. Some of the large format controlled photographs were taken as a base-line survey prior to commencement of the Channel Tunnel workings in 1987. They were used to construct a map of the Chalk Block which is no longer extant.
c) Geomorphology map of the Abbots Cliff Tunnel, derived by photogrammetry of 1:5000 scale photography taken for the Environment Agency in May 1997. Produced by W S Atkins for the Folkestone Warren to Dover Strategy Study. |
| Administrative History | Graham Birch was Senior Engineering Geologist at Balfour Beatty Engineering Ltd (also known as EPDC), 1982-1990, and in 1986 became involved with the 'Proofs of Evidence' for the Channel Tunnel Select Committee regarding the possible impact on the Cheriton Reservoirs and water abstraction. He also undertook a cliff hazard fall assessment for the Channel Tunnel design team TML Engineering.
As Principal Engineering Geologist at W S Atkins Consultants Ltd, 1991-1999, Birch undertook a Strategy Study for the coastal railway between Folkestone and Dover which was commissioned by Railtrack. In 2000 he joined Railtrack Southern (later Network Rail) as the Regional Earthworks Engineer which included responsibility for the supervision of the monitoring and captial works set out in the Folkestone Warren to Dover Strategy Study.
Much of the related reports and maps were destroyed in a flood at his home. This material is all that survives. |
| Publication Note | G P Birch, "Engineering geomorphological mapping for cliff stability", in Burland, J B, Chalk: Proceedings of the International Chalk Symposium held at Brighton Polytechnic on 4–7 September 1989 (1990); C D Warren, G P Birch, A Bennett & P M Varley, "Methane studies for the Channel Tunnel", in Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology, vol 24 (1991); G Birch and J S Griffiths, "Chapter 6. Engineering geomorphology", & G Birch & C D Warren, "Chapter 7. The cliffs behind the Channel Tunnel workings" in Harris et al, Engineering Geology of the Channel Tunnel, London: Thomas Telford (1996); G Birch & C D Warren, "Landslide and chalk fall management on the Folkestone to Dover railway line, Kent", in McInnes, Jakeways, Fairbank & Mathie (eds) Landslides and Climate Change (2007). |