Groyne is quite a provincial term of very doubtful origin. It is generally supposed to be a corruption from _royne_. An Act of Parliament was passed in the House of Commons, in 1698, for opening of the ancient _roynes_ and water courses in Sedgmore. And it is probable that these _roynes_ are the same as _groynes_ at Brighton, with this difference, that the latter are artificially constructed for a certain purpose, and the former might have been only a slow acervation of time and nature. The following is an extract from a letter, dated Lewes, September 12th, 1785:—“The violence of the wind on Tuesday last, occasioned the highest tide that has been known on this coast for a great number of years. At Brighthelmston, the fishermen were put to the greatest difficulty in saving their boats; to effect which, many were under the necessity of hauling them up into the town, and others of lashing them to the railing on the bank. Some few, however, that could not be secured, were dashed to pieces; had the storm happened in the night-time, the whole must have shared the same fate.” By the Town Act of Brighton, 1772, a duty of 6d a chaldron was levied on all coal landed on the beach; and by the Act of 1810, a duty of 2s 6d a chaldron—now a ton,—was levied on all coals brought into the town, for the purpose of constructing and supporting the sea-defences of the town. By the construction of these groynes, the sea from time to time was driven back to allow of the building of the sea-wall that protects the whole of the southern road in front of the town, from the bottom of Cannon Place to the extreme east of the parish. The first portion formed was that between West Street and Middle Street, and was opened by George IV. in the year 1821; prior to which time the houses there were only approached at their south front by a temporary wooden platform on poles, for foot-passengers only; and then only during fair weather; as so close to the houses were the rage and flow of the sea during a storm, that the planks which formed the pathway, had to be removed to prevent their being either washed or blown away. At such times a barrier was erected at each end, at Bradley’s Library, now Booty’s, and the Ship-in-Distress Inn, {78a} now Child’s Fancy Repository, bearing the notice, “No thoroughfare.” The only way for equestrians and vehicles was the present South Street, where was the following quaint sign over the shop of an eccentric shoemaker:— Here lives a man that don’t refuse To make and mend your boots and shoes. His leather’s good, his work is just, His profits small, and cannot trust: And when grim death doth him call, Farewell to his old cobbler’s stall. To his blood royal highness P.G., And new laid eggs every _day_. {78b} The last two lines were in red letters, and the initials P.G., were intended for Prince George.