DUNGENESS

dungeness, a promontory of the south coast of england, in the south of kent, near the town of lydd. it is a low-lying broad bank of shingle, forming the seaward apex of the great level of the romney marshes. its seaward accretion is estimated at 6 ft. annually. its formation is characteristic, consisting of a series of ridges forming a succession of curves from a common centre. it is unique, however, among the great promontories of the south coast of england, the accretion of gravel banks falling into deep water contrasting with the cliff-bound headlands of the north foreland, beachy head and the lizard, and with the low eroded selsey bill, off which the sea is shallow. a lighthouse (50 deg. 55' n., 0 deg. 58' e.) stands on the ness, which has been the scene of many shipwrecks, and has been lighted since the time of james i. there are also here lloyds' signalling station, coast-guard stations, and the terminus of a branch of the south-eastern & chatham railway. the name dungeness has also been applied elsewhere; thus the point on the north side of the eastern entrance to magellan strait is so called, and there is a town of dungeness near a promontory on the coast of washington, u.s.a. (strait of juan de fuca).