SOUTH FORELAND, in Kent, a head of land forming the east point of the Kentish shore; and called South, in respect to its bearing from the other Foreland, which is about six miles to the north. Its situation
is of great security to the Downs, the road between both, which would be a very dangerous road for ships, did not this point break the sea off, that would otherwise come rolling up from the west to the Flats or bank of sands, which for three leagues together and at about a league or a league and a half from the shore run parallel with it, and are dry at low water; so that these two capes breaking all the force of the sea on the S. E. and S. W. make the Downs accounted a good road, except when the wind blows excessive hard from S. E. E. by N. or E. N. E. when ships in the Downs are driven from their anchors, and often run a-shore, or are forced on the sands, or into Sandwich bay or Ramsgate pier.