This is the highest chalk cliff in Britain, which is 530 feet above sea level. The chalk was formed during the Cretaceous period when the area was under the sea, during the Cenozoic period the chalk was uplifted and later eroded to form the cliffs. The cliffs were previously known as Beauchef in 1274 and Beaucheif in 1317, they became known as Beachy Head from 1724 which means beautiful headland. During the first Anglo Saxon War, the 3^rd day of the Battle of Portland in 1653 was fought at Beachy Head. In 1690 during the Battle of Beachy Head it was a naval engagement, a relay station was formed there by the RAF during WWII and during the Cold War a radar control centre was in operation in an underground bunker in the area from 1953 and 1957. It is now a popular tourist spot.