Monument record TQ 77 SW 1105 - Probable saltern, Shorne Marshes

Summary

The earthwork remains of a large irregular mound of uncertain date measuring c.55m x 60m was seen within Shorne Marshes on Environment Agency lidar imagery. This mound lies within the curve of a drain or small creek amd may be one of a number of medieval saltern mounds. These mounds are the result of large-scale salt manufacturing where brine was extracted from salt-rich sands and sediments, concentrated and evaporated using process known as sleeching. The discarded waste material from the process built up around the production area into a sizeable mound, often with a hollow in the centred where a hut stood. These medieval saltern mounds are typically described as floriate in form because of their irregular lobed formation of dumped waste. They often occur in clusters around former and surviving tidal water-courses within the marsh. There has been considerable reclamation and subsequent sea wall construction since the medieval period which has isolated these sites from the sea. Many of these mounds were subsequently utilised as sheepfolds, sheep washes and stock refuges in the post medieval period because of their slightly elevated position in the readily flooded marshes. Roman finds have been extracted from some of these sites, but are believed to be from the lower levels and not associated with the mounds. Post-Roman flooding and silt deposition has resulted in Roman sites lying typically several feet below the current land surface.This site was mapped from Environment Agency lidar imagery as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project.

Location

Grid reference Centred TQ 7003 7445 (64m by 68m)
Map sheet TQ77SW
County KENT
District GRAVESHAM, KENT
Civil Parish SHORNE, GRAVESHAM, KENT

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

<1> English Heritage, 2013, Hoo Peninsula, Kent: Hoo Peninsua Historic Landscape Project (Unpublished document). SKE29515.

<2> Environment Agency, 2001, LIDAR TQ 7074 Environment Agency D0015719 APR-2001 (Digital archive). SKE55986.

Sources/Archives (2)

  • <1> Unpublished document: English Heritage. 2013. Hoo Peninsula, Kent: Hoo Peninsua Historic Landscape Project.
  • <2> Digital archive: Environment Agency. 2001. LIDAR TQ 7074 Environment Agency D0015719 APR-2001.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Non-Intrusive Event: English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project NMP (EKE20812)

Record last edited

May 1 2024 10:14AM