Monument record TQ 77 NE 1329 - The earthworks of a possible medieval saltern mound can be seen on aerial photographs taken in 1953

The earthworks of a possible medieval saltern mound can be seen on aerial photographs taken in 1953. This mound was situated on Ryestreet Common and is centred on TQ 7507 7700. There is a depression at the eastern end that may mark the site of the original building. These mounds represent the discarded waste material from salt manufacture, a process - known as sleeching - in which brine was extracted from salt-rich sands and sediments, concentrated and evaporated. Sites such as this could no longer operate once sea walls were constructed converting this area to fresh marsh. These mounds sometimes became the focus for later building, although no evidence of this has been discovered here. This site was mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project.(1)

<1> Royal Air Force, 1953, RAF 82/713 608-609 6-FEB-1953 (Photograph). SKE58595.

<2> Historic England, Historic England Archive (Archive). SKE58567.

<3> Historic England, Historic England Archive (Archive). SKE58567.