Monument record TQ 77 NE 1351 - ?Medieval saltern mound, High Halstow

The earthwork remains of a possible medieval saltern mound can be seen on aerial photographs taken in 1947. This mound, centred on TQ 7712 7915, is situated on Halstow Marshes north of Salt Fleet, west of Egypt Bay. The overall dimensions of this mound are approximately 75m by up to 45m. There are two oval depressions in the mound; to the west measuring 11m by 15m and to the east 23m by 14m. It is likely that this mound is actually two conjoined mounds. Mounds such as this 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. Depressions in these mounds are thought to mark the site of the original building. Sites such as this could no longer operate once sea walls were constructed, something that converted this area to fresh marsh. This site was identified as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project. (1-2)

<1> RAF, 1947, RAF CPE/UK/1923 3009-3010 16-JAN-1947 (Photograph). SKE58834.

<2> EARTH.GOOGLE.COM, 2011, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 2-MAY-2007 ACCESSED 20-SEP-2011 (Photograph). SKE58826.