Monument record TQ 77 NW 30 - Levelled mound, Cliffe Marshes, Cliffe

Summary

The earthwork remains of a cluster of irregular mounds at Bush Wick thought to be medieval saltern mounds. These were mapped from RAF aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project.Finds of Roman and medieval pottery, refuse pits and evidence for salt panning have been noted.Saltern 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 this site, but studies at other sites have indicated that these finds are 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.

Location

Grid reference TQ 7467 7806 (point) FCE
Map sheet TQ77NW
County KENT
Civil Parish CLIFFE AND CLIFFE WOODS, MEDWAY, KENT
Unitary Authority MEDWAY

Map

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

<1> Arch Cant 96 1980 380 (P Thornhill and P Payne) (OS Card Reference). SKE36255.

<2> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9443.

<3> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9632.

<4> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9633.

<5> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9780.

Sources/Archives (5)

  • <1>XY OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 96 1980 380 (P Thornhill and P Payne). [Mapped feature: #25376 mound, ]
  • <2> Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 4054. print.
  • <3> Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 1067. print.
  • <4> Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 1070. print.
  • <5> Photograph (Print): 1947. Photograph. 3115. print.

Finds (1)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (2)

  • Intrusive Event: BUSH WICK,CLIFFE MARSHES (Ref: EI 36301) (EKE4542)
  • Non-Intrusive Event: English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project NMP (EKE20812)

Record last edited

Aug 11 2021 7:03PM