TR0864 (Sited to place name only) Anglo Saxon Town, Seasalter (1). A small parish cut out of the north west corner of the royal forest of Blean in the middle Saxon period. Named for its salt working, which is mentioned in two 8th century charters, though not in Domesday. Exact location of early settlement not known. Much of the north of the town has eroded into the sea and the early settlement and church recorded in Domesday could have been destroyed: the foundations and surrounding graveyard of a church were uncovered by a storn in 1779 on the beach north of the town (TR 06 NE 1002). Alternatively the church of St Alphege (TR 06 SE 1) further south may have been the centre of the old borough (2) - possible Saxon doorway recorded under this monument. Site photographs (3).

Description from record TR 06 SE 17:
(Name centred TR 087 648) Seasalter [NAT] (1) In 1086 Seasalter is described as a small borough belonging to the Archbishops' kitchen; no burgesses recorded. In 1315 and 1332 Seasalter is taxed as a borough and as a vill in 1307, 1313, 1314 and 1336. (2)

<1> AS Towns in Southern Eng 1984 1-4 32-34 (ed J Haslam) (OS Card Reference). SKE37392.

<1> OS 10,000 1973 (OS Card Reference). SKE48234.

<2> M.W. Beresford and H.P.R. Finberg, 1973, English medieval boroughs : a hand-list, Page Nos. 130 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6331.

<2> Tatton-Brown, T., 1984, The Towns of Kent, p 32-4 (Article in monograph). SWX7259.

<3> 1978, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11508.