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Monument record TQ 77 SE 1065 - Ford Marsh embankment and saltings, West hoo Creek, Hoo St. Werburgh

Summary

An area of Saltmarsh known as ford Marsh; enclosed by an embankment and joined to the mainland by a ford, and surrounding salt marsh by hardways on the 1st edition Ordnance survey map (c.1858-1873). The present edition Ordnance survey map shows it as Saltmarsh. The earthwork remains of a post medieval sea wall can be seen near Hoo Marina enclosing an area now known as Ford Marsh. These earthworks are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947 and are depicted on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1867. It enclosed a small area of Hoo Salts (120m by 95m) creating an area of fresh water marsh. This was approximately 70m south of the coast and was an island at high tide. By 1896 the sea wall had been breached and the interior reverted to saltings. The wall had been reinstated by 1933 but the 1947 air photos show that it had been breached once more, this time at the south west corner. Although some of the wall remains 2007 air photos show much of the interior is now water. At a date between 1978 and 1992 material had been dump on the landward side of the marsh joining it to the mainland. This was mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project.

Location

Grid reference	Centred TQ 78333 71013 (150m by 128m)
Map sheet	TQ77SE
County	KENT
Civil Parish	HOO ST WERBURGH, MEDWAY, KENT

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Type and Period (2)

Full Description

Shown as an area of saltlings enclosed by an embankment and joined to the mainland by a ford and the surrounding salt marsh by hardways on 1st ed OS 6 inch. Appears very similar in 3rd ed OS 6 inch (1,2,3) now shown as marsh in current OS. Photographs (4-12).

The earthwork remains of a post medieval sea wall can be seen near Hoo Marina enclosing an area now known as Ford Marsh. These earthworks are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947 and are depicted on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1867. It enclosed a small area of Hoo Salts (120m by 95m) creating an area of fresh water marsh. This was approximately 70m south of the coast, centred on TQ 7833 7101 and was an island at high tide. By 1896 the sea wall had been breached and the interior reverted to saltings. The wall had been reinstated by 1933 but the 1947 air photos show that it had been breached once more, this time at the south west corner. Although some of the wall remains 2007 air photos show much of the interior is now water. At a date between 1978 and 1992 material had been dump on the landward side of the marsh joining it to the mainland. This was mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project.(13-18)

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1862-1875, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 1st Edition : 1862-1875 (Map). SWX11831.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1893-7, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 2nd edition : 1893-1898 (Map). SWX11832.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1905-10, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 3rd edition: 1901-1912 (Map). SWX11833.

<4> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10371.

<5> 1944, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10021.

<6> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9869.

<7> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9846.

<8> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9845.

<9> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9840.

<10> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9754.

<11> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9563.

<12> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9511.

<13> RAF, 1947, RAF CPE/UK/1923 3096-3097 16-JAN-1947 (Photograph). SKE59175.

<14> Ordnance Survey, 1862-1875, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 1st Edition : 1862-1875 (Map). SWX11831.

<15> Ordnance Survey, 1893-7, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 2nd edition : 1893-1898 (Map). SWX11832.

<16> Ordnance Survey, 1928-1947, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 4th edition 1928-1947 (Map). SKE12644.

<17> 1978, NMR OS/78124 179-180 18-AUG-1978 (Photograph). SKE59177.

<18> 1992, NMR OS/92388 316-317 7-AUG-1992 (Photograph). SKE59178.

Sources/Archives (18)

<1> SWX11831 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1862-1875. Ordnance Survey 1:2500 1st Edition : 1862-1875. 1:2500.
<2> SWX11832 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1893-7. Ordnance Survey 1:2500 2nd edition : 1893-1898. 1:2500.
<3> SWX11833 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1905-10. Ordnance Survey 1:2500 3rd edition: 1901-1912. 1:2500.
<4> SWX10371 Photograph (Print): 2000. Photograph. 56. print.
<5> SWX10021 Photograph (Print): 1944. Photograph. 2059. print.
<6> SWX9869 Photograph (Print): 1947. Photograph. 4096. print.
<7> SWX9846 Photograph (Print): 1947. Photograph. 3099. print.
<8> SWX9845 Photograph (Print): 1947. Photograph. 3096. print.
<9> SWX9840 Photograph (Print): 1947. Photograph. 3080. print.
<10> SWX9754 Photograph (Print): 1947. Photograph. 5193. print.
<11> SWX9563 Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 4042. print.
<12> SWX9511 Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 3121. print.
<13> SKE59175 Photograph: RAF. 1947. RAF CPE/UK/1923 3096-3097 16-JAN-1947. RAF CPE/UK/1923 3096-3097 16-JAN-1947.
<14> SWX11831 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1862-1875. Ordnance Survey 1:2500 1st Edition : 1862-1875. 1:2500.
<15> SWX11832 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1893-7. Ordnance Survey 1:2500 2nd edition : 1893-1898. 1:2500.
<16> SKE12644 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1928-1947. Ordnance Survey 1:2500 4th edition 1928-1947.
<17> SKE59177 Photograph: 1978. NMR OS/78124 179-180 18-AUG-1978. NMR OS/78124 179-180 18-AUG-1978.
<18> SKE59178 Photograph: 1992. NMR OS/92388 316-317 7-AUG-1992. NMR OS/92388 316-317 7-AUG-1992.

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None recorded

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Related Events/Activities (1)

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

Record last edited

Sep 11 2026 10:12AM