Medieval farm, Tillingham Grange (EHER 45564)

Tillingham Grange is a medieval farm reclaimed from marshland and first recorded in 1553 as the manor of Grange and Mowick. It is the site of large scale marsh reclamation in the Southern portion of Tillingham parish.

The manor of Grange and Mowick (Midlands) is recorded in a will of 1553 by Thomas Cawston, who was burnt for heresy in that year. In 1669 a particular was made of Tillingham Grange farm, at which date it had 240 acres, of which 45 were upland and the remainder probably reclaimed marsh, plus 40 acres referred to as old marsh, 60 acres of new marsh and 14 acres of duck decoy. It is located at the mouth of Asheldham Brook, which used to be navigable and had a small landing-place. Further reclamation took place in 1787, the new marsh being partly in Tillingham and partly in Dengie parish. Its owners were at the forefront of marshland reclamation in Essex. <1>