Woodham Ferrers Marsh (EHER 48431)

A small area of unimproved grazing-marsh.

A small area of unimproved grazing-marsh containing the remains of a medieval saltern which comprises mounds, linear earthworks, and tanks. The site lies within the Marsh Farm Country Park and is protected as a Scheduled Monument. It is located on the north bank of the Crouch estuary. The majority of the area is occupied by the earthworks of a rare surviving medieval saltern of national importance and has been designated as a scheduled monument (EHER 13497-13498, SM 32449). A sea-wall separated the marsh from Hawbush Creek and Clementsgreen Creek, which in turn flow into the Crouch Estuary. The seawall, which is depicted on the Chapman and Andre map of 1777 and on the 1st edition OS map, survives in part. However, the northern half of the marsh has been lost through managed realignment, and the sea-wall here is 20th century in date. The site was linked by a ditched trackway to the main Woodham Ferrers road. The surviving drainage ditches and fleet are sinuous in form. <1>