Rainham, Wennington and Aveley Marshes (EHER 48396)

Part of ‘Rainham level’ during the late medieval period. There is a mixture of straight and sinuous drainage ditches throughout the marsh. Features from the former WWI Purfleet rifle range survive in places, including surface remains of targets and trackways. The marsh’s setting has been almost entirely compromised by modern industrial development and transport infrastructure. Current land use is grazing. The marsh is dominated by common grasses, but includes nationally rare divided sedge Carex divisa.

2014. Historic Grazing Marsh Project. Historic landscape: The marsh is considered medieval in origin and reclamation was completed by the time of the Chapman and Andre map of 1777 <1>. During the late medieval period the marsh was part of ‘Rainham Level’. The 1st edition OS map <2> shows a track-way and a sheepfold. During the 20th century, the marsh was part of the MOD Purfleet rifle ranges, with adjoining land to the south east, which originated during the First World War. The ranges are first depicted on the 3rd edition OS map <3> and appear to have been established without destroying the overall character of the marsh. Surface remains of rifle range structures survive. During the Second World War light anti-aircraft guns were located on the site to defend the Murex Works at Rainham. The marsh’s setting has been severely compromised by modern industrial development, the A13 road to the south, which separates it from associated marshland (2.1), and CTRL railway line to the north. It is open, sub divided by channels with remnants of old creeks. Mostly short grass used for grazing. Character of vegetation: Open, short, tussocky grassland dominated by common grasses including red fescue Festuca rubra, meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis, crested dog's-tail Cynosurus cristatus and perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne. Nationally rare divided sedge Carex divisa also present. Threats: There are no immediate threats to the marshes natural and historic environment as the land is within a Natural England Environmental Stewardship scheme. However there is a risk of neglect of surface structures associated with the former rifle range, vehicular erosion from misuse, and deposition of pollutants from traffic along the A13. Thames 2100 Rainham Marshes Policy Unit: potential impact on historic environment resulting from required enhancements to drainage system on marshes, including local fluvial flood storage. Front runner choice of Option 2 (Flood storage) in 2070 would result in loss of the grazing marshes. See <4>.