Rainham, Wennnington and Aveley Marshes (EHER 48397)

Part of ‘Rainham level’ during the late medieval period. The marsh’s setting has been compromised by modern development and transport infrastructure, although it retains its relationship with the historic settlement of Wennington. 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 environment character: The marsh is considered largely medieval in origin, with some later reclamation into the mid to late 17th century, and was certainly completed by the time of the Chapman and Andre map of 1777 <1>. The marsh includes the former course of Wennington Creek, marked as a ‘Common Sewer’ on the OS 1st edition <2>. During the late medieval period the marsh was part of ‘Rainham Level’. The 1st edition OS map shows, trackways and a number of sheepfolds. During the Second World War light anti-aircraft guns were located on the site to defend the Murex Works at Rainham. The marsh is located to the north of the CTRL railway line, and south of Wennington Road, and the village of Wennington. It is open, sub divided by sinuous channels that highlight the courses of old creeks. There is some indication of surface earthworks representing cultivation or drainage over parts of the marsh. There are some later, straight drainage ditches and track-ways, leading to small buildings/yards and a number of modern electricity pylons. The marsh is 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: The marsh is undesignated, and threats to the historic environment character and biodiversity are high, including drying out, lack of traditional management, pollution from the railway, land take for development, and conversion to agriculture 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 <3>.