Mucking Marsh (EHER 48403)

An area of ‘improved’ grassland located to the east of East Tilbury and north of Coalhouse Fort. A sea wall survives on the eastern edge of the area, and a number of straight and sinuous drainage ditches remain.

2014. Historic Grazing Marsh Project. Historic environment character: The marsh was reclaimed by the time of the Chapman and Andre map of 1777 <1>. The sea wall depicted on the 1st edition OS map survives, although has been altered <2>.Two track-ways leading from the settlement at East Tilbury to the marsh also survive. The drainage ditches are mostly regular with one central sinuous ditch and one sinuous ditch along the northern boundary surviving. Cropmarks of Second World War anti-landing ditches have been identified from aerial photographs. The saltings to the east shown on the 1st edition map have since been reclaimed. Coalhouse Fort lies adjacent to the south and Coalhouse Battery to the west. Both are scheduled monuments. North of the marsh is a large quarry. Character of vegetation: Along the sea wall is grassland dominated by Sea couch Elymus pycanthus. The rest of the area is improved agricultural grassland dominated by Bent grasses Agrostis spp., Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne, Meadow grass Poa spp. And Red fescue Festuca rubra. Threats: The marsh has already been largely converted to agriculture but may be further threatened by continued agricultural improvement. The sea wall may be affected by recreational pressure and associated infrastructure. Thames 2100 East Tilbury and Mucking Marshes Policy Unit: potential impact on historic environment resulting from required enhancements to drainage system on marshes, including fluvial flood storage, outfall improvement and local flood defences. Front runner choice of Option 1.4 (Improve existing system) in 2070 could result in similar impacts. See <3>.