Fobbing and Vange Marshes (EHER 48408)

A small area of grassland located to the east of Vange Wharf alongside Pitsea Creek, currently managed by the RSPB as a nature reserve. The site includes surviving earthworks of a farmstead, medieval sea wall and drainage ditch dividing the marsh from adjacent dryland to the north. The area has a diverse, species-rich grassland flora.

2014. Historic Grazing Marsh Project. A small area of grassland located to the east of Vange Wharf alongside Pitsea Creek, currently managed by the RSPB as a nature reserve. The site includes surviving earthworks of a farmstead, medieval sea wall and drainage ditch dividing the marsh from adjacent dryland to the north. The area has a diverse, species rich grassland flora. 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 with a stepped profile and is likely to be medieval in origin <2>. A well preserved group of earthworks survives on the site of Kiln Farm and a large drainage ditch demarcates the boundary between dryland and marsh. Vange Marsh lies to the west. The marsh was connected to the upland area to the north by a raised trackway built from chalk rubble that led to a coal wharf. Below ground archaeological deposits, including evidence for medieval exploitation (arable cultivation) of the adjacent dryland area and probable red hill deposits are known from monitoring during work on a new dyke for the RSPB reserve. Character of vegetation: Species-rich grassland, sward of Common Bent-grass Agrostis capillaris, Creeping Bent-grass A. stolonifera, Crested Dog’s-tail Cynosurus cristatus, Meadow Barley Hordeum secalinum and Timothy-grass Phleum pratense. Diverse herb flora containing good populations of Wild carrot Daucus carota, Black knapweed Centaurea nigra, Lady’s bedstraw Galium verum, Autumn Hawkbit Leontodon autumnalis, and Narrow-leaved bird’s-foot trefoil Lotus glaber. Stawberry clover Trifolium fragiferum, Sea Clover Trifolium squamomosum and Pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus occur less frequently. Common reed Phragmites australis, Sea club-rush Bolboschoenus maritimus and Common Spike-rush Eleocharis palustris along creeks. Threats: Disturbance to the earthworks from recreational pressure, including horse riding along the sea wall. See <3>.