West Tilbury Marshes (EHER 48401)

An area of much improved grazing marsh sited to the north of Tilbury Fort. The part of the marsh adjacent to the fort is designated as part of the scheduled area of the fort. It includes the former site of Tilbury market place, which was sited adjacent to the ferry crossing and the World’s End inn. The marsh also contains ditches linked to the forts water-filled moat and is bisected by the road to the fort.

2014. Historic Grazing Marsh Project. Historic environment character: Tilbury Fort dates to the 16th century, it was initially constructed as part of Henry VIIIs defences of the east coast and fulfilled a similar role, with consequent updating and expansion until the end of the Second World War. It is now owned and managed by English Heritage. The marsh was partially reclaimed by the time of the Chapman and Andre map of 1777, which shows a complex system of water-filled ditches and moats skirting around the perimeter of Tilbury Fort <1>. The fort is reached by a road, which also served a ferry-crossing across the Thames. The part of the marsh between the fort and the road and the fort and Bill Meroy Creek is designated as part of the scheduled area of the fort. There are cropmarks of anti-glider ditches to the north of the fort. Flint implements are recorded from the vicinity of Tilbury common. The land has been heavily improved. Character of vegetation: Improved grassland. Dominated by Bent grasses Agrostis spp., Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne, Meadow grass Poa spp. And Red fescue Festuca rubra. Threats: The marshland biodiversity of the area has already been lost. The greatest threat to the historic environment is probably from residential development, although surviving features appear to be affected by poaching and erosion resulting from overgrazing and recreational pressure. Thames 2100 Purfleet, Grays and Tilbury Policy Unit: there would be a potential impact on historic environment resulting from required enhancements to drainage system on marshes, including fluvial flood storage. Front runner choice of Option 1.4 (Improve existing system) to 2070 could result in similar impacts. See <2>.