Fobbing and Vange Marshes (EHER 48407)

An area of historic grazing marsh located to the north east of Fobbing and west of Vange Creek. The marsh includes a combination of well preserved relict marsh, and agriculturally ‘improved’ areas. There are significant earthwork remains, including raised track-ways, settlement mounds, probable salterns, ditched livestock enclosures and extensive ‘stetch’ cultivation, as well as the sites of two farmsteads. Parting Gut survives as a significant palaeochannel along one side of the marsh, and many creeks survive as sinuous water bodies, along with later, straight drainage ditches. The marshes are managed through grazing and as nature reserves by RSPB and EWT, and contain a number of nationally rare plant species such as Sea barley Hordeum marinum, Slender Hare’s-ear Bupleurum tenuissimum and Sea wormwood Artemesia maritime, which grow along the sea walls.

2014. Historic Grazing Marsh Project. Historic environment character: The marsh was reclaimed by the time of the Chapman and Andre map of 1777 and parts are likely to be 17th century in origin <1>. The sea walls depicted on the 1st edition OS map along Vange Creek survives, although has been altered <2>. Parting Gut remains as a partly infilled water body and marks the historic boundary between Fobbing and Vange. Earthwork mounds may represent late Iron Age or Roman salt making site, and two ditched earthwork mounds probably represent livestock enclosures. There is also a raised trackway in the northern part of the marsh, which links Vange Wick Farm to the village of Vange on the adjacent dryland. The site of Vange Wick farm and Naze Wick farm are likely to be 19th century in origin. Brick building foundations and a sub rectangular earthwork survive at the site of Vange Wick farmhouse, and there is extensive evidence of ‘stetch’ cultivation, and other forms of surface drainage across the marsh. Cropmarks of WWII anti landing ditches have also been identified from aerial photographs and as earthworks on the ground and are extensive. A mixture of sinuous former creeks, and straight drainage ditches can be found across the marsh. Character of vegetation: A mix of Crested Dog’s-tail Cynosurus cristatus, Ryegrass Lolium perenne, Common Bent-grass Agrostis capillaris, and Timothy grass Phleum pretense dominate on the marsh, with Strawberry clover Trifolium fragiferum ,Grass Vetchling Lathyrus nissolia, Autumn Hawkbit Leontodon autumnalis and Yarrow Achillea millefolium. Nationally rare Sea barley Hordeum marinum, Slender Hare’s-ear Bupleurum tenuissimum and Sea wormwood Artemesia maritima grow along the sea walls. Common reed Phragmites australis, Sea club-rush Bolboschoenus maritimus and Common spike-rush Eleocharis palustris in drains. Threats: Mostly under conservation ownership/control, so the major threat to historic environment would be from habitat creation schemes or associated infrastructure such as reservoirs to maintain water levels. Thames 2100 East Tilbury and Mucking Marshes Policy Unit: there would be a potential impact on historic environment resulting from required creation of new compensatory habitat in Fobbing and Vange Marshes. See <3>.