Foulness Island Marshes (EHER 48419)

A large area of ‘improved’ grassland located in the south west corner of Foulness Island.

2014. Historic Grazing Marsh Project. A large area of ‘improved’ grassland located in the south west corner of Foulness Island within a military complex, with standing buildings and structures associated with the former atomic weapons establishment on the island. Historic environment character: Reclamation of the marshes on Foulness Island is well documented from the 17th century, and there had been extensive reclamation along the south coast around Shelford Farms in the course of the 17th century or earlier; the marsh was certainly reclaimed by the time of the Chapman and Andre map of 1777 <1>. The marsh includes a large area of unimproved grazing marsh with surviving evidence of sinuous and straight drainage ditches. The sea wall and borrow dyke stands on three sides, and sinuous ditches and drains survive across area, as do straight linear drains and an extensive network of surface linear drains. A water-filled fleet runs through the middle of the marsh. A scheduled Roman tumulus survives on the south side of the marsh, although it has been levelled; possible burial placed inside red hill. There is also the remains of a medieval moated site, and farmstead (Great Shelford) shown on the 1st edition OS map and other farmsteads and individual buildings called Little Shelford, Little Burwood, Pond Marsh and White House <2>. The farm at New Marsh is still occupied. A Second World War ‘Diver’ site is located north of Shelford Creek. A wide range of military structures, including buildings and earthworks e.g. blast mounds, are spread across the marsh, many still in use, which relate to the cold war former atomic weapons establishment (EHER 46720). They are linked by concrete track-ways. See <3>.