Roman red hill, Red Hill XIII, near Dutch Village (EHER 7074)

The remains of a Roman salt manufacturing area (or saltern) partly visible as a series of earthworks with associated buried remains, the soil from which exhibits a distinctive red appearance, hence the commonly used term 'red hill'.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: The remains of a Roman salt manufacturing area (or saltern) partly visible as a series of earthworks with associated buried remains, the soil from which exhibits a distinctive red appearance, hence the commonly used term 'red hill'. A low mound, about 1.5m high and about 54m in diameter. Proved to be a red hill by augur borings in 1970. In 1972, 14 short trial trenches were dug to determine the size and shape of the red hill more accurately without damaging archaeological deposits. The surviving mound was shown to be the centre of the red hill which was originally about 3.5m above Roman ground level (this is just less than 2m below average ground level of 0m OD). Low extensions to the north-east and south-west made the red hill to be roughly cigar-shaped. Other, minor earthworks were shown to be post-medieval. Medieval reuse of the salt works was also evident. Other less pronounced earthworks, both ridges and depressions, which represent activities associated with the salter and later, medieval cultivation around the mound, are visible surrounding the saltern. Scheduled. Site Assessment = Well preserved, the only known surviving monument of this type on Canvey Island. Ploughing is to be avoided as the upper Roman and medieval layers would be destroyed. Landscaping of grounds of Cornelius Vermyden School should take into account a right upstanding mound against the west perimeter fence. To level minor irregularities would be harmless but disturbance below 0.5 would do great damage. It is recommended that serious consideration be given to public acquisition of the site for permanent preservation. <1> - <5> See also: <6> - <13>