Early 19th century firing range earthwork, East of Basin Road (EHER 7715)

A large flat-topped, sub-rectangular mound, which was originally part of an early 19th century firing range. There is an air raid shelter (EHER 7716) built into the south end of the mound.

November 1949. Field survey. A mound, described by the RCHM as large and flat-topped in fairly good condition, (a) sub-rectangular in plan, measuring 30.0m by 23.0m, and about 1.0m high. An air raid shelter has been dug into its south end forming a small mound. The situation is on reclaimed marsh now and under permanent pasture, and its content is of clay and gravel. According to Mr Chainey, employed at the nearby yacht club, the mound represents the remains of a rifle firing platform used in the early 19th century by the Essex Volunteers, with targets near the yacht club. It bears no resemblance to a barrow. <1> May 1956. Scheduled Ancient Monument. Mound, roughly flat-topped, date unknown, about 3ft high in east section rising to 7ft at one point, probably previously circular (has been greatly cut into) but with straighter sides to north and west. Circumference about 95 paces. Diameter (north to south) about 30 paces. No trace of a ditch, mound built directly on to flat ground. The mound has a diameter of 33m and ranges in height from 2-5m. Condition: two Anderson shelters dug into higher part of mound; other disturbances. Finds: no pottery etc noted. <2> September 1972. Field survey. No change; not an antiquity. <3> Large flat-topped mound. <4> Subrectangular mound, with air raid shelter dug into southern end, forming a small mound, form which the earth has slipped outwards to add a curve to the apparently straight original side on the south. The mound is made up of clay and small gravel, with no resemblance to a burial mound. It represents the remains of a firing platform used by the Essex Volunteers in the early 19th century when they had a rifle range here. Ordnance Survey (OS) thought this to be a likely explanation. Plan and section on OS card. <5> Sited on low-lying ground behind the present sea wall. <6> Mound 33m in diameter, ranging in height from 2-5m. This source suggests it was circular previously. Two Anderson shelters dug in higher part of mound (EHER 7716). Other disturbances also. Date unknown according to this source. <7> See also <8>. See aerial photograph <9>. Tumulus (NR) (square platform shown). <10> Mound E. of Basin. Road. Scheduled 112. <11> Site Assessment = In poor condition due to rabbit burrowing. <6> Two Anderson shelters dug in higher part of mound. Other disturbances also. <7> Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Note: The mapped polygon probably denotes the extent of the firing range.