15th century sea wall and dam, Little Shelford, Foulness Island (EHER 11221)

A Medieval dam, dating to the 15th century. The clay embankment incorporates a timber structure, which may have been used to stabilise the embankment. A possible alternative interpretation for the timber structure is that it was a unique type of fish weir. The dam may have also been a parish boundary marker for the detached parishes of Shopland and Rochford within the Island of Foulness.

Possibly medieval sea wall. Earth bank with internal timber and wattle structures. From documentary survey by Foulness Arch Soc it appears that the marsh on which the construction stands formed part of the manor of North Shoebury in the 14th century under the Fitzsimon family but the land changed hands several times in the 15th century. <1> 1975-1978. Archaeological excavation. Excavation of remains of 'what appears to be an ancient sea wall defence or medieval sheep's bridge' uncovered 'obviously quite old' timber construction. The remaining section, at some time reduced in length, was 540ft long, 52ft wide at the base, 37ft wide at the ridge and stood 5ft above surrounding ground level. The bank is of clay, with both vertical and horizontal timbers in various stages of decomposition. <2> Extension of excavated area in 1976 showed timbers in two levels the two overlapping over a central row of posts; a line of wattle was also uncovered. The row of posts may have been placed over a tidal creek. No artefacts of any consequence found; two small clusters of oyster shells, two small pieces of animal bones and a few small offcuts of timber. Radiocarbon dating of timber to AD 1490+ /-75; wood is oak. Dendrochronological study of a vertical post gave a date of 1476 AD. <3> - <6> The structure has also been suggested to be a possible raised trackway to Shelford Castle. <7> <8> See also <9> - <12>. NRHE data transfer: no new information. NRHE data transfer, 1454451: A medieval or post-medieval earthwork bank, possibly a former flood defence or a causeway, is visible on aerial photographs taken in the 1940s. It is situated on the southwest side of Foulness Island between Shelford Creek and The Fleet. It measures approximately 16m across and extends in a NNW direction for 440m before turning east for 120m (between TQ 9753 9063, TQ 9765 9106 and TQ 9777 9105). It is unclear if this represents its full extent as the southern end appears to stop at post-medieval or modern drain and any possible extension beyond this appears to have been ploughed level. At the northern end, it appears to lead to an area of semi-natural earthworks where natural drainage features seem to have been slightly modified or straightened. They are located on land owned by the government and used during World War II by the Armament Research Department and subsequently by the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (EHER 46720). This area was disturbed and partly levelled during the use of this area by the AWRE. The northern parts of the earthwork bank have been ploughed almost level but around 200m of the southern portion survives in a reasonable condition. <13> <14> <15>