Site of Second World War boom across the River Blackwater (EHER 13806)

Partially destroyed. A Second World War boom defence represented by a series of wooden posts forming a barrier across the estuary. One end was observed in 1993 but it is not known if it still survives. Wooden piles linked together to form a pier would have crossed the mud flats at each end and between these, a floating boom would have crossed the main body of water. In this, 'gates' would have allowed friendly ships to pass.

August 1993. World War Two Defences on the Essex Coast pilot survey: site visit. A Second World War Boom represented by a series of wooden posts forming a barrier across the estuary (one end of which survives). <1> <2> See aerial photographs <3> <4> and map <5>. 1995. Aerial photograph interpretation. A World War Two boom. <6> December 2008. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: desktop assessment. It is very likely that the boom which crossed the River Blackwater during World War Two was of the same configuration as that which crossed the River Crouch (EHER 21282). ‘Fencing’, wooden piles linked together to form a pier, would have crossed the mud flats at each end. Between these, a floating boom would have crossed the main body of water. In this, ‘gates’ would have allowed friendly ships to pass. Aerial photographs taken in August 1945 show the ‘fencing’ which crossed the mud flats on each side of the River Blackwater very clearly. On the North side it started on the end of Shinglehead Point at TL 9905 1051. It ran in more or less a straight line SE to what appears to be deep water at TL 9935 1029. On the South side, it ran from the seawall at Bradwell, TL 9980 0880 NW across the mud flats to the river at TL 9970 0892. Oddly, the two lengths of ‘fencing’, North and South of the river, appear to be somewhat out-of-line. The structure appears to be three lines of upright piles, braced together by beams running along and across the lines. <7> <8> Fifteen years after the sighting in August 1993, it is not known if any of the piles now survive, but nothing can be seen on year 2000 aerial photographs. <2>