Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A series of around fifteen square and rectangular ponds are cut into the salt marsh on the north side of Windmill Creek. Cropmarks suggest a continuation of the square pond sequence northwards. The square ponds are probably medieval in origin..

Monument Types

• OYSTER BEDS (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

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Series of spprox. 15 square and rectangular oyster ponds cut into the saltmarsh on the N side of Windmill Creek, off the Swale on the Isle of Harty. At the E end of the area of marsh (at TQ 9810 6740) 3, possibly 4 recatngular ponds some 6-8m long. To the W of these (centred at TQ 9796 6741) are 7 smaller, equidistantly spaced, square ponds, while a little furthur W of these are 5 to 7 more rectangular ones which are cut into the square pit row and are slightly inland of them. Beyond the counter wall at the head of Windmill Creek there are indistinct but possble cropmarks of the continuing square pond sequence. The ponds are apporx. the same dimensions as 19thC oyster ponds and the square ones may be similar to those extant on salt marshes of the Blackwater estuary in Essex that are suggested as medieval in origin. No ffeder channels to and from the ponds can be detected. The ponds have suffered some erosion and are largely silted up. (1,2), site photographs (3-5).

<1> KCC AP 1967 29/1229 (OS Card Reference). SKE45656.

<2> KCC AP 1990 10/155 (OS Card Reference). SKE45657.

<3> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9599.

<4> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9600.

<5> 1978, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11363.

Sources and further reading