Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

Possible site of Medieval saltworks on Rushenden Marshes.

Monument Types

• SALT WORKS (SALT WORKS, Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

On the Reshenden Marshes at TQ 9099 7080, near a creek in an area formerly inundated at high tide, there is a large irregular shaped mound measuring some 42.0 metres N.-S. by 22.0 metres transversely and4.0 metres in height at its highest (southern end). It was cut into during recent work on the sea defences revealing among the marsh clay of which it is composed, oyster shells, burnt clay and flints, and some pieces of wood and twigs. This mound together with two others nearby (at TQ 9075 7099 and TQ 9118 7058 - the latter now destroyed), form a group resembling in shape, size and disposition the mounds of Seasalter some 3 miles away [TR 06 SE 6]. Some of these were excavated in 1955 by M. W. Thomson and S. A. Butcher who found evidence indicative of salt-production by a process, widely used in Lancashire and Lincolnshire from late-Saxon to medieval times which left similar mounds. 13th century pottery was found in the Seasalter mounds and although there is no documentary evidence in the Kent Archives on salt-making in Sheppey, the two industries were probably contemporary. 1:1250 and 1:2500 published surveys revised. [For the hundred plus similar mounds on the Sheppey and Harty marshes see: TQ 96 NW 16, 19, 18. TQ 96 NE 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. TQ 97 SW 4, 5, 7, 8. TQ 97 SE 14, 15. TQ 06 NW 5 - 20. TQ 06 NE 1] (1). The mound at TQ 9099 7080 has been destroyed (2). The mound at TQ 9075 7099 has now been destroyed (3). Additional bibliography (4,5). Additional references from relevant field reports (6-9). Evaluation work by Wessex Archaeology in 1998-9 encountered no material evidence of human activity (10-12). Additional bibliography (13-24)

<1> Arch Cant 70 1956 44-47 (M W Thompson) (OS Card Reference). SKE35477.

<2> Lincs AAS 8 NS 1960 76-112S (OS Card Reference). SKE46134.

<3> F1 CFW 24-AUG-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42745.

<4> F2 CFW 13-MAY-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE43234.

<5> LS 25" June 1970 (OS Card Reference). SKE46202.

<6> Field report for monument TQ 97 SW 6 - August, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5023.

<7> Field report for monument TQ 97 SW 6 - May, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5024.

<8> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Stage 2 preliminary field evaluation: A249 Iwade to Queenborough road improvements, Wessex arch. 199 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<9> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, A249 M2 to Iwade improvements: walk-over survey, SEAS, 1994. (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<10> Wessex Archaeology, 1996, Queenborough WTW, Archaeological Field Evaluation (Unpublished document). SWX7134.

<11> Wessex Archaeology, 1999, Queenborough WTW: Archaeological Watching Brief (Unpublished document). SWX7141.

<12> Firth, Antony, 2000, Development-led archaeology in coastal environments: ... Queenborough, Motney Hill & Gravesend, Kent (Unpublished document). SWX9351.

<13> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9803.

<14> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9518.

<15> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10322.

<16> Wessex Archaeology, A249 Iwade Bypass to Queenborough Road Improvements, Kent: Archaeological Survey: Stage 2: Preliminary Field Evaluation (Unpublished document). SKE11943.

<17> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9583.

<18> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10320.

<19> Wessex Archaeology, A249 Iwade Bypass to Queenborough Road Improvements, Kent: Archaeological Survey: Stage 2: Preliminary Field Evaluation (Unpublished document). Ske11943.

<20> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9518.

<21> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9803.

<22> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10320.

<23> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10322.

<24> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9583.

Sources and further reading