Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Seasalter oyster beds

Monument Types

• SITE (Unknown date)
• OYSTER BEDS (First mentioned probably late 12th century, Medieval to Modern - 1175 AD to 2050 AD)

Associated Finds

• STAKE (Medieval to Modern - 1175 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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19th century and presently operating oyster beds and fish traps are visible at low tide (1). Seasalter was probably the earliest controlled oyster fishery on the North Kent coast. The men of Seasalter held the fisheries of Milton at the end of the twelfth century which suggests they were cultivating and collecting oysters along the length of the Swale at this time. King John then granted the Milton fishery to Faversham Abbey, subsequent to which organised oyster fisheries became established from the Lower Medway to the Thames estuary. There was continual friction between the Seasalter men and those of Faversham (2). Boundaries charted (3)(4)(5). Comment on ongoing survey (6).

<1> Eve, D., 1999, A guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Kent, A37 (Monograph). SWX9293.

<2> Goodsall, Robert H, 1965, Oyster fisheries on the North Kent coast (Article in serial). SWX9334.

<3> c1895, Notarised chart showing the Ham Ground of Seasalter and Ham Oyster Fishery Co Ltd (Chart). SWX9339.

<4> 1725, Oyster fisheries dispute chart, 1725 (Chart). SWX9338.

<5> 1770, Oyster fisheries boundary dispute chart, 1770 (Chart). SWX9341.

<6> Fulford, M, Champion, T & Long, A (eds), England's coastal heritage. A survey for English Heritage and the RCHME, p 77-8 (Monograph). SWX9352.

Sources and further reading