Monument record WBG 038 - A Post Medieval sea bank around Martlesham Creek, Woodbridge and Martlesham

A Post Medieval sea bank is visible as an earthwork running around the northern side of Martlesham Creek on aerial photographs taken in 1944. The bank is around 1.4 km in length and runs from TM 25864705 to TM26964742. At TM 25904731 another bank runs inland from the main bank for approximately 105m. Towards the western end of Martlesham Creek another bank is visible, branching out south-east across the creek from TM 25904720 with a gap at TM25944717. These flood defences are marked on the 1st and 2nd edition Ordnance Survey 25" maps of circa 1884 (S1) and 1904 (S2) and it is clear that the bank crossing the south-west corner of the creek was no longer being maintained in 1944 and was originally designed to provide an overflow area for flood water. (S3) The timber revetting of this piece of the sea bank is clearly visible on later photographs. (S4)