Monument record FLK 028 - Post Medieval sea bankd and flood defences.

Post Medieval sea banks and flood defences are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs from 1945, running through Hemley, Kirton, Falkenham and Felixstowe parishes on the western side of the Deben. The main sea bank runs nearly continually for roughly 8.7 km, from TM 29124179, to the north of Kirton Creek, to TM 32343646, at the south end of Felixstowe Marshes. A number of shorter banks extend from the main bank at various points along its course. A bank roughly 0.5 km in length can been seen branching off from the main sea bank at TM 3242 3774 and curving around to TM 32903764 in the east, towards Felixstowe Ferry. A second bank is visible in four stretches with an overall length of 1.9 km, running inland from TM 31973850 to TM 30393787 just to the north of King's Fleet. Another possible short stretch of curvilinear seabank is visible to the south of King's Fleet though it is not depicted on any historic maps. Three other stretches of flood bank are visible to the west of Falkenham Creek. One runs for 0.7 km from the main bank at TM 30264032 to TM 29614019 between Corporation and Falkenham marshes. Two other banks to the north of this one appear to reflect the route of the creek. To the north of Kirton Creek a short stretch of bank, centred on TM 29184173, is visible in the intertidal zone suggesting a possible attempt to reclaim the area of salt marsh just to the north of the creek. (S1) (S2) A bank is depicted in the same position as most of the banks described above on both the 1st and 2nd Edition Ordnance Survey 25" maps of circa 1884 and 1904, suggesting that the flood defences are likely to be of Post Medieval date. (S3) (S4) The small stretch of bank to the north of Kirton Creek and most westerly stretch of bank following the King's Fleet are not depicted on either map. This suggests that they had gone out of use by 1884 but they were probably constructed at the same time as the other banks. The stretch of bank that separates Falkenham and Corporation Marshes is depicted on a map of 1766, but it is unclear as to whether the rest of the flood defences are of this date. (S5)