Monument record GED 031 - Possible Medieval or Post Medieval relict sea bank or causeway, visible on aerial photographs of Gedgrave Marshes.

A possible relict sea bank or causeway of medieval or post-medieval date is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs on Gedgrave Marshes, Gedgrave parish, centred on circa TM39874755. On 1943 photography the bank is much eroded and appears in several places to have been completely destroyed. However, the remaining sections of bank are on average 9-10 metres wide, and it runs intermittently for approximately 940 metres from circa TM39834766 where it meets the higher land of Gedgrave, to circa TM39934736 where it is separated from the existing sea wall (see GED 039) by a drainage ditch. The bank is not marked as such on either the first or second edition Ordnance Survey maps. However, it is on the same alignment as a small earthwork spur that protrudes into the river for almost 20 metres from the body of the main current sea bank on the riverine side, from circa TM39944735. This might suggest that the bank represents the remains of an early reclamation attempt that has since been superseded by the current bank. This is one of a number of possible relict banks or causeways that cross Gedgrave marsh in this area, and that may represent activity related to early, possibly late medieval phases of land reclamation (see GED 030-032). (S1-S3)