Monument record BOY 058 - A possible Post Medieval oyster bed.

A possible oyster bed of Post Medieval date is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of the 1940s onwards, centred on circa TM38604584. The feature is circa 45 x 17m in size, and at its northern end is connected to a water channel that runs parallel to the sea wall, and at its south-eastern corner to a channel or creek that feeds from the Ore. The pit bounded on its eastern and southern side by a low bank 2-3m wide. The pit is not marked on the Ordnance Survey first edition map of circa 1884, but is on the second edition of circa 1904, suggesting a late Post Medieval date for its construction. From the map evidence it is also possible to suggest that the feature was created by widening an existing channel in the saltmarsh, and the associated bank was probably created with the resultant spoil to attempt to control the new flow if water. The feature can still be seen on aerial photographs of the 1970s, and is marked on the current base map. (S1-S4)