Monument record BOY 059 - A Post Medieval sea bank.

A flood defence bank of probable Post-Medieval date is visible on aerial photographs of 1943 onwards, as an earthwork feature centred on circa TM39704651 in Boyton parish (S1). This section of sea bank is just over 5km in length, from circa TM39194849 in Butley parish, to circa TM37654547 in Hollesley parish. The feature is visible on a map of circa 1800 and the first edition Ordnance Survey map of circa 1884, dating the feature to at least the later Post-Medieval period (S2, S3). However, two further lengths of sea bank to the south abut this longer stretch of bank, and are also marked on the first edition map. These are presumed to be later in date and extend the effective length of the flood barrier by a further 2km (see HLY 063 and HLY 084), and the reclaimed area of the saltmarsh by a further circa 1.5 hectares. For these features to have been constructed and mapped by 1884 pushes the date of the longer bank back, at least to the earlier Post-Medieval period.