Monument record BNT 045 - Post Medieval flood defence banks, visible on aerial photographs.

Sea walls of probable Post-Medieval date are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards, centred on circa TM100327 enclosing the island in the River Stour across which runs Cattawade bridge in Brantham parish (S1). The bank is marked on an estate map of 1731, dating its construction at least to the Post-Medieval period (S2). The bank is almost 2km in length and encloses an area of approximately 414ha. However, the shape of the area enclosed has altered from that marked on the map of 1731 and it is likely that the southern end has been remodelled, although the reason for the change is unknown. Possible remains of the earlier banks are visible as earthworks abutting the current bank to the south of the island and as structures, probably timber posts extending into the current river channel to the east (S3, see BNT 061). The banks have also been altered in the 19th century by the construction of a railway bridge (S4) and the remodelling of the road bridge in the late 1960s or early 1970s (S5). A possible jetty or footbridge across a creek has been constructed to the north of Cattawade bridge on the eastern side of the island and is probably later Post-Medieval in date.