SKIPPERS ISLAND PAPERS 55
the inner sea wall. Later, I will refer to this separate ownership
under the headings of the title deeds.
The picture formed in one's mind of the island in ancient times
before embankment is therefore of three islands separated from
one another by narrow saltings up which the sea would run at
both ends at high water springs, probably not quite meeting south
of the Round Field*.
When was the embankment done? That is a question which
I have completely failed to answer, and I can only try to consider
what inference may reasonably be drawn from the known facts.
The standard work is Dugdale's History of Embanking, published
in 1662. In the introductory chapter he writes that it is probable
that the Romans were the first to embank in England, but he
admits that this is largely deduction, rather than based on evid-
ence. In Cap. XVII, entitled "Marshes on Thames'' he deals
with the Thames Estuary by Counties, and the following are
extracts relating to the Tendring area, the relevant documents
being set out in the margin:—
Par 12 Ed III And that these and all other the Banks in this
p 3 m 16. County (Essex) might be the better preserved for
the future, several Commissions were frequently
issued out to sundry persons of note in these
parts, viz in 12 Ed III to (inter alia) Will de
Tendring, in 15 Ed III to (inter alia) William de
Tendring.
Par 15 Ed III In 27 Ed III (inter alia) John de Tendring
p 1. m. 22 was appointed to view and repair the banks etc
in dorso between Barking and E. Tilbury.
Par 30 H VI In 30 H VI to the Abbott of St. Osithes and
p 1. mar. in others for those (banks) in the Hundred of
dorso Tendring. (p. 82) Touching the level of
Havering and Dagenham------------Howbeit, these
banks being not made strong enough to with-
stand those tempestuous storms and violent tides
which happened in the month of September 1621
Cornelius Vermuyden, Gentleman, (the expert
man in the art of banking and draining) being
treated withal by the Commissioners of Sewers
appointed for the view and repair of the breeches
then made undertook the work and perfected it,
*On 1st March 1949 there was an exceptionally high tide with a N.W.
gale which lifted it about 2 feet above the predicted height. It
has broken the sea wall in many places along the north side of the
island. The sea was blown far inland and the island is at this
moment almost exactly as in my conjectural map. I am pleased
at the accuracy of my forecast.