Romney. A channel still exists, but much of the original drainage line now forms a
low ridge, partly occupied by the road from Appledore to New Romney. The boundary
between Roman Marsh proper and Walland Marsh lies just to the east of the Rhee
Wall.
Reclamation of Walland Marsh stated in the 11th Century. There is a contrast between
this period of reclamation, with enclosures bounded by planned straight lines, and the
older style of reclamation on Romney Marsh following natural features such as streams,
giving irregular shaped fields. This contrast can be seen on maps either side of the
Rhee Wall in the region of Snargate and of Brenzett (TR 003273). However much of
the Marsh was lost to the sea when it breached the natural barrier in the Winchelsea
area in the 13"' and 14"' Century. Consequently the underlying geology here is rather
different with medieval tidal deposits forming part of the sequence. Reclamation was
re-started by the 15th Century and one of the enclosing walls was seen at Wall Farm
(TQ 998186, though its fresh look indicates it is still maintained for some reason. The
junction between the lower ground of the 11C reclamation and the higher ground of
the later reclamation was clearly seen at Fairfield Church (TQ 967264). The surface
of this marsh is much younger and in places the lines of the old tidal creeks can still be
seen winding through fields, as was seen from the road from Rye to Camber (within
grid square TQ 93/20).
Since 4000 years ago, probably due to increased storminess, particularly during and
since the Middle Ages, shingle was brought up from the sea bed between Lydd and
Hythe, at Dungeness and between Winchelsea and Rye. The shingle accumulated in
pulses, forming ridges. At Dungeness the, the ridges were very evident and we were
able to see new ridges forming on the east side of the ness (TR 097164), being fed by
shingle from erosion of the south side. The nuclear power station is built on the south
side, meaning that the ness has to be artificially fed there to protect the installation
(TR 086167). Denge Marsh developed in the sheltered area behind the shingle ridges
of Dungeness.
Inevitably our route could not follow the story chronologically. After meeting at Rye
Station, we drove eastwards towards Camber, stopping en route to view an extant
former tidal channel on Walland Marsh. Just beyond Camber we stopped at Broomhill
Farm to view the former embayment now occupied by the three Marshes. From this
point the cliffs towards Hastings can be seen as well as the old cliff-line running
behind the Marshes. Slightly further cast, one of the sea-walls built to enclose Walland
Marsh was seen. We then retraced our steps and went northwards across Walland
Marsh to Fairfield Church where the boundary between two phases of reclamation of
Walland Marsh, marked by height differences, could be seen. From there we travelled
north-eastwards to Snargate and Godhall to view the old river courses, marked by
slight elevations in the landscape, and Rhee Wall.
We then travelled northwards to Appledore where our guest, Martin Wass, explained
his research on an old channel running north-eastwards between Western Dowels (TQ
22
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 62, May 2010