River Deben Sea Walls by Malcolm

1. History ?- little to be found.
2. We do know that they are not all the same age !
3. First attempt was – ‘warping’ – this was a development of tidal sills to allow water carrying silt to flow over these captured areas – this would have the effect of building up the flat marsh. Modern experiments have shown that 3 feet can be gained in 3 years.
4. No Roman artificial drainage remains – this assumes if there was some these were allowed to fall into disrepair after they left Britain.1169
5. Normans may have started some walls.
6. Rough measurement of age – river ground side of seawall is higher than the landside. E.g.. Woodbridge River Wall – riverside 5′ high, Kingsfleet Marshes – riverside 7′ higher.
7. Builders – suggested names – Wallers or Fosdike
8. Dutch engineers may have been used.
9. What walls existed in 1287 were overwhelmed in certain areas- Walton at head of River Deben.- Bawdsey / Ramsholt lost land in Edward IIIrd’s reign. Date 1287
10. Butley complained of debts due to costs of sea defences.
11. Prior William appointed Commissioner of ‘Walls & Fosses’- estates -Bawdsey, Hollesly, Ramsholt. Date 1478
12. King Henry VIIIth was concerned that sea walls were being overwhelmed and damaged.
13. It is known that Grants of Salt Marsh were given – to build sea walls in lower part of the River Deben. Date 1321
14. Falkenham walls enclosed salt marshes. Date 1500
15. Copinger’s ‘Suffolk Records’ refer to surrender of marshland next to Gosford Haven and tenant to make repairs. Date 1554
16. Queen Elizabeth – commission to survey – Felixstowe Marshes and sills [warpings] – Some Kingsfleet walls were built before 1500, including sluices.
17. Walton Court Book – appointment of surveyors to oversee sea walls tenant farmers in Walton Church to elect levy for drainage. Date 1592.
18. Between 1592 & 1612 cost ‘defending’ the Walton & Felixstowe marshes – £384 per year. Date 1612
19. Summary – it would appear sea walls were built from Norman Conquest approximately 1500. – Sea walls higher up the River Deben were built later.
20. Shottisham Sluice – is marked on old admiralty charts as Burrell’s Long Walk. Possible date 1596 as wall may have been built by William Burwell who owned this land.
21. For centuries little was done to these sea walls.
22. Catchment Boards developed to control and repair & if needed heighten sea walls. Date 1950
23. Final word – the test of time – centuries have shown how effective the old system of turfing has held together and grasses also bind to whole bank together.

Sources : Suffolk Estuary by W.G. Arnott. Old charts and maps.