Monument record SUE 085 - Flood defences of Medieval or Post Medieval date on the eastern bank of the River Alde

Flood defences possibly of Medieval or Post Medieval date are visible as an earthwork sea bank on aerial photographs, from the 1940s onwards, centred on circa TM45245292. This stretch of sea bank is part of an extensive system of flood defences along the banks of the River Ore and Alde, constructed in a number of sections, possibly from the Medieval period up to the 19th century. This particular section, from circa TM45705484 in the north, to circa TM44115142 in the south, appears to be marked on Norden's map of 1601. However, it is not possible to be sure as the copies of the maps available to the survey are unclear in places, and the exact conventions employed by Norden are not annotated (S1). The Medieval date of this bank may be supported by what appears to be the depiction of an earlier phase of bank by Norden on his 1601 map, projecting into the River from the shore at Home Reach. The two remaining ends of this possible earlier phase can be seen at circa TM45705463 and TM45685402. As can be seen on Norden's map and a map of circa 1800, this length of sea bank was originally joined to the section of bank recorded as SUE 057, and therefore dates at least from the Post-Medieval period (S2). At some point between 1880 and circa 1884, this length of sea bank was extended north and west to include the tip of Sudbourne marshes, and this Post Medieval extension is recorded as SUE 084. The very southern end of the bank abuts the irregular enclosure, SUE 022. This may be an example of opportunistic medieval land reclamation by Sudbourne parish, taking advantage of existing banks constructed by Orford parish. This length of sea bank can be seen on aerial photographs of 1943 and 1972 (S3, S4).