Monument record COV 097 - Possible Post Medieval water meadow.

A possible relict water meadow of probable post medieval date is visible on aerial photographs of 1978 as earthworks and water management channels to the south of Benacre Broad in Covehithe parish, centred on circa TM52158245 (S1). The earthwork features, although somewhat eroded, appear to be composed of the typical elements of a 'bedwork' watermeadow. The clearest features are visible in the area between North Common Wood and Chancel Covert, centred on circa TM52148236 but similar features may be visible to the north-east, at circa TM52508274 in a more eroded form. The features are now inundated by Benacre Broad. The main irrigation channels are marked on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of circa 1884 and although marked as 'liable to flood', they are not annotated as part of a water meadow which might suggest that it had been abandoned some time before (S2). The feature appears to be largely constructed on the Covehithe side of the Covehithe/Benacre parish boundary the runs through Benacre broad. This may indicate that the meadow was constructed on a parish basis.