MALDON LEISURE CENTRE HULK ASSEMBLAGE (aka the Barge Graveyard, Promenade Park)

MALDON LEISURE CENTRE HULK ASSEMBLAGE (aka the Barge Graveyard, Promenade Park) (34900)

Easting
586400
Northing
206300

Description

Assemblage of approximately 15 hulked barges located to the east of Maldon Leisure Centre. Some may have been recorded in a survey of 1987.


Periods
Period
Modern (1901 and later)
Period comments

Some hulked by 1987, some may be later (see any other comments, below)

Specific Date Range
The earliest date of the feature, as a year, if known
1987
The latest date of the feature, as a year, if known
2011
Feature Types
Monument Type - Broad
SHIP GRAVEYARD|WRECK
Monument Type - Narrow
Monument Description
Evidence Type - Broad
Evidence Type - Narrow
Evidence Description
Object Type - Broad
Object Type - Narrow
Object Description
Other:
Height OD (m)
How accessible is the feature?
Accessible - difficult terrain, Accessible on foot (footpath)
Accessibility comments

Accessible via an informal pathway which can be very slippery

Other records:

NRHE Number
1526636
NT HBSMR Number
Unknown
HER Event Number
Unknown
External Link
None

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Feature Update Surveys

2 surveys accepted and 0 pending.

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Survey Information
Date of survey
5th April, 2016
Feature located?
Yes
State of the tide
Proximity to coast edge
Coastal processes
Active sea erosion
Is there a coastal defence?
No
Other threats?
Structural damage/decay
If other, please specify
How visible are the remains? ABOVE GROUND
Highly visible (substantial remains)
How visible are the remains in the face of the cliff, ridge or dune? IN SECTION
Do you know if the feature is?
Is well known, Has local associations/history
Recommendations and Comments
What actions (if any) would you recommend for this feature?

Recording and monitoring: The East of England archaeological research framework states that “a survey of the shipwrecks along the estuaries, coast and offshore is needed. The survey should be coupled with historic research and cross-reference to records of groups such as the Society for Sailing Barges”.


Do you have any other comments?

The site is well known locally and referred to as 'the Barge Graveyard'.

The assemblage includes four vessels listed (with further information) in Essex HER <1>: MEX37960: Wreck of Thames Barge British Lion, built Rochester 1879 MEX37964: Thames Barge wreck Mamgu (ex Cawana), built 1904 MEX37968: Thames barge wreck Pretoria, built at Faversham 1902 MEX37971: Thames barge wreck William Cleverly, built Rochester 1899

as well as the remains of: Thames barge Vicunia, built Greenwich 1912 The stern of Thames barge Lady Helen, built Rochester 1902 Goldfinch (a lighter) A steel mooring pontoon A Belgian (possibly Scandinavian built) fishing vessel A fishing vessel An ex Admiralty launch <2> <3><4><5>

Historic aerial photography indicates that the Belgian (possibly Scandinavian built) fishing vessel was deposited at the site between 31.12.2009 and 07.03.2011 <6>

Sources: <1> http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/ [Accessed 05.04.2016] <2> Society for Spritsail Barge Research, 1987, The Last Berth of the Sailorman <3> Colin Swindale (pers. comm., email 18.08.2015) <4> Barry Pearce, 1995, Notes on wrecks in the Blackwater and Chelmer written for the Society for Spritsail Barge Research [Accessed via Maldon Tourist Information Centre, July 2015] <5> Alan Williams (pers. comm., site visit 08.06.2015) <6> Google Earth [Accessed 05.04.2016]


Survey Information
Date of survey
19th April, 2016
Feature located?
Yes
State of the tide
Low
Proximity to coast edge
Coastal processes
Active sea erosion
Is there a coastal defence?
No
Other threats?
If other, please specify
How visible are the remains? ABOVE GROUND
Highly visible (substantial remains)
How visible are the remains in the face of the cliff, ridge or dune? IN SECTION
Do you know if the feature is?
Is well known
Recommendations and Comments
What actions (if any) would you recommend for this feature?

Do you have any other comments?

In February 2016 high tides caused the upper part of the side of one of the unknown fishing vessel (which lies directly to the west of the Belgian, possibly Scandinavian built, fishing vessel) to sheer off and float away. It was found by members of Maldon Yacht Club, which lies just to the north of the site, knocking into the side of their club. They dragged it onto the salt marsh and tethered it there to prevent further damage to the club.