Andrew'S Wall

Andrew's Wall is a retaining wall, likely a former quay, dating from the early 17th century, with a terminus ante quem of 1649. The wall is constructed of whole flints, some erratics, and occasional highly fired bricks, with some white knapped flint featuring galleting at the western end. The mortar used is extremely hard, suggesting the presence of an effective pozzolanic additive. The wall measures about 40 metres in length and has a small return at right angles at its western end. Some of the facing above ground has collapsed, exposing a mortar-rich core with a noticeable lift line. The rear face is hidden by the land it supports. The returned western end showcases neatly knapped and galletted flintwork, with a buttress-like depth and an offset forming a plinth. The angle between the wall and the return is filled with an oblique fillet of masonry.

Historically, 1649 serves as a significant date for this unique wall, as it appears on Hunt's map of Salthouse from 1648 and 1649. The map indicates that the wall, the water channel leading to it across the marsh from the sea, and the adjacent marshland all belonged to 'Andrew'. The wall is specifically named Andrew's Wall, with its length marked, and it is the only structure shown for a considerable distance in the area. It is likely a surviving quay related to shipping and commerce along this stretch of the north Norfolk coast from an early period.