History of Stanpit Marsh

Stanpit Marsh has a 7000 year history of human activity. In 1969 excavations on the eastern shore of Mother Siller’s channel revealed artefacts left by Mesolithic coastal wanderers (3000 BC). As well as flint fragments, traces of Purbeck Limestone and stone from Portland were found (evidence of human movements across Dorset. At that time, the sea level was lower than today so there are likely to be more Neolithic remains now under water.

By the early Bronze Age, technology was more advanced as indicated by the 2000 year old artefacts found, including a well preserved cremation urn (now in the Red House Museum). After the Iron Age, material evidence of human activities is scarce. It is likely that, thereafter, people did not stay here for lengthy periods of time and consequently did not leave many artefacts. However, one may presume that hunting activities continued.

The Doomsday book entry for Stanpit village (1086) reveals that Stanpit was once known as ‘Stanpeta’ (meaning 2 estates with meadows).

More recently, in the late 18th Century, Stanpit Marsh was notorious for smugglers. Contraband was landed at Mudeford Quay, brought across the harbour and up the narrow channels that still criss-cross the marsh to this day. Mother Siller’s channel used to stretch as far as the Ship in Distress, providing a quick and easy route through which goods could be landed and left in the care of Hannah Siller, the ‘protecting angel’ of smugglers. The climax of smuggling was the occasion of the locally famous battle of Mudeford on the 15th July 1784. Today the scout hut on Stanpit Recreation Ground is named ‘Orestes’ in memory of the customs ‘lugger’ sent to confront the smugglers.

100 years ago in the 19th century, agriculture dominated the marsh, as well as turf cutting for use as fuel, parts of the Marsh were kept relatively well drained. At one time Priory marsh was dry enough for Christchurch and Mudeford Cricket Club to play its first season there. A painting of this event now hangs at Lords cricket ground.

From the Victorian times up until the 1960s a great proportion of the marsh was regrettably lost to various types of development, although in the sixties, thanks to the then Mayor of Christchurch, Dorothy Baker plans to build a sewage farm on the site were averted!  Today the marsh is very popular with walkers, bird watchers, amateur naturalists and anyone who just appreciates the peacefulness and beauty of the site.