Heybridge Basin (Cannibal Island)

E.H.Bentall

Land owner, Boat builder, Barge owner.

Owned two barges the 'Violet' and the 'Hyacinth'.

Edward Hammond Bentall (19 June 1814 - 7 August 1898) was an English manufacturer of ploughs and agricultural equipment and a Liberal_Party politician who sat in the "House of Commons from 1868 to 1874.Bentall was the son of William Bentall, of Goldhanger, Essex, and his wife Mary Hammond, daughter of Edward Hammond, of Sible Hedingham, Essex. His father was a ploughmaker who developed a business making agricultural implements. Bentall was educated at private schools at Maldon and Brentwood and at the age of 22 went into his father's business as an engineer. He grew the business at the works at Heybridge, and in 1839 established the company as E H Bentall & Co. He formed and was captain commanding the 1st Essex Engineer Volunteers, which was the last British private army. It had it's headquarters in Heybridge where he had places built dpecifically for training purposes, he also purchased the salt company at heybridge Basin (Now the Blackwater Sailing Club) where he constructed their firing ranges. At the general election of 1868 Bentall was elected Member of Parliament for the constituency of Maldon. He held the seat until 1874. In 1873 Bentall built a large "Italianate architecture" house called The Towers at the corner of Goldhanger Road and Colchester Road at Heybridge. The house pioneered concrete block construction and was built with ducted air heating and no fireplaces, although some were added later. The house was demolished in the 1950s. Bentall died at the age of 84. Bentall married Susannah Julia Woodgate, daughter of William Woodgate of Broomfield Hall, Essex in 1846. His son Edmund Ernest Bentall took over the business.

. Construction began in 1875 and in 1885 he launched the126 ton "Jullanar" which he had designed and had built at Heybridge Basin. All its metal fittings were made in his Heybridge Works and she was fitted out in nearby Wivenhoe. Its keel set a fashion that was in vogue for many years. A model of it is in the Science Museum's water transport collection.

(above) E.H.Bentall. 1814 - 1898.

The 'Blackwater Sailing Club' was formed just before 1900 by Ernest Bentall in the old 'Granary' beside the Canal Basin. It was later moved over to land which was salt works and a rifle range owned by Bentall, where it remains to this day. This final place is also where not only his yacht 'Jullanar', was built but where his private army had their ranges.

(above) the 'Granary'. In this picture is a chandlery and boatbuilding workshop, but was the first place used by the 'Blackwater Sailing Club' and rented from the Canal Company by Bentall.

(above) the 'Jullanar' being fitted out at Wivenhoe, and (below) the model of her in the Science Museum.

(above) a 'Bentall', designed and built car.