Heybridge Basin (Cannibal Island)

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Brown & Son Ltd. Timber Merchants

This company was the mainstay for revenue for the Canal Company for many years, first with the ship's anchoring in the reach and unloading into old barges which were towed into the lock and further transferred there to lighter's to be hauled by horse to Chelmsford. When the lock was lengthened in 1948 some of the ships were able to come right into the Basin and so eliminate one stage of unloading and transferring. Browns had a large storage building constructed at the North side of the Basin for the temporary storage of timber. This huge structure was severely damaged in the great storm of October 1989 and it's remains dismantled, although no longer used by Brown's which had ceased it's local activities back in 1972. Eventually the horse drawn lighters were replaced with motor driven steel ones. When the lock was lengthened and Jimmy Clark retired 'Dilbury' Clark took charge of 'Brown's' work in the canal. By 1972 when the last ship for 'Brown's' came in, he was operating by himself all five of the Ford diesel outboard-engined barge's to Chelmsford.

(above) Unloading timber from a ship anchored in the Reach into de-rigged sailing barges used as lighters

(above) the small tug 'George Wray' operated by 'Dilbury' Clark, hauling barges loaded with timber to the Basin, for 'Brown & Son'.

(above) sometimes the timber was offloaded from the barges direct on to lorries at the quayside.

(above) 1958, a lighter loaded with timber awaiting movement to Chelmsford.

(above) the eel barge 'Gerhard' in the lock, with loaded barges of timber in the Basin behind alongside Brown's large storage building.

(above) Timber galore, the Basin almost full of barges awaiting transfeer to either lighters or the storage building.

(above) barge with an outboard motor fitted heading back to the Basin empty.

(above) first ship to enter the lengthened lock.

(above) The largest vessel in beam to use the lock, the Dutch 300 ton 'Caribia' with a cargo of timber for Brown's. The largest in length were some of the sailing vessels, the rail on the inner lock gate had to be made removeable for their overhanging bowsprits.

(above) the last ship in trade to use the Basin the Danish 'Conland' approaching the lock in 1971. Locked out in January 1972.