Heybridge Basin (Cannibal Island)

Click on underlined blue names for link to more details

Lock Keeper

1942 - 1945

Cecil Charlie Stebbens

Later lived in 'The Anchorage', in Basin Road. Father of Cecil and 'Darby' Stebbens. Also a Trinity House Pilot from 1933 - 1973.

(above) When the war ended in 1945 the Maldon and Burnham Standard sent a photographer to the Basin to get a picture of the changes taking place. My father and I were asked to carry out some work on the decks of our boats so that it looked as if things were returning to normal. In the photo you can see me in a trilby hat (Darby) on board 'Helene' and dad (C.C.L.Stebbens) on 'Gracie'.

Cecil Charlie Stebbens also setup a small boatyard alongside the seawall as 'C.C.Stebbens'. It was positioned just before May & Butcher with some moorings in front. It was later taken over by his son Cecil Stebbens and wife Jill, and again later by his daughter Judy and her husband after Cecil died in the 1980's.