Heybridge Basin (Cannibal Island)

Misc's Local Items of interest

Holy Joe Mumford, skipper of the Sailing Barge 'Leslie West', came up the gutway too fast and hit the outer lock gates before they were opened.

(above) an aircraft that made an emergency landing in the Basin by the canal.

In 1890 a wall Post-Box was fitted.

Omer 'Dutchy' Willis lived in the oldest house (the 1st Lockhouse). He and his brother went off and joined the gold-rush in Australia. They stole a boat in Sydney Harbour and took it across the Australian Bight.

02 (above) a massive 7ft-6ins Conger Eel weighing 83 and a half pounds. Found on the foreshore at the Basin by Fred Chaney, on the 20th of October 1960.

Edward 'Coody' Woodcraft was shot at by his father when he left to go to sea down the river.

Joseph 'Jokey' Willis was the best in the village at 'Pitch Ha'penny' and always won when it was regularly played behind 'Rat Hall'.

(above) the main firepalce in 'River Cottage' in 1976 ( originally No 4 Basin Road). It can be seen that it was once an open fireplace before the cast-iron 'Chelmsford' range was fitted.

In 1982 a group of 4 friends which included village resident Anne Pledger of Kedge Cottage, fitted out an Alan Hill designed 'Valiant' class yacht to sail around the world. Sadly the voyage of a lifetime came to a sudden end when they grounded at speed under full sail on a remote reef of the Seychelle Islands in the Indian Ocean. They spent some weeks there before all being rescued safely.