Heybridge Basin (Cannibal Island)

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Lock Keeper

1914 - 1942

John 'Jack' Ellis

(above) John 'Jack' Ellis as Lock Keeper

(above) John 'Jack' Ellis on the left. Skipper of the 'White Fox'.

In 1942 Jack Ellis fell in the lock during the night and drowned.

His wife came over and asked Dilbury Clark if he knew where he was, as he had been out most of the night. They found his torch by the edge of the lock in front of the house.

At the ensuing inquest, when a verdict of accidental death was recorded, it was suggested, by the canal foreman, Bill Siggers, that he had fallen into the lock chamber and sadly had been unable to escape. His body was not discovered until the following day.

Mr Ellis was a well experienced waterman, having been a seaman of some 30 years and had travelled extensively, during which time he had had the misfortune to be shipwrecked. In 1914 he was the skipper of a boat called "The White Fox" which made an expedition to Spitzbergen under the command of Capt. Barnes, the famous explorer.

In addition to relatives and friends, his funeral at Heybridge cemetery was attended by Mr. Francis Cramphorn, then Chairman of the C&BN, together with fellow canal employees, Bill Siggers, George King and Harry Gower. Brown and Son was represented by Mr Woodcraft.

During his time as Lock Keeper, Mr Ellis had become a popular figure with both the villagers and local yachtsman.