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Heybridge Basin (Cannibal
Island) |
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Click
on underlined blue names for link to more details |
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The
Canal Sea Lock |
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The canal sea lock was
first finished in 1796. The outer lock was rebuilt in 1805 because
of serious leakage. The inner gate was also fitted with removeable
railings during the 19th Century to cope with the long overhanging
bowsprits of the large sailing vessels. The Basin and canal were
emptied on at least three occasions for major repairs first time
about 1900 and again in 1928 and in 1948. It was in 1948 that
the sea lock was extended to
170ft by 26 feet so that coasters carrying timber from the continent
could enter the basin to transfer their cargo to barges direct.
The electric outside flood gate was fitted in 1964. A later rebuild
of the lock gates was undertaken in 1989. |
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Link
to pictures of new construction work in 1989 |
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Locking fees in 1898 at
the time of John Clements Lock Keeper and Harbour Master were
Coal, stone-tile,slates,earthenware,timber at 5d per ton. Ballast
2d per ton. |
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(above) The outer gate
of the shorter lock. Note the winch for hauling in to the lock.
In the background are the 'Astrid Gloriana' (at that time used
as a storage facility), and the 'St George' being broken up by
May & Butcher. |
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(above) emptying of the canal. There appears to be a lady
in charge of a small group of boys watching, possibly from the
home on the corner of Lock Hill. Josh Wright's net is across
the lock. |
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(above) 1928 newspaper
coverage of the incident. Men are hauling in nets which had been
strung across the river, catching fish and many eels. |
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(above) more newspaper coverage of the 1928 emptying of
a five mile stretch of the canal and Basin so that the lock gates
could be repaired. The fish were caught in trap nets and placed
in tanks provided by the Essex Fishing Club for restocking. |
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(above) another view this time towards the lock gates
from within the empty Basin in 1928. |
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(below) an early picture of the Lock entrance
with Muckers Island in the distance. |
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(below) the
sailing barge 'Duchess' in the lock. |
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(above)
in the lock, the'Ada
Gane'. |
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(above) before
the Lock was lengthened. |
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(above) a view of the old lock before it was extended,
showing the outer gate well inside the wall. |
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(above and below) two
pictures taken at the same time showing work underway for the
new outer extended lock gate. |
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(above) 1948. work underway
rebuilding the lock gates. |
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(above) the inner gate of the sea lock, with stacks of
eel boxes behind. Picture possibly from the early 1950's. |
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(below) a very full locking in. 1954. |
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(above) locking out 1957. |
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(above) 1960's |
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(below) locking
in. 1960's |
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(above) 1964 work underway on the outside lockgate |
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(above) the eel barge 'Gerhard' in the lock with loaded
barges for Brown's in the Basin behind. Picture probably 1960's. |
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(above) sb 'Emily', unloading or loading a family's posessions
direct. Sometime in the 1960's. |
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(above) the barge 'William Cleverly',
entering the lock. |
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(above)
the smack 'Mary', Sue and Tom Polden on the foredeck. |
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(above)1960. a very high tide allowing a lock through
with all gates open. |
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(above) first ship to enter the lengthened lock in 1966. |
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(above & below) The
largest vessel in beam to use the lock, the Dutch 300 ton 'Caribia'
with a cargo of timber for Brown's. |
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(above)
Brian Wright arriving from Lymington
in 1974 with the converted smack Priscilla MN76 |
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(above
& below) another very high tide.
All gates open with Basin kids Peter Brookes and Philip Polden
rowing in and out straight through just for fun. 1978 |
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Link
to pictures of new construction work in 1989 |
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