Heybridge Basin (Cannibal Island)

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The Lock Keepers Houses (Lockhouses)

  The First Lock Keepers house

    1797 - 1863. Was on the site near where the Eel Company offices were later built. It was the first and oldest house built in the village. The first village well and hand-pump was near it. Unfortunately it burnt down killing George 'Geordie' Clark and his daughter.

 (above) the first Lock Keeper's House. Miss Corrie Munroe (correct spelling not known) and her mother in the garden.

 

 (above and below) The first Lock Keepers House from a different angle of view, and a painting of it done in the 1930's.

 
 

 The 2nd Lock Keepers house

  The Lock Keepers house from 1863 - 1902 . Corner of Lock Hill the building now occupied by 'The Old Ship' pub. Arthur Butcher who owned the building that is now the current Lock House, did a swap with the Canal Company for this building and moved here in 1902 and his wife operated a 'Refreshment Rooms' while building his new house 'Seaview' and waiting to move in.

 

 (above) the second Lock Keepers house
 

  3rd Lock Keepers House (for a short period)

 The current Lock Keepers House from 1902 for a short time, but due to a dramatic downturn in trade and use of the canal this house was rented out, and the Lock Keeper moved in to the little cottage on the other side of the lock that was the closed beer house the 'Chelmer Brig'.

 (above) The 3rd 'Lockeepers House'

The 4th Lock Keepers House

  For a short period, the lock keeper David Clements lived for a while in the closed 'Chelmer Brig' next door to the Boys Home on the corner. (sometime between 1902 - 1914)

 (above) the 4th Lock Keepers home for a short while was the cottage with the black sign above the door. This picture was taken when it was the 'Chelmer Brig' beerhouse.
 

The 5th Lock Keepers House

  The current Lock House was built about 1842 and believed occupied by either the Warraker or Tovee family's before Arthur Butcher. Arthur Butcher lived and built boats there pre 1902. before swapping with the Canal Company for the building on the corner (now 'The Old Ship' pub).

 (below) back again to this house as home of the Lock Keeper.

 

 (below) the Lock Keepers house in the 1980's, and currently still in use (1996)