Heybridge Basin (Cannibal Island)

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The Basin Waterfront

Officially written as 'Colliers Reach' but locally known as 'Basin Reach' describing the area from the 'Blackwater sailing Club' to the 'crane blocks' at 'Herring's Point'. The inshore area is known as the 'frontage' with a considerable amount of activity always in evidence over the whole 200 years. Named 'Colliers Reach' before the stablishment of the canal and village, due the large number of anchored 'Colliers' unloading coal to be transferred to Maldon. Then busy with vessels either heading for the can or waiting outside. In later years timber ships unloaded timber for Brown's. As well as the development of the waterfront for moorings and general trades working on repairing and maintaining all kinds of craft, for some years the area to the South saw the breaking up of both small and very large vessels by May & Butcher.

(above) The smack 'Mystery', built by Ned 'Coody' Woodcraft about 1893 in the 'Fish Pet'. 'Coody' is standing on deck, 'Twinnie' Clark on the left with the splatchers on his feet. Gabby Keeble holding the anchor. 'Moxen' Clark sitting in the Gun Punt. 'Salter' Stebbens standing in the Gun Punt. 'Starchy' Chaney with the beard. 'Sia' Stebbens on the right holding the oar.

(above) the Cheyney family aboard the smack 'Mona'. 'Chuch' on the extreme right and Jack standing next to him.

(above) the busy waterfront in the early part of the 20th Century. 'Rat Hall' on 'Mucker's Island' is on the extreme left.

(above) a later picture with the new building erected on 'Mucker's Island' for Mrs Blott aon the very far left.

(below) Looking towards the Blackwater Sailing Club from the Basin

(below) 1936. Further along the waterfront from the Basin towards Millbeach, showing the smack Mona by the area known as the Ballast Hole.

(below) a 1904 view of the Basin from the Northey Shore by Gowers. Unfortunately additions have been made later infront of the lock and buildings.

(above) 1970. Hauling 'Dawn' in to the lock.

(below) The barge 'George Smeed'. 1970's

(below) the barge 'Edme'. 1970's

(below) the barge 'Ida'. 1970's. Brush's crane in the distance.

(below) the barge 'Pretoria'. 1970's

(above and below) the barge 'William Cleverly'. 1970's

(below) 1977. The waterfront of Stebbens mooring area. MN21Maud owned by Eddie Caswell. The green smack is Ethel Alice owned by Cecil Stebbens. The buildings and moorings to the left with Annie is Norton's Boatyard and chandlery. The barge hulk to left in the pictures is the newly arrived Haybay before being converted into accommodation etc for the London Borough of Newham sailing school.

(above) 1978. Off the Basin. Smacks and Ben Woodcraft's 'Chipmunk' in the foreground

(above) 1978 The barges of the livaboard family's.

(above) 1979 The 'crane blocks' at the end of the 'Reach'.

(above) 'Belgian George's', home aboard the MTB, and his wood collection.

(above) c1980's waterfront.

(above) 1978. Left foreground Peter Brookes's dinghy 'Wanderer', left back 'Borneo' at anchor, middle foreground Tom Polden's 'Locker', right foreground the livaboard barge of the 'Crich family'.

(above) a livaboard barge in the left foreground, the oyster boat 'Karenda' of Colin Brookes moored in the middle distance with the remains of his steel storage barge sunk at the bow of the barge. 1979

(above) Tom Polden's 'Locker' 1980

(above) Tom Polden's 'Rolande Sonia'. 1982

(above) Ben Woodcraft standing in his dinghy alongside the barge, his workboat 'Chipmonk' on it's mooring far left.

(above) George Clark cleaning the bottom of Peter Tolfrey's boat on the beach outside the lock.

(above) The ex Baltic Trader 'Borneo'.

(above) the smack 'Mollie' just leaving the Lock.