Sea lock from above, captured by Aerial Essex

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About

Heybridge Basin's famous sea lock links the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation to the Blackwater Estuary and would once have enabled smaller boats to enter and exit the canal and travel around the coastline. Today it is can still be used by suitable vessels (when the tide is right), but only if the skipper has been trained by Essex Waterways and has a special key! Is a scenic spot to have a picnic or enjoy lunch in one of the nearby pubs.

Heybridge Basin Sea Lock was built as the eastern terminus for the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, and the village of Heybridge Basin grew up around it, as there was plenty of work unloading the ships into the barges that took supplies to Chelmsford. The Basin was built in 1796 and the canal opened on 3 June 1797 on land bought from the Dean & Chapter of St Paul’s.The bridges & locks were designed by the engineer, John Rennie FRSE (1761-1821) who was responsible for the design of many maritime buildings including lighthouses.

By the end of the 19th century the canal trade was in decline due to competition from the railways. Although the sea lock was enlarged to take European timber ships shortly after the World War 2, it could not halt the decline and finally commercial activity ceased in 1972. However, today the area is thriving with houseboats, pleasure boats and cruises along the navigation.

Guide Prices

Free

Facilities

Booking & Payment Details

  • Free Entry

Catering

  • On-site catering
  • Picnic site

Parking

  • Parking with charge - No street parking, use Daisy Meadow car park nearby

Map & Directions

Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Sea Lock

Type:Canal

Lock Hill, Heybridge Basin, CM9 4RX

Opening Times

* At all times

What's Nearby

  1. This waterway runs through a largely unspoilt part of rural Essex and connects the county…

    0.02 miles away
  2. Now moored permanently in Heybridge Basin, Maldon, Essex, the Sir William Arnold lifeboat…

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  3. This waterway runs through a largely unspoilt part of rural Essex and connects the county…

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  1. The little church building behind the bus shelter in Heybridge Basin began life during…

    0.24 miles away
  2. Lying alongside the sea wall and to the north of the Heybridge Basin's built-up area is…

    0.29 miles away
  3. One of the highlights of a walk around Promenade Park is to walk along the extension,…

    0.48 miles away
  4. The small lake at Promenade Park is perfect for model boating, and is regularly used by…

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  5. The World War Two Avenue of Remembrance at Promenade Park, beginning close to the boating…

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  6. Maldon's Promenade Park Beach Huts are located in the valley, with the Splash Park and…

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  7. The Deckchair Hut, operated by The Maldon Deckchair Company is offering deckchair hire at…

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  8. Northey is an island in the Blackwater Estuary in Essex, connected to the mainland by a…

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  9. A large sports ground with associated sports pavilion and changing rooms. It is the home…

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  10. Welcome to Maldon Splash Park, Essex's favourite children's water park!

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  11. The Maldon Promenade Zoo is home to over 70 species of animals when we are open (please…

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  12. The Twinning Link sculpture was placed in Promenade Park in 1991 to celebrate the 22nd…

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  13. Millenium Wood is an extension of Promenade Park & is a wildlife area consisting of…

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Previous Next

Number of results:

Number of results: 459

, currently showing 1 to 20.

  1. Address

    119 High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5BS

    Telephone

    01621 927240

    Maldon

    We opened Woof & Co Maldon opened in beautiful town of Maldon in July 2020. Our passion and knowledge for dog products started when we opened W&C sister company Tower Pet & Animal Feeds all the way back in 2005! Learning lots of product knowledge…

  2. Address

    Access between 2 and 4 North End, Southminster, CM0 7DN

    Southminster

    The cemetery includes two Commonwealth War Graves. Private E Chinnery of the Middlesex Regiment and W Witney, a driver with the Royal Army Service Corps both have memorials there.

  3. Address

    Lock Hill, Heybridge Basin, CM9 4RX

    Heybridge Basin

    Heybridge Basin's famous sea lock links the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation to the Blackwater Estuary and would once have enabled smaller boats to enter and exit the canal and travel around the coastline. Today it is can still be used by suitable…

  4. Address

    Daisy Meadow Kiosk, Basin Road, Heybridge Basin, Essex, CM9 4RY

    Telephone

    01245 226245

    Heybridge Basin

    Spend a day at Heybridge Basin - you can have a picnic, view the boats and hop on a one hour boat trip on our canal boat Blackwater Dawn.

  5. Address

    Millfields, Burnham-on-Crouch, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8HS

    Telephone

    01621 854477

    Burnham-on-Crouch

    Overlooking the River Crouch, Burnham’s Riverside Park offers activity and relaxation in equal measure. It is an ideal place for a stroll, a run, a picnic or to take part in some sport.

  6. Address

    2 High Street, Tollesbury, CM9 8RG

    Telephone

    01621 868684

    Tollesbury

    Convenience store selling groceries, confectionery, cards, wines and spirits, newspapers and more. Includes the Post Office, National Lottery and Cashpoint.

  7. Address

    4 Mildmay House, Foundry Lane, Burnham, CM0 8BL

    Telephone

    01621 785779

    Burnham

    Family run unisex hair salon with a freshly refurbished interior.

  8. Address

    135 High Street, Maldon, CM9 5BS

    Maldon

    New Maldon gift ship with a wide range of fun and novelty gifts (including some saucy mugs - parents beware!)

  9. Address

    19 West Street, Tollesbury, Essex, CM9 8RJ

    Tollesbury

    An independent book shop in Tollesbury, built by the community for the community and providing new and used books.

    The shop, has a small tearoom, books and games for customers, free Wi-Fi, and remote working space. Local talks, author events, and…

  10. Address

    Goldhanger Rd, Maldon, Essex, CM9 4RA

    Telephone

    01621 874745

    Maldon

    Millbeach Marine Club

  11. Address

    Promenade Park, Park Drive, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5JQ

    Telephone

    01621 851898

    Maldon

    Welcome to Maldon Splash Park, Essex's favourite children's water park!

    Located in the centre of Promenade Park in Maldon, the Splash Park offers a family and child friendly environment to cool off in. 

    Featuring a great selection of interactive…

  12. Address

    Hythe Quay, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HN

    Maldon

    Maldon Gig Rowing Club has 2 Harker's Yard gigs and arrange club rowing, adventure rowing and race training to club members.

  13. Address

    Wickham Bishops Village Hall, Snows Corner, Wickham Bishops, CM8 3JZ

    Wickham Bishops

    2.96 miles. This walk explores three pretty villages in the north of the district - Wickham Bishops, Little Braxted and Great Totham. Taking in tree-lined lanes and footpaths, this gently undulating walk is a great introduction to this part of the…

  14. Address

    High Street, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8AA

    Burnham-on-Crouch

  15. Address

    83-85 Washington Road, Maldon, CM9 6JE

    Telephone

    01621 854835

    Maldon

    Friendly convenience store with wines and beers, cold soft drinks, a good selection of groceries and everyday essentials plus sweets and chocolates.

  16. Address

    5 High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5PB

    Telephone

    01621 853151

    Maldon

    Master butchers in Maldon High St since 1928, Ansell & Sons is a meat and game specialist. Its meat, game and poultry produce ranges are primarily locally sourced from Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk farms, as well as direct from Smithfield Market…

  17. Address

    Doe's Corner, Maldon Road, Ulting, CM9 6QH

    Telephone

    01245 380311

    Ulting

    Ernest Doe & Sons country store is not only the place where the district's farmers and contractors can find their parts and professional supplies, but it also has a wealth of products for country living.

  18. Address

    Elysian Gardens, Tollesbury, Maldon, CM9 8QN

    Telephone

    01621 869039

    Tollesbury

    This is a large, open site with good views across the Blackwater Estuary towards St Lawrence. Car park, hall, cricket and football pitches, pavilion, unfenced play site, benches and monument.

  19. Address

    Madison Heights, Park Drive, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5JQ

    Telephone

    01621 850222

    Maldon

    Madison Heights in Maldon offers 60,000 sq ft of family fun. Here you will find 12 Ten Pin Bowling lanes, a games arcade with ticket machines to win prizes,, Pool tables, Henri's Bar & Grill, Monkey Puzzle Soft Play Centre with its own coffee shop…

  20. Address

    16 Edwards Walk, High Street, Maldon, CM9 5PS

    Telephone

    077 1919 6161

    Maldon

    Unisex hairdressing salon with a full range of treatments including cutting, colouring, balayage and men's beard trimming.

Related

Albert Barge on the Chelmer & Blackwater CanalChelmer & Blackwater Navigation, MaldonThis waterway runs through a largely unspoilt part of rural Essex and connects the county town of Chelmsford with the tidal estuary of the River Blackwater at Heybridge Basin. It is 13.8 miles (22.1 km) long and has 13 locks.