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

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  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…

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

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

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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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  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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Number of results:

Number of results: 459

, currently showing 221 to 240.

  1. Address

    Keelings Road, Dengie, Essex, CM0 7UH

    Telephone

    01621 779620

    Dengie

    St James, Dengie is a small parish church serving the rural villages of Asheldham and Dengie. The Grade II listed church building dates back to the 14th century, but the Nave walls may be even earlier from Saxon times, and remains of Roman bricks…

  2. Address

    Purleigh, Essex, CM3 6QH

    Purleigh

    This walk explores the countryside around the hilltop village of Purleigh and provides an opportunity to visit a working vineyard and an historic World War I aerodrome near Stow Maries

  3. Address

    160 Station Road, Burnham, CM0 8HJ

    Telephone

    07736 012091

    Burnham

    Unforgettables offers a range of balloons, cards and gifts plus balloon art including arches, columns and bouquets for those very special occasions

  4. Address

    West Maldon Community Centre, Sunbury Way, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6YH

    Telephone

    0300 303 1555

    Maldon

    First Monday of the month. This group is a social get together for unpaid adult carers across the Maldon District. This group is also where carers can come along and speak to a experienced Carers Support Adviser to find out information, advice and…

  5. Address

    Church Lane, Little Totham, CM9 8LU

    Telephone

    07908 776750

    Little Totham

    This charming Grade I Listed church has a 12th century nave and 14th century chancel. There's a fine 17th century altar tomb monument and a 15th century font. In the churchyard are two Commonwealth War Graves.

  6. Address

    Plume Academy, Fambridge Road, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6AB

    Telephone

    0333 006 8331

    Maldon

    Welcome to MAN v FAT Maldon. Please feel free to sign up and your MAN v FAT coach will be in touch when a space in the league becomes available. You may qualify for a funded space if you have a BMI of 27.5+ and live in a participating postcode area…

  7. Address

    Seawall, 900m south-east of Holliwell Farm, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8NG

    Burnham-on-Crouch

    An unusual piece of wartime history can be found on the seawall heading out of Burnham-on-Crouch towards Bradwell-on-Sea. Around 4 miles from Burnham you will come to a unique hexagonal, two-storey control/observation tower and an accompanying…

  8. Address

    North Fambridge Station, Station Road, North Fambridge, CM3 6NP

    North Fambridge

    SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 6.7 miles. This is a beautiful linear walk along the River Crouch, using the train service to return to the start. The expansive views of the river and landscape are breathtaking. On the map, follow the "short cut"…

  9. Address

    Chigborough Road, Heybridge, Essex, CM9 4RE

    Telephone

    07903827736

    Heybridge

    One-to-one and family group yoga sessions available. Please book in advance by texting 07903827736.

  10. Address

    84 High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5ET

    Telephone

    01621 855566

    Maldon

    A small Independant lighting store but with a lot crammed in! A huge range of domestic lighting available, come and stare at the ceiling or browse through the catalogues - plus many hard to find bulbs and lots of shades in stock or made to order to…

  11. Address

    Downs Road, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HG

    Telephone

    01621 854477

    Maldon

    An area of grassland and trees which slopes gently down to saltmarsh at the edge of the River Blackwater. At the top of the site near the road is a tarmac path and a number of benches.

  12. Address

    Bath Place Wharf, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5GU

    Telephone

    07597 094233

    Maldon

    Frangipani SUP is a friendly, family run Stand Up Paddle (SUP) board school based in Maldon, Essex. We operate in various locations in Essex including Maldon, Chelmsford and surrounding areas.

  13. Address

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

    Maldon

    The small lake at Promenade Park is perfect for model boating, and is regularly used by clubs and enthusiasts of radio controlled boats. It is also a safe place for children to enjoy crabbing as the water is relatively shallow and the banks are firm…

  14. Address

    8 High Street, Tollesbury, CM9 2RG

    Telephone

    0203 5070015

    Tollesbury

    HIKS Inflatable Paddle Boards are great value, great quality SUP stand-up paddleboards to get the whole family out on the water! They’re easy to transport and take hardly any room to store. HIKS paddleboards come as a package, which includez the…

  15. Address

    Woodham Mortimer Hall, Maldon Road, Woodham Mortimer, CM9 6SN

    Woodham Mortimer

    Woodham Mortimer Hall is a private home, with no public access. The 15th century hall with its distinctive brick chimneys, heavily redeveloped in the early 17th century, was the home of obstetrician Dr Peter Chamberlen whose family invented the…

  16. Address

    Burnham Road , Latchingdon, Essex, CM3 6EU

    Telephone

    01621 773183

    Latchingdon

    This is a large well equipped rec ground with good access from the surrounding area. Car park, village hall/pavilion, children's play equipment, full size & mini football pitch, youth shelter, small woodland area & dog walking area.

  17. Address

    Totham Plains, The Street, Little Totham, CM9 8JQ

    Little Totham

    Little Totham's moving modern war memorial was only built in 2019 and commemorates Private Ernest Albert Belcher who died in 1917 and Private Charles Chaplin who died in 1920. The memorial, next to the village sign, comprises three steel Tommy…

  18. Address

    18 Regents Court Kings Road, Burnham-On-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8PP

    Telephone

    07831686741

    Burnham-On-Crouch

    The Burnham Wharf Heritage C.I.C. is a dedicated community interest company with a noble mission: to restore and recover the rich maritime industrial heritage along the Burnham-on-Crouch waterfront. Their tireless efforts ensure that these…

  19. Address

    Althorne Recreation Ground car park, Burnham Road, Althorne, CM3 6BY

    Althorne

    2.3 miles. Althorne sits on the southern ridge of low hills on the Dengie Peninsula; so you can glimpse both the Blackwater and the Crouch rivers on this gentle walk. Look out too for the grapes growing in the many vineyards that benefit from the…

  20. Address

    Fullbridge, Heybridge, Maldon, CM9 4NX

    Telephone

    07591 023715

    Heybridge

    Part of the site is accessible via a boardwalk from the footpath leading to the bridge over the canal at the far end of Tesco car park. Visitors should not leave this boardwalk as the site contains areas of deep water.

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.