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

    0.02 miles away
  2. This waterway runs through a largely unspoilt part of rural Essex and connects the county…

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

    0.02 miles away
  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…

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

    0.63 miles away
  6. The Deckchair Hut, operated by The Maldon Deckchair Company is offering deckchair hire at…

    0.7 miles away
  7. Maldon's Promenade Park Beach Huts are located in the valley, with the Splash Park and…

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

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

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

    Located in the…

    0.74 miles away
  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…

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

    0.84 miles away
Previous Next

Number of results:

Number of results: 583

, currently showing 541 to 560.

  1. Address

    Post Office Road, Woodham Mortimer, Maldon, CM9 6SY

    Woodham Mortimer

    A small, attractive site surrounded by mature hedgerows. Car park, small hall, football pitch and swings.

  2. 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…

  3. Address

    Tollesbury Marina, Woodrolfe Rd, Tollesbury, Essex, CM9 8SE

    Telephone

    01621 869561

    Tollesbury

    Situated in the heart of one of the friendliest marinas on the East Coast facilities at this club include a restaurant and bar, swimming pool and tennis courts.

  4. Address

    Katonia Avenue, Mayland, Essex, CM3 6AD

    Mayland

    This is a large, well equipped recreation ground with good access for cars and pedestrians.

  5. Address

    165 Station Road, Burnham, CM0 8HJ

    Telephone

    01621 785103

    Burnham

    Manythings is a family run business started in June 2005. We strive to find interesting and unusual gifts at competitive prices. We have a wide selection of items, including occasional furniture and homeware.

  6. Address

    Dykes Chase, Maldon, CM9 6HP

    Telephone

    01621 857373

    Maldon

    This attractive site was formerly part of a garden & was donated to Maldon Town Council for the use of the town's residents. It features a wide range of native & ornamental trees & shrubs along with views towards Beeleigh Weir.

  7. Address

    Tollesbury, Essex, CM9 8QU

    Tollesbury

    SALTMARSH COAST WALKING FESTIVAL - 6.4 or 10.2 miles. A fascinating walk around Tollesbury and the surrounding marshes. This walk has plenty of stunning views, historic sites and bird-watching opportunities! Tollesbury nowadays is a renowned sailing…

  8. Address

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

    Telephone

    01621 854095

    Maldon

    Pirates Bay is an exciting 19 hole adventure Golf Course offering loads of fun for all ages.

  9. Address

    70a High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5ET

    Telephone

    01621 855520

    Maldon

    W H Smith Ltd provides for all your stationery, art and school resources needs, along with newspapers and magazines, snacks, cards and a newly refurbished book department.

  10. Address

    77 High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5EP

    Telephone

    01621 853328

    Maldon

    A family-run business since 1936, Wenlocks provides a high-quality service to domestic and business customers. We offer a range of custom-made furnishing products, including curtains and blinds, window headings, bedspreads and related accessories,…

  11. Address

    Ulting Wick, Ulting, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6QX

    Telephone

    01245 380216

    Maldon

    Inspirational private garden open for charity.

  12. Address

    Maldon, Essex, CM9 5HN

    Maldon

    For well over a thousand years, Hythe Quay has been the home to Maldon's maritime community and the gateway to Maldon for vessels arriving from the sea. Linking the award-winning Promenade Park with the pubs, restaurants and shops of Maldon High…

  13. Address

    The Square, Church Street, Tollesbury, CM9 8QJ

    Tollesbury

    Tollesbury's little prison was opened in 1700 and was in operation for around a century as a holding cell for accused prisoners and as a lock-up for drunken locals. Sometimes called The Cage, the tiny building can be found by the churchyard wall of…

  14. Address

    H Wenlock Way, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5AD

    Telephone

    01621 928075

    Maldon

    We are a small family run business based in Maldon, Essex. We first opened our doors in 2016 in a cabin in a little shopping village. We quickly grew and shortly later we moved to Maldon where we still are!

    Our aim is to provide beautiful clothing,…

  15. Address

    Carmelite House, White Horse Lane, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5FW

    Telephone

    0345 603 7628

    Maldon

    Tuesdays and Fridays. Free your child’s imagination with songs and stories, give their early communication skills a boost and have fun together! No need to book, just come along and join in the rhyme time fun.

  16. Address

    Bradwell Waterside, Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, CM0 7QY

    Telephone

    01621 776256

    Bradwell-on-Sea

    Get on the water with Essex Outdoors for a Sailing Experience Day on the River Blackwater Estuary. Whether you want to learn the ropes and try your hand at helming or simply sit back, relax and enjoy the stunning surroundings, the choice is yours.…

  17. Address

    River Blackwater, West Mersea

    Telephone

    07938 273739

    West Mersea

    Estuary Rib Tours is a family run business that provides boat trips starting from Mersea Island to enjoy the Blackwater Estuary, often stopping for lunch in Bradwell-on-Sea. The tours are on our 8m Cobra Rib, ‘Hi Fizz’, which carries up to 8 guests…

  18. Address

    The Warren Golf & Country Club, Woodham Walter, Essex, CM9 6RW

    Telephone

    01245 223258

    Woodham Walter

    The Estate boasts superb golf courses, a welcoming clubhouse, beautiful barn style wedding venue, luxury lodge accommodation and Health Club.

  19. Address

    114a High Street, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5ET

    Telephone

    07813 308620

    Maldon

    Maldon's oldest and original barbershop, established in 1951 and famous for cutting the Kray brothers' hair between 1958-1961 when they visited Essex.

  20. 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.

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.