Heatwave

Apparently it was an Essex heatwave today @ 17ºC.  At least that’s what Johnnie Walker on Radio 2 told me as I drove to the supermarket this afternoon.  It certainly was very warm and sunny, so after Asda I drove down to Sandford Lock for a stroll.  Not quite as busy as London was yesterday (!), but nevertheless, there was more traffic than I have seen here before. 

From the information board I learnt that the barges were horse drawn until the 1950’s.  The navigation waterway is mostly the canalised River Chelmer, and in part the River Blackwater, and was completed in June 1797.  It is fourteen miles long, from Chelmsford to Heybridge Basin on the Blackwater estuary.  It drops 77 feet through 12 locks and runs through flood land and farms. 

Here at Brookend a half mile canal cut was made across a very large loop in the natural course of the River Chelmer. Sandford Lock (seen here) was built downstream of the cut and 200 yards below the lock the navigation is joined by the millstream from Sandford mill. Two of the original historic brick bridges cross the canal here.  I am standing on Sandford bridge, and upstream (in the photo)  is Bundock’s Bridge. 

Bro came early evening and we went to the Fox and Raven for dinner and a pint or two. The River Chelmer navigation can be seen from here :) As yesterday, by the time evening came and we were leaving the pub, it was raining, making a damp walk home.