Heybridge Basin

Lovely clear views of Heybridge Basin. It's located at the end of the 13 mile Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation and boasts the sea lock which joins the canal to the Blackwater estuary. The basin was dug out of the marsh to enable sea going vessels to enter the canal and unload their cargoes for transportation inland to Chelmsford. The navigation was completed in 1796 and commericial traffic ceased in 1972.

The basin, canal & surrounding area is home to more & increasingly larger boats .... and a bizarre garden with life-size models of a giraffe, zebra, hippo & various other creatures (blip for the future)