Friends of Colchester Archaeological Trust: excursion on the Chelmer and Blackwater Canal

On Wednesday (18th September), the Friends of Colchester Archaeological Trust (FCAT) went on an excursion on the Chelmer and Blackwate Canal or ‘Navigation’ in Essex.

FCAT member and Trust volunteer Maureen writes: ‘… On Wednesday, 30 Friends met for a very pleasant three-hour cruise on the Chelmer and Blackwater Canal aboard the barge Victoria.  We embarked at Paper Mill Lock in Little Baddow and were ably looked after by skipper Brian and his crew of Ewan and Ross. It was wonderful to  relax in the peace and tranquillity of the warm sunshine. Travelling at 3 or 4 knots, we were “far from the madding crowd” and could enjoy spotting moorhens, swans, water voles, otter scrapes and branches laden with sloe berries. The barge turned at the 12th-century church at Ulting which, in its day, ranked with Walsingham as a place of pilgrimage.

It was fascinating to navigate the two locks twice and marvel at the ingenuity of the canal system. There was a bar on board selling beer, beverages and home-made cake (and a loo!) which all contributed to the Friends’ comfort.

Thanks to Brenda May for organising the trip and transport, including her own and Liz Bourton’s cars, which made it all possible.

A good time was had by all! …’

Construction work on the historic ‘Chelmer Navigation’  began in 1793, and it was opened in 1796. It is 13.75 miles long and it connects the county town of Chelmsford with the tidal estuary of the River Blackwater at Heybridge Basin. The canal was designed by the notable canal and bridge engineer John Rennie and most of his original structures on the canal survive, as well as the whole length of the original waterway. It was used for commercial traffic until 1972 and is now popular as a leisure resource. Visit the web-site of the Chelmer Canal Trust at www.chelmercanaltrust.co.uk/cct.htm
The Canal Centre at Paper Mill Lock provides car- and coach-parking, a tea shop, barge trips, and boat and dinghy hire; visit their web-site at www.papermilllock.co.uk

Many thanks to Maureen for writing this report on the excursion, and to Maureen and Shirley (also a member of FCAT and Trust volunteer) for taking photo.s of the trip for the Trust web-site.