waterways from the air
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waterways from the air
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Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation S A N D F O R D M I L L L O C K Lock number: 3 Height: 7 ft
Information copyright Chelmer Canal Trust Ltd, reproduced with kind permission:
"Here at Brookend a half mile canal cut was made across a large loop in the course of the River Chlemer, thereby bypassing Sandford Mill. Sandford Lock was built at the downstream end of this cut, and 200 yards below the lock the navigation is joined on the right by the millstream from Sandford Mill. This was originally a water mill, and then home to Chelmsford Waterworks. Now it is Chelmsford Museum's industrial collections store and primary science education centre, and home to "Susan", the last surviving wooden Chelmer barge.
The lock chambers were built to a larger specification than on most other canals, thus enabling broader barges requiring only a 2 foot draft to navigate the numerous shallows. The balance beam and gates were made on site from locally grown oak and elm.
Two of the original historic brick bridges cross the canal here. The one immediately below the lock is Sandford and upstream Bundock's Bridge can be seen (see 2nd picture). The latter has a towpath beneath it made for the horses to avoid the need for them to pass over the bridge.
Further downstream, beyond the bypass bridge, is Grace's Footbridge. Formerly timber structured, the bridge carries a path to Great Graces, a tudor farmhouse, the 17th century home of the Mildmay family. local legend tells us that the path is haunted by the ghost of Lady Alice Mildmay, the child bride of Sir Henry Mildmay, who drowned himself in despair of his cruelty.
The old black shed, next to the lock, has been used over the years as a store and workshop. Opposite, on the other bank, is the lock keeper' bungalow, which replaced the original brick Victorian building in 1960, and was the home of the much-admired George King, the canal foreman, who spent a lifetime cheerfully and carefully looking after the canal as if it were his own.
Today, this attractive site is popular with anglers, boaters and walkers and is a base for pleasure boats and canal boat hire. From here you can follow the towpath, which is a public right of way, upstream for 3 miles to Chelmsford or downstream 11 miles to Heybridge Basin"
Links
www.blackwaterboats.co.uk - Narrow boat for hire at Sandford Lock (see picture below)
Pictures
PHOTOGRAPHY from www.aerialcloseup.co.uk We will be adding pictures over the coming months - please check back regularly. Pictures are linked from the mileage charts on the maps. All pictures are copyright Aerial Close-Up Limited and may not be reproduced without permission. Copies will be be available soon in high quality, framed photographic prints and water colour prints.
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