Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation

In 1948 IWA Bulletin 12 repoerted "that the grave breach caused by the floods of last winter in the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation at Boeleigh has now boon repaired and that trade has been resumed upon the Navigation. All who know this useful and attractive waterway will agree that this is very good news indeed."

Bulletin 12 went on to say "Unfortunately it is accompanied by the news that the Chelmsford Corporation have applied to take another half-million gallons of water a day from the Chelmer. The Company of Proprietors are resisting this proposal strongly at the enquiry held by the Ministry of Health. Mr.Raffety, the Council's Consulting Engineer, declared at this enquiry that the Canal was 'practically derelict'. The ESSEX CHRONICLE reports him as asserting that it was not used during the war; and that he would be surprised if more than six barges 'came there all the time.' Mr.Raffety 'agreed with the Government who thought that the Canal was not worth taking over'. To these observations the Solicitors to the Proprietors replied In a forceful letter to the ESSEX CHRONICLE; In which occur the following passages:-. You report Mr.Rimmer's opening words and Mr.Raffety's remarks in which it was suggested that the Canal was 'practically derelict'. You fail even to mention the evidence called by the Navigation Company to rebut these unwarranted suggestions - suggestions which later on Mr.Rimmer was forced to disclaim. One wonders why the Corporation allowed such suggestions to be made by witnesses who had no personal knowledge of the facts. The Canal was in fact used during the war (as was later proved In evidence) and is regarded as essential by the important timber importing business conducted by Messrs.Brown & Son,Ltd. Far from being 'derellct', the Canal is in splendid condition and some thousands of standards of timber are now in process of carriage up the Canal."

IWA wrote to the ESSEX CHRONICLE a letter strongly protesting against the Corporation's proposals. IWA's view was that water supply authorities were making a determined set against rivers in many different parts of the country, but especially in East Anglia.

Bulletin 13 reported that Robert Aickman had written to the Proprietors; and had received the following reply:-

"Dear Sir,

I am obliged by your letter of 16th inst., with enclosures. Mr.Roughton is a personal friend of mine and I think I may say that this company as well as its Secretaries appreciate the work you are doing but we are inclined to think that the matter is really one of Politics in which this Company cannot usefully join. Personally I consider that you are fighting for a cause which is really already lost and I feel that the Nationalisation of all main lines of transport renders your task still more difficult. This Company is not really able to sympathise with the attitude you take up with regard to the river Chelmer. There is no other available source of water for the Town of Chelmsford and we feel that the Town must be supplied with water. All we have asked for is that the additional expense to which this Company is put should be met by the Corporation. We are not for one minute suggesting that the Town should not have water it needs.

Yours faithfully,

(signed) FRANCIS F. STUNT."

Bulletin 13 continues "In considering this reply, Members. will further recall that what in effect the Association offers to the Proprietors, as to others seeking a livelihood in the inland waterways industry, is advocacy of their cause with the general public and presentation of their case to the authorities, both things supported with all the prestige of a completely disinterested organization and offered virtually free of charge."

" We do not now allude further to the extreme undesirability of providing water for large towns by merely draining small rivers..."

This photo of a barge, fitted with a Harbourmaster power unit, near Beeleigh Lock appeared in IWA Buletin 57 - February 1957.

The 1993 IWA National Trail Boat Festival was held at Chelmsford on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation.

The Chelmer Canal Trust was formed in 1995.