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IWA Branch
Navigation Authority
Essex Waterways Ltd, 3 Norfolk Court, Norfolk Road, Rickmansworth, WD3 1LT
The navigation runs from the River Blackwater at Maldon up to Chelmsford. There are 13 locks along the 13.8 mile (22.1km) route.
Length | Beam | Height | Draught |
60ft | 16ft | 6ft 5in | 2ft 6in |
18.28m | 4.87m | 1.94m | 0.75m |
Visitor Attractions
Chelmsford Museum, Oaklands Park, Moulsham Street, CHELMSFORD, CM2 9AQ. Tel: 01245 615100, Fax: 01245 262428
www.chelmsfordbc.gov.uk/museums
Chelmsford Cathedral
New Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1TY
Tel: 01245 294480
office@chelmsfordcathedral.org.uk
www.cathedral.chelmsford.anglican.org
Historical Information
The navigation was opened in 1797. At the time many of the mill owners were opposed to the canal because of the effect on water flow. Boats carrying timber used the navigation to Chelmsford until 1972 and many mills can still be seen today.
Since the restoration of Springfield Basin by IWA’s Chelmsford Branch in 1993, Chelmsford Borough Council had proposed to extend the original navigation further into the rivers Chelmer and Can by means of a new cut to connect Springfield Basin and the river above a large weir. The new cut would contain a lock financed through redevelopment of a gas works that currently occupies the site. The Chelmer Canal Trust has also proposed the restoration of Langford Cut - an arm from the Navigation near its Heybridge terminus with the Blackwater Estuary. However, both these proposals have been overshadowed by the financial difficulties experienced by the navigation authority, Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Company, which led to IWA taking over management of the waterway in November 2005.
Further Information
For books, maps, guides, videos, DVDs and gifts for this navigation, click here
Websites
Local government links
