Essex Waterways

The Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation runs through a largely unspoilt part of rural Essex and connects the county town of Chelmsford with the tidal estuary of the river Blackwater at Heybridge Basin. It has remained open and independently run throughout its history. Never having been nationalised, it continued to carry commercial freight till 1972, and an increasing number of leisure users since that time. It was designed by the renowned canal engineer John Rennie and most of his original structures are intact, together with the entire length of the original waterway. Today, it is managed by Essex Waterways Ltd (a subsidiary of The Inland Waterways Association), and is a local treasure well worth defending for present and future generations to enjoy.