Rocky's Roost at Springfield Lock 3/3 Full steam ahead MVI_0021

Narrow boat home Rocky's Roost makes her way through Springfield Lock bound for the nearby basin off Navigation Road, Chelmsford, on October 2, 2010.

The Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation was completed in 1797 to link Chelmsford to the sea at Heybridge Basin.

It is a broad, shallow navigation that, for much of its 14 miles, uses the natural courses of the rivers Chelmer and Blackwater.

Twelve locks had to be built to accomodate its 77 ft (23.5m) fall to the coast.

The navigation was largely responsible for the rapid growth of Chelmsford in the 19th century, enabling heavy goods, mostly coal, bricks and timbers, to be carried cheaply - one barge could carry the same tonnage as twenty five horse-drawn wagons.

Springfield Lock is the first on the navigation with the lock chamber built to accomodate barges 60ft (18.3m long) 16ft (4.87m) wide and 2ft (0.6m) in draught.

The fall in the level here between the upper and lower gates measures 3ft 9ins (1.14m) and is one of the smallest on the navigation: at Hoe Mill Lock, Ulting, the fall is 8ft 3ins (2.5m).

The lock is filled through trap doors (paddles) cut into the bottom of the gates.

The cog and ratchet mechanism attached to the balance beams raises and lowers the paddles. The balance beams and gates were made from locally grown oak and elm.

When commercial traffic stopped on the navigation in the early 1970s the lock fell into disrepair and the Springfield Cut and Basin silted up .

The Chelmsford Branch of the Inland Waterways Association, with the help of various other agencies, restored the lock and dredged the Cut and Basin in 1993.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix2wJm8RHWs


In 1997 the Chelmer Canal Trust organised a boating rally at Springfield Basin to commemorate the navigations's 200th birthday.

The Basin can be used as a berth for visiting boats and the starting point for a pleasant day's exploration of the waterway either afloat or on foot along the towpath which is a public right of way.

Below the lock is the historic bridge designed by John Rennie, the celebrated 19th century canal builder.

Further downstream the canal joins the River Chelmer proper and passes under the 1932 concrete bridge which carries Chelmsford's first bypass.

The large bulk of the 18th century Moulsham Mill, now used as an arts and crafts centre, stands imposingly to the south.

The Chelmer Canal Trust provided this information.

Category:

Education

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