Chelmer Brig

Chelmer Brig, Hall Road, Heybridge Basin, Heybridge, Essex.

William Woodcroft to 1906, pub later rebuilt.

From ESSEX BREWERS - The Malting and Hop Industries of the County by Ian P Peaty 1992 now out of print ISBN 978 1 873966 02 4

An assignment of a lease for the unexpired terms of 61 and 55 years was made "on 11th September, 1811, from William Morling, yeoman to John Smith victualler, both of Heybridge, of two pieces of land with the cottage and brewery thereon erected by William Morling, situated near the sea lock at Collier's Reach, Heybridge, abutting East upon the ditch of the sea wall adjoining the lands of William Chaney". It is apparent that the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation Company built a small brewery and public house around 1808 and that it is likely that John Smith was the first brewer and landlord of the Chelmer Brig public house.

On 2nd February, 1814, the lease passed to John Gibbs, Excise Officer, who held the lease until 27th March 1841, when his executors sold the unexpired lease to Jasper Arthy, in trust for Sam Saxby. On 15th July, 1853, a sale auction disposed of the remaining 13 year lease to George Blankus.

In the period 1855-58, the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation Company demolished and rebuilt The Chelmer Brig. During this period Isabella Parker, widow of Jasper Parker, assigned the lease to William Beckett, a carpenter of Great Baddow. By 10th March, 1864, a new lease for 60 years was given by the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation Company to William Woodcroft, of Heybridge, endorsed with a surrender of same by William Bright & Sons Ltd. brewers of Coggeshall, on 25th August, 1906.

The rebuilt public house became the lockhouse to the canal company and remains as such today, and the Old Ship Public House remains today in the ownership of the C and BNC.