HIDDEN
treasure
The Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation is a
secluded waterway running approximately
14 miles between the city of Chelmsford and
the sea lock at Heybridge Basin (on the
Blackwater Estuary). It follows the route of
the narrow River Chelmer and meanders
through some beautiful and unspoilt
Essex countryside.
Twelve working locks enable navigation
of the 23 metre drop to sea level and
there is a well maintained tow path
along its length. Many people who live
close to it do not even know it is there!
Anni and Mike Ridsill Smith give us the
low down on this hidden SUP treasure.
Unlike many of our country's inland
waterways, the Chelmer and Blackwater
Navigation was not nationalised last
century but instead has always maintained
its independence. Following the threat of
closure in 2005 it was put into the
competent managerial hands of Essex
Waterways Limited, part of the Inland
Waterways Association. The company's
small team of managers, residential
caretakers, lengthsmen and volunteers work
tirelessly all year to keep the navigation
open and its user’s safe, supported by the
work of the Chelmer Canal Trust. These folks
have all been extremely supportive to us at
Frangipani SUP, helping and encouraging us
with our stand-up paddle board school.
Story: Anni and Mike Ridsdill Smith
We run a stand up paddle board school
called Frangipani SUP on the navigation,
where we teach beginners and run our SUP
HUB, SUP Senoritas sessions and SUP
Explores. Frangipani flowers (Plumeria) do
not grow here but many other varieties of
flowers thrive. Our friends from Wet ‘n’ Dry
SUP in Leigh-on-Sea also use the navigation
to teach beginners and have club paddles.
An Act of Parliament in 1793 launched the
start of the navigation's rich and vibrant
commercial history, which spanned nearly
200 years. Thousands of tonnes of cargo,
such as wood and coal, were loaded onto
barges from foreign ships and horse drawn
along the waterway to the city. Today the
hustle and bustle of commerce and trade
has been replaced by the peace and
tranquillity of the natural environment. It is
now a fondly loved place of recreation for a
host of users, with SUP boarders having
joined the friendly and diverse river
community in recent years.
s
t
a
n
d
u p
p
a
d
d
l
e
m
a
g
u
k
36