History of Bradwell Quay
The Quay at Waterside Bradwell on Sea has been the focus of this
small hamlet on the edge of the Blackwater Estuary in Essex for
centuries. On the south eastern side of the Blackwater, Waterside
Bradwell benefits from the distinct advantage of a sheltered anchorage
with easy and safe access to the waters edge. The landing place is
protected by Pewit Island which creates a creek laying east to west in
line with the main tidal flow of the estuary. This affords deep water
mooring at all states of tide with a shallow and gently slopping
foreshore backed by the mud salting which protect the land. . With an
equally gentle rising incline, as you move inland onto the dengie
hundred, the location provides a natural harbour for entry to and from
the sea. The dengie its self is a remote flat arable area impregnated
with creeks and gullies enclosed by the rivers Blackwater and Crouch.
The Romans were the first to recognise the strategic importance of this
area in constructing the fort of Orthnia as one of their key sites in
the Eastern region. By patrolling from this fort at the entrance to the
Blackwater estuary they could control movements on the three rivers of
Colne, Blackwater and Crouch in protecting this part of the Thames
estuary and be aware of movement of vessels in the Southern North Sea .
The Fortress of Orthonia was of such importance that a Roman Road was
constructed through what is now Bradwell Village and across the Dengie,
eventually making its way to London.
Whilst the Fort of Orthna is believed to have had its own landing
site, Bradwell Waterside would have provided a much more sheltered
position to bring goods ashore. Evidence of the Lime Kiln from medieval
times and earlier suggest the importance of the site in the region for
commerce and trade.
The development of the Quay would have been fundamental to the
development of Waterside and the larger village of Bradwell on Sea.
Sailing vessels of all types will have anchored in the creek and used
the natural shelter to off load people and supplies.
In more recent times Thames Barges traded regularly between Bradwell and
London in moving the produce of the sheep farming, agriculture, fishing
and game into the city and other principal towns.
As well as London , Colchester, Maldon and North to Harwich, the coasts
of Belgium and Holland were also readily accessible by sea.
Specialised smacks fished the Thames Estuary, which in the past was
alive with fish. The stock of fish in a thriving north sea was such that
sprats and herring were used as fertiliser on the land. Some of these
catches will almost certainly have come ashore at Bradwell Quay destined
for the local farming community.
In time the Thames Barges became well known for taking hay and straw to
London to supply the cities thriving horse industry. Apparently they
used to keep the horses in multi-storey stable blocks, there were so
many employed in the city. Can you imagine, it would have meant quite a
volume of material was moved back and forth. The Barges would make there
return trip laden with dung, amongst other, things. Again this horse
manure would be used for fertiliser.
By
the late 1800s photography had developed leaving some evidence of this
trade. These stackies were a regular site transporting fodder to the
horses in London . Some say crewed by one man and a boy with a dog.
Apparently the boy would sit on the top of the stack and call out
direction to the captain at the helm, or the other way around. Its
suspect the dogs job was to chase and catch the rats. So no doubt a Jack
Russell or similar terrier would have been a regular companion on these
trips.
Left - A Barge loaded with hay prepares to leave Bradwell Quay
for London
The structure of the Quay is clearly visible in some of these early
photographs, were inverted trees appear to have been used as the king
posts in holding a timber framework behind which rubble and earth has
been used to construct the working area above the tide.
The
Quay was constructed in two parts separated by a slip were boats could
be drawn up and the carts backed down to the waters edge at low tide.
It's quite clear that this slip area is deliberately maintained by
constructing timer slab walls on either side.
Other vessels and barges could come alongside on the tide and then as
the tide moved away would settle on the bottom with their decks level
with the Quayside. This will have made loading from the wagons so much
easier as planks could be laid on the quay and the men could move in
relative comfort as they manually carried the sacks, boxes, and the
bails of hay and straw aboard.
Right - Horse drawn carts made regular trips in bring goods back
and forth
The amount of trade was such that quite often more than one Barge would
be worked on at any time.
At its height the volume of activity was such that a` wharf was built
adjacent to the Quay where goods could be stored and prepared for
loading to the barges or transporting inland to the surrounding farms
and villages. A customs and coast guard office was built on the quay but
evidently had to be evacuated because of the unsavoury conditions. Later
a row of coastguard cottages were build on the salting edge to the side
of the quay to house the permanent detachment stationed at Waterside
Bradwell.
The cottages are still in use today as homes although they are now
protected by sea walls.
In more recent times the barge traffic ceased as road transport
developed and the Quay gradually fell into disuse for commercial
purpose. Whilst local fisherman and a small but growing band of
yachtsmen continued to use the facilities it was not until the 1950s
that a period of rejuvenation took place.
With the construction of the UK 's first commercial Nuclei Power Station
at Bradwell the Quay was once again used to bring goods ashore for the
construction. The most significant delivery involved shipping the huge
boilers down from Newcastle and then loading to heavy-duty road tractor
to take via road to the Power Station site.
Left - Aerial picture taken in 1958 as the Power Station Boiler
where brought ashore using the specially built slipway
This late image clearly shows the structure of the Quay at Bradwell
with the main water frontage divided by the old slipway. There is a
second larger slipway to the left rear of this plan view where boats can
be seen lying next to the Quay wall.
The structural arrangements remain readily visible with remnants of the
king posts and timber framework clearly still in place.
A new heavy duty slip has been installed immediately to the right of the
quay especially to bring the boilers ashore. The construction of the
Slip appears to have resulted in the partial demolition of the Quay on
this side.
At this stage the new sea wall had yet to be built as the extensive
salting are clearly visible.
More recent photographs show just how far the Quay has deteriorated. The
site is now virtually derelict with just trace elements of the old
historic Quay remaining.
The site is still in use today with local yachts and fishing boats
making use of the Power station slipway and occasional lying in the old
slip area to scrub off. The Essex County Council Outdoor Pursuits Centre
use the slip regularly and the remnants of the old Quay continue to
attract visitor's interest.
Bradwell Quay Yacht Club have a modern club house just inside the sea
wall at the top of the slip and remain very actively involved in leisure
cruising and club racing. The remnants of the Quay are still used to
launch smaller boats and for that all important mid season scrub below
the waterline. The Club maintains the scrubbing posts at the Quay and
the leading marks which ensure safe access into the creek on a strong
ebbing tide.
Visiting sailing clubs are encouraged to use the Club house for social
gathering at rally's or as a venue for racing fleets to rest.
Unfortunately visitors cannot be encouraged to use the Quay as the
remnants now cause more of an obstruction rather than offering safe
access ashore.
The danger now is that the Quay at Bradwell Waterside will disappear.
Erosion of the site is accelerating as the deterioration gets a firm
grip on the site. The high tide now regularly flood across the quay
washing away the earth works and remains of the structure.
Unless some action is taken the historic site of Bradwell Quay, which
has been the focus of the district for centuries, will simply be washed
away.