Site of early 19th century saltworks, 'Heybridge Salt Works', Heybridge (EHER 46203)

Partially destroyed. The site of a formerly extensive saltworks in the Basin area, Heybridge Salt Works, which was built in around 1810-1815 by Bridges, Johnson and Co. After unsuccessful investment in a new salt-making technique, the company sold the premises in 1825, and the site continued to be used as a saltworks, but on a much smaller scale, by the Worraker family who later moved to the Maldon Crystal Saltworks (EHER 7978). Though much of the complex has been destroyed, part of the wall of the former saltworks is thought to survive and presently forms part of the clubhouse of the Blackwater Sailing Club. To the landward side of the clubhouse is a pond that may have been a saltpan.

The reclaimed marsh in the basin area provided the land for the saltworks of Bridges, Johnson and Co., who reverted back to the construction of sun-pans for the preliminary evaporation of water in their salt-making process. The site became the Heybridge Salt Works, built in around 1810-1815. The company are reported to have laid out a £20,000 investment in the furtherance of the ‘technique’ which involved the use of superheated steam from a separate boiler beneath iron evaporation pans containing seawater, which had been previously concentrated in the sun-pans over an area of 45 acres. Unfortunately the process was uneconomical in the light of falling prices. The notice of sale of its assets in 1825 included iron and lead pans, steam boilers, a steam engine, pumps and a smithy. Also included in the sale were chalk stoves and furnaces. A document from 1850 describes a 'messuage with salt office and yards and land' which were being sold off (ERO D/DU 627/4). The location is identified as being at the back of the malting (the precursor to Saltcote Malting, EHER 15052) along Goldhanger Lane and is likely to have been the main site for this works. The earlier maltings building (EHER 15052) is thought to have been converted from an early 19th century storehouse, possibly the ‘salt warehouse’ that was originally part of the Heybridge Salt Works. A small part of the Heybridge Salt Works remained and continued using a much simpler form of manufacture. This operation is presumably the 'Marine Salt Works at Heybridge' referred to in a document from 1841 (ERO D/B 3/3/578/13). The building is depicted on the tithe map, close to the harbour with a smaller works located further to the south at the mouth of the navigation canal, presumably for ease of transport. Part of the wall of the former saltworks is thought to survive and presently forms part of the clubhouse of the Blackwater Sailing Club. To the landward side of the clubhouse is a pond that may have been a saltpan. The works are again referred to in a document from 1848 and were largely carried on by one family, the Worrakers who continued to make salt at the works for over 30 years before moving to the Maldon Crystal Saltworks (EHER 7978) between 1855 and 1859. <1>