Site of mid 19th century timber works, John Sadd and Sons Ltd Timber Works, Fullbridge (EHER 15066)

Now destroyed. The site of a mid 19th century timber works, John Sadd and Sons Ltd Timber Works, established by John Sadd in 1841 and comprising a timber yard and saw mill. The Sadds were local importers of general merchandise and timber merchants, and it is thought that there was a timber industry operating at the site since before 1777. The saw mill burnt down in 1909 and was replaced with a two buildings, a storehouse for logs and a saw and planing mill. Electricity was also generated on site. During the Second World War, a slipway was installed for motor launches and torpedo boats.

1970. Field survey. Timber works. John Sadd and Sons Ltd. (Boulton and Paul group). <1> OS 1st edition 6" series. <2> May-June 2014. Trial trenching. The evaluation recorded a recent phase of deposition which relates to the demolition of the buildings associated with the former timber yard and the steam saw mill in the late 20th century. A demolition layer was present within four of the five trenches and relates to this period of demolition while a made ground layer is the result of some of this material being spread across the site in a levelling exercise. The evidence supports the theory that this area was continuously reclaimed and developed during the post-medieval to modern period, see EHER 82094. The evaluation also established that there was a timber industry operating in the vicinity of this area from at least 1777 where the first evidence of the causeway appears in the historic record. See EHER 82093. <3> A prominent local industrialist in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Sadds were importers of general merchandise as well as timber merchants. In the 1840s the firm expanded into land adjacent to the rivers Chelmer and Blackwater where a number of saw mills, store buildings and wharfage facilities were constructed. These have been demolished or redeveloped, but some of the area has reverted to scrub and there is a possibility that below ground archaeological remains pertaining to these industrial buildings survive. <4> Imported timber was transferred by barges and lighters from larger vessels in the Blackwater Estuary. Timber was also stored by floating it in the adjacent River Chelmer. There was a packet boat service from the wharf to London until 1851. The steam powered sawmill at the site was destroyed by fire in 1909 to be replaced by two buildings, one for logs, the other for planning and re-sawing. Electricity was also generated on site. The Sadd's contribution to the Second World War effort should also not be understated. Motor launches and torpedo boats were launched from the site and remnants of the slipway can still be seen at the site. The decline of the timber wharf came towards the later 20th century with the site cleared and then lying derelict to the present day. It is understood that the site was last actively used in the mid 1980s. <5> NRHE data transfer: Timber Works. Mid 19th century. A growing industrial complex established by John Sadd on this site in 1841 and now part of the Boulton and Paul group. Most of the early buildings have been rebuilt or enlarged. For many years the company supplied Maldon with electricity. <6>