Past Hunsdon and Parndon meads to Harlow
Roydon lock. It has recieved much attention and is maintained quite resolutely. After all, this was the very lock that caused the Stort Navigation to be closed in 1909 when the lock walls collapsed. It was not until the navigation was bought by the Lee that it was rebuilt and the route to Bishops Stortford reopened in 1924
Hunsdon with its attractive country house. The section of navigation between here and Roydon is a canal. The Stort goes under a bridge to the left of the country house and re-emerges below Roydon lock
Upon leaving Hunsdon the river winds its way through meadows. Harlow is never far away though - its buildings can be seen on the hillside extreme right. Even though Harlow is Essex, this bit of the Stort is actually in Hertfordshire!
The river suddenly takes a series of sharp bends as it approaches Parndon Mill. By the first such bend the A414 is quite in the open, boaters could glimpse it through the trees up to this point. On the other side of the A414 is St Boltophs Church, Eastwick. It was built in the mid 19th century. However it has marble artefacts that are very old, including a effigy of Richard de Tany and a pair of pillars that are said to have been quarried in the Isle of Purbeck 800 years ago and brought up here by sea and river. As the Lea (Lee) was quite navigable, having been used by the Danes over a thousand years ago, it is quite plausible that the pillars were actually brought up the Lea and then up this bit of the Stort in the 13th Century
This must be the classic view of Parndon Mill. The mill is home to an arts centre and exhibitions are frequently held here. The boat is Saltheart, an Oldbury motor. Parndon lock can be see on the extreme right
Whilst some boaters claim that the 13' 6" wide locks can be shared by two narrow boats, its not recommended. This pair of boats had an awful job getting out of Parndon lock when their ropes suddenly snapped completely tight whilst rising up the lock chamber
The approach to Burnt Mill lock. The imposing buildings immediately ahead are those of Harlow Town station. It has a good rail service to London. The wide boat on the right belongs to the Canal Boat Project whilst the canoes are Harlow Outdoor Centre's
Saltheart at Burnt Mill Lock whilst on a trip to Bishops Stortford. The lock has power operated bottom gates, due to the close proximity of the road bridge
Just above Burnt Mill lock is the ever popular Moorhen Inn
Early morning on the Stort at Moorhen Marina, Harlow. Next:
To Sawbridgeworth
London Canals
