Brick Lock gets it's name from being one of only 2 locks on the Stort to be originally built in brick circa 1769 when the Stort navigation was first installed. It is affected by Roydon Mill which sits 500 metres up river, and is now part of the Roydon Marina Village, which opened in early 2011.
The Mill
Listed as part of the "Ruindune" manor in the Doomesday Book (1086), corn has been milled on this site for nearly a century. In the 1680's a substantial timber framed milll-building was constructed and grew to included 5 pairs of milling stones. In 1880 it was ravaged by fire and the current two-storey brick mill was built. It came to be powered by water, steam and latterly gas, but eventually ceased grinding flour in the 1920's, and cattle feed by 1940.
In 1948 the premises and surrounding land and lake are converted to a caravan park with boating and bathing, and in 1987 the mill-building is converted into flats and then latterly a hotel. Sitting above the RIver Stort where it splits from the main navigation,
It is one of four, out of the original nine, mill buildings that still stand.
The Lock
Built in brick in 1769, a lock-house was added in 1830 and is the only survivor of the seven cottages built in the 18th century by Sir George Duckett (aka George Jackson – the instigator of the Stort Navigation). The Duckett symbol of the red-hand is still proudly displayed above the cottage's front door. This was a sign of authority that meant the occupants of the house were licensed to charge tolls and upkeep the lock. (For the origin's of the red-hand symbol see the cache at Sheering Mill Lock, No.6 in this series).
The last surviving original lock-keepers cottage at Brick Lock.
It was the northern wall of this lock that was instrumental in the last private owner of the Stort Navigation; Sir Walter Gilbey, finally selling his rights to the Lee Conservancy Board. After the wall collapsed in April 1909, there were grumblings as to how quickly work was progressing to restore the lock and navigation, with the mills and lock-keepers missing out on materials and tolls. So much so that the Lee Conservancy Board, who were already in talks with Sir Gilbey for the sale of the Navigation for £500, eventually stepped in to fix the lock and eventually buy the navigation for the much reduced price of 25p!
A miller's plate can be seen beside the top gate.