Brightlingsea
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Cinque Port
Wreckhouse
Stories of
The Colne
A Brightlingsea Town Guide
Cinque Port Wreckhouse
An Act of 1821 specified that Wreckhouses should be established in Brightlingsea, Wivenhoe and Harwich, in addition to the three at Dover Deal and Ramsgate.
It is reasonable to conclude that it was the 1821 Act wich led to use of the Existing Waterside building.
On 10th August 1886, the property was purchased by Joseph Bridges from the Lord of the Manor. Here the Bridges family carried out their blockmaking business.
In 1934 J.H. Bridges sold the Building to John James and Co. Ltd.
From the 1870's the Cinque Port Wreckhouse functions were performed at the 'Old Customs House', the largely weatherboarded building, at 4 and 6 Waterside (now occupied by the Harbour Commissioners) and, later in the building at 126 Sydney Street, (now the HQ of the North London Sailing Association). It is not known for certain when this move took place but in the 1911 Brightlingsea Year Book and Directory 126 Sydney Street is given as Customs House.
