Battlesbridge is a small rural settlement on the upper estuary of the River Crouch, situated partly within Chelmsford Borough and partly within Rochford District. It is located at the tidal limit of the river, where it forms an important crossing point. The history of Battlesbridge is intimately linked with the river, and its present appearance owes much to centuries of riverside industry. Today Battlesbridge is best known as a centre for antiques and collectables