As a result the importance of both Manningtree and Mistley as harbours for London-bound barges became much more significant. Eventually most of the Stour river barges (lighters) docked at Mistley rather than Manningtree because the natural curve of the channel along the waterfront provided a greater depth of water for the Thames barges.
When lighters arrived at Mistley Wharf, their goods were unloaded onto sea-going Thames barges that sailed round the coast to London.
John Constable’s father Golding Constable, owned two Thames vessels (called sloops) The Balloon and The Telegraph. At Mistley Wharf the Stour lighters unloaded their Suffolk wheat, barley, malt, flour, bricks, chalk and lime bound for London. As the lighters were emptied they were quickly reloaded with iron, oil and coal which had been brought down the coast from Newcastle for use as domestic fuel and later in the 19th Century for businesses such as Sudbury gasworks.