The quay forms the southern boundary of the town. In the post-medieval period Wivenhoe served as an entrepôt for Colchester and it is possible that it also served the same function in the medieval period. The fishing industry would also have played a major role in the economic life of the town. It is probable that the medieval buildings facing onto the quay included warehousing and fish-processing facilities, whilst there may also have been boat-building yards on the quay itself.

Ship-building works
There were a number of ship-building works in Wivenhoe. The Colne Marine and Yacht Co. building is an early nineteenth century shipwrights premises, and is listed (LB 30/42). There were two large ship-building works (Forrests and Cooks), one to either side of the town. The Forrests ship-building works (TM 0367 2156) has been closed and levelled. The Cooks ship-building works (TM 0407 2139) were closed and mostly levelled in 1986, with the exception of two late 19th century boat building workshops and a covered slipway which are listed (LB13/53). Both sites are scheduled for residential redevelopment. <1>