Pannel’s Brook is a freshwater stream that rises to the west of Tinker’s Hole and then flows east and south under Green Lane before crossing under the Southminster Road just north of St Mary’s Church.
It then continues east and then south down to the River Crouch in the bay by Pile House, about a mile east of the town.
There is evidence to suggest that in the past Pannel’s Brook was a fleet serving the farms around Saint Mary’s church. Farmers would load haybales onto narrow boats and then take them down to the Crouch where they were transferred to Thames barges to be taken up to London.