Once a vital artery for Surrey merchants, now a tranquil escape. Today we explore the Wey and Godalming Navigations. This waterway tells a story of ingenuity, trade, and the changing face of transport.
The River Wey Navigation emerged from the vision of Sir Richard Weston. He saw how canals in the Netherlands and Belgium shortened journeys. Until the 17th century the River Wey meandered making it useless as transport. Weston planned to transform the Wey into a navigable route to the Thames. This involved locks for changing heights and weirs to manage water levels.
Imagine 200 workers toiling for two years. They built twelve locks and nine miles of canals. The Wey Navigation opened in 1653. But sadly, Sir Richard died before it opened. The cost was a staggering £16,000. Barges then carried goods between London and Guildford. Each barge held 30 tons. A horse pulled it along the towpath. Oak went downstream for shipbuilding. Corn traveled upstream for mills.
Picture the scene after the Great Fire of London in 1666. Vast quantities of timber were urgently needed. The Wey Navigation boomed as it transported timber to rebuild the city.
In 1760, the journey extended to Godalming. Another four locks and a mile and a half of canal were constructed. By 1764, the River Wey and Godalming Navigations were complete.
William Stevens, a lock keeper at Triggs Lock, rose through the ranks. By the 1890s, he and his sons managed the navigation. The arrival of the railway in 1845 posed a challenge. It enabled travel to London in under two hours. The railway took some business from the canals. New, larger barges appeared around 1900 to remain competitive. The Edwards family at Dapdune Wharf built barges carrying 90 tonnes. Two horses towed them.
By World War I’s end, commercial loads became rare. Dapdune Wharf became a maintenance hub. Pleasure boating offered some income. The National Trust acquired the Wey Navigation in 1964. In 1968, the Godalming Navigation followed. Now, both navigations were under single ownership.
Today, the National Trust manages the Wey and Godalming Navigations. It is a leisure waterway. You can experience it by boat. Or enjoy a walk along the towpath. Look out for wildlife along the water’s edge. The River Wey Navigations offers a glimpse into the past. It is also a place of natural beauty and recreation.