The history of River Wey Navigations

The River Wey Navigation

The River Wey Navigation is a waterway of almost 20 miles connecting Godalming in Surrey with the Thames at Weybridge.

Until the 17th century the River Wey’s meandering made it all but useless as a practical means of transport. Sir Richard Weston lived at Sutton Place, just north of Guildford on the banks of the River Wey. Sir Richard was interested in agriculture and had seen in the Netherlands and Belgium how sections of canal could bypass sections of river, effectively shortening a journey.

Meeting the challenge of improving links to London

Transporting goods by road to London was difficult and only one or two tons could be carried in a horse-drawn wagon. Sir Richard planned to turn the Wey into a navigation to the Thames, with locks to allow for changes in height and weirs to control water levels.

Creating a new route

The new route required nine miles (14.4 km) of canals to link different sections of river. Twelve locks were constructed along with weirs, wharves and bridges. About 200 navvies completed the work in two years, with the navigation opening in 1653. The total cost of the works was £16,000, an enormous sum for the time. Sadly, Sir Richard died in 1652 before the navigation opened.

Carriage of goods between London and Guildford in both directions was undertaken on barges built to carry 30 tons, drawn by a horse. Oak was carried downstream to the Thames for use in shipbuilding and corn brought back upstream for the mills along the waterway.

Improving connections with London

While the navigation today is a place of tranquillity, humming with the sound of the M25 high above, it was once a vital transport route for Surrey merchants. Crews would be anxious not to miss London tides, working quickly to unload cargoes of grain, timber, coal and even gunpowder.

Every penny counted, and time spent opening and closing locks and weirs was crucial. You can still see the rollers installed on sharp bends that helped the barges get round corners more quickly and easily.

Expanding the navigations

In 1666 the Great Fire of London gave a boost to the navigation when vast quantities of timber were transported to London for the re-building.

In 1760 work to make the four miles (6.4 km) of river to Godalming navigable started. Another 1½ miles of canal, four locks and two wharves were built, and by 1764 the River Wey and Godalming Navigations were complete.