River Wey walks: Weybridge to New Haw Lock
This walk follows the route of the last commercial barges on the Wey Navigations. The large Wey barges, owned by Stevens and Sons, transported grain from the Royal Docks in London to Coxes Mill in Addlestone until the late 1960s. Many local people remember seeing the barges going up and down the river. You can see two of the last remaining three Wey barges at Dapdune Wharf in Guildford.
Map
Start:
Car park at Thames Street, grid ref: TQ0749765746
1
From the car park in Thames Street, walk up past the old boatyard to the Old Crown pub. Just before the pub, turn right down Church Walk. Cross the road at the bottom and continue straight over on the footpath between the houses. At No 17 Church Walk, turn right over the footbridge. Follow the sign for Wey Navigation Towpath via the public footpath to Thames Lock.
Thames Lock
Thames Lock is the entrance to the Wey Navigations. Look out for the pound lock below the lock. This raised the water level to help barges get over the cill. Whittet's Mill (now private homes) was the site of paper, iron and oil seed mills until 1963.
2
Cross the footbridge at the lock and follow the towpath past the stable to the two road bridges. Take the metal gangway up to the road and cross over to Town Lock. Turn right onto the towpath.
3
Follow the towpath, which changes banks at Blackboy Bridge. Continue to Coxes Mill and Lock.
Coxes Mill
Coxes was the most important mill on the Wey Navigations. The original mill was an iron mill, in 1906 it changed to mill corn. Barges shipped grain here until 1969. The mill was converted into flats in the 80s. The millpond attracts lots of wildlife.
4
Continue along the towpath towards New Haw Lock. Just before New Haw Lock, the footpath rises up to meet the road on a bridge. From here, you can see the lock, which is across the road. The lock cottage is reputed to be haunted by a lock keeper’s wife.
If you are in need of refreshment, turn right and walk along the road to the roundabout where you will see the White Hart pub on your right. Otherwise, turn left on the main road (assuming you have not crossed the road to the side with the lock). Follow the road for just over 100m, then turn left onto the public footpath just before the houses. Go to the end of the path, which is about 250m. Turn left, following the public footpath sign.5
Follow the track. The track veers to the left after approximately 150m. Stay on the track, leaving the farm house to your right. In another 300 metres, there is a turning to your left. Take this and continue on the track for another 200 metres, where you will see a righthand turn marked with a public footpath sign. Turn right, following the sign.
Follow the track around, finding the river on your right. This is a stretch of the natural River Wey, rather than the Wey Navigation. Continue following the track with the river to your right. The track will veer left away from the river. Follow the track around. At this point you can see Coxes Lock Mill in the distance. Continue on the track until you reach the railway line. You will see a stile. Cross the stile and go over the railway tracks.6
Turn left and stay on this road, leaving the residential park to your left. Continue following the road back to Town Lock.
Town Lock
The original lock was built with bricks taken from Oatlands Palace, Weybridge, after its demolition in the 1600s. Many of these would have come from the ruined Chertsey Abbey following the dissolution of the monasteries in the late 1530s.
7
At Town Lock, turn right and cross the Old Wey Bridge on Addlestone Road, heading towards Weybridge town centre. At the T-junction, turn left, past St James church and follow the High Street, passing the library on your right to the Ship hotel by the Monument. Turn left onto Monument Green, which becomes Thames Street. Continue down Thames Street to the car park where you started.
End:
Car park at Thames Street, grid ref: TQ0749765746
