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Our work: Millbrook footbridge and tumbling bay weir

The weir at Millbrook in full flow
Millbrook weir in full flow | © National Trust/Nina Elliot-Newman

The River Wey and Godalming Navigations bring together a network of 16 locks, 13 weirs, 56 bridges, 11 mooring lines and 20 miles of towpath, along with many other structures. The tumbling bay weir and footbridge at Millbrook sit within the vast network, as just one of many parts of the navigations the National Trust looks after.

Guildford's much-loved weir

Millbrook tumbling bay weir lies in the very heart of Guildford town centre. It is believed that there has been a weir on the site since the 12th century, put there by mill owners to control the water levels in the 'pound' above in order to power their mill wheels. Today, the weir plays an important role in maintaining water levels along the River Wey.

Project delivery

The weir collapsed in 2019, along with the footbridge, and a temporary weir structure was installed. We have appointed contractors Knights Brown to replace both the weir and the bridge and the works will run throughout summer and autumn 2026.

Residents and visitors in the area will have seen some changes taking place as a contractor’s compound has been set up in a designated part of the council’s Millbrook car park (off the A281). This is essential to the weir repairs and reopening of the towpath over the Millbrook weir footbridge. We will keep the disruption to users of the navigation and the surrounding areas to a minimum and are in touch with local businesses and other groups. Throughout the works, the construction company will be working behind a temporary structure to dewater the weir, which will not affect the main navigation. The navigation will remain open as usual, with only short safety closures for specific activities e.g. when materials are being craned over the water.

There is a narrow 3-month window of opportunity to complete the works during this period of low water levels and there is an element of risk to this date as there are several factors to work through.

June 2026

Latest update

Crane on site

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Timeline of work so far

June 2026

Crane on site

The compound has been set up in a designated part of Millbrook car park. A large crane has arrived at the compound and is being used to move materials and equipment across the navigation and for the construction. A temporary structure has been assembled to create a safe working space around the weir. River levels will be maintained at around 2 inches lower than usual for the remainder of the works. The navigation will remain open as usual with only short safety closures when necessary for specific activities.

Contractor’s compound with crane
Contractor’s compound with crane | © National Trust

Towpath diversion

Throughout the works a short detour remains in place for walkers to rejoin the towpath at Guildford Rowing Club or the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.  

Map 1 From Millmead Lock                                   

Map 2 From Millbrook Weir (Millmead Lock side)                                   

Map 3 From Millbrook Weir

Map 4 Approaching Millmead from the south   

Map 5 Steps from the towpath, approaching Millmead from the south

 

 

Project background

In 2024 the National Trust tendered for, and commissioned, a feasibility study of Millbrook Weir. Over the drier summer months, a local specialist engineering firm conducted detailed geotechnical and structural investigations. Using the data from these surveys, our engineers designed a replacement structure, which reuses the materials in the current temporary weir as much as possible. 

Following this detailed understanding of the required works, the expected funds for the replacement project were secured for both the weir and bridge.  

Throughout 2025 we worked with a variety of agencies and engineers on the plans, as well as tendering for the construction phase of the project. 

A detailed technical approach was drafted, designed by expert engineers and the relevant permissions secured to carry out the works.

How the structure works

The tumbling bay is a 'fixed crest' weir which allows water to tumble over from one level (or ‘pound’) to the next, giving the site its much loved rushing water sound. The structure also contains a set of three sluice gates which can be raised or lowered manually to adjust water levels. A footbridge previously ran over the weir channel, linking the footpath onto an island of green space, with the towpath continuing beyond. 

Water levels over the weir vary at different times of the year, from a slow trickle in summer to a constant torrent during wetter months, when up to two million litres or water per hour might cascade over the crest.

Thank you

We’d like to acknowledge the support of so many people locally who have expressed to us how much the bridge means to them and campaigned wholeheartedly for it to be reinstated. We share their passion for bringing back this much needed part of Guildford’s heritage. We appreciate their patience and hope for their continued support as we lead the next phase of the project, with a more certain future for Millbrook weir and bridge.

Ensuring equal access to green space, especially in an urban setting like Guildford, is a fundamental aim of the National Trust. We understand the importance of the riverside walks that the Wey Navigation offers to the community of Guildford, and the role that these areas play for wellbeing, socialising, exercise, leisure and enjoying nature. 

Thanks to your ongoing support, we are able to continue our vital conservation work and help to protect these special places.

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