The River Wey Guildford

The Wey South of the Town
 
Guildford Boat House
The River Wey Guildford 
The Wey navigation  managed to prosper from sixteen fifty three when it was first opened, all the way up into the nineteen fifties. No small feat, considering the onslaught the railways brought to the canals.

The National Trust were bequeathed the Wey navigation by it's last owner in nineteen sixty four, (Stevens and Son) and is now a thriving waterway making no call on the trusts finances. One of the very few to be self supporting in the country

The Wey Navigation was first used for moving heavy loads in barges between Weighbridge and London to Guildford and onto Godalming, and was the most southerly point that the canal waterways extended in the UK at this time.                   Sauced at St Catherines Web

Many goods were transported, including all the usual stuff such as, Gun Powder, wood, flower, corn, cole, and things like salt, were all carried. The barges would chug up and down day in and day out. Originally the barges were pulled along by Horse power alone.

In eighteen sixteen the Wey navigation was connected to the Basingstoke Canal via Stonebridge and the Arun Canal also became part of the network at this time. The Basingstoke Canal was finished in seventeen ninety six and made all this time. One hundred and sixty three years later!

 

Dapdune Wharf Guildford
Was the boat yard responsible for most of the barges built for the Wey navigation's. When you visit Dapdune you will find out the history of the bargeman's life on the Canal. How he and his family coped with the lack of space and other facilities. They were usually called
"River Gypsies".

You will also find a wealth of interesting facts through the use of models and displays. How the Canal was serviced and maintained. It's really interesting stuff, and I think you'll be glad we live in the twenty first century, as bad as it seems...

Dapdune Wharf heritage center

Some Beautiful Photography - Along the Wey Nr Guildford

"A selection of landscape photos taken by Kevin Holding, mostly of the Wey Navigation Canal and Basingstoke Canal. Areas covered include Byfleet, Weybridge, Pyrford, Woking and Ripley. Background music is My Immortal By Evanesence.
Please go to www.surreyphoto.co.uk for more information and contact details. Available for weddings and all events in Surrey"

"A very nice job indeed Kevin! Fantastic Autumnal colour."

Go and find out about the Wey.
Have a Cruse, it's one of the best ways to see our beautiful unspoiled surrey countryside.