A brand new waterway for us - Wey hey!

Monday, 18 July 2011 08:15

We have been looking forward to exploring the more southern navigations linked to the River Thames. So here we go -

The way to the River Wey Navigations

We are in the County of Surrey - it almost feels like home for me as I spent many weekends at my Grandmother's in Surrey, about 15 miles from the far end of the Wey Navigations when I was a child ......

Once we turned right from the Thames immediately below Shepperton Lock, we entered a wide channel, with three other channels leading from it. It was a little confusing for me (John had already done his research!) but the left channel, just beyond some public moorings, leads to a boatyard.

The right channel (above) goes towards the weir around Hamhaugh Island, formed by the river, lock and large channel.

The way to the Wey

The signpost is difficult to read, but when we got closer, we could see it pointed to the Wey Navigations' entrance. One day it will be obscured by trees, if they are not cut back soon.

Signpost

Just around the corner is the stop lock or pound lock, before the first lock on the Wey. We moored at the landing and John went to speak to the Lock Keeper who was about to let a cruiser out. The pound lock is used to increase the depth of water so that boats with a draft greater than 1'9" can get over the cill into Thames Lock.

Moored waiting at the pound lock

The Lock Keeper will operate this gate, and boaters must check with him, unless out of hours. (Prior notice of this is required and it costs!)  He also saw us through the lock - Thames Lock. But first we waited in the pound lock whilst we bought our licence (Wey licence for a week £63 plus a transit licence which allows us to come off the Basingstoke Canal and back to the Thames £6). There is 10% discount for National Trust members too.

Epiphany in the pound lock

The River Wey Navigations opened in 1653, but the river had been used by boats since medieval times. Trade thrived, carrying cargoes from Godalming to London through the 12 locks and 10 miles of artificial cut and the four miles of the Godalming Navigation, opened in 1763. As late as the 1960s barges still carried timber to Guildford.

As we entered Thames Lock, the heavens opened - what a lovely welcome! The showers continued for the rest of the day, although a bit of sun appeared in the early evening.

Thames Lock, opened in 1653

From Thames Lock, the Navigation winds past some nice houses on its way to Weybridge. The house below is brand new and has extensive solar panels on the roof. John said he wouldn't be surprised to se it featured in one of the House & Garden type magazines.

New house

The approach to Weybridge Town Lock is awkward. We stopped at the Lock landing before the Old Weybridge Bridge to check out the lock (having shooed some young fishermen off the bollards). The bottom gates were open (all the lock gates can be left open when boaters leave the Wey locks) so we went in through the right hand marked arch - a nasty turn into the lock.

Weybridge Old Bridge

In Town Lock

Town Lock marks the end of the longest man-made section of the Navigations, according to the sign - a style of sign we assume is repeated at each lock.

Town Lock sign

The windlasses for the Navigations are different and can be borrowed or bought. We borrowed two, they are very heavy and longer than our normal ones.

John wields the Wey windlass

We needed to do a bit of a shop, so we moored above Town Lock, before Black Boy footbridge. After lunch John walked back to go to Waitrose.

The Wey Navigations, Thames Lock to Black Boy Footbridge, Weybridge
0 hours 48 minutes, 0.88 miles, 2 locks