On the Wey

22/7/2018


The River Wey leaves the Thames some 16 miles west of London, and climb up 16 locks over 19 miles to its terminus as a navigation in Godalming,  on the edge of the North Downs.
A quiet winding river, moored craft, intermittent estates lawned to river's edge.

Between the 2 major towns of Guildford and Godalming lie ancient water meadows, some of the last in the country.  Sluices allowed water to flood the meadows in winter, the water drained off in spring, with new grass providing pasture and hay for the summer. We moored next to one such, with the photo attached of JJ using a willow to lever the boat to the bank.

The horse pictured was pulling a tourist boat, unhitched during a lock descent.

The river was made navigable in the 17th century, first through the  use of flash locks.  These involved damming the river with planks or gates, with the water released in a 'flash',  allowing the banked up boats to make a rapid descent down a shallow weir. From these early locks comes the expression, 'gone in a flash'.
Locks with the standard 2 gates were installed in the 17th C.

A lovely river, well loved by  swimmers, canoeists, boaters.

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