The Wey and Godalming Navigations are found in Surrey
being the navigable portions of the river Wey and associated canal, between
the Thames and Shepperton lock nears Weybridgeand the
center of Godalming.
The navigation passes through Guildford and Pyrford befor
joining the Basinstoke canal at West Byfleet and the Wey and Arun canal at
Godalming.
Work on the river Wey began as early 1635 at the very
start of the canal building period and was completed by 1653, covering a
route from Weybridge to Guildford. This allowed a barge route to London,
typically carrying Timber,
agricultural products, gunpowder and coal.
An Act of Parliamebt in 1760 gave permission for a further
extension of the waterway into Godalming with the work complete by 1764.
The completion of the Basingstoke canal in 1794 then
widened the scope of the network and brought more trade in with it.
The canal was never nationalised and from 1900 to 1963 was
the property of the Stevens family (Canal Carriers ) until in 1964 it was
donated to the National Trust, the Godalming
Navigation being donated to the same body in 1968.
The navigations are now being used and renovated for
leisure e use with Towpaths being used as walking routes and waters
being used by leisure craft. Visitor centres are also being constructed at
places such as Dapdune Wharf and of course the opportunity to provide
protected areas to encourage and wildlife are also there, together with
traditional recreations of the waterways such as fishing.