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Wey Navigation Canal And Dapdune Wharf, Surrey John Donne's Cottage at Pyrford. This photo is by Suzanne Knights and is copyright free.
The Wey Navigation in Surrey represents one of the earliest stirrings of the Industrial Revolution. The Wey, opening in 1673, was one of the first British rivers to be made navigable. In 1764 Godalming Navigation opened, which created a twenty mile stretch of canal running from Weybridge to Godalming. This was then used to carry various heavy cargoes. Wey Navigation continued as a working canal, until its last private owners, Stevens and Sons, donated the canal to the National Trust in 1964. The canal is now maintained as a piece of industrial archeology. Dapdune Wharf, where river barges were built has been partially restored, and has a display describing the canal's history. An original Wey barge, the Reliance, can be explored here. Boat trips are available. There is a small restaurant and gift shop at Dapdune Wharf.
For canal walks, there is convenient parking and start points at Dapdune Wharf, in Godalming town centre, in Guildford at Bowers Lane, Send Village, Pyford Lock, or New Haw Lock. Guided tours along the path are available. Ask at Dapdune visitors' centre.
From the towpath at Pyford, the house of poet John Donne can be viewed. This is where Donne spent long years in a kind of exile, after infuriating the powerful Sir George More, by marrying his sixteen year old daughter Ann without asking permission.
Directions: Dapdune Wharf is on Wharf Road, behind the Surrey County Cricket Ground. There is easy access to the towpath from Guildford and Godalming town centres. Click here for an interactive road and satellite map centred on Dapdune Wharf.
Access: Wheelchair access to Dapdune Wharf is good, and there are adapted toilet facilities here. Braille and large print guides are available from the visitors' centre.
Contact:
telephone: 01483 561389
e-mail: riverwey@nationaltrust.org.uk
web site: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-index.htm