There were two main prehistoric crossings on the Wey, one on the site of
the present “Town Bridge”, and one where the “Pilgrim’s Way” (an ancient
trackway) crosses the river below St Catherine’s Hill.
The first Town Bridge was built in 920. It was a wooden bridge,
alongside the ford. It was replaced by a three arched stone bridge by
the monks of Waverly in 1200. This bridge lasted 700 years. It was
adapted to give greater clearance for the Wey Navigation in 1760, when
the rise in water level and dredging of the river, finally prevented the
use of the ford. The Town Bridge
was severely damaged by a flood in 1900 and was rebuilt as a single span
iron bridge.