The River Wey drops 30m (98ft) from its source to its junction with the
river Thames, this together with its dependable flow, led to the
building of up to 25 mills between Godalming and Weybridge. There were
more mills per mile along the Wey than anywhere else in Britain.
Flour milling is traditionally
associated with watermills, but the mills frequently changed uses
according to market forces. Mills along the Wey produced everything from
flour, animal feedstock, paper, cloth, leather and gunpowder.
“Of old times divers cloths were made in the town of Guildford and other
places within the counties of Surrey, Sussex and Southampton called
Cloths of Guildford, which were of good making and good value, and did
bear a great name.”
from statute of Richard II 1391.
Stoke Mill - Photo by Matt Page
Stoke Mill is
included in the Doomsday book. It was converted to a paper mill in
1635 by Sir Richard Weston of Sutton Place. The original mill burnt
down in 1863. Such was the rivalry between Stoke and Guildford that
the good people of Guildford refused to yoke horses to the fire
engine, causing the mill to be totally ruined. In 1866 it was
replaced by a five storey brick building, the Mill closed in 1957
and the building is currently occupied by the Surrey Advertiser.
The Town Mill was
a fulling mill, finishing woven cloth, as well as grinding corn and
animal feedstuff. In 1701 pumps were installed to pump water up to
the reservoir at Pewley Hill.
In 2006 a 35 kw hydro-electric turbine was installed to generate
electricity for Guildford, reducing carbon emissions by 120
tons/year.
Hydro Electric Project - Photo by Paul Graber
