The Commonwealth Parliament (under Cromwell) passed an Act in 1651
authorising the construction of the Wey Navigation from Guildford to the
Thames at Weybridge.
Sir Richard Weston of Sutton Place, conceived of the plan to open a
navigation allowing boats to ply between Guildford and London. But he
had supported the Monarchy during the Civil war and was out of favour.
He got the Borough of Guildford, James Pitson (an officer in Cromwell’s
army) and Richard Scotcher to promote the Act. They believed that it
would bring prosperity to Guildford after the decline of the cloth
industry.
Barges were built at Dapdune Wharf in Guildford. Initially the barges
were small and carried around 35 tons, but later this increased 90 tons.
One of the later barges “The Reliance” can be seen in the dry dock at
the Dapdune visitor centre.
The Stevens’ family, trading as
Stevens & Sons, were the dominant river carriers on the
river later in the Navigations' history, and they were instrumental in
keeping the navigation open. The family were the last owners of the Wey
Navigation until
Harry Stevens, gave the canal to the National Trust in
1964.