The Billings at Night - Photo by Veronica Barrett
Guildford developed largely to the east of the River Wey at the point
where the ancient track way across the North Down crossed the river.
Small clusters of cottages developed along the river in such places as
Millbrook and at the ferry crossing at St Catherine's, but most of the
buildings located close to the river were connected to trade and
industry. This reflected the importance of the river to the town in
providing a means of transport and power, as well as in the production
of goods such as cloth.
The construction of these building followed the local vernacular
building traditions and often employed timber frame in their
construction. A particularly fine example of timber frame construction
is Shalford Mill, which is thought to date from the early 18th century.
Later buildings increasingly began using brickwork in their
construction, which was more substantial and fire proof. The Town Mill
at Millbrook is a good example, with the original timber framed mill
being replaced, in stages, by brick buildings in 1770 and 1852. Other
examples of brick industrial buildings include the Billings, built in
1856 And Stoke Mill rebuilt in 1879.
Cooke's & Elkin
Brewery and Town Wharf c1870 - Guildford Institute
The Billings, originally built as a printing works,
was converted to warehousing and more recently to offices, benefits from
Guildford's floodlight scheme.
Gunpowder Store near Stonebridge Wharf - Photo by Hilary Barratt
Gunpowder from the Chilworth Powder Mills was transported by horse &
cart to Dapdune Wharf, where it was stored and loaded onto barges for
shipment to London. This was extremely hazardous and when the Godalming
Navigation opened, the gunpowder was stored and loaded onto barges at
Stonebridge.
St Catherine's Lock Keepers Cottage - Photo by Hilary Barratt
Buildings along the Navigation range from quaint Lock Keepers cottages
to late 20th century industrial eyesores.
Derelict industrial buildings at Woodbridge - Photo by David Plummer