THE WEY NAVIGATION: RECORDS

This material is held atSurrey History Centre

Scope and Content

The archive described here is a major source for the history of transport, trade and industry in Surrey during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Survival of records of the origins of the Navigation in the 17th century is poor, but material includes: the Act of 1671, papers concerned with title of both moieties, as well as the 17th century disputes (G129/44 and 45), and a few accounts for the construction, and for repairs and cargoes.

An overall picture of the finances of the undertaking may be gained from accounts from 1724-1963 (G129/7/1-21; with some gaps). No formal series of minutes survives, however, save rough notes incompletely covering 1776-1800 (G129/21/19, 28, 31, 43; G129/26/4, 11, G129/20/1-3, G129/26/4, 11, 23, 28), and in the absence of these, the large surviving correspondence of the proprietors and their officers must be used to gain a picture of the administration of the business, the conditions on the river and its environs, and relationships with other businesses (for example the Basingstoke Canal Navigation Company, or industrial users of the river such as the millers) and local bodies.

Detailed records of the river trade and cargoes are to be found in the double series of journals or 'diaries' (kept in duplicate at Thames Lock and Guildford Wharf) which begins in 1822. The nature and weight of every cargo carried, with loading and unloading place and the name and owner of the barge in which it travelled is provided (G129/1-3/-). Barges coming from or entering the Basingstoke Canal (which travelled on a short stretch of the Wey Navigation) are included. (The earliest record of cargoes on the Navigation appears to be a single one of 1678: see G129/44/17; see also LM/2026, covering 1679-1680)

Deeds of title to the Navigation, to the 1d, 2½d and 4d tolls granted to 'riverine' owners and Guildford Borough by the Act of 1671, and to other land are included in this deposit: for a summary of the principal titles to 1902, see G129/125/1-2.

A detailed summary of the main series of records is below:

G129/ ACT OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NAVIGATION 1671
The first Act for making the River Wey navigable, later described as the 'pretended Act', was made during the Commonwealth period in 1651. The Act was not clear in its provision for the ownership of the river and the land through which the new cut ran, and disputes soon arose between the undertakers of the Navigation and the 'riverine' owners. In 1664, rights to the Navigation were divided into 5 equal parts for a term of 31 years by letters patent of King Charles II; however, the undertakers had already made a 24 part division of rights and title. By Mar 1670, Thomas Tyndale and Thomas Cressy had acquired 16 of the 24 shares and 3 parts of the shares granted by letters patent, and began negotiations with interested parties for the passing of a new Act. Agreements later embodied in the Act comprised: a grant of a toll of 1d per ton payable by the proprietors to the Corporation of Guildford towards repair of the streets and support of the poor (the 'River Wey Pence'); a grant of a toll of 2½d per ton payable by the proprietors to Lord Montague for free passage on the river through his manor of Ripley and Send, and for share in the responsibility for maintenance; a grant of a toll of 4d per ton payable by the proprietors to Thomas Dalmahoy, for free passage on the river through his land between Guildford bridge and Woodbridge (the 'Groats' toll). [This information is derived from the summary G129/125/1-2.] For copy of the Act of 1651, see Zg/89.

G129/ RECORDS RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION, LEGAL STATUS AND EARLY MANAGEMENT OF THE NAVIGATION 1654-1758
Only a few of the many deeds and papers produced during the manoeuvering and legal disputes of the early years have survived, and no records series relating to the management and income of the Navigation exist for the period before the undertaking was in effect bought out by the 'Proprietors' Langton and Portmore in 1723. Some early papers were evidently at one time in the hands of Colonel William Wetton, who was appointed manager on 10 Aug 1654, and later of his successor Benjamin Wetton, who was still manager in the early eighteenth century and who lived on Guildford Wharf.

G129/ EARLY MANAGEMENT OF THE NAVIGATION BY COL WILLIAM WETTON AND LATER BENJAMIN WETTON 1654-1718
This group comprises correspondence and other papers concerning inter alia: accounts of work on the Navigation (-/-/1, 4) and other expenses (-/-/2-3, 6, 13, 17, 25, 71); repairs, including a contract with Henry Newbery and his reports (-/-/27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 40, 55); payment of riverage by bargemasters (-/-/7, 24, 26, 30-33, 64); legal dispute with Major Pitson (-/-/5, 72, 74); payment of dividends (-/-/22, 28, 55, 63); employment and payment of wages (-/-/36-37, 40, 57, 68); coal pens and other storage at Guildford Wharf (-/-/34, 40) and timber at Dapdune (-/-/37-38, 40, 55).

G129/ PAPERS RELATING TO THE OWNERSHIP AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE NAVIGATION, AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE 1654-1758
Many of these letters relate to title to the Navigation of the original investors, and cases brought to the Court of Exchequer and before Parliament, including records of its construction (-/-/2-3, 6-7, 9-11, 13-14, 28-30, 32-35, 40, 42, 46). Also concernng inter alia repairs to the Navigation (-/-/48-50, 59-60); Lord Portmore's mortgage of his interest in the Navigation (-/-/58, 62); protection of the bargemen from impressment to the Navy, 1665 (-/-/9).

G129/ PAPERS RELATING TO SUITS IN EQUITY CONCERNING CONSTRUCTION AND RIGHTS TO THE NAVIGATION 1657-1713
There is no document with the reference -G129/62/14.

G129/ SURVEY OF THE NAVIGATION FOR THE KING'S SURVEYOR GENERAL 1661

G129/ RELEASE OF DEBT AND APPOINTMENT OF RECEIVER 1667-1673

G129/ EXCHEQUER CASE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL V. SIR ROBERT PARKHURST, RICHARD WESTON AND OTHERS 1669

G129/ PAPERS CONCERNING CONSTRUCTION AND PURCHASE OF LAND FOR THE NAVIGATION AND LEGAL CASES ARISING 1657-1739
Concerning inter alia: bridges on the Navigation (-/-/8, 10), and land adjoining (-/-6-7, 9); legal cases.

G129/ TRUSTEES OF THE NAVIGATION: EXCHEQUER CASE UNDER THE ACT OF 1671 1672-1677

G129/ RECORDS OF MANAGEMENT 1698-1903
Although there was never a statutory managerial structure to the Navigation (as was laid down in the 1760 Act for extending the navigation to Godalming), a new period of management under the ownership of the Earls of Portmore and the Langton family is marked by the start of the general accounts series (-/7/-) in 1724. Large numbers of letters passed between the proprietors, their agents, lock keepers and bargemasters (see correspondence below), but formal records of decisions were not usually kept.

G129/ MINUTES 1775-1803
Surviving rough minutes were made by George Stubbs, the solicitor who acted as clerk to the Navigation.

G129/ GENERAL RULES, ORDERS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1764-1850

G129/ Toll tables 1828-1850
See also 7105/1/7.

G129/ OFFICERS OF THE NAVIGATION 1798-1873

G129/ SCHEDULES OF LETTERS AND PAPERS RELATING TO THE WEY NAVIGATION 1698-1903

G129/ ASSOCIATION OF PROPRIETORS, MILLERS AND BARGEMASTERS FOR BETTER REGULATION OF THE RIVER 1830-1853

G129/ FINANCIAL RECORDS 1724-1969
The principal series of accounts from which an overview of the profits and expenditure of the Navigation may be determined is the 'general' or 'trustees's' accounts, -/7/-. These are complemented by: a variety of cash books, ledgers and agent's or lock keepers' draft accounts, many further of which are to be found with correspondence; and more significantly by the series of detailed barge masters' ledgers, -/5/-, and the lock keepers' diaries, -/1-3, which provide a very full picture of river traffic, 1822-1952.

G129/ GENERAL ACCOUNTS 1724-1963
The series of general accounts starts in April 1724 and is at first settled once a year on any convenient day; expenses are detailed and the bargemasters paying riverage are named. The volumes from 1764-1775 include also summaries of bargemasters' quarterly accounts, indicating where the cargoes were loaded. From 1775 the riverage accounts are set out in a table, with a column for each loading place. Totals of profits, shares in tolls (River Wey Pence, 2½d and 4d) are given.

G129/ RETURNS OF TAXES ON PROFITS OF THE NAVIGATION 1804-1814
These returns record totals of profits due to each moiety.

G129/ DRAFT ACCOUNTS 1820-1882 See also -/111/1.

G129/ BARGEMASTERS' ACCOUNTS 1662-1969
This series of ledgers records individual accounts of bargeowners or masters, with note of receipt of payment. Information, arranged by owner account, comprises: date, name of barge, site on the Navigation of loading/ unloading, quantity in 't', 'c', 'l' [tons, chaldrons and loads], rate and total charge. For earlier bargemasters' accounts, 1764-1823, see -/7/2-6.

G129/ Rough accounts for entry in ledger 1810

G129/ 'Up' and 'down' cargoes 1822-1823

G129/ 'Up' cargoes 1826-1969

G129/ 'Down' cargoes 1826-1889

G129/ LOCK KEEPER'S AND WHARFINGER'S JOURNALS OF BOATS AND CARGOES 1822-1963
The journals record: barge, owners, type of goods loaded and unloaded, destination, and (for tabulated accounts) depth and tonnage on arrival and departure.

G129/ Thames Lock journals 1828-1962

G129/ 'Up' and 'down' journals, Thames Lock 1827-1963

G129/ 'Up' and 'down' journals of boats, cargoes and tolls at Guildford Wharf 1822-1936

G129/ Wharfage and other accounts at Guildford 1829-1897

G129/ Guildford Wharf receipts and payments 1816-1820
For accounts at Guildford Wharf, 1793-1816, see -/6/1.

G129/ CASH BOOKS AND OTHER FINANCIAL RECORDS 1776-1944

G129/ Wages and maintenance of the river 1778-1951
Further records relating to wages, 1823, are included in G129/6/3, -/104/1-2

G129/ Ledgers of clients and employees 1767-1793

G129/ Accounts of rents and licences 1938-1968

G129/ Riverage forms and barge tickets early 19th cent-1950s

G129/ MAPS 1771-1823
For written survey of the Navigation, 1661, see G129/57/2. Maps of Basingstoke Canal are listed under 'other navigations' below.

G129/ FADEN'S SURVEY 1782

G129/ JAGO'S SURVEY 1823

G129/ THAMES LOCK ?1802

G129/ PRINTED MAPS 1771-19TH CENT

G129/ MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF THE NAVIGATION c.1760-1953
Much of the surviving documentation of the maintenance of the Navigation is to be found in the clerks' and proprietors' correspondence below, including -/39/-, -/97/-, -/99/-, -/100/-, -/109/-, -/110/-, -/114/-.

G129/ SURVEYS OF STATE OF REPAIR OF THE NAVIGATION 1775-1858

G129/ LOCKS, TRUNKS AND NEW CUTS 1786-1887
See also inter alia -/29/-, -/111/-

G129/ Flowing trunks 1786-1887

G129/ New Haw Lock: plans 1790s

G129/ Coxes Lock dilapidations survey 1822
See also -/59/19.

G129/ Walsham Bay, Ripley 1837

G129/ Thames Lock 1853-1883
See also inter alia -/60/10-15, -/61/26.

G129/ Culvert 19th cent

G129/ Guildford Bridge ?1760-1905
For correspondence and plan relating to Woodbridge, Guildford, see G129/116/4-6.

G129/ Cart Bridge, Send late 19th cent

G129/ Woodbridge 1802-1913 See also inter alia -/102/-, -/116/-.

G129/ Highways and bridges cases brought to Quarter Sessions 1782-1801

G129/ NOTICES EARLY 19TH CENT-1953

G129/ CLERKS' AND PROPRIETORS' CORRESPONDENCE AND PAPERS 1728-1950
Documents in this series relate to all aspects of the Navigation, and comprise principally correspondence of the Proprietors, agents or managers and lock keepers. Business includes: discussion of the conflict of interest with millers over use of the river and related problems of flooding of neighbouring land or low water levels (in particular dispute with Alexander Raby, ironmaster of Coxes Mill, eg in -/22/-, -/33/- and -/36/-, and dispute with Flockton of Ham Haw Mill, which was brought to Chancery, eg -/92-101/-); negotiations concerning carriage of particular types of cargo, including chalk and timber, and exaction of quarterly 'riverage' charges from bargemasters and other users of the Navigation, as well as disputes arising from stopping of barges for non-payment (eg -/15/-); relationship with the Basingstoke Canal (eg -/38/- and -/43/-); payments of tolls granted under the Act of 1671 to shareholders and returns of accounts; a strike by bargemen in 1776 (-/21/-, -/46/-); repairs and maintenance. Correspondents include: members of the Langton family, proprietors; members of the Colyear family, proprietors, principally Lords Portmore and Viscounts Milsington (heirs to Portmore title); George Stubbs, manager of the Basingstoke Canal Navigation Company and subsequently of the Navigation (1776-1808); William Alladay, lock keeper (1779-1810) at Thames Lock; T Ward, agent (1770-1775); J Granger, agent (1775-1796); J Smith, agent (1798-1807); Charles Brooks, agent (1808-1817); J Jenkins, lock keeper at Thames Lock (1810-1820)

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE 1794-1823
This series is a chronological arrangement of letters relating to various aspects of the management of the Wey Navigation. Concerning inter alia: the relationship with the Basingstoke Canal Navigation Company (canal opened Jun 1794); the business of agents of the Navigation, and of J Jenkins, Thames lock keeper (1810-1820); the collection of dues from mill owners such as Alexander Raby of Coxes Mill, and from barges, letting of land owned by the Navigation, maintenance of infrastructure and the payment of toll profits to investors. Also included is a letter concerning tolls on the lime trade, 1823 (-/-/56). For further records relating to disputes with John Bunn and with Samuel Keene, see -/15/-. There is no document with the reference G129/13/55

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE 1817-1818
Concerning two disputes relating to the exaction of dues on the Navigation by J Jenkins, lock keeper at Thames Lock, with John Bunn, iron merchant, and with Samuel Keene. For John Bunn's business, see Glenys Crocker, ed. Alexander Raby, Ironmaster (Surrey Industrial History Group, 2000).

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE AND BILLS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR WORK 1774-1813

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE 1775-1794
The correspondence concerns inter alia: Ward's accounts as agent; a strike by the bargemen, 1776 (-/-/25); business with Raby, including proposals for a mill and iron forges at Coxes Lock, 1783 (-/-/64, 69-70, 72); sale of profits of the 2½d toll, 1783 (-/-/71); transport of chalk on the Navigation, 1786 (-/-/80); dispute with Stoke next Guildford parish re rates (-/-/90, 92-93); Basingstoke Canal, 1790-1794 (-/-/104); lowering of tolls (-/-/106); barge belonging to the Navigation (-/-/26).

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE 1788-1799
Concerning inter alia: repairs (including at Bowers Lock, -/-/79 and Walsham Bay, -/-/12 and 21); stoppage of barges due to arrears of riverage, payment of the 'groats' toll, Raby's lease of 'spare water' at Coxes Lock (-/-/70-71, 83, 85, 98, 106).

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE AND PAPERS INCLUDING PROPOSALS FOR NEW CANALS 1758-1802
This group includes reports and other papers relating to other canal ventures, including the Grand Surrey Canal (-/-/36, 40), proposed canals from Cowley to the Thames at Sonning, Harleyford and Reading [?Grand Junction Canal] (-/-/41-42, 49, 51), the Grand Junction Canal (-/-/47), Croydon Canal (-/-/44-45) and a proposed cut from Pirbright to Bagshot Green (-/-/37). Also included are: rules for servants of the Navigation (-/-/25, 30, 33), account of loads on the Navigation in tons, 1790-1796 (-/-/19) and account of the River Pence (-/-/7).

G129/ CLERK'S CORRESPONDENCE 1798-1804

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE 1796-1800
Concerning inter alia Mr Hodgkinson's reports on the Navigation (-/-/15, 17-18, 31, 39, 43); the letting of Dapdune Wharf (-/-/11-13, 21, 29-30, 32, 38, 45, 52, 54, 63); tithes due to the Rector of Stoke next Guildford (-/-/22-23, 36, 71-72); Alexander Raby's mills and lime kiln at Coxes Lock (-/-/10, 15, 58-59); chalk loading at St Catherine's (-/-/34-35).

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE 1800-1801
Concerning inter alia Navigation workmen's application for a wage rise (-/-/18, 20, 22-23); Jesse Paine's conduct as lock keeper at Stoke Lock (-/-/13-16); the value of the groats toll (-/-/25, 37-38); opposition to the Grand Surrey Canal (-/-/22-23).

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE 1802-1803

G129/ LETTERS FROM THE EARL OF PORTMORE TO GEORGE STUBBS, SOLICITOR 1799-1804

G129/ LETTERS FROM MR BRIGGS TO GEORGE STUBBS, AGENT 1793-1804

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE 1786-1804
Letters from Mr Alladay, Thames Lock keeper, to George Stubbs, attorney. Principally concerning dealings with Alexander Raby, ironmaster at Coxes Lock, relating to charges made for riverage, lease of spare water at Coxes Lock (-/-/8, 39). Also relating inter alia to carriage of chalk (-/-/10, 23, 32-33).

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE 1797-1803
Correspondence of George Stubbs, attorney, concerning inter alia: payment of dividends of groats toll (-/-/2, 4), rental of Dapdune Wharf (-/-/5-6, 10) and other wharves (-/-/3, 16).

G129/ NAVIGATION ACCOUNTS AND PAPERS RELATING TO THE BASINGSTOKE CANAL 1777-1778

G129/ LEGAL CASE PAPERS 1728-1788
Concerning inter alia: case re damage to the Navigation (-/-/7, 16-17); disputes with millers (-/-/8-14); trusteeship of the navigation (-/-/18).

G129/ PAPERS RELATING TO PAYMENT OF POOR RATE 1805-1806

G129/ LETTERS AND PAPERS RELATING TO MR RABY'S USE OF A HAMMER AT COXES LOCK 1790

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE OF MR LANGTON AND MR STUBBS CONCERNING THE BASINGSTOKE CANAL AND OTHER MATTERS 1794-1795

G129/ PAPERS AND CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO BARGEMEN ETC 1776-1778
Principally relating to a dispute between the bargemen and bargemasters about wages, which was encouraged by Goring, a wharfinger (-/-/2-7), and including list of names of those working on the Navigation, 1776 (-/-/13). Also relating to 'protections' obtained by the Proprietors for the bargemen against impressment in the Navy (-/-/14, 16); and the bankruptcy of Thomas Ward [agent, 1770-1775] (-/-/6-12).

G129/ RECORDS CONCERNING TRANSPORT OF CHALK ON THE NAVIGATION 1802-1803
See also inter alia -/32/9, -/48/7, -/33/5, 17, -/46/1, -/53/5-6 for records of negotiations with Jefferys and Norton and others for transport of chalk and lime.

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE 1797-1804

G129/ BILLS OF GEORGE STUBBS, AGENT, RELATING TO THE WEY NAVIGATION 1775-1783

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE 1797-1822
Concerning inter alia: storehouse at Thames Lock (-/-/13) and report on Coxes Lock bay (-/-/19); opposition to the Grand Surrey Canal (-/-/16); discussion of tolls charged for coal (-/-/20-21); actions taken on bargemasters in arrears, and on tenant at Coxes Mill (-/-/30-40, 43-47, 52, 54, 64); reports of accounts -/-/12, 24, 41-42, 48, 55, 64); complaint by the parishioners of Byfleet concerning blockage of a culvert, which has caused flooding (-/-/50).

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE 1781-1796
Concerning inter alia improvement of Thames Lock to avoid sand blockage (-/-/10-15); request by traders for better regulation of cargoes (-/-7-9). -/-/1-5 is listed under 'other navigations'.

G129/ VARIOUS PAPERS RELATING TO THE WEY NAVIGATION 1766-1821
Concerning inter alia: accounts (-/-/13, 19, 21) including account of tonnage, 1791-1813; notes on the River Wey Pence due to Guildford Borough (-/-/20); list of trustees, 1672-1748 (-/-/29).

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE AND PAPERS 1799-1810
Concerning inter alia: proposal of Alexander Raby, ironmaster, for mill at Coxes Lock (-/-/1-16); legal business relating to estates of Lord Portmore and his son Viscount Milsington (-/-/17-33).

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE AND PAPERS 1794-1810

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE AND PAPERS 1802-1806
Concerning inter alia: sale of timber (-/-/1-10, 18) and accounts (-/-/16).

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE AND PAPERS 1800-1810
Concerning inter alia: enquiries of investors in the Navigation and the sale of Lord Portmore's moiety (-/-/1, 5, 8-9, 29, 31); cargoes on the Navigation and on the Basingstoke Canal, including of lime and chalk (-/-/3, 18-19, 26, 33-34); management of timber (-/-/21-22, 24, 27).

G129/ LETTERS CONCERNING MESSRS GRELLIER'S BARGES 1815-1820
Concerning inter alia payments to the Proprietors (-/-/10-15) and detention of barge for non-payment of riverage (-/-/1-9).

G129/ COXES MILL AND HAM MILL 1780-1810

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING NEW HAW LOCK HOUSE 1824-1825

G129/ PAPERS RELATING TO APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS 1780-1829

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE 1809-1822

G129/ PAPERS CONCERNED WITH DAPDUNE WHARF 1822-1880

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE AND NOTES 1827-1830
Concerning inter alia: use of water by mills (-/-/2-4); repairs (-/-/5).

G129/ NOTES AND LETTERS OF WILLIAM STEVENS 18TH CENT-1851
Concerning inter alia: title to Navigation (-/-/2); rules (-/-/5-6) and survey, 1851 (-/-/4).

G129/ PAPERS 1835-1863

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE OF JAMES MATHEWS, LOCK KEEPER AT THAMES LOCK, RELATING TO HAM HAW MILLS AND OTHER BUSINESS 1840-1854
James Mathews was lock keeper at Thames Lock, 1823-1857.

G129/ PAPERS INCLUDING RELATING TO CHERTSEY PARISH RATE ASSESSMENTS 18TH CENT-1852
Concerning inter alia: workmen's wages (-/-/1-2); rate assessments on the Navigation (-/-/4, 6, 9, 13-18); income tax (-/-/7, 10); accounts (-/-/8).

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE CHIEFLY CONCERNED WITH PARISH RATE ASSESSMENTS 1830-1855
Concerning inter alia: workmen's wages (-/-/2); rate assessments (-/-/3, 5-7, 11-12); reduction in tolls (-/-/10, 14), and tolls due to Basingstoke Canal (-/-/15); the flash board at Portmore Bay (-/-/9).

G129/ LETTERS RELATING TO GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE NAVIGATION 1841-1893
Including letters to William Strudwick, lock keeper at Thames Lock (1864-1894). Concerning inter alia: Basingstoke Canal tolls (-/-/1); level of water in the Navigation (-/-/8), and flooding caused by the flash board at Portmore Bay (-/-/3, 8, 6/1, 9-10, 14, 16-17, 28-45); repairs to the Navigation (-/-/2, 18-24), obstructions on the tow path (-/-/49) and piles above Bull Dog bay (-/-/48).

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE 1842-1902
Concerning inter alia: freight charges and arrangements for carriage of timber etc (-/-/1, 7, 13, 21, 43); title to property next to the Navigation (-/-/5, 8, 11, 17-18, 20, 25-28, 30-33, 51); building of a bridge (-/-/19); repairs and flooding (-/-/22, 29, 38, 40, 44-45, 49); the South Western Railway Bill (-/-/46-48).

G129/ PAPERS INCLUDING RELATING TO MAINTENANCE OF LOCKS 1824-1889

G129/ INSTRUCTIONS TO LOCK KEEPERS AND OTHER PAPERS 1857-1938
Concerning inter alia: the flash board at Portmore Bay (-/-/1-2); tolls, including for Basingstoke Canal barges (-/-/3-4, 8); instructions to Edward Grove as lock keeper of Thames Lock (1895-1939) (-/-/3-8), and William Grove as keeper at Triggs (1856-1915) (-/-/10).

G129/ LETTERS FROM LOCK-KEEPERS TO WILLIAM STEVENS 1858-1925
Concerning inter alia: repairs and maintenance of locks (-/-/3-4, 6, 10-11) and tolls (-/-/5).

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE INCLUDING RELATING TO PUBLIC WORKS AFFECTING THE NAVIGATION 1842-1950
Concerning inter alia: installation of sewage pipes under the Navigation (-/-/4-6, 18), and other installations of gas and electricity affecting the Navigation (-/-/3, 23-24); new bridge at Woodbridge (-/-/7-10, 19); valuations of Navigation property (-/-/11-15)

G129/ PAPERS INCLUDING RELATING TO TITLE TO LAND 1867-1903
Including memories of flood in 1900 (-/-/8).

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING SHARES IN NAVIGATION AND THE GROATS TOLL 1880-1902

G129/ LETTERS ABOUT LEASE OF LAND AT THAMES LOCK 1893

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE AND NOTES RELATING TO GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE NAVIGATION 1891-1927
Concerning inter alia: repairs to roads (-/-/1-4), the River Wey Pence (-/-/5-8) and tolls (-/-/9-12).

G129/ PAPERS RELATING TO WILLIAM STEVENS'S PURCHASE OF THE GROATS TOLL ON THE NAVIGATION 19TH CENT-1911

G129/ CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING WALTER TARRANT'S MEADOW AT SCOTCHERS MEAD 1911-1913

G129/ NOTES RELATING TO THE WEY NAVIGATION 19TH CENT

G129/ RIVER WEY PENCE CHARITY, GUILDFORD 1812

G129/ TITLE TO THE WEY NAVIGATION, ADJOINING LAND AND PROPERTY, AND SHARES OF TOLLS 1658-1960

G129/ DEEDS AND RELATED PAPERS 1658-1960
The following deeds are arranged in chronological order, save for a group of deeds, -/-/105-120 relating to an annuity chargeable on the Navigation, and a group of deeds relating to Guildford Wharf, -/-/121-131. The other records relate to a range of activities and titles including: ownership of shares, profits of tolls etc in the Navigation, and ownership of the soil, banks, towing paths etc (including deeds relating to the Proprietors' estates, eg deeds of the Langton family); access and maintenance agreements with owners of adjoining land; the River Wey Pence Charity (see -/-/5 for deed of establishment); administrative agreements including licence to a bargemaster (-/-/23), bond relating to employment of an agent (-/-/39), rent of water for the creation of a new mill (Blackboy sawmill, 1844, -/-/78); purchase of land by the Navigation for the creation of new locks, access or ownership of wharves.

G129/ PARKINS' ANNUITY 1699-1902

G129/ GUILDFORD WHARF 1704-1932

G129/ AGREEMENTS AND LEASES RELATING TO THE NAVIGATION 1840-1893

G129/ Proprietor's annuity 1708

G129/ DEEDS RELATING TO WEY NAVIGATION AND GUILDFORD WHARF (1671)-1930
The deeds in this series were deposited by the National Trust. For related deeds deposited by Guildford Borough Council, see BR/T/2496/1-4.

G129/ AWARDS TO THE PROPRIETORS UNDER INCLOSURE ACTS (1650)-1823

G129/ LEASES OF GUILDFORD WHARF 1704-1780

G129/ ESTATES OF WILLIAM [COLYEAR], EARL OF PORTMORE (1747-1823) 1801-1830

G129/ SALE POSTERS AND CATALOGUES RELATING TO SHARES AND TOLLS 1817-1888

G129/ OTHER SALE PARTICULARS 1799-1912

G129/ PAPERS RELATING TO WILLIAM STEVENS'S PURCHASE OF THE NAVIGATION 1888-1889

G129/ LATER LEGISLATION CONCERNING RAILWAY AND CANAL TRAFFIC 1854-1916

G129/ GUILDFORD INLAND WATERWAYS RALLY 1970

G129/ PAPERS RELATING TO OTHER CANALS AND NAVIGATIONS 1728-1910
For other records relating to other canals, see inter alia -/26/-

G129/ BASINGSTOKE CANAL 1778-1905
Correspondence and papers relating to the relationship between the Navigation and Basingstoke Canal are to be found throughout the clerk's and proprietors' correspondence series, including -/13/-, -/21/-, -/33/-, -/38/-, -/43/-, -/67/-, -/93/-, -/97/-, -/99/-, -/108/-, -/109/-, -/110/-, -/114/-,

G129/ GODALMING NAVIGATION 1760-1767

G129/ ROTHER NAVIGATION 1793
Proposals to extend the Rother Navigation (of which the Petworth Canal was a part) to the Wey Navigation at Shalford were never carried out.

G129/ THAMES NAVIGATION (GRAND UNION JUNCTION CANAL) 1774-1793
See also -/30/22-23, -/60/10-15.

G129/ THAMES CONSERVANCY 1858-1892

G129/ PORTSMOUTH AND ARUNDEL NAVIGATION 1785-1828

G129/ WEY AND ARUN CANAL 1813-1819

G129/ OTHER NAVIGATIONS 1728-1910

G129/ PRINTED MATERIAL 1824-1911

Administrative / Biographical History

The river Wey from Guildford to the Thames (15½ miles) was made navigable under an Act of 26 June 1651 (see copy Zg/89). Earlier attempts to pass an Act in the 1620s had been unsuccessful, despite some local support (see LM/1331/30-32).

Though not the first river navigation in England, it was the first involving a considerable length of canal (9 miles of 'new cut'), as well as 12 'pound' locks. Apart from some interruptions caused by disputes in the later seventeenth century, barge traffic was continuous from late in 1653 to the summer of 1969, the principal cargoes throughout the useful life of the river being always corn, timber and coal.
Difficulties in raising money, followed by controversies over ownership and control, were only partially settled by a new and much longer Act in 1671 (see series introduction for summary of its provisions), which vested the infrastructure of the Navigation and the 'soil of the River Wey' in trustees (see G129/61/29 for list of the early trustees, 1672-1748; no trustee was appointed after 1828, the last dying in 1873). Stability was not achieved until 1723, by which time Lord Portmore and the Langton family had between them bought up the majority of the shares (they were officially appointed as receivers and managers of the profits in 1748). For the next hundred years the two 'Proprietors', each owning a moiety of the river, ran the Navigation jointly. Lord Portmore lived at Weybridge and the Langtons in Lincolnshire, and none of the expedients adopted to provide administration from a distance worked very well until a new type of manager appeared in William Stevens, lock-keeper at Thames Lock (1821) and later wharfinger at Guildford Wharf (1823).

Continuity and efficiency of management were then assured by the succession of three further members of the Stevens family as managers. They also ran their own barges and became managers of the Godalming Navigation. Eventually, by purchasing the various fractions into which the Langton and Portmore moieties, and other claims on the river, had been split, the Stevens family acquired the whole title between 1873 and 1902 (see G129/125/1-2). In 1964 Mr Harry Stevens gave the Wey Navigation to the National Trust. The locks and banks are kept in repair and the river is increasingly used by pleasure craft.

Arrangement

The series and item numbering of the archive reflects its piecemeal accession and the expedient of using an original finding aid when assigning references (sections -/13-63 were listed according to a schedule drawn up by a clerk in 1827 which included many documents which had not survived the intervening 130 years before deposit, and assigned sub-numbers to bundles which were possibly made solely for the purpose of transport).

This list is a rearrangement of the original list, although in most cases the original documents have not been re-examined. Some of the key records series which were dispersed have now been brought together, necessitating loss of numeric sequence (generally at series level, but in exceptional cases at item level). The correspondence series of original bundles (including various other papers such as draft accounts) have very largely been maintained as numbered, with a summary of subject matter at the beginning of each: researchers should be aware that there is often little cohesion to the bundle contents, so letters relating to the same business may be widely dispersed. Cross-referencing from the other series to the correspondence is not comprehensive.

Access Information

There are no access restrictions.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Mr HW Stevens, then owner of the Navigation, in 1965, with additions up to the time of his death in January 1970. Further records were deposited by the National Trust in 1973.

The records of the Navigation appear to have been centralised at Dapdune Wharf, Guildford, after the succession of Charles Hodgson as agent in 1827 (see schedules in G129/12/-).

Other Finding Aids

An item level description of the archive is available on the Surrey History Centre online catalogue

Related Material

See also: 1493, 1496, 1647, 3597, 5259, 7105, 7513, 8164 and Z/674 for further records of the administration of the Navigation, works on the Wey and title deeds; 1405/27, 2137/13 and 3559 for records of shareholdings; G85/2/4/1, 33, 42-45 for notes and documents including 1671 prospectus; G137/- for the records of the firm of William Stevens and Sons, barge owners and coal merchants (1814-1869); 1643/; 8404/5/- for oral history recordings, 2007; and 6599/1-4 for records of the River Wey Pence Charity.

Bibliography

For accounts of the early history of the Navigation, see Michael Nash's 'The River Wey Navigation 1618-1680' (MSc (Econ) dissertation at London School of Economics, 1969). He afterwards published two useful articles: 'Early Seventeenth-century Schemes to make the Wey navigable' in Surrey Archaeological Collections, LXVI (1969), pp33-40, and 'Barge Traffic on the Wey Navigation in the second half of the seventeenth century' in The Journal of Transport History, (1970), pp218-224. The account of the early history of the Navigation in Appendix liv-lviii, vol III (1814) of Manning and Bray's History and Antiquities of the County of Surrey is still of value.

PAL Vine, London's Lost Route to Basingstoke (Newton Abbot, (1968), includes an account of George Stubbs' role as agent to the Basingstoke Canal Company and the navigation.

PAL Vine, London's Lost Route to the Sea (1986), includes table of officers and servants of the Navigation, pp253-254.

For Alexander Raby's dealings on the Navigation, see Glenys Crocker, ed. Alexander Raby, Ironmaster (Surrey Industrial History Group, 2000).

Also useful is CK Currie, A historical and archaeological assessment of the Wey and Godalming Navigations and their visual envelopes (Report to the managing agent of the National Trust, 1996)