Although Mike walked into Weybridge to visit Waitrose for a paper and some bouquet garni, we had quite a late start off from our overnight mooring at Thames Lock. As promised it had certainly be a quiet spot.
Most of the day was pleasantly on the warm side of chilly although for an hour or so early afternoon was cooler and cloudy. We saw quite a bit of blue sky and had no rain.
Although we only passed through six locks today, it felt somewhat more: they are all different and the operating conditions set by the National Trust means that each one takes longer than most. Like many other river navigations, gates are left open after departure from either end. However, because the gates are comparatively lightweight, they insist that both gates are opened each time, even for narrow boats. Also we were instructed to rope off both bow and stern. This is actually a good idea as, like many of the Kennet and Avon Canal, the flow of water through the gate paddles is fierce, even when opened gradually. Ground paddles are scarce on this navigation.
Approaching the first lock, Weybridge Town Lock, we knew that there is a sharp turn after the main road bridge but the route is far from obvious until almost underneath the bridge (actually from the other side from this photo). Eventually, a small entrance is signed but crew have to be dropped off well back in order to set the lock before the boat attempts to enter. A small gang were painting the lock so there was plenty of help for Christine on this occasion!
No doubt most of the structures existed when the National Trust took over the navigation, but is a bit incongruous that they have a lot of heritage concrete in their portfolio!
Coxes Mill, just below and giving its name to the next lock must have been a huge undertaking whilst still in operation. A strong flow of water makes entry into the lock a challenge - we were advised earlier that it is best to hang well back so that you can make a speedy charge for the lock!
Above the lock is one of the largest 'side ponds' on the network!
Just before the junction with the Basingstoke canal, we saw this splendid boat - a replica of a tug once used by Manchester Ship Canal Company, mainly on the Bridgewater.
Although the M25 passes overhead and runs alongside the navigation for more than a mile, there is much less noise than we expected - it is at a much higher level and is sheltered by plenty of trees in the intervening gap.
Not long after our lunch stop we passed Pyrford Marina entrance - unusual in that it does not appear to have any finger pontoons for moored boats, just posts and a stern mooring bollard.
At Pyrford Lock we used the disposal facilities and also took on water. There is a narrow bridge over the tail of the lock - the road is quite busy and a popular pub is alongside. A sudden crunch signalled the fact that a driver, perhaps watching the canal more than the road, re-shaped his near side wing and lights using the rather substantial steel posts (can just be seen on the right of the photo) that not only protect the bridge but also should persuade drivers to take the single track bridge slowly!
A sign on this building says, "John Donne Poet and Dean of St Pauls Lived Here 1600 - 1604"
There are a couple of flood locks on the navigation, used when the water level is exceptionally high. In this case, Walsham gates, the sign also says that it is the only surviving turf sided lock on the river. (Hence the width of the main chamber compared with the gates)
Approaching Newark Lock we were surprised by the sight of the huge ruins of Newark Priory - neither of us had heard of it before. A casualty of Henry VIII's falling out with the powerful monasteries, it originally dated back to the 12th or 13th Century. We also noticed that, again to our surprise, it is aligned north-south rather than east-west.
Although there is a splendid farm at New Bridge just above the lock, looking as if it might have been a manor house, it took a bit of searching to find out its history! However, http://heritagewalks.org/12%20Newark.pdf offers some interesting information and that the main house, Newark Mill House, may date back to the 18C. It also suggests that the mill itself was destroyed in 1966.
The next stretch is surrounded by very flat land and, almost inevitably, the river meanders quite a lot.
Our final lock today was Papercourt. A sign on the lock house says "Opened in 1653 the Lock That Moved" The reference above says that the reason for the move is unknown. However http://www.weyriver.co.uk/theriver/wey_nav_3.htm states that it was moved by the National Trust when improving water management in an area that is prone to flooding.
Not much further on we saw a set of bollards that proved impossibly tempting - we had discovered at lunch time that although the towpath back looks good, it is frequently very shallow and not easy to come close enough to moor.
7.8 miles - 6 locks
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