From the Wey towards Bramley
The Wey and Arun Junction canal had a fairly short life, it opened in 1816 and closed in 1871. It formed part of an important inland waterway link between London and Portsmouth, the author Paul Vine coined the term for the group of waterways as 'London's Lost Route to the Sea.' It seems an apt title which refers to the Wey Navigation, Wey and Arun Junction Canal (unavigable), River Arun Navigation (unavigable canal section and navigable river section), Portsmouth and Arundel Canal (derelict), the inland channels around Hayling Island etc, and finally the Portsea Canal (virtually obliterated). An active society promotes the Wey And Arun Junction and Arun Navigation canal sections which total 23 miles in length. Several locations have restored canal channels and some new locks, and even brand new aqueducts. The WACT views the complete restoration of the combined through route from the Wey to the Arun in one way or another. Some sections such as this first bit off the Wey Navigation will need special consideration because the original route is no longer available, and plans look to include the Cranleigh Waters to link the remainder of the canal route to the Wey navigation. For more detailed information see the Wey and Arun Canal Trust's website
The first section from the Wey at Broadford to Newbridge near Billinghshurst is the Wey and Arun Junction Canal proper, whilst the section thence to Pallingham was an earlier waterway built by the Arun Navigation Company
Broadford, or Guns Mouth, the junction of the Wey Navigation and the Wey and Arun Canal
The Cranleigh Waters enters the Wey and Arun junction from the right about a third of the way down
Moored boats at the far end of the navigable Wey and Arun canal section
The bridge across the Cranleigh Waters a stone's throw from the original Wey and Arun route. This will form part of the new link from the Wey Navigation to the rest of the Wey and Arun Junction canal
The canal seen as ornamental water from the Guildford - Horsham railway route. The fencing in the foreground forms the boundary between canal and railway routes. The canal's first lock, Stonebridge, was nearby but no trace of it remains
The restored Tannery bridge at Summersbury near Bramley. The original canal bridge was incorporated into the much larger railway overbridge
Here's a view from within the bridge looking along the old canal alignment towards Tannery Lock and the Gosden Aqueduct
A view looking along the canal route to the restored bridge. The fencing on either side form the boundary of the wing walls of Gosden Aqueduct. The canal's second lock, Tannery, was just before the aqueduct, but no remains exist, just a slight rise in the ground levels
The remains of the railway bridge across the Cranleigh Waters. Pier foundations still remain. The aqueduct is immediately to the left
Looking from the retaining wall of the railway bridge (bottom foreground) to the south west face of the aqueduct. As this picture shows this side of the aqueduct is in very poor condition. The dismantling of the railway bridge might have been responsible as this part of the aqueduct has clearly been demolished for some reason, as evidenced by the remains that can be seen underwater
The more visible north east side of the aqueduct. A four arched low slung structure across the Cranleigh Waters
The overgrown canal bed heading away from the Gosden aqueduct towards Bramley
The route of the canal disappears just before it enters Bramley. The footpath off the canal runs into the streets of Bramley. On the left behind the fencing is evidence of the canal embankment with the Cranleigh Waters below
The railway takes its own alignment through Bramley. The station site remains complete with crossing gates and nameboards. The line now acts as the Guildford - Cranliegh - Horsham cycle route, and it is the route that one must take when exploring the canal as far as Whipley as there is no available towpath along the canal to that point - except a bit at Run Common
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