[ home ] [ basingstoke ] [ beyond greywell ] [ wendover ] [ return to wendover ] [ wey ] [ wey & arun ] [ safety ] [ london canals ]



Harsfold to Pallingham

Harsfold Bridge information plaque

South of Harsfold there were two problematic breaches. The 'large' and the 'small.' The large one is no longer causing leaks, but the small one due to the proximity tothe river still presents problems that would be a challenge to the canal's restoration

The 'small breach' site where canal is on the left and the River Arun can be seen through the trees. This must be the closest canal and river come together

A good channel profile by the small breach site helps lenghtsmen to keep an eye on the situation

The right angled bend - the siteof the large breach. Haybarn swing bridge is a short distance away

Haybarn swing bridge. Installed 2005. Originally from the Leeds & Liverpool canal

NOTE: HAYBARN SWING BRIDGE TO PALLINGHAM SECTION; The route from the swing bridge to Pallingham involves a considerable amount of detouring, and unless one is a hard core canaller, I do not think it is currently worth the effort to walk any further south than Haybarn swing bridge. According to the Wey and Arun canal Trust further denials of access have been made so it means less of the canal can be seen. The total instances where the canal can be seen south of Haybarn from the Wey South path total three - there's a glimpse of it at Lee Farm, then a very long detour around country paths (necessary since the access to Toat bridge is no longer possible) and along back lanes to Pallingham Quay. Here the Arun can be seen, as well as the last bridge across an otherwise overgrown and dry canal bed. There is a tiny glimpse of the canal where a public footpath traces a route around the rear of the canal wharf houses, but even so, its a very overgrown and quite infilled channel, and again it's not worth it unless you really want to see it. There is some risk of catching one's clothes on barbed wire as one attempts to pass through a gate onto very narrow wooden slats which cross the former canal. The junction between canal and river cannot be seen as it is on private property, rendering this end of the canal something of an anti-climax

Naturally if one has a car and/or lives not far away and has some local knowledge the section at Lee Farm inlcuding a short stretch of canal and restored lock may be seen

View looking south from Haybarn. The River Arun is on the right at a lower elevation. Note overgrown canal and towpath - the canal is entirely on private property from here to Pallingham

The canal at Lee Farm bridge looking north. The lock is further south and access is not possile from the Wey South Path, where this was taken

Looking south by the site of Lee Farm bridge. Gates prevent access to the canal. The monument in the distance is Toat monument, built in 1778. Its roughly where the Pallingham end of the canal lies. From this pointthe Wey South Path takes an awfully long detour to reach Pallingham, and even reaching that point is an anti-climax

View of the River Arun near Pallingham Quays. South of this point the canal joins the river, which becomes tidal

The final crossing on the canal, Pallingham Quay Bridge. South of this point a new cut and lock to join the River Arun may be neccessary. There used to be wharves and docks to the right of the bridge, and at one time this was a very busy industrial site

The final 'crossing' of the canal, by the boundary fence at Pallingham Quays. This path is not obvious but is accessed from the 'y' in the fork of a minor road by where there is a electricity substation. The properties are private and there is no way the lock or wharf, nor the entrance to the canal from the Arun, at Pallingham can be seen. The barbed wire fence leans over at an angle and is likeley to catch on people's clothes as they pass through the gate to access this 'bridge'

View of the Arun valley from the path leading from the minor road to the rear of Pallingham Quays. The river can just be seen and the fork leading to the canal (the wider bottom bit) can just be discerned

View of the Arun Valley at Pickhurst from the Wey South path. Its steep sided with considerable hills here. Pallingham is right down in the valley

The long deferred Portsmouth & Arundel Canal feature still on the cards, despite several pages on the canal and its history having been done as early as 2003! It will eventually complete coverage of the route between Weybridge and Portsmouth - The Lost Route to the Sea