Archaeological recording during repairs to Coxes and Weybridge Locks on the Wey Navigation, Surrey

NGR: TQ 06106412, TQ 06806474

by

Christopher K Currie

BA (Hons), MPhil, MIFM, MIFA
CKC Archaeology

Report to the National Trust (Southern Region)

February 1997

Contents

Summary statement

  1. Introduction
  2. Historical background
  3. Strategy
  4. Results
  5. Discussion
  6. Conclusions
  7. Recommendations
  8. Archive
  9. Acknowledgements
  10. References

Appendix: the photographic archive

Summary statement

Repair works were undertaken to historical locks on the River Wey Navigation at Coxes Lock (TQ 06106412) and Town Lock, Weybridge (TQ 06806474), during the month of February 1997. Both locks are within the Borough of Runnymede in Surrey. This work required the locks to be partially drained, giving an opportunity for archaeological recording of historic features normally submerged below water. The recording was undertaken by C K Currie for CKC Archaeology.

This work allowed pairs of drain-down sluices surviving at Coxes and Weybridge Locks to be recorded. Both sets are good examples of water control devices dating from the later 18th century. Although their upper portions have been rebuilt, the lower brickwork may be original. Elsewhere, on both locks it seems that the lower parts of the structures contain the oldest materials. The downstream end of Weybridge Lock, both immediately above and below the lower gates, seems to exhibit older surviving brickwork than that of the upper levels of the lock. Similar survival seems to exist below the lower gates at Coxes Lock. A date stone here inscribed '1770' appears to be in situ.

Survival of original material within the locks of the Wey Navigations is rare as a result of drastic rebuilding of these structures from the 1950s onwards. Where this material has been identified, it should be carefully preserved. Replacement of brickwork and stone by concrete should be avoided on any of the Navigation locks. Particular care should be taken to preserve the original fabric of the sluices at both Coxes and Weybridge Locks.

Archaeological recording during repairs to Coxes and Weybridge Locks on the Wey Navigation, Surrey

This report has been written based on the format suggested by English Heritage in The management of archaeological projects (London, 1992, revised edition). The ordering of information follows the guidelines given in this document, although alterations may have been made to fit in with the particular requirements of the work. This report also pays attention to the Institute of Field Archaeologists' Standard and guidance for archaeological watching briefs (Birmingham, 1994).

1.0 Introduction

(Fig. 1)

Repair works were undertaken to historical locks on the River Wey Navigation at Coxes Lock (TQ 06106412) and Town Lock, Weybridge (TQ 06806474), during the month of February 1997. Both locks are within the Borough of Runnymede in Surrey. This work required the locks to be partially drained, giving an opportunity for archaeological recording of historic features normally submerged below water. The recording was undertaken by C K Currie for CKC Archaeology.

2.0 Historical background

The River Wey Navigation was begun in 1651 by Sir Richard Weston, a wealthy local landowner, to connect the River Thames with Guildford. Both Coxes and Town Lock, Weybridge, are thought to be part of the original system of locks, although both have been rebuilt on a number of occasions. It seems that the original locks on the Navigation were built of timber. The change to more durable brick and concrete has been gradual and piecemeal. Coxes and Town Lock, Weybridge were amongst the earliest locks to be built in brick. Many of the other timber locks survived well into the present century when they were rebuilt in concrete. The importance of Coxes and Weybridge Locks is that because they were built of brick at an early date, they avoided the more drastic rebuilding in concrete of the present century. As a result, they contain a number of early features missing from locks rebuilt later.

According to local tradition Weybridge Lock was originally built of brick in the 1650s. This tradition ascribes the bricks as having come from Oatlands Palace (Corke 1995, 30n). However, more recent research suggests that this tradition may not be entirely accurate.

The earliest reference to work at Weybridge Lock is recorded in 1674-75 when Thomas Roaker and William Yeowell are paid 1s-4d a day for work there. The exact number of days is uncertain as the payments are mixed up with those for similar work at New Haw Lock. Around this time, payment is made for the carriage of 28 loads of clay to this lock. The manner of the entry, along with payments for repair work suggests the clay was to help repair the lock, and the banks around it. In June 1675 £4-10-0d is paid to William Ottaway for 90 feet of oak timber for New Haw & Weybridge Locks (GMR 129/62/9).

The first significant record of repair here is in 1738 when John Purdue is paid £220-15-2d for 'new building' Weybridge Lock and the lock bridge. For this same job he is paid a further £202-13-4d for 'timber & plank' (GMR 129/7/1). Like the references to repairs in the 1670s, this is ambiguous evidence. One has to question whether such a large sum of money for wood would be needed if the lock was built entirely of brick at this time? It seems the amount charged here would be more than that needed for the bridge and new gates, the parts that one would expect to be in wood? Are we dealing with a hybrid structure, part brick, part wood? An earlier record in 1724 states that Weybridge is in urgent need of repair, but gives no other details (GMR 129/45/50). In 1774 7s-6d is paid to a mason for two and a half days work at Weybridge, but it is not recorded what he is working on (GMR 129/19/9).

At the survey of 1826 it is recorded that the lock here is of brick and stone, 77 feet long, 15 feet 1 inch wide, and with a fall of 4 feet (GMR 129/107/1, p 4). The present fall is of 5 feet 6 inches (National Trust 1990, 7).

Between 1845-61 it is recorded that the brickwork at Weybridge Lock was 'thoroughly' repaired, with further 'considerable' repairs in 1862 (GMR 129/105). Again in 1874 'extensive' repairs are recorded In 1889 a new lower gates are put in, and it is recorded that the 'bottom of this lock is all bricked over' (GMR 129/111/1).

Coxes Lock was rebuilt in brick in 1770-71. For this information, there is not only a date stone on the north side of the lock, but a detailed account for the work (GMR 129/79/1). In this it is recorded that Benjamin Reading, bricklayer, was paid £113-15-9d for building the lock. He used 45,000 bricks at 21/- per 1000. James Dean, the carpenter, was paid £72-19-8d for his work, which would have included two new sets of gates. Other minor bills are listed bringing the total spent to £270-11-10 1/2d. Oddly on June 8th 1771 there is a further payment of £317-12-10d to 'English', suggesting that work continued into the second year. The total bill of around £600 matches approximately the expenditure for similar works in 1771 at Stoke Lock.

It is conceivable that when the 1770s references record rebuilding in brick, they are only referring to the two ends. There is often no way of knowing if the inner lock chamber was not kept as a turf-sided feature, as at Walsham. A plan of Coxes Lock, dated to 1800, is very helpful in this respect, in that it shows it as a straight-sided structure (GMR 129/29/59). This might suggest that a full conversion had taken place by this time.

According to the survey of 1826 the lock was then of brick and stone, 77 feet 6 inches long, 16 feet 2 inches wide, and with a fall of 9 feet 2 inches (GMR 129/107/1). The present fall is 8 feet 6 inches (National Trust 1990, 10).

References to the pre-1770 lock seem to suggest that it was made of wood. In 1729 John Purdue, the carpenter, was paid £254-3-6d for 'new building' Coxes Lock (GMR 129/7/1, p 18). In 1733 new flooring is put into the lock at the cost of £83-8-11d (ibid, p 29). In 1746 further work was carried out here, but a separate account for it is not given. In 1758 £91-18-10d is spent on repairs (op cit, p 91).

Post-1770 repairs are recorded between 1845-61, 1873, 1887, 1889, 1893, 1908, 1920 and 1930 (GMR 129/105; 129/111/1; 137/12/40).

The documentary evidence seems to suggest that both Coxes and Weybridge Locks were rebuilt entirely in brick soon after the extension of navigation to Godalming in 1760-64. Although the evidence for Weybridge Lock is ambiguous, on balance it suggests that it is unlikely that the lock was built entirely of brick in the 1650s. It is more likely that it was converted from a largely timber structure about the same time that Coxes Lock was rebuilt in brick.

3.0 Strategy

The nature of the repairs, undertaken during partial drainage, and the restricted time available, did not allow for a detailed recording of the entire structure of the locks. Instead a photographic survey was undertaken, concentrating on the exposed historic features of importance. Where possible measured sketches were undertaken of the dimensions of the main lock chamber, and any features of interest. The recording at Coxes Lock was undertaken on Tuesday, 11th February 1997; that at Weybridge was undertaken on Tuesday, 18th February 1997.

Conditions during the works were not good, as they coincided with a fortnight of particularly high winds and heavy rain. This caused the temporary abandonment of work at Town Lock on the day of the recording visit. As access to the upper apron was not possible, recording was undertaken from the top of the lock.

Only the east sluice at Coxes Lock was measured for dimensions. Where sluice dimensions are given in the 'Results' text, these refer to the east sluice only. It should not be assumed that the dimensions for the west sluice were identical.

4.0 Results

(Figs. 2 & 3)

4.1 Coxes Lock

A drawn plan was made of this lock (Fig. 2), together with an elevation of the east drain-down sluice (Fig. 3). The rest of the lock was recorded by photographic means. For a record of the photographic archive, see Appendix 1.

Coxes Lock is a brick structure standing adjacent to the imposing buildings of the former Coxes Mill. Part of the brickwork in the lock chamber has been rendered in concrete. The upstream apron is also in concrete. Elsewhere, the structure is still mainly in brick. The recording concentrated on the two brick sluices present on both upstream sides of the structure. These were used to drain the locks down in the past. Most of the locks that were converted from timber directly to concrete in the 19th and 20th centuries did not have these features because of their tendency to become blocked internally. This made maintenance difficult, and so later conversions had the drain-down sluices (known as 'paddles') inserted into the wooden gates.

The sluices were built into a brick inlet or bay on either side of the upstream entrance to the lock. This inlet was formed by projecting the line of the inner walls of the lock by 0.57m from the end of the lock to form a buttress. These buttresses are protected from collision by barges with substantial upright timbers (guard piles) standing detached from the rest of the lock structure, less than 0.5m from the buttresses.

The main components of the sluice were in brick, although parts of the upper portion seem to have been rebuilt in other materials. The bricks were of a type consistent with a late 18th or early 19th century date, suggesting they may be survivors from the original brick structure of 1770-71. They were of an irregular bonding, without any consistent pattern. However, the adjoining eastern wall, revetting the bank of the canal, was made of alternate courses of headers and stretchers (English Bond) for the most part. The upper part of the buttress was in a ruinous condition, surmounted by a stone block. This was repaired, and heightened by about 0.15m, during the works. The stone block was replaced by another similar one found abandoned on site as it was a better fit.

The water gates comprised a wooden paddle gate attached to the end of a long iron rod, bolted to the wood. This was raised by iron windlass gear on the top of the sluice. The gate fitted into slots in the brickwork, set back about 0.06m into the brickwork on either side. The old gates had become unsound, and were replaced. The height of the gap filled by the gate was approximately 0.69m above the brick cill onto which the closed gate sat.

At the back of the sluice was a vertical recess just over 1.2m high and 0.22m wide. It was filled by the rotting remains of a timber post. Immediately above the recess, the top 0.4m of sluice bay seems to have been rebuilt in concrete. This was surmounted with fairly recent cast iron winding gear. It might be suggested that the long recess was the possible chamber for the original gate raising mechanism. The rod attached to the paddle gate may have been attached to the wood in the chamber, and have been raised by a device now missing.

Upstream of the sluice a revetting wall ran for a few metres before being supplanted by iron hoarding. This wall was in a dilapidated condition at the end. The last metre or so was rebuilt, using mainly reused bricks. Some of these contained small frogs, suggesting a late 19th century date. These were not found consistently within the repaired wall, thereby indicating that they may have been used in patching repairs.

The western sluice was similar in design and dimensions to that on the east.

The rest of Coxes Lock exhibited a number of standard characteristics of the Wey Navigation locks. The wooden gates are replaced every 30 years. In this instance, it was the replacement of the upstream gates that resulted in the draining down that allowed this recording to take place. The upstream apron was built of concrete, although there were still wooden cills leading over the edge into the lock chamber.

The lock was measured for approximate dimensions. The drawings show that the lock was approximately straight-sided, with only a minimal amount of curvature in the sides. The lock chamber was approximately 25.5m in length, and 4.9m wide on average. The sides were now in concrete, although it was not established if this was merely a render. The concrete ended just above the drained down water level, leaving two courses of brick showing below. That part of the west side of the chamber from the steps to the downstream gates was still in brick. The inlet in the sides for the lower gates was 3.5m in length, and set back 0.4m. The gates averaged about 2.8m in length, and 0.2m wide, thus comfortably sitting in these recesses when open to prevent any obstruction to traffic.

The lower wings of lock were in brick, with some stone. They projected 5.2m beyond the downstream gates. The returns were at right-angles to the lock, being 6.3m in length on the east side, and approximately the same on the west side. There was a date stone on the west side, inscribed '1770'.

4.2 Town Lock, Weybridge

A drawn plan was made of this lock (Fig. 2). The rest of the structure was recorded by photographic means. For a record of the photographic archive, see Appendix 1.

All the indications are that the brick components of Town Lock were put up around the same time as the conversion of Coxes Lock to brick. The present structure has many similarities to Coxes Lock, although the drain-down sluices are arranged differently.

These are set into the wall of the lock, 1.6m upstream of the upper gates. When the gates are opened, they cover the sluices. This is different to the Coxes where the sluices are set into bays at the far end of the lock. Other than this the sluices are of a similar type, being a paddle gate raised by windlass winding gear. They are set into shallow recess in the lock wall, being set back only about 0.1m. The recesses are 0.8m wide, making a slightly wider sluice than at Coxes. Both sluices have a shallow buttress immediately upstream of the sluice. That on the south side projecting approximately twice the distance of the shallower, but wider buttress on the north side. The south buttress was approximately 0.65m long and projecting 0.3m. That on the north was 0.8m long and projecting about 0.15m. Upstream of the buttresses the sides of the canal followed the curve of the Navigation. The sharper turn on the south side led towards a relief weir for taking surplus water away from the lock.

The lock chamber was approximately the same size as Coxes, although dimensions were generally very slightly less, being 25.4m in length, with an average width of 4.8m. The chamber sides were noticeably curved to the eye, although this did not register well at the scale of 1:100 at which they are drawn. The recess for the downstream gates was 3.3m. The chamber sides had been given similar treatment to Coxes, being concrete for the most part, down to just above water level, where they were still of brick. Some parts of the sides were still entirely of brick. This was most notable in the downstream gate recesses, where there was a blind arch on each of the lock.

Beyond the downstream gates, the sides of the canal continued in brick for the short distance to the road bridge. These had been obviously partly rebuilt in the blue bricks used in the bridge. Nearer to the lock gates, the brickwork was of a more antiquated appearance, and showed signs of much haphazard patching. This brickwork looked to be amongst the oldest present in this lock. The stone cappings to the brickwork here may also be original. There was little evidence seen for the reputed reused Tudor bricks from nearby Oatlands Palace.

5.0 Discussion

The drain-down sluices at Coxes and Weybridge are the most interesting features of these locks. These are not to be found on the Wey Navigation locks that have been substantially rebuilt in this century. However, they can be found on some of the Godalming Navigation locks (Bob Nicholls pers. comm.). This comparison suggests that the sluices date from the period of reorganisation carried out on parts of the Wey Navigation immediately after the opening of the Godalming stretch in 1764. This has been discussed in the main report on the Navigations by Currie (1996). It resulted in an apparent reorganisation of the management of the river. Between c 1764 and 1790 nearly all the current lockhouses were first built, and a number of bridges were converted from timber to brick in the later 1760s. It was around this time (1769-71) that Coxes and Stoke Locks were rebuilt in brick. Similar date stones to that at Coxes Lock are to be found on many of the surviving brick bridges over the Navigation, recording this work. It is suspected that Weybridge Lock was rebuilt substantially in brick around this time.

The sluice types at Coxes and Weybridge are similar, even though their positioning is different. This suggests similar dates. Although the tops of the sluices have been rebuilt, probably within living memory, the lower portions seem to be largely unaltered. If we can assume that the original winding gear was of a similar type to that existing today, the sluice type is fairly typical of the more substantial engineering carried out for water control in the second half of the 18th century. It is possible that similar water gates existed in less durable material in the medieval period.

Many similar examples to those at Coxes and Weybridge Locks can be found on the large ornamental lakes built in the later 18th century throughout the country, although few survive with their original winding gear. These sluices are often referred to as 'Penstocks' throughout SE England, and possibly elsewhere. Baker and Minchin (1948) give an excellent description of the raising of the Penstock at Frensham Great Pond near Farnham, Surrey. Here the 100 acre lake was regularly drained down by this device to allow silt to be removed, and the fish sorted. The techniques used are similar to the draining down of the locks at Coxes and Weybridge.

Elsewhere on these locks there is considerable evidence for rebuilding and patching in the 19th and 20th century with concrete. Despite this, these two locks are probably amongst the least altered on the Navigations, and it appears that parts of the lower brickwork could be original. That is, it could date from the period c. 1770.

6.0 Conclusions

The drain-down sluices at Coxes and Weybridge are both good examples of water control devices that probably date from the later 18th century. Although their upper portions have been rebuilt, the lower brickwork may be original. Elsewhere, on both locks it seems that the lower parts of the locks contain the oldest materials. The downstream end of Weybridge Lock, both immediately above and below the lower gates, seems to exhibit older surviving brickwork than that of the upper levels of the lock. Similar survival seems to exist below the lower gates at Coxes Lock. A date stone here inscribed '1770' appears to be in situ.

7.0 Recommendations

Survival of original material within the locks of the Wey Navigations is rare as a result of drastic rebuilding of the locks from the 1950s onwards. Where this material has been identified, it should be carefully preserved. Replacement of brickwork and stone by concrete should be avoided on any of the Navigation locks. The old drain-down sluices at both Weybridge and Coxes are good period examples of their kind, although the upper portions have been rebuilt. Particular care should be taken to preserve the original fabric of these structures.

It is recommended that similar surveys to this one should be undertaken in conjunction with all major repairs requiring draining of locks. These opportunities will allow a rapid assessment of surviving historic material to be made so that future management can be designed to take account of the need for its preservation.

8.0 Archive

The archive for this work has been deposited with the National Trust. Copies of the report were lodged with the client and the Surrey County Sites and Monuments Record (SMR), and the National Monuments Record, Swindon, Wiltshire.

9.0 Acknowledgements

Sincere thanks are given to all those involved with this project. In particular, the staff of the Wey Navigation are thanked for their co-operation in this recording. Stephen Walker, the Managing Agent, is thanked for finding the resources to carry out the work.

10.0 References

10.1 Original sources

In the Guildford Muniment Room (GMR):

GMR 129/7/1-6a General account books for the Navigation from 1724
GMR 129/29/59 Plan of Coxes Lock, showing lime kiln cut into the bank, 1800
GMR 129/45/50 Letter about repairs, 1724; short note only, refers to locks at Thames, Coxes, Pyrford and New Haw
GMR 129/62/9 Notes about activities at New Haw and places nearby in the 1670s
GMR 129/79/1 Thames Lock-keeper's notebook; contains much useful information, mainly 1769-1840s
GMR 129/105 Memorandum Book, 1845-54
GMR 129/107/1 Survey of Navigation, 1826
GMR 129/111/1 Account of repairs on navigation from 1861 to 1893

Records of the Stevens family:

GMR 137/12/40 Account of repairs from c 1905-1930s

10.2 Secondary sources

H J Baker & H C Minchin, Frensham then and now, Farnham, 1948
S Corke, The Wey & Godalming Navigations. A short history with special reference to the origins of the Wey Navigation, unpublished typescript, presented to the National Trust, 1995
C K Currie, A historical and archaeological assessment of the Wey and Godalming Navigations and their visual envelopes, 5 volumes, internal report presented to the National Trust, 1996
English Heritage, The management of archaeological projects, London, 1992, revised edition
Institute of Field Archaeologists, Standard and guidance for archaeological watching briefs , Birmingham, 1994
The National Trust, River Wey Navigations. A guide to the Wey and Godalming Navigations, London, 1990

Appendix: the photographic archive

The film number here follows the sequence begun with the main historical and archaeological report for the property (Currie 1996). All pictures were recorded in colour print and slide. There is no need to repeat the information for each film type, although within the archive it should be noted that the colour film begins with the prefix 'C' and the slide film with the prefix 'S'.

Film no. 10

Frame no. Description
1/2 Coxes Lock, east sluice from S
3/4 Coxes Lock, west sluice from S
5/6 Coxes Lock, lock chamber from N
7/8 Coxes Lock, upper apron, cill and new gates from N
9/10 Thames Lock, upper apron and cill
11/12 Thames Lock, part of pound revetment wall
13/14 Town Lock, beyond lower gates, old brickwork on N side from S
15/16 Town Lock, beyond lower gates, old brickwork on S side from N
17/18 Town Lock, old brickwork, E end of lock chamber, N side, from S
19/20 Town Lock, lock chamber, W end, N side from S
21/22 Town Lock, new gates and cill from SE
23/24 Town Lock, N sluice from S
25/26 Town Lock, S sluice from N
27/28 Town Lock, sluice exit on S side of lock chamber from N
29/30 Coxes Lock, east sluice repaired, from S
31/32 Coxes Lock, west sluice closed down before refilling from N