At Send, on the Wey. (Sorry, that one was too good to miss)

Having enjoyed a couple of days at Pyrford we set off yesterday to explore a little more of the Wey.

We were soon passing the splendidly eccentric summer house of Pyrford Place, a mansion frequently visited by Elizabeth the First. Unfortunately this is all that remains.

No longer in use as a lock, it is now used as flood control gates.

The weir associated with the gates still has some of its sluices hand operated, the paddle gear bearing its date of manufacture.

I had dismissed the other, electrically operated, gear as of no interest as it was clearly modern.

Then I noticed the date on the makers plaque, 1931, so that is over eighty years old. Ransome and Rapier are better known as manufacturers of traction engines and cranes so it came as a surprise to find their name attached to a weir.

At Newark Lock we had a different view of the priory, originally an Augustinian house, founded at the end of the 12thC. and closed by Henry VIII and then used by the locals as a quarry for building stone. Local legend has it that Thomas Cromwell, Henry's chancellor, supervised its destruction by cannon fire from nearby Pyrford. Sounds unlikely, but never let facts get in the way of a good legend.

The lock gates are built of quite light scantlings so they ask boaters to take extra care with securing boats in the locks and to use lines at front and back. We're getting it weighed off now.

Papercourt Lock by wash, it certainly provides a bit of fun as you come under the bridge

and into the lock.
We eventually stopped at Cartbridge, by The New Inn. Substantial portions of well prepared food and proper beer.

Served in a proper straight glass and without an inch of foam on the top. Spot on.

Watch this space............