The canal linked the Godalming Navigation (an extension of the River Wey) near Shalford, south of Guildford in Surrey to the northern terminus of the Arun River Navigation at Newbridge in West Sussex. There were no links to other waterways along the route.
When the 23 locks were built on the 18.5 mile long canal, they were 68' long by 12' wide. As they are slowly being restored they are being lengthened, where possible, to 72' which is the national standard. All the locks were built with lock cottages for the lock keepers but they have nearly all been destroyed.
The canal was designed to carry 30-ton barges and only cost £103,000 to build. Sadly it was abandoned in 1871 due to the advent of the railways and difficulty in keeping the summit in water.
The Wey & Arun Canal Trust are making sterling efforts to restore sections of the canal. A section of a few miles is now navigable through Loxwood and is where this lock can be found.
Please see the restoration trust's website for more information: weyarun.org.uk
4 Baldwins Knob
5 Brewhurst
6 Devil's Hole
7 Southland
8 Gennets Bridge
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