Wey & Arun lock discovered

DURING an archaeological dig during the 12th to 14th September on Gosden Meadow at Bramley, the lost Lock 22— Tanyard Lock—of the Wey & Arun Canal was discovered below ground.

The dig was organised by the Wey & Arun Canal Trust and directed by Consultant Archaeologist Martin J. Cook. It is thought that the locks in Surrey were built of brick, and it is thought that when the waterway became disused the bricks were used by builders, hence the lock 'disappearing', but original bricks were discovered, so revealing the position of the lock.

Filled in

But now the site has been discovered it will be filled in, until of course restoration can proceed, but before then around 30 participants in the Trust's annual guided walk on 14th September from Gun's Mouth, Shalford, to Stanton's Wharf, Bramley, were treated to the bonus of inspecting the excavation shortly before this happened.

The Canal Trust gratefully acknowledges the kindness of the landowner in permitting this investigation and also the generous support of the Surrey Archaeological Society and Surrey Industrial History Group in offering grants to help defray the cost of the dig.