Wednesday 5 November 2008
Surrey Rivers
by Charles Abdy a member of the Probus Club of Ewell
This was a most interesting presentation by Charles Abdy (left) on Surrey Rivers, Charles is a historian and author of books appertaining to the area, perhaps his best know is Epsom Past and Present. Charles has given many lectures to our Club being a long standing member and indeed many other societies; to view some of his previous talks please refer to the table of contents.
Charles covered four main rivers in the County of Surrey (before the boundary changes) he supported his talk from source to output into the great River Thames with a multitude of excellent slides even from a hot air balloon trip, needless to say these are not reproduced on this report or indeed the many supporting details, so below is a brief summary.
River Thames catchment area with kind thanks to the Environment Agency
River Thames at Kingston
It should be remembered that all of these rivers were used as a source of energy via the water wheel and most of these power houses have been removed after dereliction with few surviving (most turned into apartments or office space), so reference to usage was common where water flowed freely in the period up to perhaps the first world war, such as the rivers used to power a number of gunpowder, paper, cloth, iron and corn mills in the area. The gunpowder mills at Chilworth and Ewell being only examples, shown below is a newly refurbished mill in the village of Ewell.
River Wey
The Wey North branch rises in Alton in Hampshire and runs eastwards through Upper Froyle and Bentley, turning southwards at Farnham to Tilford. The catchment of this branch was originally the upper catchment of the Blackwater, which then ran northwards through what, is now Farnham. The Blackwater remains as a much shorter river to the north of Farnham, with a wind gap (empty valley) between it and the Wey.
The Wey South branch rises at Black Down near Haslemere and runs through Liphook, Bramshott, Bordon, Lindford and Frensham to Tilford. During the seventeenth century the river was made navigable to Guildford and extended in the eighteenth century to Godalming. The Basingstoke Canal and Wey and Arun Junction Canal were later connected to the river these sections are now owned by the National Trust.
The river has long been used as a source of power for mills, and many are recorded in the Doomsday Book. At one point there were 22 mills on the river, and more on its tributaries. At various times they have been used for grinding grains, processing wool, rolling oats, crushing cattle cake, leather dressing, paper production and gunpowder manufacture. Willey Mill was still in use in 1953
River Tillingbourne running through the Albury estate along the south side of the North Downs joining the River Wey at Guildford as Charles mentioned did the name Guildford come from Gold sands and a crossing Ford as shown on the Towns coat of Arms?. Its source is near Tilling Springs to the north of Leith Hill it runs through Friday Street, Abinger Hammer, Gomshall, Shere, Albury, Chilworth and Shalford. The source is a semi-natural uninhabited area but very popular for walking and riding. The water catchment is situated on sandstone which has a low rate of weathering.
River Mole
The River Mole is a river in southern England, which rises in West Sussex near Gatwick Airport and flows North West through Surrey for 80 km (50 miles) to the River Thames at Hampton Court Palace. The river gives its name to the Surrey district of Mole Valley. At the Island Barn Reservoir near Molesey, the river splits into two distributaries: the northern (and smaller) branch continues as the River Mole and the southern branch is known as the River Ember. The two rivers flow either side of the reservoir, before flowing side by side in a north easterly direction towards the River Thames merging 400 metres before the confluence. The river has captured the imagination of several authors and poets, particularly since in very hot summers; the river channel can become dry between Dorking and Leatherhead, where it cuts through the North Downs. The Oxford Dictionary of English Place Names suggests that Mole either comes from the Latin mola (a mill) or is a back formation from Molesey (Mul's island).
Hogsmill River
The Hogsmill River is one of the tributaries of the River Thames, 6 miles (9.9km) in length: it has a catchment area (water basin) of 73 km². Its source is a chalk spring in the spring line village of Ewell,
Bourne Hall Ewell
Bourne Hall Lake Ewell
(indeed in the grounds of Bourne Hall where we are meeting today) in Surrey to flow in a northerly direction through Old Malden and New Malden to its confluence close to the centre of Kingston upon Thames, upstream of Kingston Bridge. (shown below - bottom picture)
Entering the built up area of Kingston upon Thames
Medieval Bridge near the confluence to the River Thames
Wandle River
The word Wandle is derived from the Saxon 'Wendleswurth' meaning 'Wendel's settlement' established on the Thames by 693 and known today as the Borough of Wandsworth, rainwater falling on the North Downs percolates through the chalk and reappears as springs in central Croydon, Beddington, and Carshalton. The occasional stream, known as the Bourne, which runs through the Caterham valleys is a source of the River Wandle but only surfaces after heavy rainfall, the Wandle rose from a spring near the present Swan & Sugarloaf and flowed through the Haling area. It then ran northwards along Southbridge Road and by the time it reached Old Town it was 20 feet wide and began to divide into smaller channels. Calico printing was carried on in the early 19th century using the river's very pure water to bleach the cloth spread out along its banks. These rivulets rejoined the main stream north of the Parish Church where a corn mill stood from Norman times until 1849. The river then flowed through Pitlake (meaning 'stream in a hollow') and on through two marshy fields which became Wandle Park. Local springs were used to form a boating lake in the Park, but frequent drying up problems led to the lake being filled in. The Wandle now continues underground under the Purley Way and into Waddon Ponds.
Waddon Mill stood northwest of Mill Lane and was a manorial corn mill from the Norman period, until the area was redeveloped in 1928. Originally there was one huge millpond, bisected by Mill Lane, until 1964 when the northern part was filled in. Admiral Nelson as Charles stated lived in the area and is supposed to have fished in the southern portion. This southern millpond survives as a lake in an 8-acre park called Waddon Ponds. The river here is the first view we have today of the Wandle in Croydon, and it is culverted through an industrial estate westwards towards the river Thames.
David Staples in his vote of thanks said this was a fascinating presentation with delightful slides and many members were able to relate to the places shown, even well outside the confines of Ewell!
So thank you again Charles we look forward to your next presentation.
BEST-SELLER BY LOCAL AUTHOR
And a member of Probus Club of Ewell
EPSOM PAST
by Charles Abdy
News of this publication from Phillimore & Co has been very warmly welcomed by the booksellers in the area, and it is set to be the local best seller.
Epsom Past was launched priced £15.99, and provides a fascinating insight into the town's history and its development over the centuries.
It also looks at the various characters who gave Epsom its unique character and heritage, all vividly brought to life by the author's lively narrative and superb collection of illustrations.
"The Club accepts no responsibility for any statement, views, opinions of whatsoever nature expressed or given above which is just a summary of a talk given to the Club and does not necessarily reflect those of the Club or its members."
