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Letter: Weir Collapse Could Offer Archaeological Opportunity
Published on: 4 Nov, 2019
Updated on: 4 Nov, 2019
Dr Mary Alexander
Archaeologist and former collections officer at Guildford Museum
This collapse could be an opportunity to find out more about the river.
This channel is much older than the navigation, and could well be a Saxon mill leat in origin, leading to the town mill.
There was a fulling mill near this bridge in the Middle Ages, for cleaning woollen cloth. It would be good if the repairs could involve archaeological investigations.
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Responses to Letter: Weir Collapse Could Offer Archaeological Opportunity
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See Dragon story: GBC’s Explanation of Major Land Sale Notice Error ‘Borders on Arrogant’ Says Councillor
Brian Holt
November 4, 2019 at 9:24 pm
Having the river at the bottom of our garden in Quarry Street, I remember in the 1950s and 60s the river used to be dredged. The river was almost dry every winter while the work was done. I think this would have made it easier to spot any wear and damaged to the bridges, weirs and lock gates etc. Around Millmead there were many cycles dumped in the river bed every year.
Keith Francis
November 4, 2019 at 11:14 pm
So the predictable argument about who was responsible for the weir’s maintenance, and now it’s replacement, has begun.
Near me, the National Trust claimed that it wasn’t responsible for a small road bridge which was collapsing into a stream until it was reminded that as the bridge was solely on its land the replacement bridge had to be installed at its expense.
Peta Malthouse
November 5, 2019 at 3:16 pm
Can I put my voice in support of Mary Alexander? The saying, “every cloud has a siver lining” could not be more appropriate. Guildford has a rich and wonderful history. We owe it to future generations to pass on all we can learn and know.