Godalming

The prosperous town of Godalming in the county of Surrey lies prettily on the banks of the River Wey and has a long and fascinating history. The town is first recorded in the will of King Alfred the Great of Wessex, who died in AD 899. He notes Godalming as a settlement of the Danes under their leader Godhelm. The Domesday Book of 1086 records this to be a thriving community with three watermills. The water mills played an important part in the industrial growth and prosperity of the town and a further five were built. Goldalming benefitted hugely from the Wey Navigation that made transporting products from the town to London and ports along the south coast, faster and easier. The Wey Navigation opened in 1653 and was one of the first British rivers to be made navigable and by 1764 the Godalming Navigation opened, creating a 20-mile waterway running from the Thames at Weybridge to Godalming.

Godalming’s heritage is evident in its wealth of historic buildings along the High Street and other narrow attractive streets in the town. From alongside its position at the River Wey, Godalming is amidst some of the finest countryside in southern England. Visitors can enjoy angling, golf, cricket, tennis, swimming and football at Broadwater Park, lovely walks, the picturesque lake, specialist shops, eateries, pubs and good shopping as well as the excellent visitor attraction Dapdune Wharf, that reveals the history of the waterway, its bargemen and their families.

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