River Wey, Dorset

The River Wey is a chalk stream flowing through Dorset in south west England.

Course

The river is about long. It rises in Upwey, where the spring forms Upwey Wishing Well, at the foot of the South Dorset Downs, a ridge of chalk hills that separate Weymouth from Dorchester. Most of the course is in the built-up area of Weymouth, running through the former villages (now suburbs) of Upwey, Broadwey, Nottington, and Radipole, through Radipole Lake and into Weymouth Harbour. From source to mouth it falls around .

History

The river has been important since Roman times, when Radipole Lake was used as a reservoir. The river was important for milling during the 18th and 19th centuries, when there were five water mills based along it. All five of the millers needed carefully to co-ordinate their activities to ensure a reliable flow of water.