Dunsfield is the highest level of the Wey & Arun Canal at 168ft above sea level. The canal passes a mile and a half to the south east of the village of Dunsfold and, while it does not qualify as being in the Arun Valley, it holds an important place in history as the site of the opening ceremony at the Compasses Inn in 1816. It’s also currently one of the focal points of restoration activity. 

The Wey & Arun Canal Trust has rebuilt a number of the old bridges in this area over since 1972. The latest bridge to be completed is Compasses Bridge, named after the adjacent Three Compasses Inn. Dredging of the summit level began in 1992 and continues today.

This sequence from our documentary The Lost Wey to the Sea shows the summit as it was in 2002 before many of the major works had started, including the rebuilding of Compasses Bridge.