SU9949 : Treadwheel Crane, Town Wharf
taken 5 years ago, near to Guildford, Surrey, England
Three hundred years ago much of the business in Guildford took place here, at Town Wharf. Barges from London unloaded coal, grain and imported goods, and returned downstream with timber, beer, bark for the tanning industry and fresh food. The Treadwheel Crane is a Grade II Listed Building Link and Scheduled Ancient Monument. Dating from the late 17th century, it is believed to be the oldest working example of its type in the country.
In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.
There are about 20,000 scheduled monuments in England representing about 37,000 heritage assets. Of the tens of thousands of scheduled monuments in the UK, most are inconspicuous archaeological sites, but some are large ruins.
Wikipedia: Link