It is not clear to what extent the Mole was used for navigation in the past, but in the early Middle Ages, it is likely that shallow-bottomed craft were able to reach Leatherhead from the Thames for much of the year. In the late 13th century, Thorncroft Manor purchased a "shout", a type of boat up to in length used to carry produce to market. Several schemes were proposed to make the Mole navigable in 17th and 18th centuries, none were enacted.