Oxford Canal feautres - Banbury to Oxford

Guide to The Beautiful Oxford Canal on it's journey between Banbury and Oxford.

Oxford Canal Locks and Bridges featured on the Oxford Canal on it's route between the centre of Banbury heading south via Aynho, Islip, Lower Heyford to the Canal's end in Oxford.

River Cherwell - Oxford Canal part companyThe Oxford Canal joins the lovely River Cherwell which seems to wander and meander about even more than it's watery neighbour for a short distance but they soon part company again as in the photo on the left - however elsewhere both river and canal are often just a few yards away from each other. In one particularly interesting spot the River Cherwell cuts across the canal at Weir bridge and Lock.
Originally the Oxford Canal was built and used for moving coal to the South but these days it is the habitat of fishermen, cruise boats, cyclists, walkers, herons, kingfishers, fat ducks and a large number of private canal boats. We have often used the canal for our walking trips - it is quite ideal to create lots of circular walks in and around the open countryside especially around the Lower Heyford area of Oxfordshire. One of the nicest things about the canal are the small bridges which frequently cross over it - these are usually simply farmer's bridges used to move stock etc. between their fields either side of the canal. There are quite a few photos of the railway bridges and also some of the what appears to be the remains of bridges as well (of course in reality these remains are no longer bridges since they do not cross the canal but are interesting so included). The original canal bridges were numbered and where some of the numbers are now missing but bridge remains exist we have made a guess that these were said bridges at one time.
Nell Bridge on the Oxford CanalOne of the saddest things we have come across on the Oxford Canal is the (presumably responsible) Oxfordshire County Council's poor treatment of Nell canal-bridge. They have simply shoved an ugly load of concrete immediately across the top of this once gorgeous little bridge - which incidentally is one of the oldest on the Oxford Canal system. In other locations where roads have to cross at existing canal bridge sites at least some attempt has been made to keep the original canal bridge intact by routing their ugle concrete bridge either higher up or to the side, but here they have simply vandalised it - shame on them.

This sequence of Oxford Canal Bridges and Locks shows the canal from the centre of Banbury at Bluebird Bridge then follows it as it wanders across lovely Oxfordshire countryside to it's end Isis Lock Bridge 243 and Isis Lock 46 in the heart of Oxford City.

As you head south out of Banbury the towpath passes quite a few derelict warehouses alhtough the town seems to be busy renovating these buildings and probably one day soon they will all be people's flats. You soon get into really open countryside - as the River Cherwell is often right next to the canal the towpath can be really wet and muddy (due to seep-age). There are quite a few lift bridges along this section of the Oxford Canal and also you can see some locations where these lift bridges have now been (sadly) demolished.

Canal road bridge at Banbury
Bluebird Bridge
Albion Bridge Banbury
Albion Bridge 166
Samuelson Bridge
Samuelson Bridge 168
Oxford canal bridge demolished possibly was 169
Demolished Bridge 169
Demolished Oxford Canal lift bridge possibly was 169
Demolished bridge
Haynes Lift Bridge
Haynes Lift Bridge 170
Oxford Canal Foxes Lift Bridge
Foxes Lift Bridge 171
Nadkey Bridge
Nadkey Bridge 172
Oxford Canal Lift bridge 173
Lift Bridge 173
M40 - Oxford canal road bridge
M40 Bridge
Grants Lock
Grants Lock 30
Oxford Canal - Grants Bridge
Grants Bridge 174
Grants Bridge
Grants Bridge 174
Stevens Lift bridge
Stevens Lift Bridge 175
extinct lift bridge - Oxford Canal
demolished bridge 176?
Twyford Bridge
Twyford Bridge 177
Ex lift bridge
Demolished lift bridge - possibly 178
Demolished lift bridge
or this demolished bridge may have been 178
Oxford Canal Locks - King's Sutton Lock
King's Sutton Lock 31
King's Sutton Lock
King's Sutton Lock 31
Oxford Canal - Tarvers Bridge
Tarvers Bridge 179
Tarvers Bridge
Tarvers Bridge 179
Scroobys Lift Bridge
Scroobys Lift Bridge 181
Another Coles Lift bridge
Coles Lift Bridge 182
Dismantled railway bridge near Kings Sutton
Dismantled Railway Bridge
M40 bridge over the Oxford Canal
M40 Road Bridge
Coles Lift Bridge
Coles Lift Bridge 183
ex lift bridge probably no 184 on the Oxford Canal
Demolished Lift Bridge 184?
Oxford Canal demolished lift bridge probably 185
Demolished Lift Bridge 185?
Haddons Lift Bridge
Haddons Lift Bridge 186
Nell Bridge. Poor old Nell Bridge - it has been totally covered over by the building of a crappy concrete road bridge with obviously no consideration by the authorities to the history and beauty of one of the oldest canal bridges on the Oxford Canal.
The River Cherwell is always quite close to the canal along this stretch and particularly interesting is the area around Anyho Weir Lock where it actually (diagonally) crosses the Oxford Canal. The canal's towpath is carried across the river on a really nice set of brickwork arches. If there has been heavy rain the currents here are quite violent. Anyho Weir Lock is situated immediately after Weir Bridge - this lock is quite unusual in that it is an irregular octagan shape and quite shallow. The lock takes the canal only around one foot below the River Cherwell but this octagonal shaped design allows sufficient water to be passed through the system.
Nell Bridge Lock Oxford Canal Locks - Nell Bridge Lock The narrow Nell Bridge Lock
Nell Bridge Lock 32
Nell Bridge Lock 32
Nell Bridge Lock 32


Nell Bridge on the Oxford Canal Weir Bridge - Oxford Canal raised towpath at Aynho Weirs
Nell Bridge 187
Weir Bridge 188
Aynho Weir raised towpath
Aynho Weir Lock on the Oxford Canal
Aynho Weir Lock 33
Aynho Weir Lock and Weir Bridge
Aynho Weir Lock 33
Belchers Lift Bridge
Belchers Lift Bridge 189
Aynho Bridge
Aynho Bridge 190
Demolished lift bridge - possible 191
Demolished Lift Bridge - 191?
Souldern Bridge
Souldern Bridge 192
Chisnell Lift Bridge
Chisnell Lift Bridge 193
Somerton Deep Lock
Somerton Deep Lock Bridge 194
Somerton Deep Lock
Somerton Deep Lock 34
Oxford Canal's Somerton Deep Lock
Somerton Deep Lock 34
Somerton Deep Lock Bridge
Somerton Deep Lock Bridge 194
Meadlands Bridge
Meadlands Bridge 195
Somerton Bridge
Somerton Bridge 196
Demolished lift bridge possibly was 197
Demolished Lift Bridge - 197?
Deep Cutting Bridge
Deep Cutting Bridge 198
Somerton Mill Bridge
Somerton Mill Bridge 199
Pipe Bridge
Pipe Bridge
Heyford Common Lock 35
Heyford Common Lock 35
Heyford Common Bridge
Heyford Common Bridge 200
Railway Bridge near Upper Heyford
Railway Bridge 201
Single Bridge
Single Bridge 202
Allens Lock Bridge
Bridge 203
Oxford Canal Bridge no 203
Bridge 203
Allen's Lock 36
Allen's Lock 36
Oxford Canal - Allen's Lock no:36
Allen's Lock 36
Allens Bridge
Allens Bridge 204
Mill Lift Bridge
Mill Lift Bridge 205
Heyford Wharf Bridge
Heyford Wharf Bridge 206
Cleeves Bridge
Cleeves Bridge 207
High Bush Bridge
High Bush Bridge 208
Dashwoods Lock
Dashwood's Lock 37
Oxford Canal - Dashwood's Lock
Dashwood's Lock 37
Dashwood Bridge
Dashwood Bridge 209
Oxford Canal - Dashwoods Bridge
Dashwood Bridge 209
Northbrook
Northbrook Bridge 210
Northbrook Packhorse bridge over the Cherwell//Oxford Canal
Northbrook Packhorse Bridge by 210
Northbrook Lock
Northbrook Lock 38
Oxford Canal - Northbrook Lock
Northbrook Lock 38
New Brighton Bridge
New Brighton Bridge 211
Old Brighton Canal Bridge on the Oxford Canal England
Old Brighton Bridge 212
Pigeons Lock
Pigeons Lock 39
Lovely old Pigeons Bridge on the Oxford Canal
Pigeons Bridge 213
Pigeons Bridge no.213
Pigeons Bridge 213
Pigeons Bridge
Pigeons Bridge area
Pinsey Bridge on the Oxford Canal
Pinsey Bridge 214
Oxford Canal Bridges - Pinsey (sometimes known as Binsey?)
aka Binsey Bridge sometimes
Caravan Lift Bridge on the Oxford Canal in England
Caravan Lift Bridge 215
Enslow railway bridge
Enslow Railway Bridge 216a
Enslow - Oxford Canal Bridge in England
Enslow Bridge 216
Bakers Lock on the Oxford Canal
Bakers Lock 40
Oxford Canal - Bakers Lock
Bakers Lock
Horse Bridge
Horse Bridge 217
Railway Bridge near Bunker Hill
Bunker Hill Railway Bridge
Shipton Weir Lock
Shipton Weir Bridge 218 + Lock 41
Lock at Shipton Weir on the Oxford Canal
Shipton Weir Lock 41

Shared Waters. The River Cherwell and The Oxford Canal meet therefore and share their waters through Oxfordshire just south of Bakers Lock at the nicely shaped Horse Bridge - this river/canal comination then continues south as far as the really beautiful area around Shipton Weir Lock where The river Cherwell and the canal part company.

Shipton Lift Bridge
Shipton Lift Bridge 219
Oxford Canal Shipton Lift Bridge
Shipton Lift Bridge 219
Shipton on Cherwell Railway Bridge
Shipton on Cherwell Railway Bridge
Dismantled Railway Bridge
Dismantled Railway Bridge
Oxford Canal Dismantled railway bridge
Dismantled Railway Bridge
Shipton Bridge
Shipton Bridge 220 and Stoplock
Oxford Canal - Shipton Bridge
Shipton Bridge 220
Aubreys Lift Bridge
Aubreys Lift Bridge 221
Sparrowgap Bridge
Sparrowgap Bridge 223
Langford Lane
Langford Lane Bridge 224
Langford Lane Bridge
Langford Lane Bridge 224
Roundham Lock
Roundham Lock 42
Roundham Bridge
Roundham Bridge 226
Oxford Canal - Roundham Bridge
Roundham Bridge 226
Bullers Bridge
Bullers Bridge 227
Bullers Bridge on the Oxford Canal
Bullers Bridge 227
Yarnton Bridge
Yarnton Bridge 228
Yarnton Bridge Oxford Canal
Yarnton Bridge 228
Kidlington Green Lock
Kidlington Green Lock 43
Oxford Canal Locks- Kidlington Green
Kidlington Green Lock
Pipe Bridge near Kidlington
Pipe Bridge Kidlington
Oxford canal footbridge
Oxford Canal Footbridge
Oxford Canal - foot bridge
Oxford Canal Footbridge
Kings Bridge
Kings Bridge 230, Oxford Canal
Drinkwaters Lift Bridge
Drinkwaters Lift Bridge 231
Duke's Cut. This short waterway connects the Oxford Canal with the River Thames and was built at the request of the Duke of Marlborough - hence the name. For narrowboats leaving Dukes Cut Lock 44a the turn right into the Cut occurs almost immediately - then on under Dukes Bridge and into Lock 44b (which has a railway bridge above it just to add to the fun). The Cut is more like a river with willows and other trees lining the route and often fallen branches are floating around so care is needed. The "towpath" is generally narrow and lined with nettles and bramble to start with and also quite muddy - then it follows the twists of the Cut as it goes between fields to reach the River Thames. For towpath walkers and cyclists note that there is no access to the Thames Path via this cut - the nearest way to reach the Thames is by leaving the canal at Bridge 235 then via Wolvercote to The Thames at Godstow Bridge.
Railway Bridge near Drinkwaters Dukes Lock 44a Dukes Lock - Oxford Canal
Railway Bridge
Dukes Lock
Dukes Lock 44a


Dukes Cut Junction - Oxford Canal Dukes Bridge 232 Dukes Cut - Lock 44b
Oxford Canal Link to The Thames
Dukes Bridge 232
Dukes Cut Lock 44b
A40 Bridge 232a
A40 Bridge 232a
Oxford Canal - A40 Bridge
A40 Bridge 232a
Lift Bridge 233
Lift Bridge 233
A34 Bridge 233a
A34 Western Bypass Bridge(s) 233a
Bridge 233a
A34 Western Bypass Bridge(s)
Perrys liftbridge 234
Perry's Lift bridge 234
Perrys Liftbridge
Perrys Lift Bridge
Wolvercote Lock 45
Wolvercote Lock 45
Bridge 235
Bridge 235
Wolvercote Lock 45
Wolvercote Lock 45
Footbridge 235
Footbridge 235
Balls Bridge 236
Balls Bridge 236
Balls Bridge
Balls Bridge 236
Railway Bridge 236a
Bridge 236a
Railway Bridge 236a
Bridge 236a
location of demolished bridge 237?
Missing bridge 237? location
St Edwards Liftbridge 238
St Edward's Lift Bridge
Oxford Canal
St Edward's Lift Bridge 238
Oxford Canal Bridge 238b
Bridge 238b
Bridge 238b
Bridge 238b
Probable location of demolished bridge 239
Location of missing bridge 239?
Bridge 239a, Oxford Canal
Bridge 239a
Bridge 239a
Bridge 239a
Aristotle Bridge 240
Aristotle Bridge - 240
Aristotle's Bridge
Aristotle Bridge
Oxford Canal - Bridge 242
Canal Bridge 242
Bridge 242b
Bridge 242b
Oxford Canal Bridge 242b
Bridge 242b
Bridge 243
Bridge 243
Oxford Canal Bridge 243
Canal Bridge 243
Isis Lock 46 - Oxford Canal
Oxford - Isis Lock 46
Link to the Thames at Isis Cut, Oxford
Another route to The Thames at Isis Cut
The Oxford Canal southern end in the City of Oxford
The Oxford end of the Oxford Canal
From the end of the Oxford Canal at Isis Locks and Bridge if you turn right along the road you will find that Oxford Railway Station is just a short stroll away. Should you instead you turn left along the road then Oxford City Centre plus all the many churches, colleges and so on for which Oxford is so famous are again just a few minutes stroll away.

The Oxford Canal - a complete record of every bridge and lock are split into several pages as follows:-
A photo record of the Oxford Canal's Locks
Northern end of the Oxford Canal - Sutton Stop to Braunston Turn
Oxford Canal - Braunston south to Banbury
From Banbury into the City of Oxford and the end of the Oxford Canal (this page)

We have picked out a few Books about England - concerning the waterways of England. The Nicholsons Waterways Guides are a "must take" for anyone going on a Canal Barge or Narrowboat holiday (as well as anyone visiting the canals) as they are packed with really useful information. (The relevant Nicholson Guide covering The Oxford Canal is BOOK 1.)
If the development and history of our English and British Canals is of particular interest consider looking at the Anatomy of Canals series which are really good reading!.

The Oxford Canal from Banbury to the end of the canal in Oxford - created by www.foxysislandwalks.co.uk
The Oxford Canal
between,
Banbury and Oxford,
Canal Locks,
Bridges and Features.

Oxford Canal Locks
Oxford Canal North
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