The Oxford Canal

The Oxford Canal - the stretch from Hawkesbury Junction to Braunston Turn - with photos.

Features, bridges and locks on the Oxford Canal as it heads south from Hawkesbury Junction via Brinklow, Newbold Tunnel and Hillmorton Locks to Braunston.

If you are on holiday in England and would like to enjoy seeing some of our wildlife, old buildings, beautiful canal locks and bridges plus lovely English countryside you could do far worse than visit one of our English canals - and the Oxford Canal would be a great choice for this. We cannot find any actual bridge numbers for the first 3 bridges at the start of the canal at Hawkesbury and assumed therefore that the numbers we have given are probably correct since they are logical. We have also assumed the Wyken Arm Bridge is bridge number 6. The towpath heading south from Hawkesbury Junction is in relatively good condition all the way to Brinklow for cyclists and walkers and where there are muddy problems British Waterways seem to be solving the problem. As you continue past Rugby it is surprising how really peaceful the Oxford Canal is and you would not think you were in the midst of such a major city - the high hedgerow and loads of trees make this really nice walking. We did divert to have a look at Newbold Quarry Park - really this is just a series of walkways going round the original (now deep water filled) quarry - with much of the edge of the quarry itself ringed with high metal fencing. As Rugby is left behind by the Oxford Canal the route is mostly through open countryside especially as you continue on past Hillmorton Locks - which incidentally is the last place for any facilities before reaching Braunston.
Note - the canal's towpath from Tarrys Bridge 74 heading south really deteriorates - lots of collapses, deep holes and and if the weather is/has been wet very deep sticky mud. In addition this part of the route is really overgrown with bramble and nettle in some places - and the towpath remains in this condition very nearly into Braunston itself.
The old engine house at Hawkesbury Junction, The Oxford Canal (England).
The Old Engine House at Hawkesbury Junction
Hawkesbury Junction Bridge 1, The Oxford Canal (England).
Hawkesbury Junction
 Bridge 1
Oxford Canal - Hawkesbury Junction Bridge 1
Oxford Canal - Hawkesbury Junction Bridge 1
Oxford Canal at Hawkesbury Junction - Sutton Stoplock 1
Hawkesbury Junction Sutton Stoplock 1
Hawkesbury Junction - Stoplock 1, The Oxford Canal (England).
Hawkesbury Junction - Stoplock 1
Hawkesbury StopLock Bridge 2, The Oxford Canal (England).
Hawkesbury StopLock Bridge 2
Oxford Canal Bridge 3
Oxford Canal Bridge 3
Tusse's Bridge 4, The Oxford Canal (England).
Tusse's Bridge 4
Oxford Canal - Tusse's Bridge 4
Oxford Canal - Tusse's Bridge 4
Whitings Bridge 5, The Oxford Canal (England).
Whitings Bridge 5
Oxford Canal Whitings Bridge 5
Oxford Canal Whitings Bridge 5
Oxford Canal, Wyken_Arm possible number Bridge 6?
Oxford Canal Wyken
Arm - Bridge 6 ?
Sowe Common Bridge 7, Oxford Canal England
Sowe Common Bridge 7
Stone Bridge 9, The Oxford Canal (England).
Stone Bridge 9
Oxford Canal - Stone Bridge 9
Oxford Canal -
Stone Bridge 9
Carters Bridge 11, The Oxford Canal (England).
Carters Bridge 11
Oxford Canal England - Carters Bridge 11
Carters Bridge 11
Noon Hill Bridge 13, The Oxford Canal (England).
NoonHill Bridge 13
Noon Hill Bridge 13, Oxford Canal, England
Noon Hill Bridge 13
Oxford Canal - M69 Motorway Bridge
Oxford Canal - M69 Motorway Bridge
Ansty Village Bridge 14, The Oxford Canal (England).
Ansty Village Bridge 14
Oxford Canal - Ansty Village Bridge 14
Ansty Village
Bridge 14
Canal Bridge 15, The Oxford Canal (England).
Bridge 15
Oxford Canal - Bridge 15
Bridge 15
Oxford Canal Bridge 16
Bridge 16
Bridge 16, The Oxford Canal (England).
Oxford Canal - Bridge 16
Oxford Canal Bridges - 17 Squires Bridge
Oxford Canal -
Squires Bridge 17
Squires Bridge 17, The Oxford Canal (England).
Squires Bridge 17
Oxford Canal Bridge 18
Oxford Canal Bridge 18
Holly Hill Bridge 19, The Oxford Canal (England).
Holly Hill Bridge 19

The Oxford Canal's original route may have changed around Bridge 18 and Hopsford Aqueduct.

It seems possible that where the Oxford Canal goes over Bridge 18 this may well have been the path of the original canal - it is now used to link various parts of a golf course and is fenced off from the canal itself. Similarly at Hopsford Aqueduct 20 again it may have been the path of the old route - in any case it's well worth a walk down the bank to take a look at this bridge and also the excellent arches and brickwork on the adjacent still in use railway bridge.
Oxford Canal England - Holly Hill Bridge 19
Holly Hill Bridge 19
Hopsford Aqueduct 20, The Oxford Canal (England).
Hopsford Aqueduct 20
Hopsford Aqueduct 20 - Oxford Canal
Hopsford Aqueduct 20
Nettle Hill Bridge 24, The Oxford Canal (England).
Nettle Hill Bridge 24
M6 Motorway Bridge over the Oxford Canal
M6 Motorway Bridge over the Oxford Canal
Grimes Bridge 26 - Oxford Canal
Grimes Bridge 26 - Oxford Canal
Grimes Bridge 26, The Oxford Canal (England).
Grimes Bridge 26
Johnsons Bridge 27
Johnsons Bridge 27
Oxford Canal Bridges - Johnsons Bridge 27
Johnsons Bridge 27
Smeaton Lane Aqueduct 28, The Oxford Canal (England).
Smeaton Lane Aqueduct 28
Swing footbridge (29?) at Stretton Wharf, The Oxford Canal (England).
Swing footbridge (29?) at Stretton Wharf
Stretton Road Bridge 30, The Oxford Canal (England).
Stretton Road
Bridge 30
Oxford Canal - Stretton Road Bridge 30
Oxford Canal - Stretton Road Bridge 30
Brinklow Arches 31, The Oxford Canal (England).
Brinklow Arches 31
Brinklow Arm Bridge 32, The Oxford Canal (England).
Brinklow Arm Bridge 32

The Oxford Canal and Brinklow Arches.

As the Oxford Canal passes Brinklow it has to cross a valley and when the canal was being built James Brindley designed an aqueduct to acheive this. The aqueduct has embankments both ends, runs for around 450 yards and is set on 12 brick and stone arches each spanning 22 feet. Nearly all of the arches have been filled in but you can still clamber down through the nettles and bramble and take a look at part of the structure (picture above). The fairly quite short Brinklow Canal Arm leaves from around here but is heavily weeded and silted up and therefore unfortunately dis-used. Several picture rows down see Oxford Canal Bridge 39 - this leads into the Brinklow Marina and offers a gorgeous example of a Horseley Iron Works canal bridge.
Brinklow Arm Bridge, The Oxford Canal (England).
The Brinklow Arm Bridge no.32
Easenhall Lane Bridge 34, The Oxford Canal (England).
Easenhall Lane Bridge 34
Oxford Canal Bridges - Easenhall Lane Bridge 34
Easenhall Lane Bridge
Hungerfield Bridge no. 35, The Oxford Canal (England).
Hungerfield Bridge no. 35
Bridge 34 Oxford Canal - Hungerfield Bridge
Bridge 34
Hungerfield Bridge
Bridge 37 Oxford Canal
Bridge 37 Oxford Canal
Oxford Canal Bridge 37
Oxford Canal Bridge 37
Canal Bridge 38, The Oxford Canal (England).
Canal Bridge 38
Oxford Canal Bridge 38
Oxford Canal Bridge 38
Bridge 39 - Oxford Canal
Bridge 39 - Oxford Canal
Oxford Canal Bridge 39
Bridge 39 into Brinklow Marina
Cathiron Bridge 41, The Oxford Canal (England).
Cathiron Bridge 41
Oxford Canal Bridge 41 - Cathiron Bridge
Oxford Canal Bridge 41 Cathiron Bridge
Waltons Bridge 42, The Oxford Canal (England).
Waltons Bridge 42
Bridge 42 - Waltons Bridge crossing the Oxford Canal
Bridge 42 - Waltons - Oxford Canal
Railway Bridge crossing the Oxford Canal near Cathiron
Railwaybridge over the Oxford Canal near Cathiron
Tuckey's Bridge no 43, The Oxford Canal (England).
Tuckey's Bridge no 43
Tuckeys Bridge goes over The Oxford Canal, England.
Tuckeys Bridge 43
Lime Farm Marina Bridge (into a small arm), The Oxford Canal (England).
Lime Farm Marina Bridge (into a small arm)
Oxford Canal Bridge 44
Oxford Canal Bridge 44
Bridge 44 going over The Oxford Canal.
Oxford Canal - Bridge 44
Fools Bridge 48 and Newbold Arm Bridge, The Oxford Canal (England).
Fools Bridge 48 and Newbold Arm Bridge
Fools Bridge 48, The Oxford Canal (England).
Fools Bridge 48
Newbold Tunnel 49 entrance portal, The Oxford Canal (England).
Newbold Tunnel 49
(towards Rugby)
Inside Newbold Tunnel - spooky lighting, The Oxford Canal (England).
Inside Newbold Tunnel - spooky lighting

The Oxford Canal and about Newbold Tunnel.

The "new" 250 metre long Newbold Tunnel was built in 1829 as part of the 11 mile shortening of the Oxford Canal which was achieved in 1834. The tunnel is wide enough for two way traffic and is well -perhaps spookily- lit up and has a towpath on both sides which is rather unusual however only one side is actually available to use. The southern entrance to the original tunnel which dated from 1777 is located within the Churchyard of St Botolphs but has been bricked up with just a couple of gaps to allow bats to come and go and can be barely seen because of heavy undergrowth.
Rugby side of Newbold Tunnel, The Oxford Canal (England).
Rugby side of the
Newbold Tunnel (49)
Oxford Canal Bridge 50
Oxford Canal Bridge 50
Bridge 50 on the Oxford Canal
Bridge 50 on the
Oxford Canal
Green's Bridge 51, The Oxford Canal (England).
Green's Bridge 51
Canal bridge 51 - Greens Bridge on the Oxford Canal near Rugby
Canal bridge 51 - Oxford Canal near Rugby
lovely old railway bridge crossing the Oxford Canal
lovely old railwaybridge crossing the Oxford Canal
Oxford Canal near Rugby - an old railway bridge
Oxford Canal near Rugby - old railwaybridge
Perkins Bridge 52 on the Oxford Canal
Perkins Bridge 52 on the Oxford Canal
Oxford Canal bridges - Perkins Bridge no 52
Perkins Bridge 52
Oxford Canal Bridge 53
Oxford Canal Bridge 53
Rugby Wharf Arm entrance bridge, The Oxford Canal (England).
Rugby Wharf Arm
entrance bridge
Rugby Wharf Arm Bridge - Oxford Canal
Rugby Wharf Arm Bridge - Oxford Canal
Aqueduct Bridge no 54, The Oxford Canal (England).
Aqueduct Bridge no 54
Oxford Canal - Aqueduct Bridge 54
Oxford Canal - Aqueduct Bridge 54
Aqueduct Bridge 55 - Oxford Canal
Aqueduct Bridge 55 - Oxford Canal
Oxford Canal Aqueduct Bridge 55
Oxford Canal
Aqueduct Bridge 55
Footbridge crossing the Oxford Canal
Footbridge crossing the Oxford Canal
Masters Bridge 58, The Oxford Canal (England).
Masters Bridge 58
Boughton Road Bridge 59, The Oxford Canal in England.
Boughton Road
Bridge 59
Oxford Canal - Boughton Road Bridge 59
Oxford Canal - Boughton Road Bridge 59

On the Oxford Canal between Brinklow and Rugby there are several arms going off and these still have the wrought iron original canal bridges over the towpath - all in excellent condition. Rugby used to be part of an extensive railway system and the lines are still often easily spotted - the OS map shows around 9 railway lines into Rugby at one time though most are now dismantled. However there are some really nice old intact brick railway bridges with excellent arches around to look at and which can be worth a short diversion as you wander along this stretch towards Braunston.

Clifton Bridge 66, The Oxford Canal (England).
Clifton Bridge 66
Oxford Canal - Clifton Bridge 66
Oxford Canal - Clifton Bridge 66
Bridge 68, The Oxford Canal (England).
Bridge 68
Oxford Canal Bridge 68
Oxford Canal Bridge 68
Kent Road Bridge 69, The Oxford Canal (England).
Kent Road Bridge 69
Oxford Canal - twinlocks 2 and 3 at Hillmorton Lock Flight
Oxford Canal - twinlocks 2 and 3 Hillmorton
Hillmorton twinlocks 2 and 3, The Oxford Canal (England).
Hillmorton twinlocks
2 and 3
Hillmorton locks 2 and 3 on The Oxford Canal
Hillmorton locks 2 and 3 - Oxford Canal
Grantham Arm Bridge, The Oxford Canal (England).
Bridge at the
Grantham Arm
The Grantham Arm, The Oxford Canal (England).
The Grantham Arm
Bridge 71 at Hillmorton, The Oxford Canal (England).
Bridge 71 at Hillmorton
Twinlocks 4 and 5 at Hillmorton, The Oxford Canal (England).
Twinlocks 4 and 5 at Hillmorton
Locks 4 and 5 at Hillmorton on the Oxford Canal
Locks 4 and 5
at Hillmorton
Hillmorton Locks on the Oxford Canal - locks 4 and 5
Hillmorton Locks on the Oxford Canal - 4 and 5
Hillmorton locks 4 and 5, The Oxford Canal (England).
Hillmorton
locks 4 and 5

The Oxford Canal and Hillmorton Locks and Twinlocks:

These paired Oxford Canal locks are located in a pleasant area - just the right place to stop and eat lunch - there are several bench seats available alongside the towpath with the nicest part of the area probably by locks 2 and 3. There are canal-boat workshops and also a cafe alongside Hillmorton lock flight. Originally these canal locks were singles but during the Canal's modernisation a second set of locks were built alongside the originals to help with both water conservation and ease congestion.
Hillmorton Toplocks 6 and 7, The Oxford Canal, England.
Hillmorton Toplocks
6 and 7
Oxford Canal at Hillmorton - Locks 6 and 7
Hillmorton -
Locks 6 and 7
Hillmorton Lock Flight and twinlocks 6 and 7, The Oxford Canal, England.
Hillmorton twinlocks
6 and 7
Bridge 72 - Moors Bridge - Oxford Canal England
Bridge 72 - Moors Bridge - Oxford Canal
Moors Bridge 72, The Oxford Canal, England.
Moors Bridge 72
Lovely old railway bridges near Rugby crossing the Oxford Canal
Lovely old railway bridges near Rugby
Railway Bridge South of Rugby crosses The Oxford Canal
Railway Bridge s. Rugby - Oxford Canal
Wharf Bridge 73
Wharf Bridge 73
Tarrys Bridge 74, The Oxford Canal, England.
Tarrys Bridge 74
Oxford Canal - Tarrys Bridge 74
Oxford Canal - Tarrys Bridge 74
Oxford Canal Bridge 75
Oxford Canal Bridge 75
Norman's Bridge 76, The Oxford Canal, England.
Norman's Oxford Canal Bridge 76
Bridge 77, The Oxford Canal, England.
Canal Bridge no.77
M25 Motorway Bridge over The Oxford Canal, England.
M25 Motorway Bridge
Barby Wood Bridge 78, The Oxford Canal, England.
Barby Wood Bridge 78
Bridge 79, The Oxford Canal, England.
Bridge 79
Wise's Bridge 80, The Oxford Canal, England.
Wise's Bridge 80
Canal Bridge 81, The Oxford Canal, England.
Canal Bridge 81
Rowdyke Bridge 82, The Oxford Canal, England.
Rowdyke Bridge 82
Oxford Canal England - Rowdyke Bridge 82
Oxford Canal
Rowdyke Bridge 82
Bridge 83, The Oxford Canal, England.
Bridge 83
Oxford Canal Bridge 84
Oxford Canal
Bridge 84
Navigation Bridge 85 on the Oxford Canal in England
Navigation Bridge 85
on the Oxford Canal
Canal Bridge 87, The Oxford Canal, England.
Canal Bridge 87
Bridge 88 on the Oxford Canal
Bridge 88 - Oxford Canal
Canal Bridge 89, The Oxford Canal, England.
Canal Bridge 89
Oxford Canal Bridge 89
Oxford Canal Bridge 89
Oxford Canal - Bridge 90
Oxford Canal -
Bridge 90
Bridge 90 on the Oxford Canal - England
Bridge 90 on the
Oxford Canal
Bridges 93 and 94 at Braunston Turn, The Oxford Canal, England.
Bridges 93 and 94 at Braunston Turn England

Our Oxford Canal Guides are split through several pages as follows:-
A photo record of all the Oxford Canal's locks
The northern end of the Oxford Canal - Sutton Stop to Braunston Turn (this page)
Braunston south to Banbury in Oxfordshire
Banbury to City of Oxford and end of the Oxford Canal

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