A cruise to a famous Thames pub and back

Tuesday, 01 November 2011 20:57

Yesterday we welcomed an "old" friend to Epiphany - all the way from the USA. We decided to take him (Tim) up to Godstow for lunch.

Osney Bridge successfully negotiated, minus chimney

It was only a short way to a famous pub ......

I will leave you guessing (my favourite pastime) as to the pub and take you on a quick cruise upstream in photos.

The southern junction with the Oxford Canal is at Sheepwash Channel - a narrow cut with a very low railway bridge. It is a sharp right hand turn, easy when the river is benign but not so if it is running fast.

Junction with the Oxford Canal

We passed a number of rough moored boats above Sheepwash, including an ex-Anglo-Welsh hire boat. We hired one of her "sister ships", Silver Swan, on the Kennet and Avon Canal in 2000.

Silver Stone

Medley Footbridge (or Rainbow Bridge, built by public subscription in 1865) was the next landmark. It was just above this bridge that the Old Oxford River Navigation began. The old weir was below there at least until the 1920s and the cottage remains.

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Cottage hidden in the trees and the bridge ahead

Passing Bossoms Boatyard (a very long established yard) and the old College Barge moored above, we were now into open water and the river became very wide.

Bossoms Boatyard

College Barge

The long and wide expanse of Port Meadow was on our right. Here cattle and horses graze and some of the skyline of Oxford can be seen across the green sward. 

Looking back at Port Meadow

Black Jack's Hole, above the moorings for the Perch Inn at Bisney, was once the site of an island. It is now incorporated into Port Meadow. 

Black Jack's Hole, with Wolvercote in the distance

We could just see Godstow Lock and the lock house. The Lock was on self service, so we moored at the landing and John went to work the lock. 

Godstow Lock fills

We went on through Godstow Bridge and found one just above the bridge, in walking distance for this famous pub! 

Moored above Godstow Bridge

We had a good lunch in the pub - the photo below will solve the mystery!

John and Tim below the pub sign

It is famous because we have visited it(!), but Colin Dexter and Inspector Morse got there before us. However, it was Lewis Carroll and C S Lewes who were famous patrons of The Trout Inn at Wolvercote long before the fictional Morse and Lewes!

On the bridge with The Trout Inn behind

It was time to return downstream again as Tim had a train to catch ......

River Thames, Osney to Godstow
1 hour 6 minutes, 2.52 miles, 1 lock