Coal for the Duke via the Oxford Canal

Tuesday, 29 November 2011 14:54

Whilst waiting below Duke's Lock, I had time to be tempted to go back onto the River Thames! It would have been so easy via Duke's Cut. The cut was the first link to the River Thames and is a popular route for boaters to reach Oxford, avoiding the last urban bit of the Oxford Canal. Isis Lock was built at a later date. 

Some joker had left the strong stream warning sign visible at the towpath bridge over the Cut

We knew that this sign was not correct, but how many narrowboats had been deterred? What should it have said? .......

This is what the sign says when the top flap is let down - more sensible advice for the current conditions which, as we knew from turning below Isis Lock, were very calm.

Advice for craft over 52 foot

In 1789 George Spencer, the Duke of Marlborough, decided he wanted access from the South Oxford Canal to the River Thames, so he requested a cut be built. The Duke wanted coal to power the paper mill at Lower Wolvercote. The mill steam engine devoured 100 tons of coal per week, which could be supplied by narrowboat from the Oxford Canal via the new cut. Little remains to remind boaters of the history, but we travelled this route when we went onto the Thames in March. 

National Cycle network sign post, with echoes of the canal

We finally had movement through the lock and our long wait was over; we followed narrowboat Phoenix and settled on the lock landing to wait our turn through Dukes Lock.

Approaching Dukes Lock

The scene at the lock is very pastoral and it is just possible to forget the A34 and A40 rushing past on the bridges below. A College Cruiser hire boat came down before we went up with John helping the lady crew - he is good at that! That made 5 narrowboats on the move in one late November day - amazing!

The view that greeted us as we rose in Dukes Lock

Once again we passed moored narrowboats and approached Drinkwater Lift Bridge. Kings Bridge carries the A44 and it was not long after this that we called it a day.

Kings Bridge

There is a good stretch of piling just below Kidlington Green Lock and this is where we decided to moor. Narrowboat Phoenix was moored but pulled off just as we arrived - I think they were determined that we would not overtake them and "steal" their lock! But they did not know that we had no intention of carrying on!

We hoped to be able to paint the port side but the weather had other ideas as it suddenly became very cold overnight. So John took a mile or two's walk to Sainsbury's in Kidlington (and back) instead! 

Moored below Kidlington Green Lock

We could have stayed longer, but we had other ideas .....

South Oxford Canal, Hythe Bridge to Kidlington Green
3 hours 36 minutes, 4.43 miles, 4 locks