Photo Retrospective - goodbye Thrupp, hello Heyford

Saturday, 17 December 2011 17:34

Winter cruising can be fabulous, we love the sunny cold light and the South Oxford lends itself to some lovely rural photos and it was so good to be on the move again. But before we left Thrupp we had to do our "business" at the sani-station and we also had a chat with the Thrupp Canal Cruising Club Moorings warden Adam and his wife Flick. We congratulated them on the delightful look of the moorings and the care they are taking to make the area attractive. 

Busy bee/wasp at the sani-station garden

Flick is the gardener and they have made a way through the wilderness that was the path alongside the off-side moorings too. After Thrupp Wide there are even more TCCC moorings and here is my photographic retrospective on our cruise yesterday ......

The towpath has recently been upgraded all the way to Shipton on Cherwell past these TCCC moorings - it is really good now.

More TCCC moorings

Around the corner is Shipton on Cherwell with some 14D moorings and a few permanent moorings

Shipton Bridge and moorings

Shipton Church stands on a rise beside the bridge and is another oft photographed sight, It was designed by William Turner who lived in the Manor House, but a church has stood here since the C12th. The current one is known as a Georgian Gothic Revival Church and was built around 1831. It had another "make over" about 30 years later.

Lovely Shipton Church 

We began thinking about the River Cherwell at this stage. The next lock, Shipton Weir Lock, leads to the River section that was incorporated into the South Oxford Canal to save money. We wondered what the flow would be like, as we had had a fair amount of rain at night. I could see the old abandoned factory works and chimney that is beside the river and John got off to open the lift bridge and walk on to the lock.

Old factory buildings across the fields

I seem to have blogged about and photographed this section of the canal so many times - but it is still an experience not to be missed. The unusual shape lock - to allow maximum water but small fall, the entrance onto the river and the knack of picking up the "lockie", and the ability to open up the throttle can all be a bit of a challenge! The river was flowing - but not too bad, fortunately. 

In Shipton Weir Lock, with the Cherwell flowing by

Once on the Cherwell it bends and weaves its way to Bakers Lock, back on the South Oxford Canal. The Cherwell leaves under a footbridge and the cut to the lock is an attractive mooring, but only room for one narrowboat as otherwise the lock landing can be obstructed.

On the River Cherwell

We were so hoping that Northbrook Lock would be open, as we wanted to get a real "jump" on our way up to Banbury and get beyond the lock and maybe even Lower Heyford. It was - and here are the photos of the work that was done during the stoppage. 

Bottom gate strengthened

Two lots of new brickwork at the tail of the lock

A new top gate

New "foot arch" or whatever it is called!

Beyond this, on our way up to Heyford, the canal opens out and there is some lovely countryside. Dashwoods Lock is very rural and in the sunshine it was glorious.

Dashwoods Lock

Getting under Lower Heyford Wharf Bridge and past all the Oxfordshire Narrowboats can be tricky and as the hire narrowboats were moored four or five abreast there was only just room for us to pass - the iron bar under the water on the off side of the bridge always comes to meet us in welcome! Oops, mind the paint work, John!

We found our quiet isolated mooring above Mill Lift Bridge after a longish day for us - wonderful! Now how long will it take us to get to Aynho? ......

South Oxford Canal, Jolly Boatman Thrupp to Mill Lift Bridge above Lower Heyford
4 hours 48 minutes, 8.36 miles, 5 locks