One of 21 Short Strolls
Oxford Gaol
Overview below, selected detail right.

Click for Clear Text.

Famous for undergraduate rowing and punting. Oxford is bounded by the water meadows of the two rivers and riddled with multiple streams. There are museums and colleges in abundance and many passageways, alleyways and riverside walks.

Start this 'figure of eight' short stroll from:.
Hythe Bridge and Upper Fisher Row Look at the waters upstream:-
- on the left: Castle Mill Stream off the Thames
- on the right: the final stretch of the Oxford Canal
- between these is the towpath, and a semi-circular weir allowing excess water to overflow into the river. Turn downstream. Cross the road, follow the few steps to the riverside walk. After 50 yards, cross the next (bus only) road along Lower Fisher Row's waterside to:-
Quaking Bridge and St George's Tower. 'Verminous dungeons' were built into Oxford's Norman (1071) castle. Developed over the years (1166-1855) and used as Oxford Gaol for centuries, modern day prisoners finally left in 1997.
Keeping on the south side of the weir for Castle Mill (1071-1930), follow the castle walls round to the end of Paradise Street. Cross Castle Street, turn left up towards the pub. On the left of the pub are the flagstones of Bulwarks Lane. Go in and keeping the garden wall to your left, you will find the modest door labelled:-
Canal House
Former headquarters of the Oxford Canal Company overlooked the coal wharf and is now used for lodgings for the Warden of St Peter's College. Bulwarks Lane follows the original curving line of the castle outer bailey. Continue down until you can turn right. At the end of the alley is:-
Old Fire Station: George Street
Partof 24 hour Oxford. Restaurants, cinemas, a theatre and pubs galore front this street.
Turn left down George Street. At the end, cross onto the Northern side of Hythe Bridge Street and (going west) follow Worcester College wall. Cross over the river by Hythe Bridge at the centre of this 'figure of eight' stroll. This time go upstream to the end of the terrace houses in Upper Fisher Row.

Pushing past the light undergrowth, follow the ancient stone wall of Rewley Abbey (1280). The pointed arch on the left is the water gate to the abbey. (If the undergrowth is impassable the alternative is to circle clockwise following the garden wall of modern apartment blocks and use road pavements to regain the riverside walk.)
Continue until you can lean on the western parapet of the new road over Sheepwash Channel. Look down onto:-
Railway Swing Bridge (1844)
The London North Western Railway arrived in Oxford across the Sheepwash Channel at this very low level, forcing bargees to ask permission of the signalman to allow the bridge to be swung. This could only be done in accordance with the railway timetable... and thus forced significant delays on river traffic. Now fixed in the open position.
Complete your crossing of the Sheepwash Channel, then either turn left and under the main railway bridge to join the Thames Path or:-
Return to the start by turning right and along the canal towpath between the two waterways, but first cross the cast iron bridge at :-
Isis Lock (1796)
Bult by prisoners six years after the canal arrived in Oxford, this lock was originally wide enough to allow Thames barges access to canal wharves. Since narrowed to conserve water.
Explore the covered market and university colleges or for a much longer walk to Iffley lock:- Start from Railway Swing Bridge go to the main river, turn downstream along the Thames Path to:-

Punt station close to the Botanical Gardens on the River Cherwell, just below Magdalen Bridge.

Osney Bridge
The limited headroom under this bridge stops larger boats from proceeding upstream to Lechlade.
Use this bridge to cross the river and, on the left, a metal footbridge to gain access to visitors moorings in East Street. Follow Thames Path for 3 miles. Past Osney Lock, the original 'Oxen Ford' at Folly Bridge, an old wharf crane at 'Head of the River' pub, Christ Church Meadow and the University Boathouses to Iffley Lock. Cross the lock and follow the footpath towards Iffley Village and Church, but first stop a moment at:-
Iffley Old Lock (1635)
The structure of the bywash is all that is left of the first scheme to bring reliable navigation to a wharf downstream of Folly Bridge (Now Head of the River Pub), The first pound locks on the Thames were here at Iffley, at the Swift Ditch (Abingdon) and Sandford.

Getting there:
Approach from the M40 J8. Use A40 / A4142 south to Redbriidge Park and Ride.
Any Park and Ride. Join at .
Parking from George Street / New Inn Hall Street. Join at .
From station exit go straight along Hythe Bridge Street. Join at .