We had terrific rain during the night – it actually woke me up which is
unusual though the trains didn’t.
We had some visitors this morning.
We planned to have a quieter day today than yesterday. Under the M6 with the world speeding above
us. We stopped at Rose Narrowboats for
water – this is where Richard and his late wife hired their first narrowboat
and Richard’s love of them started.
The next part of the canal is a bit too dark for me added to the fact
that the day was grey, dismal and showery, it wasn’t good :-)
However, this part is probably one of the most interesting parts of the
canal. The Oxford Canal was constructed
in several stages over a period of more than twenty years. In 1769 an Act of Parliament authorising the
Oxford Canal was passed. By 1774 the
canal had reached Napton, but the company was already running out of
money. In 1775, a second Act was passed
allowing the company to raise more funds. Construction soon started again and
by 1778 the canal had reached Banbury. Financial problems meant that work on
the final stretch to Oxford did not begin until 1786. The stretch of the canal from Banbury to
Oxford was built as cheaply as possible. Many economy measures were used.
Wherever possible, wooden lift or swing bridges were built instead of expensive
brick ones. Deep locks were used wherever possible, with single gates at both
ends instead of double gates. The Oxford
Canal reached the outskirts of Oxford in 1789, and the final section into
central Oxford was ceremonially opened on 1st January 1790.
Much of this section of the canal was straightened out in the 1820s,
and remains of the original less direct route can still be seen in places with
the lovely original wrought iron bridges.
I don’t think I would like to be this close to the water!
Through Newbold Tunnel and passed Rugby. It’s six years since we came this way and my
memory is totally different to the one I saw today! I must be thinking of somewhere else – but
where???!
I love this footbridge alongside a roadbridge.
We wanted to moor up by the golf course as I had been in touch with fellow blogger Tom
from NB Waiouru and I knew the boat was moored there. Sadly, Tom is in Belgium (what lengths some
people will go to not to meet me!) but he has left Jan behind so we had a good
long chat mainly about how we have noticed that the personalities of boaters
has changed over the years.
Question – why is it that when you come across another boat at a bridge
or narrows and you slow down to let them through you always know that the boat
coming towards you at a snail’s pace is a hire boat?
9.63 miles
0 locks
1 swing bridge
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