Castle Mill Stream is a

backwater Backwater or Backwaters may refer to: Music * ''Backwaters'' (album), a 1982 album by American guitarist Tony Rice * Backwater (band), a jazz fusion band from Mobile, Alabama, or this band's 1976 debut album * "Backwater", a song by Brian Eno fr ...

of the River Thames in the west of Oxford, England. It is 5.5 km long.

Course

The stream leaves the main course of the River Thames at the south end of

Port Meadow Port Meadow is a large meadow of open common land beside the River Thames to the north and west of Oxford, England. Overview The meadow is an ancient area of grazing land, still used for horses and cattle, and according to legend has never bee ...

, immediately upstream of

Medley Footbridge Medley Footbridge is a pedestrian bridge across the River Thames near the village of Binsey in Oxford, England. It is also known as Rainbow Bridge, although there is another bridge of that name in the University Parks in Oxford. The bridge be ...

, split by the northern part of

Fiddler's Island Fiddler's Island is an island in the River Thames at Oxford in England. It is situated south of Port Meadow on the reach above Osney Lock. The north part of the island sits between the River Thames and the top end of Castle Mill Stream, a Tha ...

to the west. It flows between Port Meadow to the north and

Cripley Meadow Cripley Meadow lies between the Castle Mill Stream, a backwater of the River Thames, and the Cotswold Line railway to the east, and Fiddler's Island, on the main branch of the Thames to the west, in Oxford, England. It is to the south of the be ...

(largely allotments) to the south. It then passes under the Cherwell Valley railway line and turns south, alongside the southern end of the Oxford Canal and the railway tracks, across which is the

Castle Mill Castle Mill is a graduate housing complex of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Overview Castle Mill is located north of Oxford railway station along Roger Dudman Way, just to the west of the railway tracks and the Oxford Down C ...

graduate housing development of the University of Oxford. Further south, the Isis Lock gives access to the Oxford Canal, and the short

Sheepwash Channel Sheepwash Channel connects the River Thames to the west and the Castle Mill Stream next to the Oxford Canal to the east (linked through Isis Lock), in west Oxford, England. To the north are Cripley Meadow (largely allotments) and Fiddler's I ...

leads west under the railway tracks to the main stream of the Thames. The stream then flows under

Hythe Bridge Hythe Bridge (formerly known as High Bridge) is a Victorian flat cast iron beamed bridge on Hythe Bridge Street in the west of central Oxford, England. It spans the Castle Mill Stream, a backwater of the River Thames. Hythe Bridge forms part ...

, on

Hythe Bridge Street Hythe Bridge Street is in the west of central Oxford, England, forming part of the A4144 road. History There has been a road here since at least 1233. Previous names include Hide Brigge, Hithe Brigge, and Rewley Lane. It used to form part of ...

, and under a series of bridges: Pacey's Bridge on

Park End Street Park End Street is a street in central Oxford, England, to the west of the centre of the city, close to the railway station at its western end. Location To the east, New Road links Park End Street to central Oxford. To the west, Frideswid ...

, Quaking Bridge, and Swan Bridge (once known as Castle Bridge), outside the original medieval city walls of Oxford, near Oxford Castle. It continues under

Oxpens Road Oxpens Road is a road in central Oxford, England, linking west and south Oxford. It is named after the marshy area of Oxpens, next to one of the branches of the River Thames in Oxford. It forms part of the A420 road. Locale To the northwest, O ...

and rejoins the Thames immediately upstream of the

Gasworks Bridge The Gasworks Bridge, also known as the Old Gasworks Bridge, is an iron bridge across the River Thames at Oxford in England. It is a pedestrian bridge linking St Ebbes to the Grandpont nature reserve. It crosses the river on the reach between I ...

History

The stream was altered greatly in Saxon and early Norman times. There was a mill here even before the castle existed. In the winter of 1142, there was a siege at the castle. Empress Matilda (aka Queen Maud, 1102–1167), the daughter and dispossessed heir of

Henry I Henry I may refer to: 876–1366 * Henry I the Fowler, King of Germany (876–936) * Henry I, Duke of Bavaria (died 955) * Henry I of Austria, Margrave of Austria (died 1018) * Henry I of France (1008–1060) * Henry I the Long, Margrave of the N ...

, was there during her power struggle with King Stephen (1096–1154). The queen escaped from the castle after her guards lowered her over the walls. She was clothed in a white dress that camouflaged her against the snow. Matilda crept through the enemy lines and across the Castle Mill Stream to escape to freedom. In the Middle Ages, the stream was used for navigation, at least above Hythe Bridge. During the 16th century, hay, wood, stone, and slate were unloaded at a wharf at Hythe Bridge. When the Oxford Canal was built, it provided an easier route into the centre of Oxford, and in 1795-96 Daniel Harris built Isis Lock to allow Thames river traffic to access the canal wharves. The stream then fell out of use for navigation.

Gallery

File:The Castle Mill Stream at Quaking Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1573979.jpg, The Castle Mill Stream at Quaking Bridge. File:The Old Malthouse on Castle Mill Stream - geograph.org.uk - 1573993.jpg, The restored Old Malthouse on the Castle Mill Stream and Tidmarsh Lane, dating from the early 19th century. File:The malt house and stone dog, reflected - geograph.org.uk - 1574011.jpg, On the left is the walkway along the Castle Mill Stream, leading from

St Thomas' Street Park End Street is a street in central Oxford, England, to the west of the centre of the city, close to the railway station at its western end. Location To the east, New Road links Park End Street to central Oxford. To the west, Frideswid ...

. File:Mill stream to the College - geograph.org.uk - 1408218.jpg, The Castle Mill Stream, near

. File:Back up the millstream - geograph.org.uk - 1410531.jpg, Looking the mill stream towards Oxford Castle. File:CastleMillStream.jpg, The Castle Mill Stream flowing under

. File:Isis Lock, Oxford - geograph.org.uk - 320206.jpg, Isis Lock, linking the mill stream (right) and the Oxford Canal (left). File:A goods train crosses a minor tributary of the Thames on its way towards Oxford Station - geograph.org.uk - 1555200.jpg, The railway bridge over the mill stream near

, north of

Oxford railway station Oxford railway station is a mainline railway station, one of two serving the city of Oxford, England. It is about west of the city centre, north-west of Frideswide Square and the eastern end of Botley Road. It is on the line for trains betwee ...

and just south of

Walton Well Road Walton Well Road is a road, about 400 metres (a quarter mile) long, near the centre of Oxford, England. It provides a link from central Oxford to Port Meadow. Location The road marks the northern edge of the district known as Jericho. At th ...

References

External links

*
''Where Thames Smooth Waters Glide: Oxford Old River''
{{authority control Geography of Oxford History of Oxford Rivers of Oxfordshire 0CastleMillStream

Course

History

Gallery

See also

References

External links