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Fiddler's Island is an island in the
File:FiddlersIsland01.JPG, The northern part of Fiddler's Island looking downstream from
Fiddler's Island is an island in the River Thames
The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, se ...
at Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
in England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...
. It is situated south 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 ...
on the reach above Osney Lock
Osney Lock is a lock on the River Thames in Oxford, England, where the village or island of Osney is next to the river.
The first lock was built of stone by Daniel Harris for the Thames Navigation Commission in 1790.
Across the weir poo ...
.
The north part of the island sits between the River Thames and the top end of Castle Mill Stream
Castle Mill Stream is a backwater 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, immediately upstream of Medley Foo ...
, a Thames backwater. Fiddler's Island Stream flows to the east of the southern part of the island. To the south of the island, there is a short stretch of water known as the Sheepwash Channel linking back to the Castle Mill Stream and the Oxford Canal. The Thames Path
The Thames Path is a National Trail following the River Thames from its source near Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Woolwich foot tunnel, south east London. It is about long. A path was first proposed in 1948 but it only opened in 1996.
The ...
runs the length of the complete island. At the northern end, the island has a row of trees along it. On the Castle Mill Stream side there is extensive mooring. The rainbow-shaped 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 ...
crosses the main stream of the Thames to the west at the northern end and a flat iron Bailey bridge
A Bailey bridge is a type of portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge. It was developed in 1940–1941 by the British for military use during the Second World War and saw extensive use by British, Canadian and American military engineering units ...
crosses Castle Mill Stream further south, linking it to 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 ...
to the east. A small footbridge takes the Thames Path along the bank towards Osney Bridge
Osney Bridge is a road bridge across the River Thames in Oxford, England, built in 1888 to replace a stone bridge which collapsed in 1885. It carries the Botley Road ( A420) from Botley into Oxford. The Thames Path crosses the river on this br ...
. The northern part of Fiddler's Island is very thin. The southern part, connected by a footbridge, is wider. To the east is 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 consisting of allotments.
Fiddler's Island was authorised for public bathing
Public baths originated when most people in population centers did not have access to private bathing facilities. Though termed "public", they have often been restricted according to gender, religious affiliation, personal membership, and other cr ...
by the Oxford City Council
Oxford City Council is the lower-tier local government authority for the city of Oxford in England, providing such services as leisure centres and parking. Social Services, Education and Highways services (amongst others) are provided by Oxfor ...
in 1852, probably the first place in Oxford to be approved by the council.
Gallery
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 ...
File:Moorings on Fiddler's Island Stream - geograph.org.uk - 1760216.jpg, Moorings on Fiddler's Island in the Castle Mill Stream
Castle Mill Stream is a backwater 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, immediately upstream of Medley Foo ...
File:The Thames Path footbridge from Fiddler's Island - geograph.org.uk - 1760198.jpg, The Thames Path footbridge on Fiddler's Island, looking north
File:Fiddler's Island - geograph.org.uk - 872832.jpg, Looking south across the Thames Path footbridge
File:Bridge over Fiddler's Island Stream - geograph.org.uk - 1758528.jpg, Bailey bridge
A Bailey bridge is a type of portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge. It was developed in 1940–1941 by the British for military use during the Second World War and saw extensive use by British, Canadian and American military engineering units ...
from 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 ...
to Fiddler's Island
File:Tank Bridge or footbridge behind narrow islands-linking footbridge, Binsey and Port Meadow - geograph.org.uk - 1758542.jpg, View looking north of the two footbridges at the northern end of Fiddler's Island, with Port Meadow on the right
File:River Thames at Medley, Binsey - geograph.org.uk - 530958.jpg, View of the two footbridges with Medley Footbridge in the background in 1979
File:Fiddler's Island Bridge - April Snow 2008.jpg, Thames path footbridge on Fiddler's Island during early morning snow, April 2008
See also
*Islands in the River Thames
This article lists the islands in the River Thames, or at the mouth of a tributary (marked †), in England. It excludes human-made islands built as part of the building of forty-five two-gate locks which each accompany a weir, and islets subordi ...
References
{{coord, 51.7635, -1.2799, type:isle_region:GB, display=title Islands of the River Thames Geography of Oxford