Bulstake Stream, also spelt Bullstake Stream, is a backwater of 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, s ...

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

, England. The stream leaves the main stream of the Thames at a river junction known as Four Rivers, at the south west corner of Fiddler's Island opposite Sheepwash Channel. It immediately flows past Tumbling Bay, which had a bathing place in use from 1853 to 1990, when the toilets and huts were removed. The pool is still in occasional use, though in disrepair. A fish race was added in to bypass the bathing place and was completed by 2020. The Osney Ditch flows out of the stream southeast towards

Osney Osney or Osney Island (; an earlier spelling of the name is ''Oseney'') is a riverside community in the west of the city of Oxford, England. In modern times the name is applied to a community also known as Osney Town astride Botley Road, just w ...

. The stream follows a semi-circular course, west and then south, passing under bridges on Binsey Lane and Botley Road ( Bulstake Bridge) to a confluence with Seacourt/Hinksey Stream near

North Hinksey North Hinksey is a village in the civil parish of Botley and North Hinksey, in the Vale of White Horse district, in Oxfordshire, England, on the west side of the Thames flood plain immediately opposite the city of Oxford. The civil parish incl ...

. It resumes, east, past Osney Mead Industrial Estate, and rejoins the Thames at the Osney Rail Bridge. The

Thames Path The Thames Path is a National Trail following the River Thames from one of its sources near Kemble, Gloucestershire, Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Woolwich foot tunnel, south east London. It is about long. A path was first proposed in 1948 ...

crosses the stream on a bridge known as Boney's Bridge. Botley Stream flows into it from Seacourt Stream just north of Botley Road. The lower part (resumption) is also known as Potts Stream or Pot Stream. Until 1790, the stream was the main navigation channel of the Thames. It became a backwater when

Osney Lock Osney Lock is a lock on the River Thames in Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the Univers ...

was opened.

References

External links

Where Thames Smooth Waters Glide
{{authority control Geography of Oxford Rivers of Oxfordshire 0BulstakeStream