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.^[1]

Course

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

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 graduate housing development of the University of Oxford

.

Further south, the Isis Lock gives access to the Oxford Canal, and the short Sheepwash Channel leads west under the railway tracks to the main stream of the Thames.^[2] The stream then flows under Hythe Bridge, on Hythe Bridge Street, and under a series of bridges: Pacey's Bridge on Park End Street, Quaking Bridge, and Swan Bridge (once known as Castle Bridge),^[3] outside the original medieval city walls of Oxford, near Oxford Castle.^[4] It continues under Oxpens Road and rejoins the Thames immediately upstream of the Gasworks Bridge.

History

The stream was altered greatly in

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

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

The Castle Mill Stream at Quaking Bridge.
The restored Old Malthouse on the Castle Mill Stream and Tidmarsh Lane, dating from the early 19th century.
On the left is the walkway along the Castle Mill Stream, leading from
St Thomas' Street to Park End Street
.

The Castle Mill Stream, near Oxpens Road.
Looking the mill stream towards Oxford Castle.
The Castle Mill Stream flowing under Hythe Bridge.
Isis Lock, linking the mill stream (right) and the Oxford Canal (left).
The railway bridge over the mill stream near
Port Meadow, north of Oxford railway station and just south of Walton Well Road
.