Canal Basin at Oxford

[Theo]

SWMBO and I had a bit of an explore looking for evidence of the old basin. I thought that you might be interested in this tiny bit of evidence for the existence of the bridge into the basin which was filled in and made into a car park.

 

 

 

Note the small bit of arching brickwork over the left hand wing of the black car.

 

N

Edited August 13, 2015 by Theo
To add the "t" to "might"

[Heffalump]

I got a ticket once parked infront of that arch.

 

It's a real shame it's gorn

[b0atman]

but if it hadn't then your car would have been in the canal

[Cleyley Bob]

Nice bit of detective work Theo and thanks for posting the photos.

Prompted me to have a look at the old OS maps - and the link below should show the 1888-1913 6" series map alongside the modern Bing aerial photo.

http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sidebyside.cfm#zoom=19&lat=51.7536&lon=-1.2644&layers=6&right=BingHyb.

[Laurence Hogg]

I think we may have some images of the old basin.

[David Schweizer]

There was talk a few years ago of digging up the car park and re-instating the basin, but it seems to have gone a bit quiet lately

 

 

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/10692913.Back_to_the_future_bid_for_canal_basin/?ref=rss

[Heffalump]

I think we may have some images of the old basin.

 

I'd really love to see them if you do, Laurence

[magpie patrick]

There was talk a few years ago of digging up the car park and re-instating the basin, but it seems to have gone a bit quiet lately

 

 

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/10692913.Back_to_the_future_bid_for_canal_basin/?ref=rss

 

 

More than a few years ago (twenty?) I was asked to quote for a feasibility study of building a new basin here: the work was never commissioned.

 

Isn't Nuffield College on part of the basin?

[Heffalump]

The basin is under the car park, but the arm extends to where the college is now

[Richard Fairhurst]

Nuffield and Oxford City Council have in the past proved unwilling to forego the revenue generated by the car park. To be honest, canal interests' campaigning for a restored basin hasn't always been too inspired - focusing on the benefit of creating a new winding hole (!) rather than the regeneration/development story that sells it to property owners and local authorities.

 

I've heard suggestions that Nuffield and the City might now be a bit more open to the idea. Unfortunately, though, the city and county councils have rather squandered the opportunity by treating all the developments in that side of Oxford piecemeal - Botley Road railway bridge, Frideswide Square, the Westgate and Bonn Square. A coherent vision could and should have incorporated a restored basin, but coherent vision has never been Oxfordshire's speciality.

 

Still, this recent land deal could offer another opportunity...

[Laurence Hogg]

This is the basin with Joe Skinner unloading:

 

[Ray T]

Could be anywhere but it is Oxford Basin with Rose Skinner and Jean (Humphries) Hambridge. At the time of the picture Jeannie was 13 years old.

 

Unfortunately Jeannie passed away last month.

 

Rose Skinner & Jean

[AMModels]

All the different species of coal, such evocative images.

[Ray T]

All the different species of coal, such evocative images.

 

Bakers nuts.

[andy3196]

Go to http://collections.canalrivertrust.org.uk/homeand type "oxford canal basin" into the search box for more pictures.

 

(Too drunk/stupid to be able to link directly)

[Ray T]

Didn't work, type Oxford Canal Basin in the search box of the link above.

Edited August 14, 2015 by Ray T

[Theo]

Thanks for all that. Here's hoping that something will be done about the basin.

 

N

[Derek R.]

Didn't work, type Oxford Canal Basin in the search box of the link above.

 

Listen up at the back - I think that's what Andy said!

 

Copying and pasting the individual image address doesn't work, that just sends you to the CRT main site page, but Andy's link - and as Ray has said - type in Oxford Canal Basin on that link will provide the goods.

 

Well I never! Just did it again and it worked! At least - with this one from the set:

http://collections.canalrivertrust.org.uk/bw197.2.24.19

 

Renault Dauphine; Standard 10 - what else?

Edited August 14, 2015 by Derek R.

[Ray T]

Morris Oxford or Cowley and a Daimler Conquest

Edited August 14, 2015 by Ray T

[OldGoat]

Morris Oxford or Cowley and a Daimler Conquest

Plus a Standard 8 (my first car) - I think they only made them in Dull Grey and a French thingy...

The Daimler looked nice...

[Ray T]

Another image:

 

 

 

 

[Machpoint005]

I got a ticket once parked in front of that arch.

 

It's a real shame it's gorn

 

TBH that's not at all difficult anywhere in Oxford!

[Derek R.]

Morris Oxford or Cowley and a Daimler Conquest

 

Ah - I did wonder. Ta.

[mayalld]

Another image:

 

Oxford Wharf 1838.jpg

 

 

Hythe Bridge marked as High Bridge