Busier towards Banbury

After the last few days being pretty quiet, there was a fair few boats around today. We set off towards Aynho Weir Lock following another boat that had passed 10 minutes before, and caught them up at the lock.

Belcher’s Lift Bridge was replaced in 2000…

Several of the movable bridges around were replaced around the same time.

Aynho Weir Lock has another lozenge–shaped chamber, to drop more water than normal down from the river.


Meg and I walked the length of the river-fed section up to Nell Bridge Lock, but Mags had to hold off while a boat came down.

Nell Bridge Lock, you can just see Seyella’s bow as Mags waits to come in.
The narrow tail bridge has restricted headroom at normal water levels; when the river is up it can be impassable.

The Pig Place, just above the lock, offers overnight moorings as well as home-grown produce.

There’s a narrow, twisty section from here to the new M40 bridge, the site of an old lift bridge presents a challenge, trying to see where the masonry ends and the vegetation begins…


Bridge 183 and the M40


King’s Sutton Lock has a keepers cottage on the towpath side and a workshop on the offside.
Although the village of King’s Sutton is only a stones-throw away, there’s no direct access from the canal because the Cherwell is in the way.
The village is recorded as Svtone in the 1086 Domesday Book, and is noted as being mostly owned by the crown, but the royal connection wasn’t included in the name until the 13th century, when Suttun Regis and Kinges Sutton came into common use.

Forty minutes (and a drop of rain) saw us at and through Grant’s Lock, then under the M40 again, mooring just short of Nadkey Bridge.

We’ll stay here for the weekend. It’s out of the way and there are some pleasant walks around.

Locks 4, miles 4½