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 Fiddler's Island is an island in the River Thames at Oxford in England. It is situated south of Port Meadow on the reach above Osney Lock. The north part of the island sits between the River Thames and the top end of Castle Mill Stream, a Thame ...

opposite

Sheepwash Channel Sheepwash Channel connects the River Thames to the west and the Castle Mill Stream next to the Oxford Canal to the east (linked through Isis Lock), in west Oxford, England. To the north are Cripley Meadow (largely allotments) and Fiddler's ...

. It immediately flows past

Tumbling Bay Tumbling Bay, also known as Tum, is an outdoors bathing area in Oxford, England. Fed by the River Thames, the bathing spot opened in 1853 and closed formally in 1990. Subsequently, it has been known as a wild swimming location. Description The T ...

, 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 The Osney Ditch is a side channel of the River Thames at Oxford, England. It is one of the principal watercourses in west Oxford. The ditch leaves Bulstake Stream just east of Binsey Lane and then rejoins the main stream of the Thames south of ...

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 Botley Road is the main road into the centre of Oxford, England from the west. It stretches between Botley, on the Oxford Ring Road ( A34) to the west of the city, and Frideswide Square at the junction with Oxford railway station, close to ...

( 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 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 we ...

Industrial Estate, and rejoins the Thames at the

Osney Rail Bridge Osney Rail Bridge is a railway bridge over the River Thames at Oxford in England. It carries the Cherwell Valley Line between Didcot and Oxford across the river on the reach between Iffley Lock and Osney Lock. The original bridge was built in ...

. 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