Street view from Castle Weir stream Footbridge towards Gasworks Bridge
Immediately above Osney Footbridge, on the RIGHT bank (your right as you go upstream),
under a footbridge, is the Old Oxford Navigation, Castle Weir Stream, which can be followed up to a weir.
It rapidly gets shallower and swifter.
It is the outflow from Castle Mill.
The other side of this weir would be approached by leaving the main river at Four Rivers,
though that route has now been blocked following its attempted use by a narrow boat!
Old Oxford Navigation.
Punts and Canoes only - and it really doesn't get anywhere!
George Island, Osney Island
Beyond it the land on the right bank of the main river is George Island.
The size of George Island I do not know.
The only apparent water bounds are round the whole of New Osney which would make it one of the largest Thames islands
The church built in Oxford Castle was St George's and it became the name of the tower.
Perhaps this then became the name of the whole island? If so it has been forgotten!
Fred Thacker in 1909 marked the whole area as Osney Island - and then this nearest part as George Island:
This section in The Stripling Thames by Fred Thacker
Fred Thacker's Map, 1920.
1909: The Stripling Thames, Fred Thacker -
Just past this first bridge [Gasworks Bridge now Osney Footbridge]
you will see on the RIGHT bank a triangular grassy island,
called in the old maps George Island.
The stream that enters on its eastern side is the ancient main navigation from Medley Weir.
Weir Stream Footbridge -
Footbridge over weir stream, seen from upstream.
Oxpens Bridge, the A420
Oxpens Bridge, weir stream.
The approach to the bridge has some large stones which grounded the punt - but I got through. Above was a shallow stream which did take a little negotiating.
Weir stream Walkway
Walkway over weir stream
Stream splits, the left bank stream was too shallow and full of rubbish.
On the RIGHT bank stream a wooden Bridge -
Wooden Bridge on weir stream.
A few yards above this a line of stones across the stream ended my explorations 50 yards short of the weir by Oxford Castle.