- Castle Mill Stream
Castle Mill Stream is a
backwater of theRiver Thames in the west ofOxford ,England . Part of it runs parallel to the southern end of theOxford Canal . It then flows underHythe Bridge onHythe Bridge Street , past the former Lion Brewery and underOxpens Road to the Thames. The stream passed outside the original medieval city walls of Oxford, nearOxford Castle [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22810] . There was a mill here even before the castle existed [http://thames.me.uk/s01790.htm] .In the winter of 1142, there was a siege at the Castle [http://www.oxfordcity.co.uk/info/medieval.html] .
Empress Matilda (aka Queen Maud, 1102–1167), the daughter and dispossessed heir of Henry I, was there during her power struggle with King Stephen (1096–1154). The queen escaped from the castle after her guards lowered her over the walls. She was dressed 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.External links
* [http://thames.me.uk/s01790.htm Photographs and engraving] (including by
Henry Taunt )River item line|upstream=
Oxford Canal (north)
downstream=River Cherwell (north)
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