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Details for Somerton Canal Cruising Club
Club Profile
Somerton Canal Cruising Club
“A few people sharing a common interest in canals and canal cruising and enjoying each other’s company, found themselves in an unenviable position. They had moorings on an idyllic stretch of the South Oxford Canal, with sunsets and views to warm the heart and raise the spirit but with atrocious conditions, a lack of security of tenure and an even greater lack of faith in those responsible for the moorings. Move on or take matters into their own hands? At a convivial meeting in a local public house on 11th December 1992 they made the decision to take matters into their own hands.”
Brian Anstey 1999
We are a very small non-profit making club based on the South Oxford Canal at Somerton midway between Aynho and Lower Heyford immediately south of Somerton Wharf and opposite Somerton Meadows. The founder members formed our club just for the owners of the boats at the moorings. The Wharf at the time was being used for recycling paper which was collected and then packed into large bales for recycling.
Following successful negotiation the land was rented, British Waterways granted a Licence to moor and in early 1993 the Club was formed and the first boats soon arrived. The moorings originally had seven boats including nb Molly Ryan who is still there. In 1994 our Club became the 100th Club to join the AWCC. A few years later the Mill owner retired and the buildings next to the bridge were demolished and three cottages were built. The cottages look like canal cottages and fitted in well with the canal scene. This also meant that the two moorings by the bridge were lost and the Club now only has five boats.
The Club members are all very fond of Somerton and we all help to look after the grounds. We really enjoy our moorings and are privileged to have the Somerton meadows opposite it making it a beautiful and peaceful setting disturbed only by the passing trains on the nearby Oxford to Banbury railway.
Most of us have been boating for many years and have boated much of the canal network. We all have an interest in the canals and their history. We enjoy the canal architecture and industrial heritage. We continue to be amazed at how so much was achieved by the people who designed and built our canal system and we still share the common interest in canals and canal cruising.
As such a small Club we unable to offer moorings or other services to other boaters but our members will try to offer assistance and advice if they can.
Jenny Bourke
Club Secretary
May 2026