A critical stretch of the Oxford Canal has reopened after urgent repair work was completed on a damaged lock gate near Little Bourton, safeguarding a historic waterway relied on by leisure boaters.
The Oxford Canal has served as a vital artery for over two centuries, once transporting coal between Coventry and Oxford, and now offering a tranquil route for narrowboats.
In February 2025, that route was abruptly compromised when the Canal and River Trust discovered significant damage to lock 27 – specifically a snapped collar and heel, the metal band that secures the gate to the lock.
Recognising the risk of the gate becoming detached and the route rendered impassable, the Trust swiftly contacted The Rothen Group, a waterways and marine engineering specialist, to carry out emergency repairs.
Tackling the challenge head-on
The Canal and River Trust’s operational team undertook a site inspection and quickly determined that the collar and heel required complete replacement. With no in-house capacity to fabricate the part, they passed measurements to The Rothen Group, whose fabrication team modified a compatible collar and heel to match the unique specifications.
The fabrication, which took place at the Rothen Group’s base at Mancetter Wharf, was completed in just one day. Slight adjustments ensured the replacement was robust enough to support the gate and withstand canal use.
Efficient and environmentally mindful delivery
To reduce environmental impact, the replacement part was loaded onto a crane boat already operating in the region. The team then navigated down the canal to Little Bourton, avoiding road transportation and lowering carbon emissions.
Once on site, the crane boat lifted the gate from the lock, allowing the damaged components to be removed and the new collar and heel securely installed.
From fabrication to installation, the entire repair operation took less than a working week. This included one day to fabricate the part, one day to travel to the site, and one day to complete the on-site work.
Health and safety remained a top priority throughout. A detailed lift plan was prepared in advance, and The Rothen Group provided a full crew, including a crane operator, slinger banksman, and an appointed person working in collaboration with the Canal and River Trust.
Praise for rapid response and professionalism
Wayne Moore, Reactive Team Manager at the Canal and River Trust, praised the Rothen Group team:
“The team from the Rothen Group were nothing but professional, attentive, and totally mucked in with all aspects of what was a very delicate and stressful operation. Our main goal was to reopen the canal as soon as possible so that the impact on the boating community was limited.
“Thanks to The Rothen Group’s experienced fabrication team and being able to redirect a crane boat that happened to be in the region to the site in Little Bourton, we were able to achieve this. I know I can always put my trust in The Rothen Group to help us in these situations so solve it as soon as possible.”
Dan Harding, Head of Marine Plant Hire at The Rothen Group, added:
“Due to the positive and longstanding relationship that The Rothen Group has with the Canal and River Trust and because we have our specialist fleet of crane boats on waterways up and down the country at all times, the emergency was able to be attended to quickly.
“We were able to respond to the situation swiftly and provide what the Canal and River Trust needed in this urgent situation and are very pleased we could help resolve the issue.”
Thanks to the coordinated effort, lock 27 is once again operational, allowing leisure boaters to continue their journeys through one of Oxfordshire’s most historic waterways.
