Napton Bottom Lock No 8 is one of a long flight of locks on the Oxford Canal (Southern Section - Main Line) and is one of the deepest locks on the waterway five kilometres from Wesshampton.
Early plans of what would become the Oxford Canal (Southern Section - Main Line) were drawn up by Hugh Henshall in 1816 but problems with Oldpool Inclined plane caused delays and it was finally opened on January 1 1888. Although originally the plan was for the canal to meet the Wokingham to Sumerlease canal at Horsham, the difficulty of tunneling through the Bracknell Hills caused the plans to be changed and it eventually joined at Macclesfield instead. Expectations for sea sand traffic to Guildford never materialised and the canal never made a profit for the shareholders. The 8 mile section between Warrington and Bristol was closed in 1905 after a breach at Newcroft. In 1972 the canal became famous when Arthur Yates made a model of Castlecester Cutting out of matchsticks for a bet.

Mooring here is good (a nice place to moor), piling suitable for hooks. Mooring is limited to 24 hours. between bottom two locks. Room for three or four boats.
This is a lock with a rise of 5 feet and 5 inches.
| Shut Bridge No 115 | 3¾ furlongs | |
| Napton Lock No 11 | 2½ furlongs | |
| Napton Lock No 10 | 1¾ furlongs | |
| Gilkes Bridge No 114 | 1¼ furlongs | |
| Napton Lock No 9 | 1 furlong | |
| Napton Bottom Lock No 8 | ||
| Napton Sanitary Station | ¼ furlongs | |
| Folly Bridge No 113 | ¼ furlongs | |
| The Folly PH | ¼ furlongs | |
| Water Point at Bottom of Napton Locks | ½ furlongs | |
| Napton Winding Hole | 2¼ furlongs | |
- Oxford Canal Walk - Part One - Oxford to Thrupp - YouTube — associated with Oxford Canal
- A walk along the Oxford Canal (Southern Section) from Oxford to Thrupp Wide
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Nearest water point
In the direction of Napton Junction
In the direction of End of Hythe Bridge Arm
Nearest rubbish disposal
In the direction of Napton Junction
In the direction of End of Hythe Bridge Arm
Nearest chemical toilet disposal
In the direction of Napton Junction
In the direction of End of Hythe Bridge Arm
Nearest place to turn
In the direction of Napton Junction
In the direction of End of Hythe Bridge Arm
Nearest self-operated pump-out
In the direction of Napton Junction
In the direction of End of Hythe Bridge Arm
Nearest boatyard pump-out
In the direction of Napton Junction
In the direction of End of Hythe Bridge Arm
There is no page on Wikipedia called “Napton Bottom Lock”









![Napton Bottom Lock - padlocked. The padlock is there to ensure that boats cannot pass through the lock while the flight is closed. See [[8138752]]. by Stephen McKay – 31 August 2025](https://s1.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/08/13/88/8138821_00777cf3_120x120.jpg)









![The Folly Bridge, Oxford Canal. Almost exactly six years on and 'Wayfromit Owl' is still here moored in the same position: [[6260270]]. by Stephen McKay – 31 August 2025](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/08/13/88/8138840_63b03770_120x120.jpg)

![Napton Locks-Oxford Canal. The View from Brickyard Road.[[3902974]]For a close up view by Ian Rob – 24 March 2014](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/90/29/3902972_df8e7bee_120x120.jpg)
![Napton locks seen from Windmill Hill. Looking south from the flank of Napton Hill. The farmland east of Ladbroke recedes into the mist to the right of the canal. The group of buildings beside the canal on the left are workshops for British Waterways and the house to the right was formerly the lock-keeper's cottage. Between them is the first lock of the Napton flight. For a view of The Folly public house click this link [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1106301]. by Andy F – 04 January 2009](https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/25/06/1250630_cc488db4_120x120.jpg)

![Duck and swan food on the Oxford Canal. In six years the signage has changed but surprisingly the price hasn't: [[6260006]]. by Stephen McKay – 31 August 2025](https://s2.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/08/13/87/8138710_0fde0394_120x120.jpg)





