Have you ever heard of magnet fishing? We certainly hadn't, but thanks go to Tom Davis, an archaeology student at Southampton University, who braved the water in early January under the expert guidance of OPT Trustee Tom Hassall.

We were all excited to learn that they had discovered two of the missing windlass handles, which were reputedly thrown into the Sheepwash Channel after their last use! 

You can find out more about the Rewley Road Railway Swing Bridge and Oxford’s part in the construction of railways across Britain here. 

If you would like to help support this restoration project, please consider donating or joining us.

With thanks to Historic England, Railway Heritage Trust, Network Rail and our other funders, without whom this restoration would not be possible; and to The Morton Partnership, Avon Construction and Oxford Archaeology.