Old Man's Bridge is a wooden footbridge across the River Thames

River Thames

The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...

 in Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....

, England. It is situated on the reach above Rushey Lock

Rushey Lock

Rushey Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England. It is on the northern bank of the river in Oxfordshire, a considerable distance from any village, the nearest being Buckland Marsh, a hamlet on the road to Buckland to the south of the river....

, a short way downstream of Radcot Lock

Radcot Lock

Radcot Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England just downstream of Radcot, Oxfordshire, on the southern bank.The lock was built by the Thames Conservancy in 1892 on the site of an old weir and flash lock....

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There was formerly a weir known as Old Man's Weir, or alternatively Harper's Weir, which had a footpath across it. This was an important crossing because it linked several towns. The weir had disappeared by 1868 but the bridge was still standing then as there were complaints about its poor state of repair. The weir piles were then removed and a new footbridge built. This bridge was also called the ”High” bridge. By 1894 this "steep trestle with five openings had become unsafe and the present bridge was built.

The original weir is not to be confused with "Old Nan's Weir" which was another weir downstream about a mile from Rushey Lock. Although the lock was built in 1790, the weir was not removed until 1868.