As originally built in 1790, the Oxford Canal was a great example of the contour canals favoured by James Brindley. Following the level of the landscape removed the need for (expensive and technically challenging at the time) locks and earthworks, at the expense of time and distance for the carriers. To illustrate this, the map includes a (clickable) 100m contour line from the OS. It is a modern contour line, so it often follows the straightened sections which may seem a little odd, nevertheless it does make the point.

At the time the Oxford was the primary link between the midlands and London, via the Thames. Over time this winding route became a serious impediment to trade, so between 1831 and 1834, in the face of emerging competition, the northern section was straightened, removing some of the more extreme loops and reducing the overall distance by nearly 15 miles.