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Henley-on-Thames is a town on the north side of the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead. It is located on the corner between Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.
Population 10,558 (1991 census).
Establishment
The town itself was established in the 12th century. It owes much to its location and port that supplied London with timber and grain.
Historic structures
Henley Bridge is a five arched bridge across the river which was built in 1786. The church of St. Mary is located nearby and features a tower built in the 16th century. About a mile upstream of the bridge is Marsh Lock.
Historic figures
William Lenthall was born in Henley-on-Thames. He was Speaker of the House of Commons between 1629 and 1640. Humphrey Gainsborough, brother of the artist Thomas Gainsborough, was a pastor and inventor who lived in Henley; a blue plaque marks his house, The Manse.
Rowing regatta
Henley is a world renowned centre for rowing, each summer holding the Henley Royal Regatta, one of the highlights of the social calendar of the English upper classes. The regatta is held on a stretch of the river that is naturally straight. The event became Royal in 1851. In that year Prince Albert became the patron of the regatta.
Other regattas are held on the same reach, including Henley Women's Regatta and the Henley Boat Races for women's and lightweight teams between Oxford and Cambridge University.
Twinning
Henley-on-Thames is twinned with Falaise, France, since 1973 Leichlingen, Germany, since 1979
Museum
The town has a museum, established in 1998, the River and Rowing Museum, located in Mill Meadows and designed by the architect David Chipperfield. It covers the River Thames, the sport of rowing, and the town of Henley.
See also
- Boris Johnson Conservative MP representing Henley in Parliament;
- Brakspear brewery, founded in 1779 but now closed;
- Dusty Springfield, buried at the St. Mary the Virgin Church in Hart Street, Henley;
- George Harrison, past resident of Henley at the Friar Park mansion;
- Henley, New Zealand;
- Leander Club, the world's oldest rowing club.
- Henley Management College
External links
- Henley-on-Thames
- Henley Network
- Henley Online and Henley Standard local newspaper
- Henley-on-Thames Town Council
- Henley Royal Regatta
- Regatta Radio 106.0FM - the official Henley Royal Regatta Radio Station
- Henley Festival held each July
- Henley Youth Festival held each March
- Henley College, Oxfordshire's only tertiary college
- River and Rowing Museum
- Phyllis Court Club
- Official Tourism website
- OXTowns.co.uk information
- The Henley Pages
- Further Henley-on-Thames information
- About Henley-on-Thames
"Henley-on-Thames"