Henley-on-Thames facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Henley-on-Thames |
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 Henley Town Hall |
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 Henley-on-Thames
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| Area | 5.58 km2 (2.15 sq mi) |
| Population | 12,186 (2021 Census) |
| • Density | 2,184/km2 (5,660/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | SU7682 |
| • London | 33 miles (53 km) |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HENLEY-ON-THAMES |
| Postcode district | RG9 |
| Dialling code | 01491 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Oxfordshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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| Website | Henley-on-Thames Town Council |
Henley-on-Thames (pronounced HEN-lee) is a lovely town in Oxfordshire, England. It sits right on the River Thames. Henley is about 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Reading and 37 miles (60 km) west of London. In 2021, about 12,186 people lived there. The town is famous for its beautiful river and the exciting Henley Royal Regatta rowing event.
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History of Henley-on-Thames
People have lived in the Henley area since at least the second century, during the Romano-British period. The town itself was first officially mentioned in 1179. This was when King Henry II bought land there to build things.
King John later gave the land around Henley to Robert Harcourt in 1199. A church was first mentioned in Henley in 1204. By 1234, there was already a bridge over the river. Henley grew steadily, and its street layout was probably set by the late 1200s.
Markets and Fairs in Henley
Henley has had a market for a very long time. It is believed that King John gave permission for the Thursday market. Records show a market was definitely happening by 1269. The town also has a fair called the Corpus Christi fair, which was allowed by King Henry VI.
Challenges and Growth in Henley
In the 14th century, the Black Death was a terrible sickness that spread across England. Henley lost a lot of its people, about 60% of its population. By the early 1500s, the town had grown along the west side of the Thames. It stretched from Friday Street in the south to the Manor, which is now called Phyllis Court, in the north.
During the English Civil War, Henley faced difficulties from both sides. Later, in the 17th and 18th centuries, Henley became rich. This was because it made glass and malt, and traded in corn and wool. Henley-on-Thames was important for supplying London with wood and grain.
How Henley-on-Thames is Governed
Henley-on-Thames has three levels of local government. These are the town council, the district council, and the county council.
- The Henley-on-Thames Town Council looks after local matters. Its office is in the Henley Town Hall.
- The South Oxfordshire District Council handles services for the wider area.
- The Oxfordshire County Council manages services for the whole county.
Changes in Henley's Local Government
Henley-on-Thames has been an old parish and a borough for many centuries. In 1568, Elizabeth I gave the town its first official charter. This allowed the town's merchant guild to run things.
Over time, local government changed. In 1864, a local board was set up to provide services like sewers. This board worked alongside the old borough. In 1883, the borough was officially reformed and became a municipal borough. The new town council took over the local board's jobs.
In 1974, the borough of Henley-on-Thames was ended. A new parish, also called Henley-on-Thames, was created. Its parish council became the Henley-on-Thames Town Council, which is still active today.
Famous Places and Buildings in Henley
Henley Bridge is a beautiful bridge with five arches that crosses the river. It was built in 1786 and is a very important historic building. In 2011, the bridge needed repairs after a boat hit it. About 1 mile (1.6 km) upstream from the bridge is Marsh Lock.
The Henley Town Hall is a grand building in the Market Place. It was finished in 1900. Another important building is Chantry House, which is next to the church. It is special because it has different numbers of floors on each side. The local church, St Mary the Virgin, has a tower from the 16th century.
The Old Bell is a pub on Bell Street. It is the oldest dated building in Henley, from 1325. To celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, 60 oak trees were planted near Fairmile. They were planted in the shape of a Victoria Cross.
Just outside Henley, in Buckinghamshire, there are two other notable buildings:
- Fawley Court: A red-brick building designed by Christopher Wren.
- Greenlands: This building is now home to the Henley Business School.
Getting Around Henley
Henley has its own railway station. It is the end of the Henley Branch Line from Twyford. You can also catch express trains from Reading, which is about 6 miles (10 km) away, to London Paddington. Trains from High Wycombe, about 12 miles (19 km) away, go to London Marylebone.
The M4 motorway and the M40 motorway are both about 7 miles (11 km) from Henley. Bus route 850 runs through Henley. It connects Reading and High Wycombe every 20 minutes.
Businesses in Henley
Organic baby food maker Ella's Kitchen has its main office in Henley-on-Thames.
Schools in Henley
Primary Schools
- Badgemore Primary School
- Sacred Heart RC School
- Trinity CE Primary School
- Valley Road Primary School
Secondary Schools
- Gillotts School
Independent Schools
- Rupert House School
- St. Mary's Preparatory School
- Shiplake College, located near Henley in Shiplake
Further Education
- The Henley College
- Henley Business School, which is part of the University of Reading, is also near Henley.
Rowing in Henley
Henley is known worldwide for rowing. Every summer, the famous Henley Royal Regatta takes place here. It is held on Henley Reach, a naturally straight part of the river north of the town. This stretch of river was made longer on purpose. The event became "Royal" in 1851 when Prince Albert became its patron.
Many other rowing events also happen on this river stretch. These include the Henley Women's Regatta and the Henley Veteran Regatta. Local rowing clubs include:
- Henley Rowing Club
- Leander Club (very famous, home to Olympic and World Champions like Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent)
- Phyllis Court Rowing Club
- Upper Thames Rowing Club
- Henley Whalers (who do fixed-seat rowing and sailing)
River and Rowing Museum
The River and Rowing Museum is Henley's only museum. It is located in Mill Meadows. The museum opened in 1998 and Queen Elizabeth II officially opened it. It teaches visitors about the River Thames, the sport of rowing, and the town of Henley itself.
Other Sports in Henley
Henley has a very old football team called Henley Town F.C.. They play at The Triangle ground. There is also a rugby union club, Henley Hawks, and a hockey club, Henley Hockey Club. The Henley Cricket Club has played at Brakspear Ground since 1886. A new football club, Henley Lions FC, started in 2016.
Famous People from Henley
Many well-known people have lived in or have connections to Henley-on-Thames:
- Gerry Anderson (1929–2012), who created the TV show Thunderbirds, lived here.
- Mary Berry, a famous food writer and TV presenter, lives in Henley.
- Russell Brand, an English comedian and actor, lives in Henley-on-Thames.
- Winston Churchill was once based in Henley in 1908 with his military unit.
- George Harrison (1943–2001), a musician from The Beatles, bought Friar Park in Henley in 1970. He lived there until he passed away. His wife, Olivia Harrison, still lives on the estate.
- Michael Heseltine, a politician, was a Member of Parliament for Henley-on-Thames.
- Boris Johnson, another politician, was also a Member of Parliament for Henley-on-Thames and later the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
- George Orwell (1903–1950), a famous author, spent some of his early years in Henley-on-Thames.
- Dusty Springfield (1939–1999), a well-known singer, is buried near the St Mary the Virgin parish church. Her fans gather in Henley each year to celebrate "Dusty Day."
- David Tomlinson (1917–2000), an actor known for films like Mary Poppins, was born and grew up in Henley.
Henley in the Media
Newspapers
Henley has its own local newspaper, the Henley Standard. It is also available to read online.
News Websites
Besides the Henley Standard website, you can also find local news on the Henley Herald website.
Radio Stations
You can listen to several local radio stations in Henley. These include BBC Radio Berkshire and Heart South. You can also pick up some of London's radio stations.
Television
Henley is in an area where you can get TV signals from two different regions. However, the local TV transmitter for Henley only broadcasts programmes from ITV London and BBC London. This means Henley is the only part of Oxfordshire that gets London TV channels.
Henley's Twin Towns
Henley is twinned with several towns around the world. This means they have special friendly connections:
- Bled, Slovenia
- Falaise, Calvados, France (since 1974)
- Leichlingen, Germany
Henley also has a 'friendship link' with:
- Borama, Somaliland
Several places around the world are named after Henley, including:
- Henley, a suburb in Sydney, Australia.
- Henley Beach, a suburb in Adelaide, Australia.
- Henley, a township in New Zealand.
Images for kids
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Henley Bridge, as it appeared in an engraving from 1812.
