In England , Wales and Northern Ireland , a town traditionally was a settlement which had a charter to hold a market or fair and therefore became a "market town". In Scotland , the equivalent is known as a burgh . There are two types of burgh: royal burghs and burghs of barony.
28-656: Henley Bridge is a road bridge built in 1786 at Henley-on-Thames over the River Thames , between Oxfordshire and Berkshire . The bridge has five elliptical stone arches, and links Hart Street in Henley with White Hill (designated the A4130) leading up a steep hill to Remenham Hill . It crosses the Thames on the reach between Hambleden Lock and Marsh Lock , carrying the Thames Path across
56-437: A Mayor. The Local Government Act 1972 resulted in the re-organisation of local government in that year. Henley became part of Wallingford District Council, subsequently renamed South Oxfordshire District Council. The borough council was replaced by a town council but the role of mayor was retained. Henley Bridge is a five arched bridge across the river built in 1786. It is a Grade I listed historic structure. During 2011
84-607: A Tamys" in 1485. By the beginning of the 16th century, the town extended along the west bank of the Thames from Friday Street in the south to the Manor , now Phyllis Court , in the north and took in Hart Street and New Street. To the west, it included Bell Street and the Market Place. Henry VIII granted the use of the titles "mayor" and " burgess ", and the town was incorporated in 1568 in
112-501: A few others can also be received. Regatta Radio was broadcast during Henley Royal Regatta for a number of years up to 2014. As Henley is on an overlap of TV regions, it is possible to receive signals from the Crystal Palace ( BBC London / ITV London ) and Hannington ( BBC South / ITV Meridian ) transmitters. However, the local relay transmitter for Henley only broadcasts programmes from ITV London and BBC London , making Henley
140-579: A naturally straight stretch of the river just north of the town. It was extended artificially. The event became "Royal" in 1851, when Prince Albert became patron of the regatta. Other regattas and rowing races are held on the same reach, including Henley Women's Regatta , Henley Town and Visitors Regatta, Henley Veteran Regatta, Upper Thames Small Boats Head, Henley Fours and Eights Head, and Henley Sculls. These "Heads" often attract strong crews that have won medals at National Championships. Local rowing clubs include: The regatta depicted throughout Dead in
168-721: A new club in Henley was started in September 2016 called Henley Lions FC. Henley has one local newspaper, the Henley Standard which is also available online. In addition to the Henley Standard website, there is another source of news online: the Henley Herald Local radio stations are BBC Radio Berkshire on 94.6 FM, Heart South on 103.4 FM, Greatest Hits Radio Berkshire and North Hampshire on 107.0 FM and London 's radio stations such as Capital and Magic along with
196-903: A significant building." Leander Club , one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world, is also close to the bridge on the Berkshire side. On the Oxfordshire (Henley) side are the Angel on the Bridge riverside public house and the Red Lion Hotel, an old coaching inn. St Mary the Virgin, the main civic church in Henley with its tower dominating the view, is also close by. 51°32′15″N 0°54′01″W / 51.53750°N 0.90028°W / 51.53750; -0.90028 Henley-on-Thames Henley-on-Thames ( / ˌ h ɛ n l i -/ HEN -lee )
224-521: Is a town and civil parish on the River Thames , in the South Oxfordshire district, in Oxfordshire , England, 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Reading , 7 miles (11 km) west of Maidenhead , 23 miles (37 km) southeast of Oxford and 37 miles (60 km) west of London (by road), near the tripoint of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire . The population at the 2021 Census
252-597: Is believed, was granted by a charter of King John . A market was certainly in existence by 1269; however, the jurors of the assize of 1284 said that they did not know by what warrant the Earl of Cornwall held a market and fair in the town of Henley. The existing Corpus Christi fair was granted by a charter of Henry VI . During the Black Death pandemic that swept through England in the 14th century, Henley lost 60% of its population. A variation on its name can be seen as "Henley up
280-409: Is first mentioned in 1204. In 1205 the town received a tax for street paving, and in 1234 the bridge is first mentioned. In 1278 Henley is described as a hamlet of Benson with a chapel . The street plan was probably established by the end of the 13th century. As a demesne of the crown it was granted in 1337 to John de Molyns, whose family held it for about 250 years. The existing Thursday market, it
308-581: The M40 motorway (junction 4) are both about (7 miles or 11 km) away. Bus route 850, operated by Carousel Buses on an 20 minute frequency, runs through Henley between Reading and High Wycombe . Organic baby food manufacturer Ella's Kitchen is headquartered in Henley-on-Thames. Henley is a world-renowned centre for rowing . Each summer the Henley Royal Regatta is held on Henley Reach,
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#1732845617254336-525: The keystone of the central arch on each side of the bridge. Tamesis faces the north (downstream section of the bridge) and Isis the south (upstream section). The original models for these can be seen in the Henley Gallery at the nearby River and Rowing Museum . In June 1829, the bridge was the finishing line for the first Oxford and Cambridge university boat race. The start of the course was 2.25-mile (3.62 km) downstream at Hambleden Lock. Oxford won
364-521: The 17th and 18th centuries was due to manufactures of glass and malt, and trade in corn and wool. Henley-on-Thames supplied London with timber and grain. A workhouse to accommodate 150 people was built at West Hill in Henley in 1790, and was later enlarged to accommodate 250 as the Henley Poor Law Union workhouse. Prior to 1974 Henley was a municipal borough with a Borough Council comprising twelve Councillors and four Aldermen , headed by
392-537: The United Kingdom The Local Government Act 1972 allows civil parishes in England and Wales to resolve themselves to be Town Councils , under section (245 subsection 6), which also gives the chairman of such parishes the title 'town mayor'. Many former urban districts and municipal boroughs have such a status, along with other settlements with no prior town status. In more modern times it
420-552: The Water , an episode of the British detective television series Midsomer Murders , was filmed at Henley. The River and Rowing Museum , located in Mill Meadows , is the town's one museum. It was established in 1998, and officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II . The museum, designed by the architect David Chipperfield , features information on the River Thames , the sport of rowing , and
448-479: The bridge underwent a £200,000 repair programme after being hit by the boat Crazy Love in August 2010. About 1 mile (1.5 kilometres) upstream of the bridge is Marsh Lock . Henley Town Hall , which maintains a prominent position in the Market Place, was designed by Henry Hare and completed in 1900. Chantry House is the second Grade I listed building in the town. It is unusual in having more storeys on one side than on
476-490: The lights. He claimed to have received scores of messages of support from people wanting the lights to remain permanently, including one from the Mayor of Henley. The artist subsequently applied for planning permission, which was refused. The District Council conservation team stated: "As previously advised, the conservation team maintain concerns that this proposal is not appropriate to the special historic and architectural interest of
504-472: The listed building and fails to recognise the reasons for its listing at such a high grade. It would similarly pose an alteration to its setting which would not serve to enhance its interest or that of its setting, the Henley Conservation Area. The scheme remains insufficiently justified and is unlikely to be able to be able to demonstrate a sufficient level of public benefits to overcome harm to such
532-516: The name of the warden, portreeves , burgesses and commonalty. The original charter was issued by Elizabeth I but replaced by one from George I in 1722. Henley suffered at the hands of both parties in the Civil War . Later, William III rested here on his march to London in 1688, at the nearby recently rebuilt Fawley Court , and received a deputation from the Lords . The town's period of prosperity in
560-587: The northwest of the town. Two notable buildings just outside Henley, in Buckinghamshire , are: The town's railway station is the terminus of the Henley Branch Line from Twyford . In the past there have been direct services to London Paddington . There are express mainline rail services from Reading (6 miles or 9.7 km) to Paddington. Trains from High Wycombe (12 miles or 19 km) go to London Marylebone . The M4 motorway (junction 8/9) and
588-562: The only part of Oxfordshire included within the London television region. Henley-on-Thames was represented in the 2010 American drama film The Social Network as the site of a rowing competition between the US and the Netherlands. Henley is twinned with: And has a 'friendship link' with: In addition, several localities around the world are named after Henley, including: Town status in
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#1732845617254616-411: The other. The Church of England parish church of St Mary the Virgin is nearby and has a 16th-century tower. The Old Bell is a pub in the centre of Henley on Bell Street. The building has been dated from 1325: the oldest-dated building in the town. To celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee , 60 oak trees were planted in the shape of a Victoria Cross near Fairmile, the long straight road to
644-508: The race, with an estimated 20,000 spectators in attendance. In August 2010 the bridge was damaged by a boat named Crazy Love . A £200,000 repair programme commenced the following year Strings of white LED bulbs were attached to the Grade I listed crossing in March 2018 by artist Clive Hemsley. This was done without permission from the district and county councils and the artist was instructed to remove
672-440: The river. It is a Grade I listed building . This point of the Thames has been used for crossing since ancient times. The current bridge replaced an earlier wooden structure, the foundations of which can be seen in the basement of the Henley Royal Regatta headquarters nearby on the Berkshire side. However, the remains of two stone arches on both sides of the river indicate the existence of an even more ancient stone bridge prior to
700-561: The timber structure. This bridge has been identified by some authors as the bridge which the Romans crossed pursuing the Britons in 43AD, as described by Dion Cassius . This hypothesis is refuted by many other authors. The earliest recording of a bridge is in the Patent Rolls of 1232. In 1354, two granaries were leased on the bridge, which was timber on stone piers and several chapels are recorded. It
728-526: The town of Henley itself. Henley has the oldest football team Henley Town F.C. recognised by the Oxfordshire Football Association , they play at The Triangle ground. Henley also has a rugby union club Henley Hawks which play at the Dry Leas ground, a hockey club Henley Hockey Club which play at Jubilee Park, and Henley Cricket Club which has played at Brakspear Ground since 1886.
756-478: Was 12,186. There is archaeological evidence of people residing in Henley since the second century as part of the Romano-British period. The first record of Henley as a substantial settlement is from 1179, when it is recorded that King Henry II "had bought land for the making of buildings". King John granted the manor of Benson and the town and manor of Henley to Robert Harcourt in 1199. A church at Henley
784-505: Was carried away in the great flood of 1774, but part of the eastern abutment is built on the intact easternmost span of the original 12th-century bridge. It was originally designed in 1781 by William Hayward of Shrewsbury , who died in 1782 before the construction of the bridge had begun. The bridge was built by the Oxford mason John Townesend. at a cost of approximately £10,000. Sculptures of Isis and Tamesis by Anne Seymour Damer are at
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