I have been down to Tesco twice recently. I find the store to be well stocked but the lighting is far to bright. I have walked back home, twice and taken these photos.
These wooden fronted houses are very distinctive in the Reading Road. Does anyone know how old they are or some history about them please?
A blaze of light in Smarts Fish Bar (no apostrophe!), on the Reading Road
The nearest petrol station with a supermarket, Greggs and Subway. On the Reading Road
Directory of Pubs in the UK, historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire. The Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire listing uses information from census, Trade Directories and History to add licensees, bar staff, Lodgers and Visitors.
Three Horse Shoes, 12 Reading Road, Henley – in April 2013
Kindly provided by Stephen Harris
The following entries are in this format:
Year/Publican or other Resident/Relationship to Head and or Occupation/Age/Where Born/Source.
These penny farthing bikes have been appearing all over Henley, and Liz Beth seemed to be the first to capture a picture of them on Facebook, Henley Past and Present Group. This weekend I walked through the shops from Greys Road and noticed the bikes propped against a sign post.
I spoke briefly to the owners who reappeared suddenly, and noted that they were dressed in appropriate contemporary clothes and footwear, for the era when bikes were in their infancy!
Here we see them walking off with their bikes! I admire them for getting on top of the saddle! Mind you they were walking with the bikes – maybe they need a ladder or wall to climb onto the Penny Farthing?
On the 12th I visited the excellent Cole Zoological Exhibition at Reading University
I took a number 10 bus from Friar Street, but entered the University the long way round, past buildings, then through some woods, across the river then found the Museum. On the way out I found that I should have got the 21 bus there, as it was close to a road.
Above are pictures of the divide between one area of the University where the Museum is. I was fortunate to be the only visitor there on the day, and had plenty of time to take photos of the Museum, then walk round and view the exhibits as well. It was a small but interesting Museum to visit. https://collections.reading.ac.uk/cole-museum/
Hello again, this weekend past, as many know, we were treated to the car which was used in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Initially I thought that they had left the engine ticking over, but a friend suggested that it was a recording of an engine that was playing over a speaker. It is possible that this was placed there by a film company, as there is a new film on the way featuring the car?
The Christmas postbox toppers also brighten up the Christmas goodies in town, including the fabulous tree that we have this year
I have seen other people utilising the large baubles on the Christmas Tree near to the Town Hall, as a fish eye lens. I make no excuse for including my pictures took on the weekend.
I was also walking along the Marlow Road into town and noticed that the ubiquitous puddles were acting as a mirror! I wonder if one day they can put some drainage into the Marlow Road so that pedestrians do not get showered if cars have to pass on both sides of the road. Most drivers are courteous and pull out to avoid this if safe to do so.
This shot is not really a mirror, but a close up shot of a puddle ( the things I will do to get a different photo!)
Here is the mirror image!
I was amazed to find recently that my Garden Wheelie bin had a ladybird on it! It may have been trapped by a spider?
Hello to my blog visitors, it is not a very dry day today and I hope that people going to the Living Advent Calendar will get some better weather. I remember how cold it was at the outdoor events, and rain really did challenge all concerned.
These photos were taken on the way to, and back from, the Henley Archeological and Historical Group meeting in the Chantry House. We also enjoyed some Christmas Cheer and Mince Pies as well, which was pleasant.
These two photos are of the lights on trees at Northfield End
Bell Street at the junction with New Street
The Bell Pub and Copa Club in Bell Street
A little further into Bell Street, note that it is the evening and the streets are almost empty
Junction of Bell Street with Hart Street, and a car turning out of Duke Street
The Town Hall and Christmas tree etc., from outside the Catherine Wheel
St Mary’s Church in Hart Street
Henley Pet Shop in Bell Street, sporting one of the Christmas Trees that traders buy to brighten up the streets
Finally a shot taken on Saturday. The post box at Northfield End is not being used for anything constructive, and is being swallowed up by ivy. Please save it before it falls into misuse and decay!
I wish you all a very peaceful and happy Christmas, if I don’t post again before the 25th!
Our Christmas Tree looks great in the daylight than it does in the evening or night (in my opinion) These photos come from last Saturday.
Also a shop in Duke Street was sporting over-sized baubles on the pavement!
Below is a post box topper outside Waitrose last Saturday
Today the Henley Market was in progress at 2pm
The local Window Company showroom in Hart Street has a great selection of old-style board games on display in its shop window.
Outside the Catherine Wheel Jack on the Beanstalk was immortalized on a post box topper. Thanks as ever to the ladies who do this superb crocheting! This is of course the pantomime this year at the Kenton Theatre!This post box toppers in town were a talking point between me and a postman on his round this afternoon.
The Catherine Wheel (Wetherspoons has a display of can beers they have in stock!)
A slightly closer photo of the Thursday Market
The lights at dusk (my camera tends to lighten things up at night!)
Duke Street is well lit
The Town Square is lit up as well
With decorations and a tree so delightful with Baubles and Lights, that the council have provide, we should all rejoice and have a very happy Christmas!
The council posted this statement in March of this year, and has certainly delivered on the package they outlined!
Henley Town Council were delighted to see the crowds enjoying the Christmas Festival this year and to kick off the festive period. However, we are aware that the Christmas display hasn’t been up to scratch. There have been issues with getting many of the small Christmas trees up and connected. We have resolved many of these issues, and spoken with the businesses and residents affected.
In addition, there have been issues with the main tree in The Market Place and the lighting across the town centre streets, due to ageing infrastructure. The issue with the main tree has now been fixed, but some of the other issues will need a road closure, and so, for the sake of businesses, this is best left until after Christmas.
On a more positive note , the trees by the bridge, train station, Northfield End and Gravel Hill have been refreshed and brighten up the areas beautifully, and new festoon lighting has been put in along Thameside.
When the season is over, there will be a review of the Christmas lighting, including the small Christmas tree scheme, a full inspection of all festive lighting electrical infrastructure, as well as looking at sustainability and reenergising Christmas festivities generally.
Rather late, but this memory topper caught my eye. I had some PC problems and missed posting these!
The Swiss FarmCafé will be closed from 11th December until February 2024 but have already started to decorate – this is one of the Henley Blogger’s favourite haunts along with others in town. Whenever I mention Swiss Farm they always mention how good the cafe is!
Another occasion I missed due to PC problems was Halloween, this postbox topper is also very clever. Great crochet work!
Autumn on the corner of the Marlow Road
The town’s Christmas Tree being put up in the Town Square
People are adorning it with large and small Baubles etc.
A small section of the the tree, thanks to the Town Council, it must have cost a fortune to include those baubles, but they are fantastic!
Today I noticed that the home on the corner of Kings Road has a door that goes nowhere. I think the fire escape has either been removed for painting or taken off the building?
The noticeboard at Northfield End with the poppy wreath. The history of Northfield End Part 1 needs to be updated to Part 2, it has been there for ages.
The Marlow Road with shades of Autumn
I see this sign so often, but not really noticed it. It is great to be in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Late night Shopping and the Christmas Festival is tomorrow be sure to visit the town.
Hello, on Tuesday, today, I visited the Chantry House for a talk by my local Group, the Henley Historical and Archaeological society, It was about Oxfordshire in the 2nd World War. A fascinating Lecture This is the succinct outline of the evening form the Groups website
Oxfordshire during the Second World War
In time to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Oxf and Bucks Light Infantry attack on Pegasus Bridge during D-Day in 1944, this fully illustrated talk looks at the impact on, and connections to Oxfordshire during the Second World War. The talk evaluates the ‘home front’ and also significant events in which Oxfordshire people are involved abroad. Amongst many other things, it touches on evacuation, POWs, airfields, refugees, everyday life, rationing, war work, as well as the evacuation of Dunkirk, Arnhem and the Liberation of Bergen Belsen.
Our lecturer: Stephen Barker ( the talk excellent and also a good length as well with questions after as usual.
Stephen is an independent Heritage Advisor who works with museums, universities, and other heritage organisations to design exhibitions and make funding applications. He worked at Banbury Museum and the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum. Stephen has delivered projects for the University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, and the Battlefields Trust, amongst many others. He delivers presentations and tours related to the First World War and the British Civil Wars. He is a Trustee of the Bucks Military Museum Trust and is an Arts Council Museum Mentor. He is the author of ‘Lancashire’s Forgotten Heroes’ – the 8th East Lancs in the Great War and ‘The Flying Sikh: Hardit Singh Malik’
The Group has some fascinating lectures – go on their website for more information. https://hahg.org.uk/
Having lived in Oxfordshire and Henley for only 11 years and the fact I am what was known as a “Baby Boomer” I have no local knowledge of the war here. I do however know that the BBC transmitter sites played their part in deceiving the Germans. The BBC site at Woodnorton Evesham, had underground studios, and when intelligence learnt that an invasion was imminent, switched the transmitter off, and a more distant one off. This sometimes confused the enemy, and maybe sometimes caused accidental bombing on a false target. The talk did mention that there was a Dummy metal works at Banbury, and this got bombed. The Decoy worked well and the actual factory a few miles away produced metal for aircraft and other items. I also know that where I worked in London, and I was responsible for storing discs, there was an area behind locked wicker doors which contained recordings made on 78rpm discs of the Nuremburg Trials.
After the meeting I did a short walk around, and took these photos, with many thanks for all the brave men and women who fought so bravely to give us all a peaceful lovely town and country.
A view towards the bridge
The bridge with the Leander Club over the other side of the River
One of our local pubs, this one on the river, The Angel. I noticed that the right hand pillar on the side of the door has a broken section of concrete/plaster, and the inside is not stone it is wood!
The bridge from the other side, with the Regatta building over the other side
Another view of the bridge at night, illuminated by the Angel on the Bridge lights
A view of three local eating places. Villa Marina on the left, Hotel Relais in the middle at the back, and then the back of the Angel on the Bridge. I have eaten in two of them but not the hotel.
The Church, Hotel Relais and Hart Street in the distance
Hotel Relais and the river
The river is quite high, and covering a few jetties.
My shadow in the foreground!
The Little White Hart – now the home of Blandy and Blandy
The start of New Street by night
Swans by night at the end of New Street on the slipway
New Street
The Henley Brewery, remnants of the establishment still persevered by Hotel Du Vin. The Hotel Relais have also retained the iconic red lion above their entrance.
The Malting part of the Brewery, now accommodation!
Brakspear’s signage still preserved in New Street
I am fascinated that alongside the building in the picture above, it says they produce Mineral Water!
Finally in Bell Street, and quite a few other houses, they have boot scrapers. I used to live with my parents in a home built in 1900, and that has a boot scraper as well. It is true that you can still buy boot scrapers but the one above is a genuine old one!
Hello November is just round the corner, and I am pleased to be online to update my blog visitors with some more random local photos I have taken this month
It has been a long time coming to fruition, but I am pleased to say that the Swiss Farm Crossing has been opened successfully for a week or so now. There were quite a few teething problems but thankfully, the Oxfordshire County Council have finally sorted them out. Here’s to safe crossing. The crossing stops the traffic for as long as a pedestrian takes to cross the road.
A new Restaurant has opened in Bell Street, reports are that prices are higher than the café it replaced.
Another clothing shop for Ladies in Bell Street for Ladies and Cote on the corner of the street
Sofa’s and Stuff in Duke Street
Lights being put up in Duke Street last week
Nail Bar where the Jewellers was in Duke Street
A peak down the Alley alongside Zizzi
A pretty view moving towards Northfield end
A pretty row of houses near Northfield End
A view towards Bell Street
The Henley Society are doing us proud with blue signs on notable buildings in town
This was on a building, and I forget where, possibly in West Street where it joins Kings Road by the Town Hall?
A very pretty flower display with thanks to the Henley Town Council, and a bush to soak up traffic fumes.
Fir trees situated at the start of the Marlow Road (Northfield End)
Market Day on a Thursday in October
Putting up flags and lights in Market Place
The only slot machines in Town, to my knowledge in the Catherine Wheel Pub
Sweaty Betty on the corner of Duke Street
The other corner of Duke Street, the popular Harris and Hoole
Halloween Decorations in the Swiss Farm Kitchen, be sure to visit them through the year for good coffee, Beer and Wine, and good food!
The nail bar in Duke Street also entered into the Halloween theme!
The footpath leading to the Henley Leisure Centre off the Bridal Path. Needs sorting out it gets messy when it rains and is unpleasant to walk on.
Church Avenue and the drinking fountain today
Hart Street
Another view of Hart Street today
The art gallery near to the Butchers entered into the Halloween Theme as well
To Finish pictures around Northfield End today, and some photos of the Marlow Road
A Henley on Thames Blog from the perspective of a local resident 