Nostalgic memories of Henley-on-Thames's local history

Share your own memories of Henley-on-Thames and read what others have said

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.

Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.

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Displaying all 8 Memories

Looking on the Henley Census Info site, I found a reference to Frewins Cottages and Frewins Row. Frewin is my mother's maiden name and the family seem to have been in Henley for over 200 years. Being an unusual surname, they have been easy to track down but does anyone know where Frewins Cottages and Frewins Row were? Peter Francis
My father's mother came from Henley with strong family roots in Highmoor Cross, Shiplake and Rotherfield Grey's. My great grandparents lived at 2 Queen Street and had a huge family of 10 or 11 children in what seems today a very small house. At regatta time we always visited by train from West Drayton and had to change at Twyford. My great grandmothers brothers and sisters all lived around the town ...see more
My late grandmother came from Henley-on-Thames, and was Eleanor Flossie Arlett. I wish I knew more about her family. I do know that the Arletts had a boatyard and stored punts, I believe for hire, under the Angel on the Bridge pub. Also her father was a Queen's Waterman with a red uniform and cap. The Watermen were traditionally required to row the monarch about on the Thames whenever needed, and this was an ...see more
We lived at the Lodge at the bottom of the drive and I was allowed to start school at the age of 4 because the Sisters had known me from birth. We had the whole of the grounds to play in so it was very exciting growing up there. Great memories were of when the tractor came to cut the grass and we had the bales to play on. It was a great school and I have nothing but happy memories. I remember the Holy ...see more
My family moved to an old Baker's Shop, partially converted, called "Dunsden House" , Binfield Heath about 5 miles from Henley. I used the school bus, Butler's coaches of Henley to get to school. As a previous contributer has mentioned, we had to share our schooling with a School from Kensington. My class had lessons in the morning and sports or gardening in the afternoons. Under Mr. Le Beau, I think, ...see more
Nobody seems to have mentioned memories of the grammar school. I attended the school during the Second World War when it was shared with a London school who were evacuated there, we used the classrooms in the mornings and the others used them in the afternoon. I remember taking Avril Harrison, a classmate to the cinema one day - my first daring encounter with the opposite sex. Nothing became ...see more
I was also a pupil at Friar Park from 1955 to 1962. I have nothing but wonderful memories of this amazing school. As a little girl the endless drive with rhododendron bushes eventually opening into this huge circle where an Edwardian Gothic mansion stood, will always be etched in my memory. The incredible sweep of the lawns on the West Terrace leading down to carefully contrived pools and bridges which ...see more
Before becoming the home of George Harrison of the Beatles, Friar Park was run as a school by sisters of the St. John Bosco order. This was my first school and I remember having to walk all the way to the main door along the winding drive each morning, passing by the huge rhododendron bushes which lined each side.  As I approached the large arched entrance door, shown in the photograph above, I could see the ...see more