Henley Bridge

Henley Bridge is a historic road bridge in England. It was built in 1786. The bridge crosses the River Thames between Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire and Remenham in Berkshire.

The bridge has five elegant stone arches. These arches give it a beautiful and special look.

It links Hart Street in Henley to White Hill, which is part of the A4130 road, in Remenham. The bridge also passes between Hambleden Lock and Marsh Lock. It carries the Thames Path for walkers and cyclists.

Because Henley Bridge is very important historically and architecturally, it is protected as a Grade I listed building. This helps keep its special features safe for people to enjoy for many years.

History

People have crossed this part of the River Thames for a very long time. The bridge we see today replaced an older wooden bridge. You can still see parts of that old wooden bridge under the Henley Royal Regatta building. Some people think Romans used an even older stone bridge here long ago, but many others disagree. The first written record of a bridge here is from the year 1232. Later, in 1354, there were small buildings and chapels on the bridge. A big flood in 1774 destroyed part of the bridge, but some pieces of the very old bridge from the 1200s are still there.

Present bridge

Front view from upstream

The Henley Bridge was designed in 1781 by William Hayward from Shrewsbury, but he died before building began. John Townesend, a mason from Oxford, built the bridge for around £10,000.

The bridge has special sculptures of Isis and Tamesis made by Anne Seymour Damer. They sit at the top of the middle arch on each side. In June 1829, the bridge was the finish line for the very first Oxford and Cambridge boat race. Oxford won, and about 20,000 people watched the race.

Adjacent features

The Leander Club, one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world, is near the bridge on the Berkshire side. On the Oxfordshire (Henley) side, you can find the Angel on the Bridge riverside public house and the Red Lion Hotel, an old coaching inn. St Mary the Virgin, the main church in Henley, is also close by.