Henley, 2004
Above the Angel on the Bridge, on the Right bank (sorry, but the Environment Agency insist - banks are named as seen from the sea!), is a
public landing place. This is only
suitable for small boats (see photo above - Mr Toots was firmly aground and my
25 foot punt is rather dwarfed!) If you need to double park here approach slowly
and ask before tying up. We are now officially encouraged to double park.
Only make sure it is like to like - Or smaller outside larger.
My little punt would not stand being jostled by the average cruiser!
Usually boaters are quite happy to help and allow you to clamber over their boats.
But do not leave a boat here for more than an hour or so. This is parking for
shopping and meeting friends!
Above that on the Right bank are private moorings.
The road to the station leaves the river on this bank just upstream, before Hobbs boats.
This is a good place to meet friends coming by rail to the regatta
1881: George Leslie, "Our River" -
Henley Station, on account of its proximity to the
river, is the most convenient of any on the Great Western Railway for boating
visitors; you can step out of the train
almost into your boat, without having to traverse any length of gritty
road. At Regatta time this is a great
advantage, as hampers and luggage can easily be carried direct to the boats in
waiting; the porters and officials on
this line are very obliging and civil, and the rolling stock has lately been
renewed.
The well-known Henley slip-train, a great comfort
to city men, is generally well patronised.
The views from the carriage windows at Shiplake, and as you near Henley,
are extremely appetising to the river lover;
many very beautiful peeps of the river are
seen from the right side as you come along.
1884: The Upper Thames, Harpers New Monthly Magazine -
We came to Henley in the twilight, pushing our way to the landing-place with other
homeward - bound voyagers. At the bridge were a crowd of outriggers and ordinary boats for hire,
and others in care of the local builders, where the regatta crews have their principal quarters,
for Henley is the scene of the best boat-racing of the year.
Certain American crews are proud of the prizes they have carried away from recent meetings here
amidst the cheers of large and fashionable throngs, though the London Rowing Club still
continue to be the champions of the river.
Under the dark arches of the bridge we found that the swallows which had skimmed the
surface of the river at Sonning, had now been succeeded by bats, while the swans no longer
sailed up to us, but were going to their resting-places down-stream.
We unshipped our oars opposite the strip of lawn at The Lion, which is ablaze with
crimson geraniums, red picotees, and yellow calceolarias, and entered ...
It is a perfect type of the English country inn of the old coaching days.
An hour afterward we stood upon the bridge, and watched the stars twinkling down
in the waters that gurgled musically about the pointed stone buttresses of the dark archways.
An early morning bath, tempered by rum and milk, the traditional refresher in this locality;
a breakfast of soles from London and fresh eggs from a Henley farm ...
1906: Punch -
UPRIVER DEFINITIONS:
REGATTA - an occasion upon which you are annoyed if someone obstructs your view of races
in which you take no sort of interest.
HOUSEBOAT - A floating domicile with all the discomforts of home.
LAUNCH (if you are a passenger) - A smart, speedy vessel.
(If not) - A nuisance which should certainly be suppresses; a temporary resort for vulgar trippers.
BACKWATER - A halting place for the semi-public display of sentiment.
BOW and STERN - Those parts of your conveyance with which you scrape the paint off other craft.
AMIDSHIPS - Where your boat is struck when run down.
ISLAND - A body of land completely surrounded by picnic parties.
'PRIVATE PROPERTY' - An inscription on a notice-board, marking a convenient spot
at which to land for tea, and deposit all rubbish, valueless impedimenta, &c.
RAIN - A metereological condition caused by the payment of a boat's hire in advance.
BOAT OWNER - A pessimist of an extreme type, who, nevertheless, lives on the fat of the water.
LAST TRAIN - An absurdly early and punctual conveyance which you miss.