Latest paperback launched at Henley River and Rowing Museum
The great and good of Oxfordshire turned out for the launch of our latest paperback 'Henley-on-Thames: Town,Trade and River' this week.
Local partners, River & Rowing Museum, kindly supported the event which was held in their Thames Room, overlooking the river. The event was opened by Paul Mainds, Chief Executive of the River and Rowing Museum. Guest of honour, author Simon Townley, thanked all those who had contributed to the book, particularly the Oxfordshire volunteers and his team of researchers. Other speakers included Kate Tiller of the Oxfordshire VCH Trust and Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Heritage and Arts, Councillor Judith Heathcoat. Professor John Beckett, Director Victoria County History, presented a copy of the book to the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Tim Stevenson (shown left).
Written by Dr Simon Townley, Henley-on-Thames: Town, Trade and River, traces the history of Henley from its origins as a planned medieval market town, to its present-day role as a small service, tourist and commuting centre. The book also casts new light on Henley's relationship with the river, from its role as a medieval inland port to the Regatta. Ordinary townspeople and river-workers feature prominently, alongside merchants, landowners and prosperous incomers, and the town’s striking buildings are fully discussed and illustrated. The book includes a foreword by local actor Simon Williams.
Henley-on-Thames: Town, Trade and River is available to buy from our publisher's website www.phillimore.co.uk
