Friday, 03 October 2025
Delivering the news from Henley on Thames and South Oxfordshire for over 100 years
CLASSIC LUGSAIL DINGHY 10ft fibreglass hull, iroko trim Very good condition Easy to sail and row, very stable, suit beginner or children Launching trolley and trailer Call Richard 07429 121061 for details £2850
14/06/2024
A SLIPWAY in Henley has been formally recognised as being owned by the town council. This follows a three-year campaign by residents, town councillors and community groups to restore the slipway at the end of Friday Street after it was filled in by Sorbon Estates to create parking spaces. The developer is part of the Shanly Group, which owns the neighbouring moorings. It claimed to have acted on health and safety grounds as the slipway posed a risk to pedestrians. In April 2021, following talks with the town council, the company agreed to dig out the concrete. But when this had still not been done by December that year, the council employed a contractor to remove the concrete and Sorbon Estates had to pay the £6,000 bill. However, the slipway still could not be used to access the river because it was blocked by the pontoon. In January last year the council called on the Environment Agency to investigate and it ordered Sorbon to remove the pontoon, which it did in August. Records of the slipway date back to 1786 but it is believed to be even older. It has served as a watering hole, even accommodating elephants from a travelling circus. In 1932 the town council purchased the Lord of the Manor title and associated rights from William Mackenzie. This granted ownership of the slipway as part of manorial waste.
09/02/2024
