The Town of Henley

Looking through soft focus pink flowers in the immediate foreground, a street of old brick and half-timbered buildings stretches away to a flint and stone church with a blue clock face. Cars and a bus are on the street and people on the pavement, while there is red, white and blue bunting overhead against the blue sky. Wooded hills can be seen in the background.
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Home > Explore> The Town of Henley

The Henley Gallery

Discover the rich history of Henley on Thames, see our beautiful steam launch ‘Eva’ and exhibits on Henley’s historic building and local companies, with some unique and historic items from the collection.

From the first evidence of human activity in this area, 250,000 years ago, through to the rise of Leander Club and regattas drawing rowers and pleasure seekers from around the world, learn how Henley has always been so closely linked to its special position on the River Thames. Uncover the fascinating people who have shaped its story – and why the arrival of the railway nearly ruined Henley!

A long view through the Henley Gallery, with display cases on the left wall, a large boat on the right, and large signs for Henley on Thames and Henley Baths at height, before the light window at the end through which trees can be seen.
A long view down the Henley Gallery to a bright window. Display cases with objects including pots and prehistoric stone tools are on the visible wall and a rowing boat hangs from the ceiling above.

Highlights

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Two men lean on a low wall to look into a large boat in a gallery. One is pointing at something in the boat. Display cases line the wall behind them, with a large window at one end looking out onto leafy trees.
Eva - our largest boat

Eva

Peer through the windows into the beautiful wooden interior of Eva, the largest boat that we have in our collection. Eva is a steam launch that was originally used by umpires at Henley Royal Regatta. Unfortunately, she wasn’t the most manoeuvrable craft and so this didn’t last long…

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A woman with dark hair is looking at a large oil painting of Henley in a gilt frame, in front of which is an information panel indicating familiar features in the town today.
Henley from the Wargrave Road, Jan Siberechts, 1698

Jan Siberechts

See if you can spot local landmarks that are still as familiar today as when Dutch artist, Jan Siberechts, made this intricate oil painting of the town from the Wargrave Road in 1698. The painting is in its own room off the Henley Gallery so you can really take in its impressive size and detail.

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Henley Swimming Baths

Henley Swimming Baths

Always remember to look up when you visit us! In the Henley Gallery you can spot old signs from the town including that from the old swimming baths that featured this grand crest, as well as Cassandra, a wooden racing boat typical of that used in the 1950s

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Tamesis and Isis

Tamesis and Isis

This pair may be familiar if you know Henley well. The work of the fascinating 18th century sculptress, Ann Seymour Damer, these terracotta friezes of the mythical Tamesis (Old Father Thames, with bullrushes in his hair) and Isis (river goddess, modelled on Miss Freeman of Fawley Court) are versions of those that she carved from stone and which adorn the keystones of Henley Bridge to this day. On the bridge, Tamesis faces north, downstream towards Remenham, while Isis looks south to the Museum and the upper reaches of the Thames.

Ann Damer was a talented sculptress but is little known today. She was a close friend of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, and took up her chisel and hammer once again following the suicide of her husband, ending a short and unhappy marriage.

This pair, made from terracotta and plaster, were first exhibited at the Royal Academy, London in 1785.

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A young woman is illuminated with a warm glow from a display in an open drawer that she is looking at.
Drawers of discovery

Drawers of Discovery

Pull out the drawers in the Henley Gallery to find out more about the stories and artefacts on display.

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A hollow ball of flint at the foot of which are an array of gold coins with a stylist image of a horse stamped onto them.
Iron Age Hoard

Iron Age Hoard

32 coins were found in this hollow flint nodule in a field near Henley. They date to the Iron Age, over 2000 years ago and are made from gold, alloyed with silver and copper. The coins are all blank on one side and show a horse with a triple tail over a wheel on the other. They are likely to have been minted at Silchester in Hampshire and are normally connected with the Atrebates tribe.

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Wonderful exhibitions for all ages. Very impressed, don’t know why it’s taken so long for us to visit but we’ll be back soon!

Museum Visitor

Two rowers sculling on the River Thames in the sunshine with the town of Henley behind them, including the church tower

Have you seen…

Children's hands hold different woven wooden materials

Education

We love welcoming schools to explore the museum’s themes and enjoy the riverside location.

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A lady with glasses and white turtleneck carefully inspects stained glass artwork

Events

Dive deeper into the museum by joining us for exhibitions, talks, children's workshops and more.

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Guests sit at wooden chairs and tables in the sun with willows in the background

Cafe

Take a seat on the Museum's terrace overlooking the weeping willows of Mill Meadows.

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Never Miss The Boat

Two men and a woman using tin plates to row a canoe in the 1930s

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We are open daily, 10am to 4pm.

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Parking

The parking system is a ticketless, cashless system. Visitors pay at the barrier as they leave by payment card (cash not accepted). Visitors can also pay at the kiosk in the Museum foyer as they exit the building.

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