This Website is sponsored by The Henley War Memorial Trust
Henley-in-Arden is a friendly lively community of about 4,200 inhabitants surrounded by the magnificent Warwickshire countryside. The town can trace its history back almost 1,000 years and today's town comprises of two parishes, Henley-in-Arden mainly on the west bank of the river Alne and Beaudesert mainly on the east bank. Parish Boundaries
Henley is located 7 miles north of Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare and 18 miles south of Birmingham, England's second city. Town map.
The delightful towns of Kenilworth, Warwick and Leamington Spa are close by.
A short video tour of Henley-in-Arden
Henley - A Modern Vibrant Town
Modern Henley-in-Arden is a good place to visit for both its designer shopping and refreshments in one of its coffee shops or gastro bars along its mile long High Street.
Conveniently situated mid-way along the old Stratford Road from Birmingham, it has been the obligatory stopping off point for decades for families to sample the famous Henley Ice Cream.
More recently a large number of designer shops have moved in and today Henley attracts the young rich executives and their wives escaping from the conurbations of Solihull and the West Midlands to one of Warwickshire's most attractive towns.
A Medieval Town with Great Traditions
In the centre of the town is the old Market Place, where stands the remains of the 15th century Market Cross, one of the few still existing in Warwickshire. The Cross is built of local stone, but only the raised base of three steps and the lower part of the shaft remain.
Originally the cross had a four-sided head with niches, each with a carved relief: the Rood, the Trinity, St. Peter with the key and possibly the Virgin and Child. Proclamations have been made from the Cross for more than five centuries, including the proclamation of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952.
The one mile long High Street is a conservation area and contains over 150 buildings listed as being of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. Town WalkCountryside Walk
Notable among them is the Guild Hall, a timber-framed building standing to the north of St. John's Church. It has been extensively restored though many of the original timbers remain. (Click to zoom aerial photo.)
The Guild Hall is where the Court Leet, an ancient manorial court, meets every November to elect its officers and report on the work of the year.
Joseph Hardy House (left), home of the Heritage Centre, is itself a rare architectural gem. The oldest parts of the house have been dated, using dendrochronological technology, to 1345.
Features of interest include the Crown Post, an unusual roof construction for a Warwickshire house, and displays of "Medieval Henley", "Home Life in Henley", "Transport and Trade" and a Victorian School Room (right).
Both the Heritage Centre and the Guild Hall are open during summer months. Entry is free to both but donations are always appreciated.
Henley - A Good Place to Live
Click on the 'Recent Events in Henley' button below left, to read about the some of the major events in Henley.
The Henley War Memorial Trust recommends this website to all as a brilliant reflection of what Henley-in-Arden and Beaudesert have to offer. To discover the true delights of our area, why not visit? The Trust is proud to sponsor this, our Town website.
Peter Crathorne Chairman of the Henley War Memorial Trust
If you run a Business, Society or Sports Club in Henley-in-Arden or the surrounding area, we would be pleased to hear from you. If you have a website, please send us the details and we will arrange a link. We will also ask you to provide a link to this site. If you do not have a website, we should be able to provide you with some web pages free of charge. Just send us some text and photos.
