Hidden Henley

You might say that this is the essence of Hidden Henley: something that hundreds of people walk over every day and never notice! A few years ago the sight in my picture and the thought of how they were used in the past caused considerable discussion during my Hidden Henley guided walks.

Outside number 21 Market Place, or Falaise Square, are all that is left of once prominent transport rails used to move materials across the pavement and into and out of the manufacturing premises behind the door. Over the years this has been Lovibonds and earlier Ive’s Brothers breweries and before that several other businesses including a bakery. Around twenty five years ago there were reports that the rails were still were used very occasionally but now there is only a fraction of these left and the manufacturing premises have become housing. Evidently, there were similar rails elsewhere in the Market Place for shifting goods to and from wagons and later lorries.

It’s around this spot that there was also a group of well-used bus stops for what was the Thames Valley Traction Company’s buses back in the days when this was principle method of transportation for many people. Although difficult to imagine, going back around 25 years ago there was traffic both sides of the Market Place (as well as in both directions in Duke Street) with a sitting area mixed with planters in the middle. Back in the Spring of 1999 the then trial traffic scheme was put to the vote for local people and the local newspaper reported that 74% were against implementing the scheme. Back even further this was part of the driving test route for both motorcycles and cars, with the test centre located at New Dominion House a few metres away.

Does anyone else have other stories of this feature that they would like to share?