Hidden Henley

Many people reading this will have walked, ridden or driven past this eye-catching domed brick Keeps Well close to the road in nearby Shiplake Row. It was built in 1724 for William Boyle to replace a contaminated village water source which is said to have poisoned many people, and also for his vegetable garden on the other side of the brick and flint wall behind, according to the information board sited here. This wall and its door can be seen in my photo.

On the other side of the well, to the left in my photo, is a track known as Keeps Lane (sometimes “Keep” Lane) which is reputed to be haunted! The information board says: “In 1839 Charles Stonor of Holmwood was badly injured by a falling tree. His coachman was sent by horse and carriage to fetch a doctor from Reading and set out at speed down Keeps Lane. The unlucky Stonor, however, soon died and a gardener was sent out to bring back the coachman who was by this time galloping back along the narrow, muddy Keeps Lane. The two met head-on and the coachman died in the collision. Local people say the sound of galloping hooves still haunts the lane at night.”

Although this account is slightly different in details to others that I have read, they all seem to mention that a spectre patrols this track and sometimes appears out of the mist to surprise the unsuspecting walker!!!