Henley-in-Arden
Encyclopedia
Henley-in-Arden is a small town in Warwickshire
, England
. The name is a reference to the former Forest of Arden
. In the 2001 census
the town had a population of 2,011.
Henley is known for its variety of historic buildings, some of which date back to medieval times and wide variety of preserved architectural styles
. The one mile long (1.6 km) High Street of Henley is a conservation area
.
, 15 miles southeast of Birmingham
, 9 miles east of Redditch
and 8 miles north of Stratford upon Avon (where the road between Stratford and Henley is named Henley Street).
It is located in a valley of the River Alne
, which separates Henley from the adjacent settlement of Beaudesert
. Henley and Beaudesert effectively form a single entity, and share a joint parish council, although Beaudesert is a separate civil parish
.
The town lies at a crossroads between the A3400
and the A4189 roads and is the starting point for the circular Arden Way
path. It also lies on the Heart of England Way
.
In the 2001 census the population of the civil parish
of Henley-in-Arden was 2,011. Whilst the population of its urban area which includes Beaudesert was 2,797.
and may not have existed until the 12th century. The first record of the town is in a legal instrument drawn during the reign of Henry II
. It was originally a hamlet
of Wootton Wawen
, on Feldon Street, the original route out of the Forest of Arden.
In the 11th century, a Thurstan de Montfort constructed Beaudesert Castle
, a motte and bailey castle
, on the hill above Beaudesert. In 1140, the Empress Matilda
granted the right to hold a market
at the castle and Henley soon became a prosperous market town
, conveniently located on the busy Birmingham-to-Stratford road. In 1220 in the reign of Henry III
, the lord of the manor
, Peter de Montfort
, procured the grant of a weekly Monday market and an annual fair to last two days, for the town.
The initial prosperity came to an end however during the Second Barons' War
when, in 1265, Peter de Montfort died fighting at the Battle of Evesham
. The royalist forces won, and the town and castle were burnt in reprisal The town and castle recovered however and Henley became a borough
in 1296. In 1315 all of the recorded townsfolk were freemen. The King stayed at the castle for 7 days in January 1324. By 1336 the market was so prosperous that the inhabitants were able to obtain a licence from Edward III
to impose a local sales tax on all goods brought to the market, for a period of three years, in order to pay for the cost of paving the streets.
The Lord of the Manor, Peter de Montfort 3rd Baron Montfort
, as Commissioner of Array for Warwickshire sent 160 archers
to the Battle of Crecy
during the Hundred Years' War
in 1346. By the 15th century, the lords of the manor were the Boteler family. Ralph Boteler, 1st Baron Sudeley
obtained a charter from Henry VI
in 1449, confirming the grant of the new weekly market, and a grant for two annual fairs.
The town suffered another misfortune during the English Civil War
, when in 1643 it was plundered by Prince Rupert
. As a non-chartered market town
, Henley's administration
was based upon a manorial court
. Under the lord of the manor were a high bailiff
, a low bailiff, a third-borough, a constable
, and pairs of ale-tasters, Chamberlain
s, leathersealers, brook lookers, fieldreeve
s, and affearors. These local borough officials were chosen annually by a meeting of former bailiffs and constables, and were members of the jury of the biannual court leet
. The bailiff, accompanied by his predecessors, would formally open the annual town fair. The town hall was inherited from a medieval Guild
. The records of the court leet and the court baron
in Henley date from 1592 onwards. The court rolls are largely concerned with (in Dyer's words) modest problems, such as preventing the poor from migrating into the town (which burgers considered would become a burden on the rates and result in the destruction of hedges for fuel), the ringing of loose pigs, and the prevention of horses being parked in the streets. The poor were a significant problem for Henley's court leet. In the early 17th century there was a marked increase in the landless poor, squatting on commons and on wasteland in the Forest of Arden, and such people were generally regarded as violent and criminal by townsfolk. Between 1590 and 1620 there were a disproportionate number of people, relative to the size of the population, presented by the court leet for engaging in violent affray
, something which Underdown states to be "surely no coincidence".
In Love's Labours Lost Rosaline
says "Better wits have worn plain Statute Caps.". This is believed to be a reference to events in Henley during the writing of that play, before its publication, when the denizens of Henley were prosecuted in the court leet for being in breach of a statute (enacted with the aim of ensuring economic support for the wool industry) that required the wearing of woollen caps on Sundays and other holy days.
By 1814, Henley had a weekly market every Monday, three annual fairs (on Lady Day
; on Tuesday in Whitsunday
-week, for cattle; and on October 29 for horses, cattle, sheep, and hops), and a population in 1811 (according to returns made to Parliament) of 1,055 (with 242 inhabited houses and 12 uninhabited houses).
Although the castle no longer remains, several other historical buildings and structures still exist in the town, such as the parish church
es of St. Nicholas and St. John the Baptist, the 15th century Guildhall (which has been restored), the medieval market cross
(much of the decoration of whose shaft has been mutilated but which has three ranges of kneeling places and sculptures representing the Holy Trinity, the cruxifiction of Jesus, and, it is believed, St Peter), the 16th century White Swan, and several half timbered
residences along High Street, the main street of the town.
on the Birmingham to Stratford Line
and has regular rail services to Birmingham
and Stratford-upon-Avon
.
The town lies a few miles southwest of the M40 motorway
, which links Birmingham and London
.
Bus service X20 running from Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon runs through the town along the High Street, this service is operated by local Henley-in-Arden based bus and coach company Johnsons Coach and Bus under contract to Warwickshire County Council operating up to every 60 minutes.
(1717–1795), was born in the town. Many of his hymns are in the General Baptist Hymn Book.
William James
(1771–1837), pioneer railway promoter, was born in Henley.
leading to Henley is also called Henley Street, a name that is in frequent use from 1772 onwards. However, at least one document before than time, a lease from 1597, calls it "Hyghe Street".
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The name is a reference to the former Forest of Arden
Arden, Warwickshire
Arden is an area, mainly located in Warwickshire, England, traditionally regarded as stretching from the River Avon to the River Tame.-History:...
. In the 2001 census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
the town had a population of 2,011.
Henley is known for its variety of historic buildings, some of which date back to medieval times and wide variety of preserved architectural styles
Architecture of the United Kingdom
The Architecture of England refers to the architecture practised in the territory of the present-day country of England, and in the historic Kingdom of England...
. The one mile long (1.6 km) High Street of Henley is a conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
.
Location and geography
Henley-in-Arden is approximately 9 miles west of the county town of WarwickWarwick
Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
, 15 miles southeast of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, 9 miles east of Redditch
Redditch
Redditch is a town and local government district in north-east Worcestershire, England, approximately south of Birmingham. The district had a population of 79,216 in 2005. In the 19th century it became the international centre for the needle and fishing tackle industry...
and 8 miles north of Stratford upon Avon (where the road between Stratford and Henley is named Henley Street).
It is located in a valley of the River Alne
River Alne
The River Alne is a tributary of the Warwickshire Avon and has its headwaters to the north of Wootton Wawen. The River Alne flows generally southwards before joining with the River Arrow at Alcester, which itself joins the River Avon near Salford Priors....
, which separates Henley from the adjacent settlement of Beaudesert
Beaudesert, Warwickshire
Beaudesert is a village and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England, half a mile east across the River Alne to the north and west of Henley-in-Arden, to which it is closely associated and shares a joint parish council with...
. Henley and Beaudesert effectively form a single entity, and share a joint parish council, although Beaudesert is a separate civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
.
The town lies at a crossroads between the A3400
A3400 road
The A3400 is a road in the Midlands of England, running from Hockley Heath to a junction with the A44 near Chipping Norton. At its northern end it joins up with the A34, of which it was originally one section. At its southern end it joins the A44, passing through Woodstock and joining the A34 at...
and the A4189 roads and is the starting point for the circular Arden Way
Arden Way
The Arden Way is waymarked by the Heart of England Way Association and forms a circular walk to be enjoyed with the rest of Heart of England Way and the European route E2....
path. It also lies on the Heart of England Way
Heart of England Way
The Heart of England Way is a long distance walk of around through the Midlands of England. The walk starts from Milford Common on Cannock Chase and ends at Bourton on the Water in the Cotswolds passing through the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire.The walk provides links...
.
In the 2001 census the population of the civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Henley-in-Arden was 2,011. Whilst the population of its urban area which includes Beaudesert was 2,797.
History
Henley-in-Arden is not listed in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
and may not have existed until the 12th century. The first record of the town is in a legal instrument drawn during the reign of Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
. It was originally a hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Wootton Wawen
Wootton Wawen
Wootton Wawen is a small village and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. The village is located on the A3400, from Birmingham, miles south of Henley-in-Arden and miles north of Stratford-upon-Avon. The soil is a strong clay and some arable crops are grown,...
, on Feldon Street, the original route out of the Forest of Arden.
In the 11th century, a Thurstan de Montfort constructed Beaudesert Castle
Beaudesert Castle
Beaudesert Castle was in the village of Beaudesert to the east of Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire . It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.A motte and bailey castle was built following the Norman conquest possibly on the site of an ancient British fort. A stone castle was built, probably in the 13th...
, a motte and bailey castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
, on the hill above Beaudesert. In 1140, the Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda , also known as Matilda of England or Maude, was the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England. Matilda and her younger brother, William Adelin, were the only legitimate children of King Henry to survive to adulthood...
granted the right to hold a market
Market
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
at the castle and Henley soon became a prosperous market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
, conveniently located on the busy Birmingham-to-Stratford road. In 1220 in the reign of Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
, the lord of the manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
, Peter de Montfort
Peter de Montfort
Sir Peter de Montfort was an English parliamentarian.In 1257 he was High Sheriff of Staffordshire and Shropshire....
, procured the grant of a weekly Monday market and an annual fair to last two days, for the town.
The initial prosperity came to an end however during the Second Barons' War
Second Barons' War
The Second Barons' War was a civil war in England between the forces of a number of barons led by Simon de Montfort, against the Royalist forces led by Prince Edward , in the name of Henry III.-Causes:...
when, in 1265, Peter de Montfort died fighting at the Battle of Evesham
Battle of Evesham
The Battle of Evesham was one of the two main battles of 13th century England's Second Barons' War. It marked the defeat of Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, and the rebellious barons by Prince Edward – later King Edward I – who led the forces of his father, King Henry III...
. The royalist forces won, and the town and castle were burnt in reprisal The town and castle recovered however and Henley became a borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
in 1296. In 1315 all of the recorded townsfolk were freemen. The King stayed at the castle for 7 days in January 1324. By 1336 the market was so prosperous that the inhabitants were able to obtain a licence from Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
to impose a local sales tax on all goods brought to the market, for a period of three years, in order to pay for the cost of paving the streets.
The Lord of the Manor, Peter de Montfort 3rd Baron Montfort
Baron Montfort
Baron Montfort is a title that has been created twice in British history. The first creation came in the Peerage of England when John de Montfort was summoned to parliament on 23 June 1295. In 1367 the title either became extinct or fell into abeyance on the death of the third Baron...
, as Commissioner of Array for Warwickshire sent 160 archers
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
to the Battle of Crecy
Battle of Crécy
The Battle of Crécy took place on 26 August 1346 near Crécy in northern France, and was one of the most important battles of the Hundred Years' War...
during the Hundred Years' War
Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War was a series of separate wars waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Valois and the House of Plantagenet, also known as the House of Anjou, for the French throne, which had become vacant upon the extinction of the senior Capetian line of French kings...
in 1346. By the 15th century, the lords of the manor were the Boteler family. Ralph Boteler, 1st Baron Sudeley
Ralph Boteler, 1st Baron Sudeley
Ralph Boteler, 1st Baron Sudeley and 6th Baron Sudeley KG was an English baron and aristocrat. He was the Captain of Calais and Treasurer of England .-Family:...
obtained a charter from Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
in 1449, confirming the grant of the new weekly market, and a grant for two annual fairs.
The town suffered another misfortune during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, when in 1643 it was plundered by Prince Rupert
Prince Rupert of the Rhine
Rupert, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, 1st Duke of Cumberland, 1st Earl of Holderness , commonly called Prince Rupert of the Rhine, KG, FRS was a noted soldier, admiral, scientist, sportsman, colonial governor and amateur artist during the 17th century...
. As a non-chartered market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
, Henley's administration
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
was based upon a manorial court
Court baron
A Court baron is an English or Scottish manorial court dating from the Middle Ages.It was laid down by Sir Edward Coke that a manor had two courts, "the first by the common law, and is called a court baron," the freeholders being its suitors; the other a customary court for the copyholders...
. Under the lord of the manor were a high bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
, a low bailiff, a third-borough, a constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
, and pairs of ale-tasters, Chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
s, leathersealers, brook lookers, fieldreeve
Reeve (England)
Originally in Anglo-Saxon England the reeve was a senior official with local responsibilities under the Crown e.g. as the chief magistrate of a town or district...
s, and affearors. These local borough officials were chosen annually by a meeting of former bailiffs and constables, and were members of the jury of the biannual court leet
Court leet
The court leet was a historical court baron of England and Wales and Ireland that exercised the "view of frankpledge" and its attendant police jurisdiction, which was normally restricted to the hundred courts.-History:...
. The bailiff, accompanied by his predecessors, would formally open the annual town fair. The town hall was inherited from a medieval Guild
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
. The records of the court leet and the court baron
Court baron
A Court baron is an English or Scottish manorial court dating from the Middle Ages.It was laid down by Sir Edward Coke that a manor had two courts, "the first by the common law, and is called a court baron," the freeholders being its suitors; the other a customary court for the copyholders...
in Henley date from 1592 onwards. The court rolls are largely concerned with (in Dyer's words) modest problems, such as preventing the poor from migrating into the town (which burgers considered would become a burden on the rates and result in the destruction of hedges for fuel), the ringing of loose pigs, and the prevention of horses being parked in the streets. The poor were a significant problem for Henley's court leet. In the early 17th century there was a marked increase in the landless poor, squatting on commons and on wasteland in the Forest of Arden, and such people were generally regarded as violent and criminal by townsfolk. Between 1590 and 1620 there were a disproportionate number of people, relative to the size of the population, presented by the court leet for engaging in violent affray
Affray
In many legal jurisdictions related to English common law, affray is a public order offence consisting of the fighting of two or more persons in a public place to the terror of ordinary people...
, something which Underdown states to be "surely no coincidence".
In Love's Labours Lost Rosaline
Rosaline
Rosaline is an unseen character and niece of Capulet in William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet . Although silent, her role is important. Romeo is at first deeply in love with Rosaline and expresses her cruelty for not loving him back...
says "Better wits have worn plain Statute Caps.". This is believed to be a reference to events in Henley during the writing of that play, before its publication, when the denizens of Henley were prosecuted in the court leet for being in breach of a statute (enacted with the aim of ensuring economic support for the wool industry) that required the wearing of woollen caps on Sundays and other holy days.
By 1814, Henley had a weekly market every Monday, three annual fairs (on Lady Day
Lady Day
In the western Liturgical year, Lady Day is the traditional name of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin in some English speaking countries. It is the first of the four traditional English quarter days. The "Lady" was the Virgin Mary. The term derives from Middle English, when some...
; on Tuesday in Whitsunday
Whitsunday
Whitsunday may be:Days:* The Sunday of the feast of Whitsun or Pentecost in the Christian liturgical year, observed 7 weeks after Easter* One of the Scottish quarter days, always falling on 15 MayPlaces:* The Electoral district of Whitsunday...
-week, for cattle; and on October 29 for horses, cattle, sheep, and hops), and a population in 1811 (according to returns made to Parliament) of 1,055 (with 242 inhabited houses and 12 uninhabited houses).
Although the castle no longer remains, several other historical buildings and structures still exist in the town, such as the parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
es of St. Nicholas and St. John the Baptist, the 15th century Guildhall (which has been restored), the medieval market cross
Market cross
A market cross is a structure used to mark a market square in market towns, originally from the distinctive tradition in Early Medieval Insular art of free-standing stone standing or high crosses, often elaborately carved, which goes back to the 7th century. Market crosses can be found in most...
(much of the decoration of whose shaft has been mutilated but which has three ranges of kneeling places and sculptures representing the Holy Trinity, the cruxifiction of Jesus, and, it is believed, St Peter), the 16th century White Swan, and several half timbered
Timber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
residences along High Street, the main street of the town.
Lunatic asylums
Historically, Henley has had several private lunatic asylums. The first was licensed in 1744, which housed pauper lunatics at the expense of the parish. Another was run by Thomas Burman in 1795, who charged "one guinea/week for board and medicines, the patient finding their own linen and washing. If any person chuses a servant constantly to attend on them, board and wages are separately considered.".Transport
Henley-in-Arden has a railway stationHenley-in-Arden railway station
Henley-in-Arden, a small town in Warwickshire, has had two railway stations. The , opened in 1894, was at the end of the 3.25 mile long Birmingham and Henley in Arden Railway Company branch line from the GWR's main Oxford to Birmingham Railway line at Rowington Junction.The , the one familiar to us...
on the Birmingham to Stratford Line
Birmingham to Stratford Line
The Birmingham to Stratford Line, also known as the North Warwickshire Line is a commuter railway line predominantly in the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom...
and has regular rail services to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
.
The town lies a few miles southwest of the M40 motorway
M40 motorway
The M40 motorway is a motorway in the British transport network that forms a major part of the connection between London and Birmingham. Part of this road forms a section of the unsigned European route E05...
, which links Birmingham and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Bus service X20 running from Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon runs through the town along the High Street, this service is operated by local Henley-in-Arden based bus and coach company Johnsons Coach and Bus under contract to Warwickshire County Council operating up to every 60 minutes.
Notable people
The prolific writer of hymns, Benjamin BeddomeBenjamin Beddome
Benjamin Beddome was an English Baptist minister and hymnist. He was born in Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire, England.He was the son of Baptist minister John Beddome...
(1717–1795), was born in the town. Many of his hymns are in the General Baptist Hymn Book.
William James
William James (railway promoter)
William James was an English lawyer, surveyor, land agent and pioneer promoter of rail transport. "He was the original projector of the Liverpool & Manchester and other railways, and may with truth be considered as the father of the railway system, as he surveyed numerous lines at his own expense...
(1771–1837), pioneer railway promoter, was born in Henley.
Footnotes
The road out of AlcesterAlcester
Alcester is an old market town of Roman origin at the junction of the River Alne and River Arrow in Warwickshire, England. It is situated approximately west of Stratford-upon-Avon, and 8 miles south of Redditch, close to the Worcestershire border...
leading to Henley is also called Henley Street, a name that is in frequent use from 1772 onwards. However, at least one document before than time, a lease from 1597, calls it "Hyghe Street".