Hobbs of Henley is not only one of the best-known businesses in Henley-on-Thames, it also boasts one of the most exclusive and recognisable fleets of boats plying the river today. Simon Wenham's illustrated history, written to mark the firm's 150th anniversary, shows how the descendants of a Hambleden family, living by the Thames in the seventeenth century, went on to found this now prominent business, growing it from a waterside pub in the Victorian period to one of the largest operators on the river with bases in a number of locations. It sheds light on over a century of social change and demonstrates how the fortunes of the firm were closely tied to the world-famous regatta, as well as the ever-fluctuating demand for leisure. It also traces the considerable contribution that the Hobbs family made, not only in helping thousands of people each year to enjoy the beauty of the Thames, but in shaping the development of Henley in the modern era.

About the Author
Simon Wenham is on the part-time tutor panel of Oxford University's Continuing Education Department. He worked on the Thames for many years and his doctorate explored the evolution of the waterway since the nineteenth century. His website (www.simonwenham.com) promotes social history, including that relating to the river, Victorian Britain and the development of leisure.


Book Information
ISBN 9781445696607
Author Simon Wenham
Format Paperback
Page Count 96
Imprint Amberley Publishing
Publisher Amberley Publishing
Weight(grams) 302g