SHIPLAKE
Shiplake
is south of Henley-on-Thames on the road that leads
to Caversham and Reading. There is not a lot to see of
the village from the main road as both the old village
and the newer settlement of Lower Shiplake spread away
from the road towards the River Thames
The village originated near where the C12 Church of St
Peter and St Paul can still be found. This is where the
manor house (now known as Shiplake Court) was situated
on a beautiful site overlooking the river. For brief information about the Church of St Peter and St Paul click here.
The Manor house
was rebuilt in 1894 and is now a boys public school. However
on the building of the railway in 1858 and the station,
about a mile away from what had been the centre, a new
settlement grew around the ancient settlement of Lashbrook
which is mentioned in Domesday Book, along with its mill.
The mill was where Shiplake lock is now and existed until
1908.
Some scenes from the popular TV series Midsomer Murders have been filmed in the churchyard at Shiplake.
http://midsomermurders.org/shiplakeloc.htm
The development of Lower Shiplake after the coming of
the railway owes much to the River Thames itself. It started
with houseboats mooring on the river-bank near the new
station and acquiring gardens alongside. Luxurious homes
followed and inevitably more and more houses were built
within easy reach of the station.
Shiplake
is south of Henley-on-Thames on the A4155.
