Pitt House

Pitt House is the ideal home in town. It has been carefully restored to reveal many of the original features by the renowned property renovator Humfrey Fisher, of Fisher and Fisher Limited. Fisher and Fisher Limited have exercised their skill and considerable style, crafted over many years across their London projects, to create a comfortable home with great flair.

Arranged over three floors with a very fine period staircase as a feature of the principal reception room the house boasts four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The ground floor flows particularly well with a separate dining room to the kitchen breakfast room along with a utility room. The garden is some 120 ft in length and at the rear of the garden is an enchanting summer room, ideal for those that may wish to work from home or perhaps take tea in the garden or practise their yoga!

The private members club Phyllis Court is a short walk away, twinned with the Hurlingham Club and enjoying 18 acres of grounds adjoining the Thames, with excellent sporting facilities tennis, rowing, bowling and croquet to name but a few amongst a multitude of social activities, restaurants and hospitality; a great asset to the town.

Henley on Thames, nestled among the Chiltern Hills, sitting alongside the Thames is particularly well known for the eponymous Royal Regatta held annually in late since 1839 brings an added excitement to the town and is swiftly followed by the elegant black-tie concerts at the music and arts festival. 

Numerous well-known individuals have rested in New Street, reputedly Henry VIII was a regular nocturnal visitor. Other more permanent residents of note include Mark Carney, one time Governor of the Bank of England. In more recent times the town has become used as a location for many films and TV series, in particular the Midsomer Murder series and there are now guide books for those brave enough to visit the locations of some of the more sinister murders! The singer Dusty Springfield lived in Henley, as did the Beatle George Harrison and poet George Orwell. 

The first recorded history of Henley dates back to 1179 when King Henry II bought land ‘for the making of buildings’. It is believed that the existing Thursday market was granted by a charter of King John some time before 1269. The black plague in 14th Century swept through Henley and it is believed Henley lost as much as 60% of its population.

It is known that by the early 1500’s the town extended along the west bank of the Thames from Friday Street at one end to the Manor, now Phyllis Court at the other, and that Hart Street and New Street existed. Bell Street and the Market Place were also in existence by this time. 

Henley was ‘incorporated’ in 1568 once use of the titles of ‘mayor’ and ‘burgess’ had been granted by King Henry VIII. 

Henley prospered in the 17th and 18th centuries, with the manufacture of glass and malt, and the trade in corn and wool. From Henley, London was supplied with much of its timber from the Chilterns and grain from the rich agricultural land since the river provided relatively easy transport at that time. Henley had its own workhouse built in 1790 for 150 people in West Street. This was later enlarged and became the Henley Poor Law Union workhouse. 

The current five arched and distinctive bridge was built and opened in 1786, and the tower of St Mary’s church nearby dates back to the 15th Century. Even older than this it is believed that the Old Bell in Bell Street was built in 1325, the oldest known building still in existence in Henley.