15 June 2023

By Göran R Buckhorn

The River & Rowing Museum in Henley-on-Thames has announced that it will reopen on Saturday 1 July after being closed for nine months following roof renovations and refurbishment. 

The Museum has been undergoing vital repairs on a leaking roof to ensure that the building and collections would be protected for current and future generations. It was the plan that the Museum would open in spring 2023 but, writes the Museum in a press release, “inconsistent weather in the early months of the year meant that planned works were unable to progress as quickly as they would have liked”. 

While the doors have been shut, the curatorial and operational team have been hard at work behind the scenes improving the documentation and processes that maintain the collections. 

Ahead of the reopening to visitors, the Museum has already opened its doors to educational groups and schools with a refreshed educational offering. 

“We can’t wait to welcome our visitors, friends and supporters back to the River & Rowing Museum,” said David Worthington, Chair of Trustees. “We appreciate that we had to close for a long period of time, but our top priority was to protect the building as it is the largest and most important asset in our collection. Without these repairs, future generations would not have been able to enjoy its heritage.”

On 1 July, Henley Royal Regatta will be in full swing, ending on Sunday 2 July. Hopefully, Regatta visitors will take the opportunity to visit the Museum with its wonderful collection of rowing artefacts.