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Local Information
Stoke Row is located
5 miles from Henley On Thames, 10 miles from Reading
and 20 miles from Oxford. The area boasts picturesque
villages and countryside and where parts of the
National Trails of the Ridgeway and Thames Path
offer numerous leisure opportunities for walkers,
cyclists and those who enjoy horse-riders and
golf.
Within Stoke Row
is the Maharajah's Well. It is a 370-foot deep
well with a highly ornate wellhead cover, which
includes a golden elephant under a domed canopy.
The well was paid for by the Maharajah of Benares
(now Varanasi) in 1864, as the local area governor,
who was from Stoke Row, had told the story of
a boy in the village who had been beaten by his
mother after drinking the last of the water in
the house during a drought.
At that time in the nineteenth century to replenish
the supply meant a several-mile round trip to
fetch and carry the water by hand. The Maharajah
was so touched by the story that he financed the
digging of the well, along with a keeper's cottage
and a cherry orchard to provide for the upkeep
of the well.
The well fell into
disuse but was renovated in the 1950s and can
still draw water. The keeper's cottage is still
alongside but the cherry orchard is now an ornamental
garden. Today it still attracts many visitors
simply because it is a beautiful thing to see,
has a fascinating history and is in a pretty garden
setting.
Access to the well environs is free at all times,
including Bank Holidays and weekends. There is
a donation box on site, and an informative booklet
may be purchased from the Village Store or the
Cherry Tree.
Other activities
nearby include golf, horse riding, hot air ballooning
and clay pigeon shooting.
There are five
excellent golf courses within 10 minutes of The
Cherry Tree: Huntercoombe Golf Club, Henley
Golf Club, Caversham
Heath Golf Club, Badgemore
Golf Club and Reading
Golf Club.
Henley-On-Thames
Henley it is one of the county's most picturesque
towns, known the world over for its Royal Regatta
held in the first week of July. It becomes inundated
with international oarsmen and visitors, eager
to be a part of one of the great sporting and
social events.
The new River and Rowing Museum in its award-winning
building is proving to be a magnet for those who
want to learn about the history of rowing, the
mighty Thames and, of course, the town.
Other places to visit
- Oxford
- Reading
- Goring
- Greys Court, Henley
- Basildon Park, Lower Basildon,
Reading
- The Savill Garden, Windsor Great
Park
- Windsor Castle
- Legoland, Windsor
- Stonor Park
- Henley-On-Thames
- Hambleden (Near Henley) very
picturesque English village - popular with filmakers.
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