Shiplake Outloars Club website

We’re an informal Fixed Seat Rowing Club on the River Thames formed in 2013 now comprising of about 20 men and women.
We row for fitness and enjoyment and attend the odd race too!
We’re very grateful to Shiplake College for allowing us the use of their river frontage.
Outings are generally in the early mornings before work.
Our Boat “Zachary” is a Mark Edwards/Great River Race designed 4 oared Jolly Boat with a GRP hull with wooden gunwales and footplates and shiny brass rowlocks!
The boat is the smaller version of the larger Thames Watermans Cutter.

Shiplake Hole

The wider pool on the bend at Shiplake

Shiplake College

Right Bank
Shiplake College website -

Shiplake College is an Independent boarding and day school for boys aged 11 to 18 and girls from 16 to 18. Boarding is available from 13+.
Situated in a 45 acre site near Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, we offer an outstanding education based on small class sizes, excellent facilities and dedicated teaching staff.
Located on the banks of the River Thames, Shiplake College has its own stretch of water providing an exceptional setting for rowing. The College has extensive rowing facilities including numerous ergometers, a weights room and two Boat Houses containing an excellent fleet of boats.

Shiplake College

Shiplake College Boathouse
The main rowing boathouse is behind this
© Graham Horn licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

1859: The Thames, Mr & Mrs Hall

SHIPLAKE CHURCH

On the opposite bank, a little above the junction, is the village of Shiplake, backed by hilly slopes, on one of which is the church, of which Grainger, author of the "Biographical Dictionary", was the incumbent; living here "in competency, obscurity, and content" — so says the tablet which marks his grave; and here dying, in 1770, "as he was officiating at the altar." From the church porch there is a glorious view of the valley of the Thames: —

The tranquil cot, the restless mill,
The lonely hamlet, calm and still;
The village spire, the busy town,
The shelving bank, the rising down;
The fisher's punt, the peasant's home.
The woodland seat, the regal dome, —
In quick succession rise to charm
The mind, with virtuous feelings warm;
Till where thy widening current glides
To mingle with the turbid tides,
Thy spacious breast displays unfurl'd
The ensigns of th'assembled world!

1881: George Leslie, "Our River" -

Above the [Shiplake] lock, Shiplake is passed;  it stands away from the river on the top of a small hill;  some nice houses, and the church, are all I have ever seen of it.  The view from the church is fine;  this church is celebrated as being the one in which our Poet Laureate was married.

1889: Jerome K Jerome (probably using Leslie as his source) -

Shiplake is a pretty village, but it cannot be seen from the river, being upon the hill.  Tennyson was married in Shiplake Church.

Shiplake, Ashley Bryant