Phyllis Court Grandstand, Henley-on-Thames from over the river

Image: © Jo and Steve Turner Taken: 8 Apr 2007

Grade II Listed iron grandstand for viewing Henley Royal Regatta the design being modelled on an Oxford College Barge. Established in 1839, initially by the Mayor and people of Henley-on-Thames it received royal patronage from 1851, becoming the Royal Regatta thereafter. A building of 1895 on the site of a manor was first recorded in the 14th century. Plans for the current grandstand dated to 1911 record the architect as Frederick G Sainsbury. In 1912 Henley Royal Regatta a visit was made to the Grandstand Pavilion at Phyllis Court Club by Their Majesties King George V and Queen Mary. The current structure was then built in 1913 after the Royal visit. The stability of the structure was questioned before the Olympic regatta in 1948 and diagonal bracing was added. By 1980 corrosion resulted in a survey limiting the numbers that could use it. The restriction was lifted when the building had supporting scaffold installed. Full renovation was carried out in the early 1990s. In 2013-14 the roof installed in 1993, initially as a temporary structure to meet planning requirements, was replaced with a highly insulated version to allow all year round use and two storey extension was added to the west elevation in a £1.2M refurbishment.

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