Victorian river-side opulence, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England
Maidenhead was a thriving small town on the Great West Road from London to Bath and Bristol, but it was the arrival of the railway in 1840 that really transformed the town's fortunes. Suddenly Maidenhead was easily reachable from Paddington Station in London (today around 20 minutes) and it became a fashionable place to indulge in the Victorian pastime of 'messing about on the river'. A highlight of the season was Ascot Sunday when the smart set arrived on boats and boating parties were popular. Boulters Lock in the town centre was THE place to see and be seen. (There are some fantastic B&W images of Boulters Lock in its heyday on the web)
Upstream of Boulters Lock, at the southern end of the beautiful Cliveden reach, the tow-path is still lined by a fine collection of substantial late Victorian and Edwardian houses.
Victorian river-side opulence, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England
Maidenhead was a thriving small town on the Great West Road from London to Bath and Bristol, but it was the arrival of the railway in 1840 that really transformed the town's fortunes. Suddenly Maidenhead was easily reachable from Paddington Station in London (today around 20 minutes) and it became a fashionable place to indulge in the Victorian pastime of 'messing about on the river'. A highlight of the season was Ascot Sunday when the smart set arrived on boats and boating parties were popular. Boulters Lock in the town centre was THE place to see and be seen. (There are some fantastic B&W images of Boulters Lock in its heyday on the web)
Upstream of Boulters Lock, at the southern end of the beautiful Cliveden reach, the tow-path is still lined by a fine collection of substantial late Victorian and Edwardian houses.