DUKE OF CUMBERLAND
Henley

An Idyllic Woodland Setting

The Duke of Cumberland, Henley, is a 15th century small 'gem-like' pub perched on the side of a hill. It has breathtaking views to the North East and on a fine summer's day it's just possible to see Leith Hill, the highest point in Surrey. Nearer by is the second highest hill in Surrey, Blackdown, which broods over Haslemere. Tel: 01428 652280

THE HENLEY - MIDHURST - HASLEMERE COMMUNITY Join Friends of Midhurst in Facebook to keep up to date with what's going on and receive all the news. Or peruse Midhurst Pages which is a website providing information for visitors and those relocating to the area, and those wishing to enjoy this part of the South Downs National Park. Friends of Midhurst also have a Double Noticeboard in Comestibles Deli & Community Café in Midhurst free for anyone to use. New to the area? This is where you can start making friends - and, of course, at the Duke too! Have a pooch that needs a walk? Read Doggy Days Out in Cowdray Park and The Queen Eliabeth Oak Walk. More local dog walks coming soon including several from the Duke of Cumberland.

NEFF MASTERPARTNER DEMONSTRATION 13/3/2010 Violet Designs - Neff Masterpartner in Midhurst - is holding a demonstration of cooking with the latest NEFF OVEN in the Kitchen Showroom, near the mini-roundabout, south of the town. A home economist will be cooking continuously from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm on Saturday 13th March. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the NEFF in action whilst enjoying the company of like-minded NEFF enthusiasts.

In the days when Henley was almost wholely owned by the Cowdray Estate - before World War 2 - the houses would have been painted in the distinctive Cowdray yellow. Only three houses close to the Duke remain as Estate cottages. Up until 1825 the lane through Henley was the main turnpike to London and coach horses would have had to drag their loads up the steep hill. Half way up the hill above the pub spare horses were kept in a small field and were used to help tow the coaches to the top of the rise.

As you start to drop down towards Midhurst there was a pond on the left where the horses had a drink and rested up. In April 2006 the woodmen cut the chesnuts and you can now see where the pond used to be. The above picture is an artist's impression of the pond. The horses would have been led down from the turnpike past the bullrushes on the left to drink at the water's edge. There was also an entry point at the southern edge of the pond.

Time, please, to save the great british pub - if its not too late by Max Hastings, Daily Mail 30/4/09

"In many places, churches, women's institutes and suchlike are almost moribund. There are ever fewer places where we recognise each other, except on the internet. Most of us know the people with whom we work better than those among whom we live. If the local vanishes also, more than ever we become strangers. I was faithful for years to the tiny Duke of Cumberland's Arms, at Henley, near Midhurst, in Sussex, where ducks waddled among the tables in the garden and the mixed grills satisfied the appetite of even a hollow-legged adolescent." More.....

Nobody knows just how old Henley is. Up until the 1950's the old turnpike was laid with pillow-shaped boulders. Here is a photo. It's difficult to imagine how slippery these boulders must have been for horses, especially with a large load. The house at the top on the right used to be the Mission House where travellers stopped off to pray and have a rest.

In 1932 archaeologists dug up the road to investigate its origin. Up until then, because of its straight line towards Chichester, it had been believed to be a Roman Road. However, because of a layer of slag underneath which couldn't have occurred before 1550, the road can't be dated further back then that. Local archaeologists in 1949 commented that they thought the road almost certainly had originated as a Roman Road though no evidence remained to support that assertion. Interestingly, Cowdray came to near-by Easebourne in 1532 and empailed 600 acres. Cottages such as Woodland Cottage have been dated to circa 1575. It's likely the road was resurfaced at the time Henley became a Cowdray Cantonement.

The Duke of Cumberland today still retains a lot of its original charm. There are framed historical documents on the walls which give some of the owners of the pub over the centuries. And for history buffs more information on the area may be had from the Fernhurst Society.

For today's visitors the Duke is a haven on a warm summer's day. There are several acres of garden with ponds and even on the busiest day you can generally find room to yourself. The views are breathtaking. And everywhere you can hear the tinkle of running water. Henley used to have its own water company and pumping station - the old pumping station is now a home. But, the water from the spring still rushes down hill through the hamlet and never fails even in the driest summer.

The Duke is unusual in that it has so many sinks and ponds. There is water running through pipes and levadas thoughout the gardens, and your fish supper is swimming about in a catchment for you to see!

A recent revue in The Times by Giles Coren 16/5/09

"Terrific food. Local, seasonal, straightforward. I had a pale-green, very vernal soup of watercress and Henley wild garlic and then two lovely fillets of sea trout piled on top of Jersey royals and English samphire with caper butter. Chris had an excellent crayfish tail and prawn salad prettily garnished and singing with dill, and their excellent burger, served medium rare. There was dressed crab from nearby Selsey, organic pork sausages from Midhurst, a pint of prawns with home-made garlic and lemon mayonnaise, a Serrano ham salad and some good vegetarian options, not to mention very good organic baguettes. Our bill came to about 35 quid, including beer. All told, you just couldn’t ask for more from an English spring afternoon in the middle of the working week".

Angmering-on-Sea Walkers

With an easterly wind on a hot summer's day its best to keep upwind of the kitchens, that is to say downhill. If you're keen on walking or mountain biking this is a good place to start. (We shall be listing and illustating the principal mountain-biking routes here shortly (see below) - so please bookmark this page). Landranger Maps may be obtained from either Nobs in Haslemere or the Tourist Office in Midhurst. There are routes which will take you for as far as the eye can see. We have invited the Angmering-on-Sea Walkers to divulge their 'secret' hikes. They walk together once a month and come from the local golf-club in Angmering-on-Sea.

Here are several mountain-bike routes: FERNHURST BLACKDOWN. LINCHMERE, MIDHURST & COCKING. Fernhurst, Linchmere and Blackdown all have as their start points the Public Car Park in Fernhurst, Midhurst from North St Car Park and Cocking from the Car Park on Cocking Hill where it adjoins the South Downs Way.

The Fernhurst Route is easily accesible from the Duke of Cumberland. Follow the right-of-way sign which points down the sloping track to the right just below Old Smugglers near the pub and turn sharp right at the track junction, 0.5 miles in, and cycle eastwards through Verdley Wood until you hit Bexley Hill. Refer to your Landranger map for route details.

A party of walkers from the South Downs Society - others were slaking their thirst in the Duke of Cumberland when this picture was taken - led by 85 year old Norman Foot (with glasses) having a picnic lunch on the woodland edge of Henley, and enjoying the blissful sunshine of an early Spring day. 15/3/2007. Website:www.southdownssociety.org.uk

 

The Duke epitomises SPACE....FREEDOM.....PEACE....TRANQUILLITY....and DEEP ROOTS INTO THE SOUL OF ENGLAND. Come, and quietly enjoy your heritage!

THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND ARMS
Henley, Nr Haslemere
SURREY
GU27 3HQ
Tel: 01428 652280

Web page designed, illustrated and written by John Trueman, Woodland Cottage , Henley

' The Duke of Cumberland Page " is sponsored by Violet Designs, Midhurst, West Sussex Tel: 01730 810059. We just try harder to give exceptional service and prices.