The riverside setting of Pangbourne, right on the banks of the Thames, has always held a special place in English culture and literature. Jerome K. Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat famously ends its misadventurous journey at Pangbourne, forever putting the village on the literary map. Meanwhile, Kenneth Grahame, author of The Wind in the Willows, retired to Church Cottage in Pangbourne, where the peaceful Thames scenery inspired E. H. Shepard’s charming illustrations for his beloved book.

The river’s appeal wasn’t lost on the College’s founder, Sir Thomas Devitt. Soon after establishing Pangbourne College, he bought Thames Cottage, drawn to its prime river frontage. In 1928, the College expanded even more, adding 300 extra feet of riverfront. This allowed them to build a large brick boathouse and a new slipway, making the most of the river access.

You can read the article in full in the latest edition of The Pangbournian magazine.