Hurley: Priory, Church and Thames History

Hurley’s history can be seen in several specific places: in the surviving remains of the Priory, in St Mary the Virgin Church and in its long connection with the River Thames. The Hurley Regatta is another longstanding village tradition. If you are looking for a hotel in Hurley, you can plan your trip according to whether your main interest is the history of the Priory, using Hurley Lock as a point of reference or attending a regatta.

The Priory and the Church

The priory was founded in 1086 by Geoffrey de Mandeville. Hurley Priory is designated a Scheduled Monument and is considered an outstanding example of a monastic complex surrounded by a moat. Its visible remains include a rectangular moat, fishponds and various buildings. The refectory, part of the north cloister range dating from around 1300, and the priory wall have also survived. Some of the former priory buildings have been incorporated into private homes around the small green next to the church.

St Mary the Virgin Church is a Grade II* listed building on the National Heritage List for England. The church features many Norman elements and contains tombs of the Lovelace family. It has neither aisles nor a tower; a bell turret was added later. At the Priory, the focus is on the layout of the monastic complex and its remains, while the church brings together its own architectural features and the Lovelace family tombs.

The River Thames, Hurley Lock and the Thames Path

The river has always been important to Hurley’s history; records from the 6th century mention a ford. At Hurley Lock, the Thames Path crosses the lock structure via a footbridge, while another bridge leads into the village of Hurley. Beyond Marlow, the Thames Path passes through Hurley on the section towards Henley-on-Thames.

From the village of Hurley, follow the footpath and pedestrian signs for about 0.1 miles to Hurley Lock. Visitors to the lock can use the public car park in the village. According to the Environment Agency visitor information, updated on 5 June 2024, fishing at Hurley Lock is permitted from sunrise to sunset. If fishing is part of your plans, check the current guidance before your visit.

The Hurley Regatta and when to visit

The Hurley Regatta is a long-running village tradition on the River Thames and has been held since 1973. It is designed for people to take part as well as watch; races and challenges cater to people of different ages and levels of experience and confidence. Competitions featured in recent editions include raft races, bathtub races, canoe and kayak races, paddleboard races and catakanu races. The programme may vary from year to year. If the regatta is the reason for your trip, check the dates and the specific competition programme for your chosen year before planning your hotel stay in Hurley.

Discover more destinations: Cookham, Wraysbury, Sunninghill, Sunningdale, Maidenhead, Windsor, Datchet, Old Windsor

For the broader travel overview: Windsor And Maidenhead.