Glass plate negative of a boat crush at Henley Royal Regatta. Throughout the Victorian period Henley became a major social event, which grew in popularity in the Edwardian period. Today the Regatta is still descended upon in great numbers, both by spectators on foot and in a wide variety of leisure craft which vie for space as they continually cruise up and down the length of the course.

Photograph from the George Bushell Collection

George Bushell came to Henley in 1919 and took over the task of taking photographs of Henley and its surroundings from two predecessors, called Marsh and Marshall. Bushell died in the 1960s but his business was carried on by his son and grandson. It is his grandson, also called George Bushell, who has donated this important collection of photographs and glass plate negatives to the Museum. This unique collection provides a fascinating view of the changing face of Henley and the Thames over the last century.

Part of negative set number 122 in George Bushell's notebook