Marsh Head Horsebridge

Marsh Head Horsebridge is situated near Marsh Lock, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. It is 1 of 2 footbridges of similar construction in this location. The bridges carry a public right of way from Shiplake, downstream past Marsh Lock, and back to the riverbank near Henley. They are both part of the Thames Path National Trail.

A bridge was first constructed at the site in 1796, and the current bridge was last subject to a major refurbishment in the 1990s.

Keeping the public safe is one of our highest priorities. Following a structural inspection, we regrettably closed Marsh Head Horsebridge in May 2022 due to structural and safety concerns.

Recent Updates

Our staff had successful partnership meetings with Freddie van Mierlo MP and members of Henley Town Council in January and April 2026, and with the Thames Path Partnership in February and April 2026. They subsequently attended the Rivers Sub Committee in late April 2026.

In partnership with the Thames Path Partnership and Henley Town Council, we have been working on developing the project and are pleased to announce that we are jointly hosting a drop in event on Wednesday 20 May 2026, from 4pm to 7pm. This event will be held at the Henley Town Hall, Market Place, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2AQ. There will be visualisations of what the bridge could look like on display. Members of the team will be on hand to help explain the drawings and plans and can answer any questions you may have. You will be able to share your feedback in person, by completing a paper survey at the event, or via our online feedback form. The online form will be available here: (May 2026 feedback survey (External link))(External link) and will remain open until Sunday 31 May 2026.

The Marsh Horsebridge is an extremely important recreational asset for the residents of Henley, Shiplake and Harpsden. It is also a valued heritage asset on the River Thames and forms part of one our National Trails. However, the bridge does not provide any operational purpose for the Environment Agency. Like other public sector organisations, we are facing difficult choices due to funding constraints, including reducing and stopping activities for which we do not receive funding for. We receive no central government funding for recreational bridges.

As a result, the full cost of the works cannot therefore be met by central government alone. We need to raise funds to ensure necessary repairs can be completed and reopen the bridge.

Crowdfunding provides an opportunity for anyone with an interest in the Marsh Horsebridge to contribute and collectively support a solution. This approach reinforces the strong community focus to undertake the repairs. Our crowdfunding information page can be found here: www.projectsfornature.com/marsh-horsebridge(External link) (external link).

Alongside the Crowdfunding we are looking to secure funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund, local councils, private donors and corporate partners.

The initial design, produced in March 2026, will be used to inform the next stages of design development, evaluate the overall cost of the project, and help identify a suitable contractor.

Once our designs have been finalised and we have secured the required level of funding and planning permission for the replacement bridge we will be able to confirm dates for the construction work.

For more information please visit this section.