The Fisheries is an estate of individually designed houses, built on land bordering the River Thames, to the south of Maidenhead, and has been in existence as a residential area since the 1890’s. The earliest Fisheries properties are to be found spaced out through the estate. The most noteworthy of which, perhaps, is Langtree House, reportedly built for King Edward VII’s mistress, Lily Langtree. Whether she actually lived here is open to question, but the story lingers on. The property itself, located on the river, at the junction of Fishery and Avenue Roads, is now split into 3 separate dwellings. Other remaining examples of Victorian and Edwardian properties are West Court, Fisherman’s Cottage (now Glebe House) and Wych Elm.

Whereas the original estate was characterised by large open spaces in the form of orchards, tennis courts, and vegetable gardens, the attraction of the river to Edwardian Londoners soon led to sub-divisions for the erection of summer houses, boat houses, moorings etc. Development has  slowly taken  place over the last 130 year with some of the earlier “summer houses” and workers cottages being demolished to make way for larger, permanent homes.

 With the development of the Great Western railways under their world famous engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the railway eventually bridged the river, bringing the town itself within easy reach of London, the worlds’ then greatest city and financial capital. Money came in looking for residential properties, leading to a steady sub-division and infill of the estate.