Orwell museum move

A GEORGE Orwell museum could now be created in King’s Arms Barn in Henley after the chapel at the Fairmile Cemetery was ruled out. The move follows a meeting between town clerk Janet Wheeler and Pete Burness-Smith, of St Mark’s Road, who is leading the museum project.

Mrs Wheeler told a meeting of the town council’s town and community committee: “I don’t think it’s right at the cemetery and he’s happy to work with me. I just feel it’s a cemetery, it’s not a tourist destination.”

Councillor Ian Reissmann said the chapel, which is owned by the council, would need extensive refurbishment and suggested using the barn, which is off King’s Road.

But he added: “A number of people feel King’s Arms Barn shouldn’t be used as a commercial let. I think that it is a possibility and we should consider it. It might be a non-starter.”

Mr Burness-Smith wants to establish museum dedicated to Orwell, who lived in Henley and Shiplake as a boy. In 2011 he agreed a lease on the chapel with the council for a peppercorn rent of £1 but the deal was cancelled in 2014.