Hambleden Rural District had its origins in the Henley-on-Thames Poor Law Union, which had been created in 1835.

[2] Poor law unions formed the basis for sanitary districts when they were created in 1872, with the area becoming the Henley Rural Sanitary District, administered by the board of guardians for the poor law union, which was based at the Union Workhouse on West Hill in Henley.

[3] Hambleden Rural District Council held its first meeting on 1 January 1895 at the workhouse in Henley, when William Dalziel Mackenzie of Fawley Court was appointed the first chairman.

[4] The district comprised the three civil parishes of: For its first few meetings, the council met at the workhouse or at its clerk's office in Henley.

[5] Administrative functions were carried out at Bank Chambers, 12 Hart Street, Henley, which was the office of the solicitor who acted as clerk to the council.