Summary (by AI): I discovered the poignant Grave of Jimmy the Marmoset in Henley-on-Thames and consider it a touching, hidden gem of local history.
Blog: I’ve been doing a bit of research on Oxfordshire lately. Since I live here, I set myself a goal to "complete" at least one county, focusing on the more obscure local curiosities. I initially looked into the famous shark in Headington, but that’s been allocated to the "Urban" category. My search eventually brought me much closer to home—right here in Henley-on-Thames.
It turns out there is a landmark called the Grave of Jimmy the Marmoset. It’s a tiny, poignant little site that has sat on the Fairmile—the long stretch of road running in and out of Henley—for over ninety years.
The story behind it belongs to a lady named Miss Doris Jekyll. She was a First World War nursing sister who lived on New Street in Henley. By all accounts, she and Jimmy were inseparable; the little marmoset used to spend his days perched around her neck, looking for all the world like a living fur scarf.
Jimmy passed away in 1937. He was given a proper burial on the Fairmile, complete with a small, commissioned headstone. The inscription on the stone is:
"Jimmy, a tiny marmoset. There isn't enough darkness in the world to quench the light of one small candle."
After visiting the site, I found myself wondering how many people who live in Henley actually know it’s there. It’s one of those hidden gems of local history that you could drive past every day without noticing. I’m certainly going to be mentioning it to my friends and neighbors to see just how many people are aware of the little marmoset on the Fairmile.
The Map: