Thames Islands Pt 3 - Thames Ditton Island...

Ye Olde Swan public house – crossing point to Thames Ditton Island

Actually reaching the river is not always the easiest thing to do along the banks of the Thames. You can wander along the river's edge without seeing any water, just rows of houses. The access point to Thames Ditton Island takes advantage of a small slipway next to Ye Olde Swan. It wasn't until the early 20th century that holiday houses started to be built on the island.

Thames Ditton Island bridge

The bridge was built in 1939 by David Rowell & Co. of Westminter. Ownership is shared between the 48 households on the island after purchasing it from Ye Olde Swan's landlord in 1963. As well as providing easy access to the the island for residents, it also transports water, gas and electricity in, and sewage out.

Thames Ditton Island

Swan Island and Boyle Farm Island just behind

Swan Island, in the foreground, almost adjoins Thames Ditton Island. It used to house the ferryman before the bridge arrived. Just visible behind is Boyle Farm Island with its single house.

The official Ditton Island website is at www.thamesdittonisland.co.uk

A brief video...

Tagg's Island

Tagg's Island has a long history of developmental prospecting and foiled plans. A lot of people seem to have lost a lot of money trying to make their fortune here. It was in 1872 that Thomas Tagg opened The Thames Hotel, attracting the rich and famous, and giving the island its current name.

Tagg's Island bridge

Tagg's Island bridge - going up

The road bridge wasn't built until 1982.

Tagg's Island bridge - going down

Tagg's Island houseboats

Building is not allowed on the island, so a ring of more than 60 luxury houseboats line the island. The addition of an inner lagoon in 1983 created extra space for mooring.

Tagg's Island sign

Small islet set adrift from Tagg's Island

Official Tagg's Island website (www.taggs-island.com)
Tagg's Island has a floating B&B
History in greater detail

Garrick's Ait

Unlike most islands in the Thames, Garrick's Ait has no bridge access. Around 20 bungalows are crammed onto the island.

Looking over the bank side houseboats to Garrick's Ait

The western tip of Garrick's Ait photographed from Garrick's Temple

The eastern tip of Garrick's Ait

Platt's Eyot

Sunbury water works

Reaching Platt's Eyot involves walking through a strange landscape of gravel filter beds and the geometric buildings of the Sunbury water works. The spoil from the creation of the nearby Stain Hill Reservoirs was dumped onto the island at the turn of the 20th century, raising the height of the western end.

 

Platt's Eyot bridge

While I was photographing the bridge from the island's car park a man, named Neil, asked if I was interested in the island. He ended up showing me around the island and his own photographic studio where he had some amazing furniture designs on the go. I was surprised to find that there was no residential property, just industrial units of various shapes, sizes and states of repair. Thornycroft made Coastal Motor Boats here for the First World War – a fast ship designed to skim over minefields and release torpedoes. Nowadays, Neil said, most of the units are used by artists, musicians and designers of one kind or another.

A private but friendly island

Crossing the bridge to Platt's Eyot

The east end of Platt's Eyot

The west end of Platt's Eyot

Spice Girls studio?

One of Neil's stories involved this old brick building by the island's bridge. Apparently The Spice Girls recorded some early tracks within these walls and the young owners of the studio retired very early on a healthy £5 million payout! 

Current incumbents of Platt's Eyot

Industrial hanger on Platt's Eyot

This pleasant, creative state of affairs may not last too much longer though. Planning permission has been sought twice in the last decade by the owners for a huge development of housing and offices. Judging from the other islands along this stretch of water, it's surely only a matter of time before they get their wish.

More info

Grand Junction Island

Grand Junction Island

The island is now owned by Thames Water, but was previously owned by the Grand Junction Water Company who built a water intake on the island for the nearby reservoirs – hence the name. A few holiday chalets exist on the island as well as some boat moorings.

Sunbury Court Island

Entrance to Sunbury Court Island

The light was fading fast as I raced to Sunbury Court Island. This small gate above provides the only break in the endless residential barricade, giving access over a bridge to the island's charming entrance tower, which was in fact built to house a sewage pump.

Sunbury Court Island

Around 30 houses consume almost every inch of the island.

Sunbury Court Island tower at dusk

Swan's Rest Island and Rivermead Island

Swan's Rest Island

Swan's Rest Island is still marked on the London A-Z even though there is no longer any channel between it and Rivermead Island.

Rivermead Island footbridge

A bridge carries you over a narrow water channel or, if you prefer, you can cross the ford to Rivermead Island.

Narrow channel on the north bank

Rivermead Island park

No houses! The island is an open park with some lovely mature trees...

Rivermead Island

... and ducks.

Rivermead Island bridge

Papp A Postcard competition

Five postcards dropped through our letterbox last week - a card a day. Each one suggested a British island for us to visit.

Monday delivered Flat Holm, enticing us with its “massive Victorian fog horn”.
Tuesday brought us Anglesey, promising “a village with the longest name in Britain”.
Wednesday gave us Handa Island, home to“North West Europe’s largest seabird colony”.
Thursday tempted us with the Monach Isles, from where “the last people… left in 1951”.
Friday completed the set with Walney and its “400 species of moth”.

The reason for these mysterious postcards? It’s all part of a National Rail promotion to get people out and about photographing whatever they discover. Pictures can then be uploaded to the Papp A Postcard app on Facebook for a chance to win a £500 Topshop/Topman shopping experience. If you'd like to enter, the closing date is Nov 28th.

As for us, we couldn't resist Anglesey, which hopefully we'll be visiting in December.