Islands in the River Thames

This article lists the islands in the River Thames, or at the mouth of a tributary (marked †), in England. It excludes human-made islands built as part of the building of forty-five two-gate locks which each accompany a weir, and islets subordinate to and forming part of the overall shape of another. The suffix -ey (pronounced today /iː/) is common across England and Scotland and cognate with ait and meaning island, a term – as ait or eyot – unusually well-preserved on the Thames. A small minority of list entries are referred to as Island, Ait or Eyot and are vestiges, separated by a depression in the land or high-water-level gully.

Most are natural; others were created by excavation of an additional or replacement navigation channel, such as to provide a shorter route, a cut. Many result from accumulation of gravel, silt, wildfowl dung and plant decay and root strengthening, particularly from willows and other large trees. Unlike other large rivers, all today are considered fixed. All in the reaches below Lechlade have been protected against erosion by various combinations of canalisation of the river, building up with dredged material from the river bed, water reeds, concrete, cement, wood or sheet piling.

List of former islands
Beyond the alluvium/silts of the estuary, by the English Channel and North Sea

List of islands
Sheppey - Minster from Elmley Marshes
Oliver's Island looking downstream
Glover's Island from Richmond Hill
Raven’s Ait from Queen's Promenade
Platts Eyot - Port Hampton
Ham Island - The Cut
Bavin's Gulls and Cliveden
Temple Island, Henley

The islands are listed in order upstream from the sea.

Islands from the sea to Thames Head and published size:
Name Area
(acre)		 Area
(ha)		 References
Isle of Sheppey†23,040 9,320[1]
Two Tree Island† (also known as Leigh Marshes)640 260
Canvey Island†4,556 1,844[2][3][4]
Lower Horse Island† on Holehaven† a sandbank of Holehaven Creek, Corringham31.1 12.6
Chiswick Eyot, Chiswick3.266 1.322[5]
Oliver's Island, Strand-on-the-Green0.90 0.36[6]
Brentford Ait, Brentford4.572 1.850[7]
Lot's Ait, Brentford1.724 0.698[8]
Isleworth Ait, Isleworth9.370 3.792[9]
Corporation Island, Richmond0.796 0.322[10]
Glover's Island, Twickenham0.536 0.217[11]
Eel Pie Island, Twickenham8.935 3.616[12]
Swan Island, Twickenham0.250 0.101[13]
Trowlock Island, Teddington3.700 1.497
Steven's Eyot, Kingston upon Thames0.372 0.151
Raven's Ait, Surbiton1.268 0.513[14]
Boyle Farm Island, Thames Ditton0.407 0.165[15]
Thames Ditton Island, Thames Ditton4.287 1.735[15]
Ash Island, East Molesey4.513 1.826[16]
Tagg's Island, Hampton3.681 1.490[16]
Garrick's Ait, Hampton0.798 0.323[17][18]
Benn's Island, Hampton0.1 0.040 [19]
Platts Eyot, Hampton7.710 3.120[20]
Grand Junction Isle, Sunbury0.452 0.183[20]
Sunbury Court Island, Sunbury2.457 0.994[21]
Rivermead Island, Sunbury6.672 2.700[22]
Sunbury Lock Ait, Walton on Thames7.735 3.130[23]
Wheatley's Ait, Sunbury-on-Thames (also known as Wheatleys Eyot)11.928 4.827[24]
Desborough Island, Shepperton112.00 45.32[25]
D'Oyly Carte Island, Weybridge1.427 0.577[26]
Lock Island, Shepperton4.662 1.887[26]
Hamhaugh Island, Shepperton9.897 4.005[26]
Pharaoh's Island, Shepperton4.1 1.7[26][27]
Laleham Burway including Abbey Mead, Chertsey396 160
Penton Hook Island, Laleham11.443 4.631[28]
Truss's Island, Thorpe0.310 0.125
Church Island, Staines-upon-Thames2.069 0.837[29]
Hollyhock Island with Holm Island, Staines-upon-Thames2.429 0.983[29]
The Island (formerly marsh), Hythe End3.953 1.600[29]
Magna Carta Island, Runnymede1.706 0.690[29]
Unnamed island, Wraysbury0.690 0.279[29][30]
Pats Croft Eyot, Runnymede0.518 0.210[29]
Friary Island, Wraysbury7.309 2.958[31][32]
Friday Island, Old Windsor0.154 0.062[31]
Ham Island, Old Windsor126.0 51.0
Lion Island, Old Windsor0.353 0.143
Sumptermead Ait, Datchet5.180 2.096
Black Potts Ait, Windsor1.81 0.73[33]
Romney Island, Windsor6.304 2.551[33][34]
Cutlers Ait, Windsor0.955 0.386[33]
Firework Ait, Windsor0.022 0.0089[35]
Barry Avenue Island, Windsor0.641 0.259
Deadwater Ait, Windsor0.550 0.223[33]
Baths Island, Eton Wick3.42 1.38[33]
Bush Ait, Windsor1.118 0.452[33]
Queen's Eyot, Dorney4.209 1.703
Monkey Island, Bray5.276 2.135[36]
Pigeonhill Eyot, Bray2.625 1.062[36]
Headpile Eyot, Bray3.440 1.392[36]
Guards Club Island, Maidenhead (also known as Bucks Ait)0.640 0.259[36]
Bridge Eyot, Maidenhead2.262 0.915[36]
Grass Eyot, Maidenhead1.258 0.509[36]
Ray Mill Island, Maidenhead0.991 0.401[36][37]
Boulter's Island or Boulter’s Lock Island, Maidenhead3.474 1.406[36]
Glen Island, Maidenhead4.104 1.661[36]
Bavin's Gulls, Maidenhead (also known as Sloe Grove Islands)1.856 0.751[38]
Formosa including manmade Mill and Sashes Islands, Cookham126.597 51.232[36]
Sheriff Island, Marlow2.410 0.975[36]
Gibraltar Islands, Marlow5.491 2.222[36]
Temple Mill Island, Hurley3.815 1.544[36]
Frog Mill Ait, Hurley4.213 1.705[39]
Black Boy Island, Hurley5.344 2.163[39][40]
Magpie Island, Medmenham3.1 1.3[41][39]
Hambleden Mill island1.584 0.641[42]
Temple Island, Remenham1.051 0.425[43]
Rod Eyot, Henley-on-Thames2.159 0.874[43]
Ferry Eyot, Harpsden1.482 0.600[43]
Poplar Eyot, Wargrave0.958 0.388[43]
Handbuck Eyot, Wargrave0.770 0.312[43]
Unnamed Eyot, Wargrave2.378 0.962[43]
Shiplake railway bridge island1.193 0.483[43]
Shiplake weir island1.579 0.639[43]
Phillimore Island, Charvil0.399 0.161[43]
The Lynch, Lower Shiplake3.248 1.314[43]
Hallsmead Ait, Lower Shiplake4.745 1.920[43][44]
Buck Ait, Sonning0.596 0.241[45]
Long Ait, Sonning2.623 1.061[43]
Sonning Eye, Sonning including Aberlash House island9.222 3.732[43]
Sonning Hill island, Sonning0.578 0.234[43]
Sonning Marsh, Caversham Lakes Island0.561 0.227[43]
Heron Island, Reading1.668 0.675[43][46]
View Island, Reading3.5 1.4[43][47]
De Bohun Island, Reading1.122 0.454[43]
Fry's Island, Reading (also known as De Montfort Island)3.561 1.441[43]
Pipers Island, Reading0.147 0.059[43]
St Mary's Island and the Lower Large, Reading0.958 0.388[43][48]
Appletree Eyot, Tilehurst0.730 0.295[43]
Poplar Island, Tilehurst0.740 0.299[43]
Mapledurham Mill Island1.322 0.535[43]
Whitchurch Mill Greater Island1.945 0.787[43]
Lower Basildon marsh island0.759 0.307[43]
Streatley Mill Greater Island1.977 0.800[43]
Cleeve Mill lower island, Goring1.945 0.787[43]
Cleeve Mill island, Goring0.979 0.396[43]
Cleeve Mill upper island, Goring1.416 0.573[43]
Cholsey Marsh island1.2 0.49[49][50][43]
Crowmarsh Mill Island3.160 1.279[43]
Little Wittenham Footbridge Island2.316 0.937[43]
Clifton Cut Island61.864 25.035[51]
Long Wittenham Backwater Island9.477 3.835[51]
Culham Cut Island70.638 28.586[51]
Sutton Pools Island, Sutton Courtney6.056 2.451[51]
Nag's Head Island, Abingdon1.876 0.759[51]
Andersey Island, Abingdon273 110[51]
Tiger Island (opposite the Abbey Grounds), Abingdon19.830 8.025[51]
Lock Wood Island, Nuneham Courtenay1.930 0.781[51]
Fiddler's Elbow, Sandford-on-Thames11.688 4.730[51][52]
Fidder’s Elbow far northern section6.425 2.600
Swan Inn, Rose, Kennington or St Michael Isle, Kennington1.197 0.484[51]
Folly Island, Folly Bridge, Oxford0.65 0.26[53]
Osney Island, Oxford108.34 43.84[54][51]
Fiddler's Island, Oxford4.105 1.661[51]
Godstow Bridge Island2.181 0.883[51]
King's Lock Island2.558 1.035[51]
Pinkhill Lock Island3 1.2[55][51]
Shifford Cut Island, Chimney Meadows, Chimney, Oxfordshire110.832 44.852[51]
Radcot Bridge Lower Island, Radcot3.648 1.476[56]
Radcot Bridge Upper Island, Radcot5.746 2.325[56]
Swan Hotel Island, Radcot0.885 0.358[56]
St Mary’s Mead, Buscot3.697 1.496[56]
St John's Bridge Island, Lechlade (borders Buscot)1.208 0.489[56]
Northern meadow, Castle Eaton27.875 11.281[56]
Cricklade north-east meadow7.747 3.135[56]
Island between High and Oaklake bridges†, Ashton Keynes51.72 20.93[56]
Manor stream island, Somerford Keynes and Kemble86.195 34.882[56]

Oxford floodplain

In the Oxford area the river splits into several streams across the floodplain, which create numerous islands. On the right bank a large island is created by Seacourt Stream, Botley Stream and Bulstake Stream, and there are smaller islands, including the large mainly built-up island now known as Osney, created by streams between Bulstake Stream and the Thames, including Osney Ditch. The Oxford suburbs of Grandpont and New Hinksey are on an island created by Bulstake Stream, Hinksey Stream and Weirs Mill Stream. Iffley Meadows is an island west of Iffley Lock, between Weirs Mill Stream, Hinksey Stream and the Thames.

On the left bank Fiddler's Island followed downstream by the built-up island historically known as Osney lie between Castle Mill Stream and the Thames. Cripley Meadow is also on an island formed by Fiddler's Island Stream, Castle Mill Stream and Sheepwash Channel.

Eton and Dorney

The status of Eton, Berkshire combined with Dorney is controversial. These are two mainly pre-1900-built small villages and their outlying localities: Eton Wick, Boveney and Dorney Reach. Much of these areas of land in the 19th century was marked by the Ordnance Survey "liable to floods" which led to pressure on authorities for flood protection, along with the more densely populated right bank.

They have been, since 2002, on a more protected man-made island formed by the Jubilee River, which is sometimes seen as an advanced flood relief channel rather than a channel of the Thames. As the Jubilee River is maintained with flow at all times, they may be coming to be accepted by publications as on an island of the Thames, reflecting their objective strict geographical status.

Lock islands

The construction of almost all locks on the Thames involved one or more artificial lock islands separating the lock from the weirs. These may have been created by building an artificial island in the river or by digging an artificial canal to contain the lock and turning the land between that and the river into an island. In many cases the lock island contains the lock keeper's house and can be accessed across the lock gates. Such lock islands are only listed above if they have a specific name of their own: all Thames locks are listed in Locks on the River Thames.

See also

Notes
  1. See article Isle of Sheppey for source. Its area is 36 sq mi (23,000 acres; 93 km2)
  2. See article: Canvey Island for source. Its area is 7 sq mi (4,500 acres; 18 km2)
  3. Its land forms the land part of a wider parish, which took in mud flats, saltings and eroded land to the south-east where the river is broad – its scope is stated to be 9055.442 acres per OS 25-inch map of 1898 Ordnance Survey Essex Sheet LXXVII SE revised 1895-1896, published 1898.
  4. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10244250/boundary Archived 17 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine boundary map of Canvey Island parish – Vision of Britain – The University of Portsmouth and others
  5. OS 25-inch map of 1910 Ordnance Survey Surrey II.10 revised 1910, published 1913.
  6. OS 25-inch map of 1896 Ordnance Survey London LXXXIV published 1897.
  7. OS 25-inch map of 1910 Ordnance Survey London sheet LXXXIV revised 1891-94, published 1897.
  8. OS 25-inch map of 1910 Ordnance Survey London sheet LXXXIV revised 1891-94, published 1897.
  9. OS 25-inch map of 1910 Ordnance Survey London sheet XCVI revised 1891-94, published 1897.
  10. approx.
  11. OS 25-inch map of 1894 Ordnance Survey London CXXII repeated on sheet CX published 1897.
  12. OS 25-inch map of 1894, Surrey sheet VI.7 revised 1893-1894, published 1898.
  13. OS 25-inch map of 1894 Ordnance Survey London CXXII published 1897.
  14. OS 25-inch map of 1894, Middlesex sheet XXV.12 revised 1893-1894, published 1898.
  15. OS 25-inch map of 1895, Surrey sheet XII.7 revised 1895, published 1897.
  16. OS 25-inch map of 1894 Ordnance Survey London CXXXIX published 1897.
  17. "Hampton Sailing Club". Archived from the original on 5 November 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2008. During 1962 the clubhouse was built on the piles at Benn’s Island.
  18. OS 25-inch map of 1894 Surrey sheet VI.14 published 1897. Ordnance Survey
  19. approx.
  20. OS 25-inch map of 1894-5 Middlesex sheets XXV.6 & 10 published 1896
  21. OS 25-inch map of 1893-4 Surrey sheet VI13 published 1896. Ordnance Survey. C. Measured as 2.464 by own research using online map tools; as east end sheared off rest slightly extended
  22. Actual measurement. Compares to broader island OS 25-inch-to-mile map of Middlesex of 1912, sheet XXV.9 in four parcels, total 7.804 acres (3.158 ha). Published 1915.
  23. OS 25-inch-to-mile map of Middlesex of 1912, sheet XXV.9 in four parcels, total 7.804 acres (3.158 ha). Published 1915.
  24. OS 25-inch-to-mile map of Middlesex of 1912, sheet XXV.9, published 1915.
  25. approx
  26. OS 25-inch-to-mile map of Surrey of 1894, sheet XI.7 published 1896.
  27. Since this source island has been made thinner to south-west to obstruct less of the main flow of the river, stated acreage reference number Shepperton: 226, measuring 4.298 acres (1.739 ha), named Dog Ait
  28. OS 25-inch-to-mile map of Surrey of 1912, sheet V.14&15 published 1914
  29. OS 25-inch-to-mile map of Buckinghamshire of 1899, sheet LVIII.8 published 1899
  30. Acreage number 198, Wraysbury
  31. No trench visible. No longer an island
  32. OS 25-inch-to-mile map of Surrey of 1912, sheet IV.8 published 1914
  33. OS 25-inch-to-mile map of Buckinghamshire of 1897, sheet LVI.6 published 1899
  34. Romney Island is in three sections as broken by two short side weirs; it also has the long breakwater below Windsor Bridge called The Cobbler
  35. 1,000 square feet (90 m2) at most. This patch of less than six trees is too small to be shown on most maps of Windsor and Eton
  36. OS 25-inch-to-mile map of Buckinghamshire of 1897, sheet LVII published 1899
  37. Note: Ray Mill Island is fully attached to the bank on one side
  38. three main islands are marked 0.263, 0.888 and 0.705 acres (0.106, 0.359 and 0.285 ha) from north to south.
  39. OS Map sheet L1.11 of Bucks (county) revised 1897, published 1898.
  40. With Frog Mill Ait, forms archipelago of three, these are the largest two, that to the north measured 0.562 acres (0.227 ha)
  41. Formerly two islands plus islet trees to south now all one. Pre-20th century maps show a narrow channel (between these); total published area then excluding filled in area: 3.008 acres (1.217 ha)
  42. OS Map sheet L1.6 of Bucks (county) revised 1897, published 1898.
  43. OS 25-inch-to-mile map of Oxfordshire of 1897, sheets LIV.5, LVI.13, LVI.14 and LVI1.16 published 1898
  44. Marginally washed away at upper end since last Ordnance Survey out-of-copyright published measurement given
  45. Greatly washed away at upper end since last Ordnance Survey out-of-copyright published measurement given
  46. Heron Island was and island and downstream islet, marsh in 1898; one island below these former two islands was 0.512 acres (0.207 ha) and has been given over to the river
  47. Was 4.079 acres (1.651 ha) in map cited however has been cut back to raise marshy 3.112-acre (1.259 ha) eastern bulk and broaden main channel to south
  48. as to the Lower Large
  49. approx.
  50. Former three separate aits merged by in-fill of channels 0.316, 0.315 and 0.249 acres (0.128, 0.127 and 0.101 ha) per published maps
  51. OS 25-inch-to-mile map of Oxfordshire of 1897, sheets XLV.16, XXXII.10 and XXXIX.2 published 1898
  52. Fiddler’s Elbow breaks into a 1.956 northern section (broken from the 8.631 remainder) by a minor, weired meandering creek in its northern part)
  53. A small island transected by Abingdon Road that lies between two spans of Folly Bridge.
  54. Note: Osney is given as its narrowest definition; its larger west parts of the city would more than treble this measurement
  55. approx.
  56. OS 25-inch-to-mile map of Oxfordshire of 1898, sheets XXXVII.13 published 1899
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