Rivermead Island

Last updated

Part of Rivermead Island, a park and annual regatta celebration ground. Riverside Meadow, Sunbury - geograph.org.uk - 793260.jpg
Part of Rivermead Island, a park and annual regatta celebration ground.
Rivermead Island from the river Rivermeadisle01.JPG
Rivermead Island from the river
Footbridge and ford coming to the island RivermeadIsle02.JPG
Footbridge and ford coming to the island

Rivermead Island is a flat grassy island in the River Thames on the reach above Molesey Lock at Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England which is owned mostly by Spelthorne and as to a small part by Elmbridge Borough Council.

Contents

Geography

The island is a meadow lightly covered with trees with dense patches, shrubbery and reeds at each end. The former common land meadow is publicly open and Metropolitan Green Belt. [1] It is a long area of open riverside on the side of the river opposite the Thames Path from here the point of Sunbury Lock Island can be seen. It is connected to the bank by an elegant arched footbridge with simple metal balustrades and separate painted round handrails and in dry periods four-wheel vehicle access is possible via a ford of the narrow backwater separating it from the land. Rivermead was originally two islands, the much smaller, downstream part being Swan's Rest, since the late 20th century completely joined, remaining part of Elmbridge as its fishing rights were anciently conferred to the parish south of the river. [2]

Flood risk

At 9 metres above Ordnance Datum sea level whereas residential roads in Sunbury are at predominantly more than 10 metres, [1] the island floods often when there is other non-tidal Thames flooding. In February 2014 the island was briefly completely submerged providing the main emergency flood meadow dealing with copious rainfall across the flood plain on the 'Sunbury stretch' of the Molesey Reach. Hurst Park on the 'Hampton stretch' of the reach is the other main flood meadow partly inhabited by tower block flat owners on the south bank, approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) downstream. Most other inhabited islands have more elevated plots preventing or reducing the extent of fluvial (riparian) flooding. [3]

Nearby

To augment the conveniences of public houses and restaurants in the village on the thin strip of land north of the island a Borough Council-managed and owned car park is behind a low wall facing the upper end on the Sunbury bank. [2]

Annual event

The Sunbury Amateur Regatta which is a major Thames Skiff regatta takes place (as to its land activities) approximately in late August each year, attracting a funfair and local dignitaries. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

Borough of Spelthorne Place in England

Spelthorne is a local government district and borough in Surrey, England. Its council is based in Staines-upon-Thames; other settlements in the area include Ashford, Sunbury-on-Thames, Shepperton, Stanwell and Laleham.

Borough of Elmbridge Non-metropolitan district in England

Elmbridge is a local government district with borough status in Surrey, England. Its principal towns are Esher, Cobham, Walton-on-Thames, Weybridge and Molesey. It directly borders the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and the London Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. Areas of the borough form a continuation of the Greater London built-up area, formerly falling into the Metropolitan Police District.

Sunbury-on-Thames Town in England

Sunbury-on-Thames is a town on the north bank of the River Thames in the Borough of Spelthorne, approximately 13 mi (21 km) southwest of central London. Historically part of the county of Middlesex, it was transferred to Surrey in 1965. Sunbury adjoins Feltham to the north, Hampton to the east, Ashford to the northwest and Shepperton to the southwest. Walton-on-Thames is to the south, on the opposite bank of the Thames.

Teddington Lock

Teddington Lock is a complex of three locks and a weir on the River Thames between Ham and Teddington in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England. Historically in Middlesex, it was first built in 1810.

River Ember River in north Surrey, England

The River Ember is a short river in the north of Surrey, England — a channel of the River Mole which splits in two south of Island Barn Reservoir, between East Molesey and Lower Green, Esher. The Ember, the larger channel, flows in an easterly and then northerly direction around the reservoir, past part of Esher; the Mole flows around the other side past West Molesey. The two rivers then flow side by side approximately north east and merge 400 metres before joining the River Thames at the eastern end of East Molesey opposite Hampton Court Palace on the south side of the last non-tidal reach, which is above Teddington Lock.

Molesey Human settlement in England

Molesey is a suburban district comprising two towns, East Molesey and West Molesey, in Surrey, England, and is situated on the south bank of the River Thames.

Hampton Court Bridge Bridge over the Thames linking London with Surrey, England

Hampton Court Bridge is a Grade II listed bridge that crosses the River Thames in England approximately north–south between Hampton, London and East Molesey, Surrey, carrying the A309. It is the upper of two road bridges on the reach above Teddington Lock and downstream of Molesey Lock.

Wheatleys Ait

Wheatley's Ait or Wheatley Eyot is an ait (island) in the River Thames of approximately 8 hectares on the reach above Sunbury Lock, close to the northern side and in the post town Sunbury-on-Thames however in the Borough of Elmbridge in Surrey, England.

Sunbury Amateur Regatta

The Sunbury Amateur Regatta is a regatta on the River Thames at Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England with a rare visitors' boats lights display and fireworks event. It is for mainly traditional wooden types of boats with a few events for small sculling boats since its instigation in 1877 taking place by convention on a Saturday in early to mid August. The following day hosts the Edith Topsfield Junior Regatta.

Molesey Lock lock on the River Thames in Surrey, England

Molesey Lock is a lock on the River Thames in England at East Molesey, Surrey on the right bank.

Platts Eyot Human settlement in England

Platt's Eyot or Platt's Ait is an island on the River Thames at Hampton, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England, on the reach between Molesey Lock and Sunbury Lock.

Desborough Island

Desborough Island is a 112-acre (0.45 km2) manmade island in the River Thames on the reach above Sunbury Lock in Surrey, England. It was formed in the 1930s by the digging of a channel – the Desborough Cut – by the Thames Conservancy as a meander cutoff of narrow width on the right bank. The island and cut are named after Lord Desborough, a chairman of the Thames Conservancy.

Bessborough Reservoir

The Bessborough Reservoir is an embanked storage reservoir south of the River Thames in Surrey adjacent to the Knight Reservoir. To the south lies Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir and to the north the now disused Molesey Reservoirs. The A3050 runs to the north of the reservoir and the neighbouring town is Molesey to the east. It forms part the green buffer between Molesey and Walton on Thames. The reservoir is in the borough of Elmbridge.

Sunbury Lock lock on the River Thames in Surrey, England

Sunbury Lock is a lock complex of the River Thames in England near Walton-on-Thames in north-west Surrey, the third lowest of forty four on the non-tidal reaches. The complex adjoins the right, southern bank about 12 mile (0.80 km) downstream of the Weir Hotel.

Ash Island

Ash Island is a forested, drop-shaped island in the River Thames in England, across the weir of Molesey Lock within Greater London on its border.

Taggs Island

Tagg's Island, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is an island on the River Thames on the reach above Molesey Lock and just above Ash Island.

Sunbury Court Island

Sunbury Court Island is a long, pedestrianised residential island of houses and bungalows in the River Thames in England on the 'Sunbury and Hampton' or 'Molesey' reach, above Molesey Lock in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England.

Grand Junction Isle

Grand Junction Isle is a small island in the River Thames on the reach above Molesey Lock at Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England. It is just downstream of Sunbury Court Island, which is three times longer and also close to the north bank.

Hampton Ferry (River Thames)

Hampton Ferry is a pedestrian and cycle ferry service across the River Thames in England.

Benns Island

Benn's Island, previously named Church Eyot, Kember’s Eyot and sometimes referred to as Benn's Ait, is a private 0.1-acre (0.040 ha) ait (island) on the River Thames south-west of London. It is among a string of narrow islands above Molesey Lock and due to its clubhouse and size — the second-smallest named island on the Thames — it has deep foundation pilings to raise the building more than 1 m above the water line.

References

  1. 1 2 Interactive Maps Surrey County Council. Accessed 2015-04-15
  2. 1 2 Streetmap boundary and detailed facilities map Accessed 2015-04-15
  3. Rivermead Island in January 2014. Get Surrey (The Surrey Advertiser/Herald Group website). Accessed 2015-04-15
  4. "Crowds Enjoy Oarsome Day Out". Get Surrey (The Surrey Advertiser/Herald Group website). Accessed 2015-04-15
Next island upstream River Thames Next island downstream
Sunbury Lock Ait Rivermead Island Sunbury Court Island

Coordinates: 51°24′25″N0°24′04″W / 51.407°N 0.401°W / 51.407; -0.401