Sunbury Court Island

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End of Sunbury Court Island from upstream SunburyCourtIsle01.JPG
End of Sunbury Court Island from upstream
Tower by the bridge on the island SunburyCourtIsle02.JPG
Tower by the bridge on the 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.

Bungalow type of building, originally developed in the Bengal region in South Asia, but now found throughout the world

A bungalow is a type of building, originally developed in the Bengal region of the subcontinent. The meaning of the word bungalow varies internationally. Common features of many bungalows include verandas and being low-rise. In Australia, the California bungalow associated with the United States was popular after the First World War. In North America and the United Kingdom, a bungalow today is a house, normally detached, that may contain a small loft. It is either single-story or has a second story built into a sloping roof, usually with dormer windows.

River Thames river in southern England

The River Thames, known alternatively in parts as the Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At 215 miles (346 km), it is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom, after the River Severn.

Molesey Lock

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

Contents

Attributes

Landscape and architecture

The island is linked to the eastern part of the developed riverside of Sunbury on the left, 'Middlesex', bank of the river. [1] The island is pedestrianised and residential comprising 25 houses and bungalows in typically garden or patio plots with equal or smaller footprint to those homes. [1] It is connected to a narrow point between homes on the bank by a flat iron footbridge with criss-crossed decorative railings surmounted by an ornamental Italianate square tower, pictured right.

Middlesex historic county of England

Middlesex is an ancient county in southeast England. It is now entirely within the wider urbanised area of London. Its area is now also mostly within the ceremonial county of Greater London, with small sections in other neighbouring ceremonial counties. It was established in the Anglo-Saxon system from the territory of the Middle Saxons, and existed as an official unit until 1965. The historic county includes land stretching north of the River Thames from 17 miles (27 km) west to 3 miles (5 km) east of the City of London with the rivers Colne and Lea and a ridge of hills as the other boundaries. The largely low-lying county, dominated by clay in its north and alluvium on gravel in its south, was the second smallest county by area in 1831.

Surroundings

From the bridge entrance the non-listed south wall, rather than railings, and entrance drive of Sunbury Court. Also visible are the higher part of the neo-classical conference centre in a grand former home, Sunbury Court, which is an international headquarters of the Salvation Army movement, Grade II* listed and dates to 1723 with later improvements and outbuildings, mainly of the present century. [2] Rivermead Island, a park, is approximately 20 metres upstream. Sunbury Cricket Club is approximately 300 metres downstream set away from the river.

Grade II* listed buildings in Spelthorne Wikimedia list article

There are over 20,000 Grade II* listed buildings in England. This page is a list of these buildings in the district of Spelthorne in Surrey. For links to similar articles in relation to the other 10 districts of Surrey see Grade II* listed buildings in Surrey.

Rivermead Island island in the River Thames

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.

Sunbury Cricket Club had a noted team in the early 18th century which played in major matches. One of its players was William Goodwin, whose skill received comment in a 1724 newspaper report. Goodwin is one of the earliest cricketers named in contemporary sources. In 1730, a Sunbury patron known only as Mr Andrews successfully led the team in a match against the Duke of Richmond's XI. In 1731, Sunbury defeated Kent on Sunbury Common. In 1732, a combined Brentford and Sunbury team lost to London on Walworth Common. Little is known of cricket in Sunbury for the next 200 years.

History

The buildings date to summer homes of the early 20th century, before which the island was a long rural meadow. The earlier name for the island was "Hayes Ait". [3]

Ait Islands found on the River Thames and its tributaries in England

An ait or eyot is a small island. It is especially used to refer to river islands found on the River Thames and its tributaries in England.

Level of flood risk

The island is as with most Thames-side properties in the highest category of risk identified by the Environment Agency, which means:

International headline-reported flooding of non-tidal stretches of the Thames took place during the 2013–2014 United Kingdom winter floods, forming its greatest single area of economic impact. Flooding reached waist depth across the island path on 7 January 2014 when a small number of residents were rescued by a large team of local emergency services called to the island's help. By 8 February 2014, approximately half of homes had been chosen to be evacuated by Fire and Rescue Services. [5] [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

Borough of Spelthorne Place in England

Spelthorne is a local government district and borough in Surrey, England. It contains the towns and villages of Ashford, Laleham, Shepperton, Staines-upon-Thames, Stanwell and Sunbury-on-Thames. It is the northernmost local government district in Surrey.

Sunbury-on-Thames town in Surrey, England

Sunbury-on-Thames is a suburban village in the borough of Spelthorne, in the county of Surrey in England. It extends from the left bank of the River Thames and the south-west of the Greater London boundary and is approximately 13 miles (21 km) from Charing Cross, London. Suburban neighbourhoods make up most of its area, Lower Sunbury, added to which is part of the Metropolitan Green Belt including Kempton Park. The town centre is by the London end of the M3 motorway, elsewhere are three shopping parades and riverside public houses. In tourism Lower Sunbury holds an annual fair and regatta each August.

Teddington Lock

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

Thames Ditton village in United Kingdom

Thames Ditton is a suburban village by and on the River Thames, in the Elmbridge borough of Surrey, England. It has a large inhabited island in the river but is otherwise on the southern bank, centred 12.2 miles (19.6 km) southwest of Charing Cross in central London. Thames Ditton is just outside Greater London but within the Greater London Urban Area as defined by the Office for National Statistics. Its clustered village centre and shopping area on a winding High Street is surrounded by housing, schools and sports areas. Its riverside faces the Thames Path and Hampton Court Palace Gardens and golf course in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Its most commercial area is spread throughout its conservation area and contains restaurants, cafés, shops and businesses.

River Ember short river in Surrey, United Kingdom

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, East Molesey. The Ember, the largest 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.

Hampton Court Bridge bridge in Richmond upon Thames, England

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

Wheatleys Ait island in the River Thames

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.

Thames Ditton Island village in the United Kingdom

Three river islands (aits) form a linear group, close to the junction of the two main old streets of Thames Ditton village, in the River Thames in a corner of modern Surrey, on the Kingston reach above Teddington Lock. Thames Ditton Island, the dominant ait is 350 yd (320 m) and has 48 homes with gardens (moorings); Boyle Farm Island has one house; Swan Island, between the two, is the smallest.

Platts Eyot island in the River Thames

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.

Sunbury Lock lock on the River Thames in England near Walton-on-Thames in north-west Surrey

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 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) downstream of the Weir Hotel.

Ash Island island in the River Thames

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 island in the River Thames

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.

Garricks Ait island in the River Thames

Garrick's Ait, previously known as Shank's Eyot, is an ait in the River Thames in England on the reach above Molesey Lock, the nearest land being Moulsey Hurst (park) on the Surrey bank and the opposite bank being a much narrower riverside park of Hampton. It is the only island in the United Kingdom named after an actor.

Grand Junction Isle island in the River Thames

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) pedestrian and cycle ferry service across the River Thames in West London, England

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

Benns Island island in the River Thames

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. ↑ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1180231)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Thacker, Fred S (1968) [First published 1920]. The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs (New impression, 1st. ed.). Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN   978-0-7153-4233-6. OCLC   55209571.
  4. ↑ Risk Map Archived 27 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine . Environment Agency. 20 April 2015
  5. ↑ "Rising river prompts Sunbury Court Island evacuations" 8 February 2014. BBC News.
  6. ↑ "Firefighters Use Boat to Reach Elderly Lady..." 'Get Surrey', website of the Surrey Advertiser and Herald Group of newspapers. Accessed 2015-04-20.
Next island upstream River Thames Next island downstream
Rivermead Island Sunbury Court Island Grand Junction Isle

Coordinates: 51°24′32″N00°23′45″W / 51.40889°N 0.39583°W / 51.40889; -0.39583

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