View Island

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View Island
Pond on View Island - geograph.org.uk - 1268063.jpg
Pond on View Island
Location map United Kingdom Reading.png
Red pog.svg
Location within Reading
Type Public
Location Reading, Berkshire, UK
Coordinates 51°27′43″N0°57′47″W / 51.462°N 0.963°W / 51.462; -0.963 Coordinates: 51°27′43″N0°57′47″W / 51.462°N 0.963°W / 51.462; -0.963
Carved wooden sculpture on View Island. View Island - geograph.org.uk - 14343.jpg
Carved wooden sculpture on View Island.

View Island is a small island near Caversham Lock, on the River Thames at Reading, Berkshire in England. [1]

Contents

View Island forms part of a series of riverside open spaces, managed by Reading Borough Council, that stretch along one or other side of the River Thames throughout its passage through Reading. From west to east these are Thameside Promenade, Caversham Court, Christchurch Meadows, Hills Meadow, View Island and King's Meadow. [2]

The island was a derelict boatyard when Reading Borough Council took it over in 1998 and restored it. [1] It is a quiet, relaxing island with grassy paths and seating. It is set out as a small park containing several wooden chain-saw carved sculptures, although all but one having rotted away. It connects to Caversham via Heron Island, which has private riverside housing and is connected by road to Lower Caversham. [3] [4]

A body was found on View Island in February 2011. [5]

In 2021, the new Reading Hydro community owned hydro-electric power plant opened at the upstream end of the island. At the same time a new and more natural fish pass stream was constructed, snaking through View Island. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Caversham, Reading Human settlement in England

Caversham is a suburb of Reading, England. Originally a village founded in the Middle Ages, it lies on the north bank of the River Thames, opposite the rest of Reading. Caversham Bridge, Reading Bridge, Christchurch Bridge, and Caversham Lock provide crossing points, with Sonning Bridge also available a few miles east of Caversham. Caversham has at Caversham Court foundations of a medieval house, a herb garden and tree-lined park open to the public at no charge. Caversham Lakes and marking its south and south-east border the Thames Path National Trail. Caversham rises from the River Thames, lying on flood plain and the lowest reaches of the Chiltern Hills.

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Mapledurham Human settlement in England

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Lower Caversham Human settlement in England

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Caversham Court Public park and former country house in Southern England

Caversham Court is a public garden and was a mansion located on the north bank of the River Thames in Caversham, a suburb of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. The park lies within the St Peter's conservation area. The park is listed as Grade II in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

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Reading Hydro Hydroelectric power station in Reading, England

Reading Hydro is a micro hydroelectric scheme in Reading, England. It is located on the River Thames, at the upstream end of View Island and using the head of water provided by the weir at Caversham Lock. With a drop of about 1.4 metres and an average water flow of 37 cubic metres (1,300 cu ft) per second, it can generate 46 kilowatts (62 hp) of electricity with its twin archimedes screw turbines.

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Christchurch Meadows, Reading Riverside park in Reading, England

Christchurch Meadows is a park in Reading, Berkshire, England, located next to the River Thames. It stretches along the north (Caversham) side of the river, between Caversham Bridge and Reading Bridge, and is linked to the south (Reading) bank by the Christchurch Bridge, a pedestrian and cycle bridge built in 2015. The name of the meadow derives from Christ Church in Oxford, whose dean owned 25 acres (10 ha) of farmland in Reading.

Hills Meadow Riverside park in Reading, England

Hills Meadow is a park in Reading, Berkshire, England, located next to the River Thames. It stretches along the north (Caversham) side of the river, to the east of Reading Bridge. It is linked to the south (Reading) bank by a footpath, locally known as The Clappers that crosses View Island and the weir at Caversham Lock.

Thameside Promenade Riverside park in Reading, England

Thameside Promenade, or Thames Side Promenade, is a public park and promenade in Reading, Berkshire, England, located next to the River Thames. It stretches along the south (Reading) side of the river, to the west of Caversham Bridge, and forms part of the Thames Path long distance footpath. The park includes grassland behind the promenade.

References

  1. 1 2 Local Photos — View Island Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine , Caversham.org.uk Archived 13 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine .
  2. "Parks, Outdoor Facilities & Open Spaces". Reading Borough Council. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  3. Lever, Edward (3 February 2011). "Heron Island, Caversham". www.picturesofengland.com. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  4. "Heron Island Caversham Reading RG4". www.houseprices.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  5. "Death of man found on Reading footpath 'suspicious'". BBC News . BBC Berkshire, UK. 23 February 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  6. "Discover our hydro-electric plant". Reading Hydro CBS. Retrieved 14 February 2022.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to View Island, Caversham at Wikimedia Commons

Next island upstream River Thames Next island downstream
De Bohun Island View Island Sonning Eye