Benn's Island facts for kids
Benn's Island is a very small, private island on the River Thames in south-west London. It's so tiny, only about 0.1 acre (the size of a small garden)! This island has had other names in the past, like Church Eyot and Kember’s Eyot.
Benn's Island is special because it's one of the smallest named islands on the Thames. It has a clubhouse built on tall supports called pilings. These pilings lift the building more than 1 meter (about 3 feet) above the water. This helps protect it from floods.
Where is Benn's Island?
Benn's Island is located near the left bank of the River Thames in a place called Hampton. This area is part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in England. The island sits just above Molesey Lock, which is a part of the river where the water level is controlled.
The water between the island and the river bank is not very deep. Small boats can carefully travel through this area.
How do people get to the island?
The clubhouse on Benn's Island is connected to the land by a special, small slipway called Benn's Alley. People can get to the island using a hand-operated chain ferry. This ferry is just for walking across.
Close by, the Hampton Ferry also runs. This ferry connects Hampton to Molesey and is used by many people.
What is the island used for?
For a long time, Benn's Island has been a place for water sports. In the 1800s, a group called the Thames Valley Sailing Club used the island. Later, a yacht and motorboat club had a houseboat here, but it was destroyed by fire in 1900.
Since 1945, the island has been leased by the Hampton Sailing Club. This club is very active! They use the island for sailing, and also for paddleboarding. They share the river area with two school water sports clubs and the Molesey Boat Club.
The current clubhouse on Benn's Island was built in 1962. Because of all the building work and supports, the island looks almost completely man-made. However, it does have a small natural core underneath all the structures.
