Chiswick Eyot facts for kids

Chiswick Eyot with St Nicholas Church, buildings along Chiswick Mall and Fuller's Brewery in the background

Channel between Chiswick Eyot and Chiswick Mall on the River Thames London, looking downstream at low tide (left) and high tide (right)

Chiswick Eyot is a small, narrow island in the River Thames in London, England. It's about 3.27 acres in size and is covered with trees and reeds. You can find it near Chiswick, in the Borough of Hounslow. The island is special because it's the most downstream island on the River Thames itself, meaning it's closest to the sea compared to other true river islands.

Where is Chiswick Eyot?

This island sits right next to The Championship Course, which is a famous part of the River Thames. It marks about the halfway point for important rowing events like The Boat Race. This race is a big competition between the rowing teams from Oxford and Cambridge universities. Many other international rowing races also use this course.

There's a green pole on one end of the island. Rowers use this pole to time their races. At high tide, small boats can pass between Chiswick Eyot and the nearby Chiswick Mall. However, at low tide, this small channel becomes very shallow. You can even walk to the island at low tide because it's a tidal island. This means the water level changes a lot with the tides.

A Look at the Island's Past

This map from 1842 shows Chiswick Eyot. Over time, the island has changed a little due to erosion.

Chiswick Eyot is one of 43 tidal islands in Great Britain that you can reach by walking from the mainland when the tide is out. For a long time, the island was owned by the local church. Later, in 1934, it became the property of the local council.

Not much is known about the island's very early history. St. Nicholas Church, which has a tower built in the 1400s, is only about 200 meters west of the island. This is similar to other islands on the Thames, like Isleworth Ait, which also have old churches nearby.

During the time of the Industrial Revolution, people mostly used the island to grow grass and osiers. Osiers are a type of willow tree used to make baskets, furniture, and even food for cattle. The ends of the island have changed shape over time due to the river. At high tide, the entire island, except for its trees, is covered by water.

A Special Place for Nature

In 1993, the London Borough of Hounslow decided to make Chiswick Eyot a local nature reserve. This means it's a protected area where plants and animals can live safely. It's an important spot for nature in Greater London.