Church Island, River Thames facts for kids

Church Island, also called Church Eyot, is a small island in the River Thames in England. It's located near Staines-upon-Thames in Surrey. People live on this island. It's about 200 meters upstream from Staines Bridge. Some historians believe this island might have been where ancient Roman bridges once stood. These bridges were part of a Roman road called the Devil's Highway. This road connected London (then called Londinium) to Silchester (then called Calleva).

One end of Church Island

Where is Church Island?

This small island is connected to Church Street in Staines by a footbridge. It's next to a recreation area called The Lammas, which has a mini-golf course. The island is also about 100 meters downstream from one of Staines' oldest churches.

St. Mary's Church is a very old building. It sits on a small hill about 5 meters above the river. From the church's tall steeple, you can easily see Church Island.

The island itself is about 100 meters long and shaped almost like a triangle. It rises only about 1 meter above the river's surface. A narrow channel of water runs between the island and the river bank. This channel creates a small curve, like an oxbow lake, away from the main river flow.

The island is in the upper part of the river stretch. Here, the river flows from west-northwest to east-southeast. Downstream from the Staines Railway Bridge, the river changes direction, flowing north to south. Staines Bridge is about 200 meters downstream from the island.

History of Church Island

Roman Times

Ancient Roman travel guides mention a place near Staines called Ad Pontes. This Latin name means "By the Bridges." It was an important stop on the Devil's Highway. This Roman road linked London (then called Londinium) to Silchester (then called Calleva).

In the 1800s, building discoveries near Church Island suggested Roman structures. A local historian from the Victorian era thought that two Roman bridges might have crossed the rivers here. One bridge would have crossed the River Colne, and the other crossed the Thames at Church Island. However, some think the bridge might have been on a different island.

A history book from 1962 mentions that in 1754, there was a larger island near Staines Bridge. This island was on the Egham side of the river, directly across from Staines Bridge. It was bigger than Church Island. This larger island existed until the early 1900s. Its backwater channel must have been removed, and today there is little sign of that island.

Later History

Church Island has not always been the biggest island in the Staines and Egham area. As mentioned, a larger island existed near Staines Bridge until 1754. During the Middle Ages, other islands in the River Colne and other streams in Staines either washed away or became part of the river banks.