Ham Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ham Island |
|
|---|---|
 Ham Island and The Cut |
|
.svg)
 Ham Island
|
|
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Postcode district | SL4 |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
Ham Island is a special island in the River Thames near Old Windsor, England. It's not a natural island; it was made by people! It covers about 50 hectares (that's like 125 football fields). Before it became an island, it was a big bend in the Thames. But then, a new channel called the New Cut was dug. This made it easier for boats to travel by creating the Old Windsor Lock, cutting the journey distance by two-thirds.
Today, 37 homes are on Ham Island. A few of these homes were left empty for a while during a big flood in 2014.
Contents
How Ham Island Was Formed
Originally, Ham Island wasn't an island at all! It was a piece of land almost surrounded by a big curve of the River Thames. This kind of river bend is called a meander. In 1822, river engineers, known as the Thames Navigation Commissioners, decided to make things easier for boats.
They dug a new, straight channel right across the narrowest part of the land. This new channel was named the New Cut. At one end of this new channel, they built the Old Windsor Lock. Locks are like water elevators that help boats move between different water levels. They also built a small dam, called a weir, across the main river flow. This clever plan made the boat journey much shorter, cutting it down to about one-third of its original length.
Life on Ham Island
Ham Island is a unique place where people live. There are 37 homes, all privately owned. Many of the first houses built here were simple holiday homes. Over time, most of these have been rebuilt into much nicer, more modern houses.
The island also has a water treatment plant. This plant cleans wastewater and is hidden away from the homes. There's also a special place called the Blueacre Horse Rescue centre. This center helps horses in need. During the big floods in February 2014, the horses had to be moved to safety.
Ham Island in Books
Ham Island even gets a mention in a famous book! It appears in Three Men in a Boat, a funny story by Jerome K. Jerome. As the characters in the book pass through the lock near the island for the first time, they notice they can see Windsor Castle far away.
You can still enjoy a similar trip today! Many boat hire companies in towns like Maidenhead, Windsor, and Staines offer boats for rent. You can explore the river and see the sights just like in the book.
Protecting Ham Island's Past
A part of Ham Island is very important for history. It's included in something called a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means it's a special historical site that is protected by law. This particular monument is called Kingsbury medieval palace and associated monuments. It helps us remember important parts of the past.
In early 2014, the island experienced flooding. The river water rose, and many residents had to leave their homes for a while.
Gallery
-
The Turning Circle
-
Thames Water's wastewater treatment works
-
Towards the Bridge
| Next island upstream | River Thames | Next island downstream |
| Lion Island (Old Windsor) | Ham Island | Friday Island |
