Sonning Eye facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sonning Eye |
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 Sonning Bridge from the Sonning Eye bank of the River Thames |
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 Sonning Eye
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| OS grid reference | SU7576 |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Reading |
| Postcode district | RG4 |
| Dialling code | 0118 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Oxfordshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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| Website | Eye & Dunsden Parish Council |
Sonning Eye is a small village, called a hamlet, located right by the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England. It is part of a larger area called Eye & Dunsden. Since 1974, Sonning Eye has been the very southern tip of Oxfordshire.
Contents
Exploring Sonning Eye's Location
Sonning Eye is about 3 miles (5 km) northeast of Reading, Berkshire. It sits directly across the River Thames from the village of Sonning, Berkshire. You can cross the river using the old Sonning Bridge, which was built in the 1700s. This bridge is made of brick arches and connects to other bridges over the river's smaller channels.
The area around Sonning Eye is a floodplain. This means it's a flat area next to the river that can sometimes flood. Over time, a lot of gravel has been dug out from this land. This digging has created several lakes, especially upstream along the river.
One of these lakes is the Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake. It's a long lake used for rowing. It is named after two famous Olympic rowers, Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent. Other fun water sports like sailing and water skiing also happen here. A small stream called Berry Brook flows through the floodplain. It joins the Thames at a place called Hallsmead Ait.
Near the bridges, you'll find the French Horn. This is a fancy hotel and restaurant. There's also a small public car park nearby. It's a good spot to launch small boats. The grassy area by the river is a popular place for people who enjoy fishing.
A Look at Sonning Eye's Past
The name "Sonning" comes from an old Anglo-Saxon leader named Sunna. The word "Eye" means island. This is because Sonning Eye is like a small gravel mound surrounded by the river's floodplain. There is even a real island in the Thames here. This island has been there permanently since people started managing the river's water levels.
Before 1866, Sonning Eye was part of a larger area called Sonning. Today, the main part of Sonning Eye is a special conservation area. This means its historic buildings and natural beauty are protected. There are 12 buildings here that are listed as Grade II listed buildings. This means they are important for their architecture or history. Five of these are old barns that have been changed into modern homes or businesses. One house even has beautiful tiles made by a famous artist named William De Morgan.
Buildings on the Island
The island in Sonning Eye is shaped a bit like a heart. A channel of water, called a millrace, cuts through it. On this island is The Mill at Sonning. This building was once an 18th-century watermill, but it stands on a much older site from the Middle Ages. Today, it's a special dinner theatre. This means you can watch a show and have dinner at the same time!
The millrace still runs through what is now the theatre's bar. It even powers a small turbine. This turbine creates electricity, about 18.5 kilowatts, which is then sent to the National Grid to help power homes and businesses.
Behind the theatre is Mill House. This is another Grade II listed building. It was first built in the 1600s. A wealthy family called the Rich family once owned it. They also owned a large house in Sonning. In 2014, the famous American film star George Clooney and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, bought the Mill House.
Artistic Views of Sonning Eye
Sonning Eye has always been a favorite spot for artists. They especially loved painting the old, unused brick bridge and the railway bridge from the riverbank. The area has lots of green plants and trees, which artists found very inspiring.
George Price Boyce, a Victorian watercolour painter, visited Sonning Eye. He was part of the Pre-Raphaelite art movement, which focused on detailed and colorful paintings. He created many beautiful artworks inspired by the scenery here.
Gallery
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Backwater of the Thames at Sonning Eye, with a view of the French Horn at Sonning.
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Print of Sonning Bridge (1799), linking Sonning Eye (right) with Sonning (left) and St Andrew's Church tower in the background
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View from the main Sonning Backwater Bridge along the B478 road in Sonning Eye with the French Horn hotel on the right
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Waterside cottages at Sonning Eye
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View of the B478 road in the snow with the French Horn in the background
