Steven's Eyot facts for kids
Steven's Eyot (also called Steven's Ait) is a small, thin island in the River Thames. It's located in London, England, near the town of Kingston upon Thames. This part of the river is above Teddington Lock, meaning the water level doesn't change with the ocean tides. An "eyot" is just another word for a small river island.
Where is Steven's Eyot?
Steven's Eyot is about 660 meters (or 720 yards) downstream from the Kingston Railway Bridge. The southern end of the island is across from the boating area used by the Kingston Rowing Club. This club is on the east side of the river, in Canbury Gardens.
On the west side of the river, you'll find houses, fields, and boathouses in an area called Broom Park, near Teddington. There's also a much smaller island just north of Steven's Eyot. Because of this, official maps sometimes show them as a pair, calling them "Steven's Eyots."
The History of Steven's Eyot
Old maps show us how Steven's Eyot has changed over time. In 1875, a map from the Ordnance Survey showed that the island was actually made up of four smaller islands. By 1896, the island was marked on maps as Tathim's Island.
The name "Steven's Eyot" came from a boatman named Steven. He lived in a small house nearby, in what is now Canbury Gardens. This new name started appearing on maps around 1913. Today, Steven's Eyot is part of a special conservation area. This means the area is protected to keep its natural beauty and history safe.
How Steven's Eyot is Managed
Boats on the River Thames are usually directed to the Middlesex side of the river when passing Steven's Eyot. This is because there are posts and places to tie up boats on the Surrey side (the east side).
The island is home to the Small Boat Club (SBC). This club was started in 1953 by its members and is run by them. It's a "not-for-profit" club, which means any money it makes goes back into the club, not to owners. The SBC has a special area for boats carved out of the north end of the island. They also have strong places to tie up boats all around the island.
The Small Boat Club has rented the island since 1960 from the Thames Conservancy, which is now called the Environment Agency. This agreement means that only members of the Small Boat Club can permanently tie their boats to the island. In 1984, the Kingston Council gave the SBC permission to build a jetty (a small pier) on the Surrey bank. This jetty has been in use since May 1984.
