Sunbury Court Island facts for kids
Sunbury Court Island is a special place located in the River Thames in England. It's a long, narrow island where people live in houses and bungalows. You can only walk on the island, as cars aren't allowed! It sits on a part of the river called the 'Sunbury and Hampton' or 'Molesey' reach, just above Molesey Lock in a town called Sunbury-on-Thames, which is in Surrey.
What's the Island Like?
Sunbury Court Island is connected to the main land of Sunbury by a cool, old-fashioned footbridge. This bridge is made of iron and has criss-crossed railings, plus an interesting square tower that looks a bit like something from Italy!
Homes and Buildings
There are about 25 homes on the island, including houses and bungalows. Each home usually has its own garden or patio. Because the island is just for walking, it feels very peaceful and quiet.
What's Around?
Right near the bridge entrance, you can see the grand Sunbury Court. This huge building used to be a fancy home, but now it's an international meeting place for the Salvation Army. It's a very old building, built in 1723, and it's considered a special historic place.
Just a short walk upstream (about 20 meters), you'll find Rivermead Island, which is a public park. Downstream, about 300 meters away from the river, is the Sunbury Cricket Club, where people play cricket.
History of the Island
Long ago, in the early 1900s, Sunbury Court Island was just a long, grassy field. People started building summer homes here, and that's how it became a residential island. Before it was called Sunbury Court Island, it had another name: "Hayes Ait". An "ait" is an old word for a small island in a river.
Flood Risk and Safety
Like many places right next to the River Thames, Sunbury Court Island is in an area that has a higher chance of flooding. The Environment Agency, which looks after rivers, says there's a 1 in 100 chance or more of the river flooding here each year. If there's a risk of flooding, the Agency sends out warnings to the people who live on the island.
There was a big flood in the winter of 2013-2014. The water on the island path reached waist-deep on January 7, 2014. Some residents needed help from local emergency services. By February 8, 2014, about half of the homes on the island were asked to be evacuated by the Fire and Rescue Services to keep everyone safe.
