Sunbury Lock Ait facts for kids
Sunbury Lock Ait is a small island, also called an ait, located in the River Thames in England. It sits next to Sunbury Lock, between the towns of Walton-on-Thames and Sunbury-on-Thames in Surrey. This island is not home to any people.
Exploring Sunbury Lock Ait
You can reach Sunbury Lock Ait in a few ways. A footbridge crosses the lock channel from the Thames Path towpath on the southern bank. You can also walk across the lock gates themselves. There is another walkway that connects to Wheatley's Ait further upstream, crossing a weir. However, this path is currently closed to the public.
The island is long and thin. You cannot get to it directly from the Sunbury-on-Thames side. On that side, it faces a long public riverbank, some private old Victorian houses with places to tie up boats, and two pubs that also have boat moorings.
A Look Back: History of the Island
This island was here even before the lock channel was made wider and deeper for boats. For hundreds of years, it was known as "Sunbury Church Ait."
The City of London Corporation bought the island from several owners. They bought it to build the lock, which was finished in 1815. Before the lock, there was a simpler type of dam called a "flash weir" here since at least the 1700s. The footbridge and the old lock house you see today are where the first lock used to be, further upstream from the current locks.
What You'll Find on the Island
Sunbury Lock Ait is covered with trees, ferns, and brambles. It is also home to the Middle Thames Yacht (motorboat) Club. You will also find a private boat repair yard on the island.
