Temple Island facts for kids
Temple Island is a small island in the River Thames in England. It's located just north of Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. The island is part of Remenham in Berkshire. This little island is very important because it marks the starting point for the famous Henley Royal Regatta boat race.
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The Story of the Temple
The island has a beautiful, fancy building called a temple. It's a type of ornamental building known as a folly. An English architect named James Wyatt designed it in 1771. He built it as a special fishing lodge for a nearby historic house called Fawley Court. Wyatt also redesigned Fawley Court around the same time for its owner, Sambrooke Freeman.
Wyatt designed everything for the temple, including the building itself and its inside decorations. He probably even designed the original furniture. The paintings on the walls in the main room are very old. They are believed to be the earliest example of the Etruscan style in Great Britain. This style was popular in ancient Etruria, a region in Italy. These paintings are even older than other famous examples, like those at Osterley Park.
Who Owned the Island?
Over time, the island's ownership changed. In the 1800s, it passed from the Freeman family to the Mackenzie family, along with Fawley Court. In 1952, after Roderick Mackenzie passed away, the Henley Royal Regatta committee became interested in the island. They asked his daughter, Margaret, if they could have the first chance to buy it if she ever decided to sell.
By the early 1980s, the island became much more valuable. This was because many companies wanted to use it for special events and parties. In 1983, the Regatta committee tried again to buy the island from Margaret Mackenzie. Finally, in 1986, the island was put up for sale to anyone who wanted to buy it.
The Regatta Buys the Island
In December 1987, the Regatta was able to buy a very long lease for the island and the temple. This lease was for 999 years! They could do this thanks to a generous gift of £515,000 from Alan Burrough and his wife Rosie. Alan Burrough was a Steward (a leader) of the Regatta.
After buying the lease, the Regatta committee started working to restore the island and the temple. They wanted to make sure it looked its best. The part of the island facing downstream was kept as a nature reserve. Many new trees were planted there to help nature thrive.
Making the Temple Beautiful Again
The old balcony from the Victorian era had fallen apart. It was replaced with a new one. The wall paintings inside the temple had also been damaged and poorly painted over. Experts carefully repaired them. They brought back the original colors that James Wyatt had intended. A statue of a nymph, a mythical nature spirit, was placed under the temple's dome. This statue matched the temple's old style and age perfectly.
Rules for Visitors
Temple Island is a special place. To protect the temple and its garden, visitors are not allowed to moor their boats or step onto the island. You need to get written permission from the Henley Royal Regatta Committee first.
Temple Island in Music
The island was even featured in a music video! It appeared in the video for the song "Never Turn Away" by the band Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark.
