D'Oyly Carte Island

The impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte bought the island in about 1890 and built the 13-bedroom Eyot House on the property, completed in 1898.

[5] Carte intended to use the island as a special secluded annex, accessible by boat, to his new Savoy Hotel, but a panel of local magistrates refused to grant him an alcoholic drinks licence for the property.

[7] The purchaser, Andy Hill, is restoring the property and intends to hold events there including the production of a Gilbert and Sullivan opera.

[14] Eyot House has a large garden, which Carte and his wife helped to design, surrounded by trees.

[7] A single-span footbridge built in 1964 provides access to the house, whereas, previously, the island was reached by pulling oneself across the river on a chain ferry.

[12] The bridge consists of the high arch of a single steel box girder, with treads, brutalist railings and gates.