Swan Island, River island in Twickenham, England
Description
Swan Island is a small island in the Thames near Twickenham that sits between two other river islands. It holds a boatyard and private moorings where various vessels are kept or anchored year-round.
History
The island started as an osier bed for willow cultivation in the 1800s before becoming a boating facility. It has been managed by the Port of London Authority and has served the river boat trade for many generations.
Culture
The island serves as a working place for boat owners and small craftspeople who share the waterfront together. You can see different kinds of boats moored here and the daily activity of people who work on and around the water.
Practical
The island is only reachable from the Twickenham side via a small bridge and is not freely open to the public. Since it is private property, best to view it from outside and avoid crossing the bridge to respect the working boat operations.
Did you know?
Though the island today spans only about 0.10 hectares, it was exactly the same size in the 1800s and has been used for similar work purposes ever since. This shows how the Thames has maintained its waterfront uses and character across generations.
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