IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Sunbury Court Island, SUNBURY-ON-THAMES, TW16 5PP

This is the footbridge to the private Sunbury Court Island.

Sunbury Court Island used to be part of the estate of Sunbury Court Image until the death of its last private owner in 1910. The island's potential as a site for attractive riverside homes was subsequently recognised and construction was rapid after the end of the First World War. The 1920 Edition of the Ordnance Survey mapping shows the island as bare but by 1934 its entire length had been built on. However the dangers of living on an island in the Thames were brought home during the devastating floods of December 1927 when all the newly built bungalows had to be evacuated. This is the footbridge and only dry access to the island. In the distance is the entrance tower, which was actually built to house a sewage pump, not to repel invaders... The house on the downstream tip of the island was once owned by Ben Lyon and Bebe Daniels, who were the stars of the BBC radio comedy series ‘Life with the Lyons’ from 1951 to 1961.

Sunbury Court Island has 35 private dwellings. It is reached by a footbridge from the Middlesex side and is named after the large mansion house which overlooks it. Sunbury Court was built in 1723 by John Witt. Subsequent residents included George Fermor, 2nd Earl of Pomfret, and Jack Needham, the Lord Kilmorey. In 1921 it was purchased by the Salvation Army who turned it into a conference centre and it was here their first Army High Council was held in 1929. Today it is a Grade 1 listed building, still owned by the Salvation Army and it is where they elect their General each year.

The beautiful building behind is Sunbury Court in square Image This C18th mansion is now a conference centre

This is the eastern end of the island taken from Lower Hampton Road, Sunbury. The island was formerly known as Hayes Ait and has around thirty houses on it. Access is available to residents only.

Looking North across the Thames