D'Oyly Carte Island facts for kids

Eyot House, footbridge and gate in front

Residential narrowboats pictured in front of D'Oyly Carte Island looking west from Desborough Island

D'Oyly Carte Island is a small private island in the River Thames, England, administratively and historically part of Weybridge, near its other inhabited islands and near part of Old Shepperton, on the reach above Sunbury Lock, 200 metres downstream from Shepperton Lock. Before 1890 the island was known as Folly Eyot.

Geography

The wooded island is 145 metres in length, and apart from its two points, 30–45 metres in width. It is 16.8 miles (27.0 km) from Charing Cross, London. Weybridge is the parish and post town. Elmbridge and Surrey County Council are the district and county-level local authorities.

Etymology

The island was called Folly Eyot until the eponymous owner bought it. Richard D'Oyly Carte was the producer of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas from 1875 to 1896, founder of the Savoy Theatre and Royal English Opera House (now the Palace Theatre) in London, and a hotelier. He bought the island in about 1890, and it acquired his middle name and surname.

History

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. Among the famous guests who stayed at Carte's house on the island were the dramatist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan. Carte's widow Helen sold the island, and in 2019 it was again for sale for £3.2 million; House Beautiful reported that the house "has lost the grandeur of its Victorian glory days".

Features

Carte built the main structure on the island, Eyot House, which he used as a residence. It has a large garden, which he and his wife helped to design, surrounded by trees. The house has 13 bedrooms, five bathrooms, four reception rooms, a ballroom and 1.9 acres (0.8 ha) of grounds.

A single-span footbridge built in 1964 provides access to the house. It consists of the high arch of a single steel box girder, with treads, brutalist railings and gates. The island has moorings for small boats.

Images for kids

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  Eyot House and footbridge