Black Boy Island

Black Boy Island is an island in the River Thames in England between the villages of Medmenham, Buckinghamshire and Hurley, Berkshire. It is situated on the reach above Hurley Lock.

The island is said to be named after Charles II who was so dark as a child that his mother called him "Black Boy". [Paul Goldsack "River Thames: In the Footsteps of the Famous" English Heritage?Bradt 2003] Black Boy Island and the adjacent Frog Mill Ait presented a problem to navigation because the towpath was on the other side of the island from the main navigation channel. Hence tow lines had to sweep over the islands, often with the result that barges were pulled onto the shore. [Fred. S. Thacker "The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs" 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles] The name "Poisson Deux" is associated with the area, and this is believed to derive from fish ducts or traps in the river here. [Fred. S. Thacker "The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs" 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles]

ee also

*Islands in the River Thames

References

River item line|upstream=Magpie Island
downstream=Frog Mill Ait