Platts Eyot

Platts Eyot is an island on the River Thames at Hampton, England on the reach between Molesey Lock and Sunbury Lock.

The island was a typical Ait used for growing osiers but was used for dumping spoil from excavation of the Stain Hill Reservoirs, creating the large hill on the island's Western end. There is a suspension bridge to the island from the Middlesex bank at Hampton.

Boatbuilding began on the island in 1868, when Thomas Tagg built a boatyard and house on the Eastern end of the island, earning it the nickname "Tagg's Island".

In 1908 Thornycroft set up the Hampton Launch Works on the island. This boatbuilding works concentrated on cabin cruisers and speedboats, but also produced small naval craft - Coastal Motor Boats in the First World War and Motor Torpedo Boats, Motor Launches and landing craft in the Second World War. Thornycrofts closed their boatbuilding operation on Platt's Eyot when they were taken over by Vospers in the mid-1960s.

In 1960 the island was bought by Port Hampton Ltd. who diversified the use of industrial space.

Today the entire island is listed within the River Thames site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation, with the Western end of the island being listed as Green Belt.

ee also

*Islands in the River Thames

External links

* [http://www.marketingreinforcements.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index_plattseyot.html The Thames from Hampton Court to Sunbury Lock]