Pharaoh's Island, River Thames

Pharaoh's Island from The Thames Court (taken when the river was red-boarded to navigation)

Pharaoh's Island or Dog Ait is an island in the River Thames, belonging to Middlesex. It is situated 300 yds upstream of Shepperton Lock.

Overview

The island has a length of 300 yds and a maximum width of 65 yds. Shepperton Lock is 300 yds downstream and two other channels leading to weirs diverge off after the island to its south-east. These channels then surround Lock Island and Hamhaugh Island. The island is only accessible by boat, with the facilities of Lock Island downstream and moorings there or by the pub The Thames Court almost opposite its eastern tip on the nearer, Middlesex bank.

River Level

Above the lock, the variation in river level has been between three inches at the lock gate and 39 inches This compares favourably to variation below the lock at between 8 ft 9 in and 16 ft 3 in in depth.

History

It was given to Admiral Nelson after the Battle of the Nile (1798). He used it as a fishing retreat.

Residential development

Since the late 20th century it has hosted 14 homes with individual moorings. Most of the properties have Egyptian names.

The property names are:

Amasis Ferry Cottage Ishta Isis Kantara Lotus Luxor Mabrouk Maleesh Mannana Memphis Minoru Nada

Nakhti Nile Nyanzh Osiris Pharaos Cottage Philae Pyramid Sphinx Sunset Cottage Thebes Willow Cottage Willow Hayne

Media representations

As the home of his family, the island was the setting for director John Boorman's two semi-autobiographical films: Hope and Glory in 1987 and Queen and Country in 2014.

See also

• Islands in the River Thames

References

• Location map: 51°22’57"N, 0°27’53"W
• "Shepperton Lock". The River Thames Guide. http://www.riverthames.co.uk/about_thames/3763.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-08.