Taggs Island, in size 3.681 acres, is situated on the river above Molesey Lock, close to the Surrey bank, but connected to the Middlesex side by a long single track road bridge. Previous names include Walnut Tree Ait, and Kent’s Ait. Its official name comes from boat builder Thomas Tagg, who in 1872 built the Thames Hotel on the island, which was frequented by London’s high society, including Edward Prince of Wales. In 1912 the impresario Fred Karno, purchased the island, and rebuilt the hotel, calling it The Karsino. Karno was credited with discovering Charlie Chaplin. He employed theatre architect Frank Matcham to build the new hotel, which included a music hall, dining room, and ballroom. Later a Palm Court Concert Pavilion was added with capacity for an audience of six hundred. Outside were landscaped gardens, and luxurious houseboats surrounded the island.
The economic downturn caused by the First World War meant that the island’s fortunes waned. The hotel was renamed the Casino, but its popularity did not return, and Karno sold it in 1926. Two years later it reopened as the Thames Riviera. In 1941 AC Cars opened a manufacturing unit on the island, making equipment for the armed forces, and after the war building three-wheeler invalid cars. The hotel continued in business for several years with many changes of ownership, but attempts to revive its fortunes failed, and the hotel was finally demolished in 1971, and never rebuilt. Eventually acquired by the moored boat residents, the island was transformed into a houseboat community.The present population is about 100, living on 62 floating homes.
Eel Pie, is the largest island in the London stretch of the river. Situated in Twickenham, it is 8.935 acres in size, accessible by boat or by a footbridge via Wharf and Bell Lane, Twickenham. Surprisingly the first bridge was not completed until 1957. Earlier names were Parish Ait and Twickenham Ait, and the present name comes from eel pies which were served there in the 19th century. It was a popular stopping place for steamer excursions.
In 1830 the new Eel Pie Island Hotel was built. It hosted ballroom dancing during the nineteen twenties and thirties. In 1956 trumpeter Brian Rutland, started jazz sessions at the hotel, and later Arthur Chisnall founded The Eelpiland Club, promoting various jazz bands, and in the 1960’s rock and R&B groups. Some of the famous names who performed there, between 1957 and 1967 were Acker Bilk, Ken Colyer, Long John Baldry, Rod Stewart, George Melly, The Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck, The Who, and The Yardbirds.
In 1967 the hotel closed because the owner could not meet the cost of necessary repairs. For about three years in the early seventies, there was a large hippy commune living on the island. Unfortunately in 1971 the hotel burned down in a mysterious blaze and 25 years later the centre of the island was also devastated by fire. Notable residents have included actor William Hartnell, and inventor Trevor Baylis. There are now about 50 homes, 120 inhabitants, small businesses, boatyards, a nature reserve, and the home to Twickenham Rowing Club. Usually in June and December some of the islands many diverse art studios are open to the public.