Click here for the old photos'
There is a question as to the Island is it natural or is it man made? It is suggested that it was cut away from the Hampton Court side to make a more impressive entrance to the Palace.
Personally I am not at all sure, any facts any thoughts? Also I have been told that the 'Winged Victory' which is on the top of The Wellington Arch was cast in the factory by the Swan,
called Burtons Foundry, where they made numerous statues, virtually every war
memorial after 1st world war was made here. I have been told when they took it to London by barge the statue was too large so they cut the Island where Swan Island now is to allow the barge to load the statue.
I now know that this is incorrect, the statue called Quadriga (or peace
descending onto war) was put together in
Burtons factory but was dismantled to travel to London about 1912. So although it is the largest bronze statue in Europe! the Island would not need to be cut but if you look at any aerial photos, it has without doubt been cut.
This picture was taken 1923 pre bridge and you can clearly see that a section has been cut away.
WHY?????
Basically 'the Island' is part of a geological formation
called an Oxbow lake, when a river meanders around its own flood plan, a picture
of one on the Mississippi is here. The Island in the Oxbow lake could be a
double for TDI.
In the museum of London there a stone age axe dating between 2,500 and 1,500 b.c. or there abouts from Thames Ditton. Again any one have information on ancient Thames Ditton.
