Pipers Island

Pipers Island from Caversham Bridge
Pipers Island showing channel separating it from the Caversham bank of the river

Pipers Island, or Piper's Island, is the third smallest map-named island in the River Thames, in England. It is on the Reading, Berkshire reach the head of water above Caversham Lock. It is toward the edge of the central urban area of the town of Reading and connected by a gangway to Caversham Bridge, a road bridge that links that town to its left bank suburb of Caversham.

Use

Pipers Island has been hard-landscaped into a public house and restaurant, The Island, the surrounding decking of which is shared for restaurant use and moorings of boats, used for a boat hire and larger vessels running hourly cruises during the Summer months. The banks of the island are today sheet metal topped with wooden decking. A protective rail guards the lower and somewhat smaller upper decks of the restaurant which are similar in design.

Access

The ait, the third smallest of those named on official maps of the Thames, which has approximately retained its 100-year footprint measurement of 0.147 acres (0.059 ha), though the few rounded corners squared since, is accessed on foot by a footbridge and staircase that connects the island to the centre of Caversham Bridge.

Location

The ait is toward the edge of the central urban area of the town of Reading and connected by a gangway attached to the middle of the downstream stone balustrade of Caversham Bridge, a road bridge that links that town to its left bank suburb of Caversham, its closer bank.

See also

References

  1. ↑ OS 25-inch-to-mile map of Oxfordshire of 1897, sheets LIV.5, LVI.13, LVI.14 and LVI1.16 published 1898
  2. ↑ "History". Island Bar and Restaurant. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "Piper's Island plan hits choppy waters". Reading Post. S&B media. 21 October 2004. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "Pipers Island throws open its doors". Reading Post. S&B media. 15 June 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  5. ↑ "Piper's Island Bar". Waterscape.com. British Waterways. Retrieved 10 July 2012.


51°27′57″N 0°58′35″W / 51.4657°N 0.9765°W / 51.4657; -0.9765