Garrick's Ait

It is 330 m upstream from Tagg's Island{{#tag:ref|Distance is following the slight curve of the river to a bank-following line in line with the island tips; straight-line distance measures 310 m|group= n}} which is more than twice the width and length. On the island are 20 houses, it being historically divided into 26 plots, but two of these, including the eastern tip, have always been trees and mooring space, respectively. Two of the approximately equal-sized plots, with few exceptions, have been combined into one. It is inaccessible except by boat.[http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/mapsearch.aspx Map] created by Ordnance Survey, courtesy of English Heritage {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424060625/http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/mapsearch.aspx |date=24 April 2012 }}

File:David Garrick by Thomas Gainsborough.jpg by Thomas Gainsborough]]

Garrick's Ait is named after David Garrick, the actor whose Temple to Shakespeare and Villa (house) are on the Hampton bank and as such is the only island in the country named after an actor. In common with most Thames islands near developed places, it became used for growing and harvesting willow/weeping willow trees when they arrived in the country in the 18th century. Wood from pollarding could be used for cricket bats, paddles, ladders, gun stocks, crates and poles for fences. Harvested branches, called osiers, are strong, flexible and resistant to rot – they were used for fish traps, basket making and for reinforcing riverbanks.{{Cite web|url= http://www.marketingreinforcements.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index_garricksait.html|title= Garrick's Ait|access-date= 2009-01-07|work= The Thames from Hampton Court to Sunbury Lock|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100727094321/http://www.marketingreinforcements.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index_garricksait.html|archive-date= 27 July 2010|df= dmy-all}}

• Islands in the River Thames
• River Thames

{{Portal-inline|Surrey}}

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{{Commons category|Garrick's Eyot}}

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{{River island start|River=River Thames}}

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{{The Hamptons}}

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Category:Islands of the River Thames