Why is Ash Island shaped like a teardrop? This forested isle sits in the River Thames. It is near Molesey Lock, on London’s border.
Ash Island shares East Molesey as its post town with Hampton Court. Administratively, it belongs to the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The main weir links it to the lock. Another weir connects it to Hampton Court. This creates different water levels around the island.
Ash Island is privately owned. A boatyard operates on the lock side. Moorings line the lower side. Trees densely cover most of the island. It stretches 236 meters long and 90 meters wide. Ash Island lies 25 meters downstream from Tagg’s Island.
Suleman’s family has a long history with Ash Island. His grandfather apprenticed as a boat builder in the 1930s. The boatyard was opposite Ash Island. Later, his grandparents sold their house to buy a houseboat. They then bought a bungalow on Ash Island. Suleman bought his grandfather out. He chose the island over a tiny flat in Ealing.
A tale is told of the Molesey Boat Club chairman. He lived in Suleman’s house. He’d ride his horse Tony through the river to Ash Island. This was for boat club publicity. A shed on Ash Island is still called “Tony’s shed.”
Islanders once barbecued mutton on the frozen Thames. This tradition ended when the ice became too thin. People and the barbecue fell into the river.
Ash Island offers a unique London life. Suleman worked in the City. He could travel from central London to his island home in under an hour. Ash Island is a retreat. It is separate from the hustle of the city.