Dunloe Island is a right bank narrow island extending from the head of Bridge Eyot
to halfway up Grass Eyot. Footbridge, surrounded by moorings. By Dunloe Lodge (Enigma Marketing).
Grosvenor Island is a tiny central island between Bridge Eyot and Grass Eyot,
opposite Grosvenor Drive.
Mill Island is a right bank island adjoining Glen Island on the Eastern bank.
The usual Channel is on the left bank.
Pass either side of Grass Eyot which is nearer the left (west bank). The usual route to Boulters Lock is the channel between it and the left bank
The strategically important site of Taplow with a cliff overlooking the Thames is likely to have been occupied since
earliest times. This is confirmed by archaeological finds of Mesolithic flint blades. Excavations in the grounds of
Taplow Court - have revealed the existence of hill forts from the Bronze and Iron Ages.
There have also been Roman pottery finds in the area.
The Thames provided a convenient and
valuable fishing ground as well as a communication route. In 1086 the Domesday Book entry for Taplow shows a
well-favoured place with a fishery (for 1,000 eels), woodland supporting 700 pigs, plough-land and meadow. Into the 20th
century there was a fish weir next to Guards Club Island where eel bucks (wicker baskets) were strung
across the river. Historical records reveal that valuable fishing rights were
frequently contested in court.
The waters of the Thames were also harnessed to power mills. The earliest
record of a mill at Taplow is in 1194. Other early references are to two mills
in 1197 and to a fulling mill in 1281. By 1304 there were apparently three
mills. It is thought that the earliest mill was on the site of the present
Taplow Paper Mill, although, without maps, we cannot know its exact
position. Taplow mills are shown on maps from 1637. It was common for
mills to change their use over the years between grinding corn, fulling cloth
and making paper. In 1803 a lease shows that one of the mills was being used
as a cotton manufactory. The Taplow paper mill business was probably started by the Venables
family in the late 18th century. The corn mill closed
down in 1864 but paper making continued on the site until 2006.