Eel Pie Island - wikipedia Eel Pie Island Eel Pie Island Eel Pie Island Eel Pie Island shown within Greater London OS grid reference TQ164731 London borough Richmond Ceremonial county Greater London Region London Country England Sovereign state United Kingdom Post town TWICKENHAM Postcode district TW1 Dialling code 020 Police Metropolitan Fire London Ambulance London EU Parliament London UK Parliament Twickenham London Assembly South West List of places UK England London 51 ° 26 ′ 43 '' N 0 ° 19 ′ 29 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 51.4452 ° N 0.3246 ° W ﻿ / 51.4452 ; - 0.3246 Coordinates : 51 ° 26 ′ 43 '' N 0 ° 19 ′ 29 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 51.4452 ° N 0.3246 ° W ﻿ / 51.4452 ; - 0.3246 Eel Pie Island is an island in the River Thames at Twickenham in the Borough of Richmond upon Thames, London. It is situated on the Tideway and can be reached only by footbridge or boat. The island was known as a major jazz and blues venue in the 1960s. Contents 1 Name 2 Description 3 Eel Pie Island Hotel 4 Water sports 5 Invasion of Eel Pie Island 6 Image gallery 7 Notable residents and former residents 8 In literature 9 See also 10 References 11 Further reading 12 External links Name The name comes from the eel pies which were served by the hotel on the island in the 19th century. Eel Pie Island was earlier called Twickenham Ait and, before that, The Parish Ait ; even earlier the island was three separate aits. Description A bridge to the island was proposed in 1889, but it was not until 1957 that one was completed. Today, the island has about 50 houses with 120 inhabitants, a couple of boatyards and some small businesses and artists ' studios. It has nature reserves at either end, but there is no public access to these. The island is privately owned and the public can only access the main pathway from the bridge, passing all the doors and gates of the houses and businesses on the island. On a few weekends a year, usually in June and December and dubbed `` Artists ' Open Studios '', the public are invited to visit the collection of art studios, known as Eel Pie Island Art Studios. The Eel Pie Studios or Oceanic Studios at The Boathouse on the mainland nearby, formerly owned by Pete Townshend, were the location of several significant pop and rock recordings. Townshend 's publishing company, Eel Pie Publishing, is also named after the ait. Eel Pie Island Hotel A 1900 postcard of the Eel Pie Island Hotel The island was the site of the Eel Pie Island Hotel, a genteel nineteenth - century building that hosted ballroom dancing during the 1920s and 1930s. In 1956 trumpeter Brian Rutland, who ran a local band called The Grove Jazz Band, started jazz sessions at the newly reopened hotel. Sometime afterwards Arthur Chisnall took over the running of the club and continued to promote various jazz bands and then in the 1960s rock and R&B groups. Famous names who performed at the dance hall between 1957 and 1967 include : Long John Baldry 's Hoochie Coochie Men ( including Rod Stewart ) Acker Bilk Ken Colyer Cyril Davies Rhythm & Blues All Stars The Downliners Sect John Mayall 's Bluesbreakers ( featuring Eric Clapton ) George Melly The Rolling Stones The Tridents ( featuring Jeff Beck ) The Who The Yardbirds In 1967, the hotel was forced to close because the owner could not meet the £ 200,000 cost of repairs demanded by police. In 1969, the club briefly reopened as Colonel Barefoot 's Rock Garden, with bands such as Black Sabbath, The Edgar Broughton Band, Stray, Genesis, and Hawkwind ( then known as Hawkwind Zoo ) performing there. `` I approached the owner Mr. Snapper who lived in Kingston & we agreed a rental deal. I called it Colonel Barefoot 's Rock Garden & plastered west london with quad crown posters. I booked in bands Edgar Broughton, Free, Spooky Tooth, Deep Purple, King Crimson, Genesis ( support ) Wishbone Ash, Mott The Hoople ( my best ever attendance ), Savoy Brown plus many more. There were two stages : the headliner was on the big stage and the support on the small stage with the light show projectionist above it. We had a bar doing tea, soft drinks, hot dogs and hamburgers. We then did Colonel Barefoot 's Killer Punch ( cider, cooking brandy and cinnamon ) and we gave it away along with beer in half pint plastic disposable cups. I had rows with the fire department as the emergency exits were chained shut to stop people bunking in. Eventually, after a raid by the Fire Chief, I closed down and walked. I was living in Chiswick at this time. '' -- Caldwell Smythe ( entrepreneur, pro vocalist, ex Riot Squad & briefly The Honeycombs ). In 1969, the Eel Pie Island Hotel was occupied by a small group of local anarchists including illustrator Clifford Harper. By 1970 the Eel Pie Island Commune had become the UK 's largest hippie commune. In 1971, the Eel Pie Island Hotel burned down in a mysterious fire. The centre of the island was devastated by fire in 1996, and a year later, the footbridge was damaged by a utilities contractor. A new footbridge opened in August 1998. Water sports Richmond Yacht Club The island is also home to Twickenham Rowing Club, one of the oldest rowing clubs on the Thames, and Richmond Yacht Club. Invasion of Eel Pie Island For his 2005 television show How To Start Your Own Country, presenter Danny Wallace claimed to be `` Leader '' of Eel Pie Island after invading the island via the footbridge. After a few hours, the Metropolitan Police Service forced him to give the island back peacefully to Queen Elizabeth II. Image gallery Despite its small size, Eel Pie Island has a wide variety of building styles. Housing on Eel Pie Island Notable residents and former residents Original Doctor Who actor William Hartnell lived in a house on the island during the 1960s Indie band Mystery Jets Inventor Trevor Baylis Comedy actor Nigel Planer In literature In the funny Fashion episode of AbFab, Edina 's mother inquired whether she had gone to Eel Pie Island again. Eel Pie Island was also the setting of a murder mystery, The Eel Pie Murders by David Frome ( Zenith Brown ), published in 1933. It was part of the Mr. Pinkerton series, featuring amateur sleuth, Evan Pinkerton, a widower Welshman, and his friend, Chief Inspector J. Humphrey Bull of Scotland Yard. The island was also mentioned in the 2011 novel Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch. Eel Pie Island is prominently featured in Ayize Jama - Everett 's second Liminal World book The Liminal War. See also United Kingdom portal Eel pie Islands in the River Thames References Jump up ^ Tony Lamond ( 12 December 2006 ). `` 1950s pics -- The Grove Jazz Band / Eel Pie ''. eelpie.org. Retrieved 26 February 2011. Jump up ^ Meek, Jo ( 30 January 2007 ). `` Eel Pie 's place in rock history ''. BBC News. Retrieved 5 January 2009. Jump up ^ Van Der Vat, Dan ; Whitby, Michele ( 2009 ). Eel Pie Island. Frances Lincoln Ltd. ISBN 0 - 7112 - 3053 - 6. ^ Jump up to : `` Eel Pie Hotel ''. Places. Twickenham Museum. Retrieved 18 June 2014. ^ Jump up to : Membery, York ( 20 April 2009 ). `` Rock legends of Eel Pie ''. Daily Express. Retrieved 18 June 2014. Jump up ^ Faiers, Chris ( 1990 ). Eel Pie Dharma. Unfinished Monument Press. ISBN 0 - 920976 - 42 - 5. ^ Jump up to : Kilvington, Joanna ( 14 September 2009 ). `` Blaze hits Eel Pie Island ''. Richmond Guardian. Retrieved 18 June 2014. Jump up ^ Wylie, Ian ( 25 July 2005 ). `` Dictator Danny ! ''. Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 25 September 2008. Jump up ^ Hasted, Nigel ( 16 July 2010 ). `` Mystery Jets - From songs of innocence to grown - up experience ''. The Independent. Retrieved 18 June 2014. Jump up ^ Planer, Nigel ( 9 September 2000 ). `` Walk tall, think small ''. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 June 2014. Jump up ^ `` The Eel Pie Murders ( 1933 ) ''. FictFact. Retrieved 17 November 2014. Further reading van der Vat, Dan ; Whitby, Michele ( 2009 ). Eel Pie Island. London : Frances Lincoln. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7112 - 3053 - 8. External links The Twickenham Museum -- Eel Pie Island A diary of Danny Wallace 's invasion on his Citizens Required website Eel Pie Island -- collection of hippie memoirs & pics from the 1960s Mystery Jets official website Official website of LBC 97.3 presenter Steve Allen YouTube video of an open day on the island The Eel Pie Club History piece on NPR Eel Pie Island TV Site dedicated to the musical legacy of Eel Pie Island Next island upstream River Thames Next island downstream Swan Island Eel Pie Island Glover 's Island Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eel Pie Island. London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Districts Barnes East Sheen Fulwell Ham Hampton Hampton Hill Hampton Wick Kew Mortlake Petersham Richmond St Margarets Strawberry Hill Teddington Twickenham Whitton Railway stations Barnes Barnes Bridge Fulwell Hampton Hampton Wick Kew Gardens Mortlake North Sheen Richmond St Margarets Strawberry Hill Teddington Twickenham Whitton River Thames bridges, islands and river services Bridges Benn 's Island Corporation Island Eel Pie Island Glover 's Island Platts Eyot Swan Island Tagg 's Island Trowlock Island Hammerton 's Ferry Hampton Ferry Kew Pier Richmond Lock Teddington Lifeboat Station Teddington Lock former Twickenham Ferry Other rivers and streams Beverley Brook River Crane Duke of Northumberland 's River Longford River Sudbrook and Latchmere stream River Thames Sports venues Athletic Ground, Richmond Barn Elms Playing Fields The Championship Course Cricket clubs and grounds Golf clubs and courses Hampton Pool The Lensbury Pools on the Park Royal Tennis Court, Hampton Court Teddington Pools and Fitness Centre Thames Young Mariners Twickenham Stadium Twickenham Stoop former Ranelagh Club former Richmond Ice Rink Events Annual sports events Hampton Court Palace Festival Hampton Court Palace Flower Show IRB Rugby Aid Match Breweries and pubs Britannia, Richmond The Bull 's Head The Crown, Twickenham Dysart Arms The Fox, Twickenham Hare and Hounds, Sheen Jolly Coopers, Hampton Old Ship, Richmond Park Hotel, Teddington Richmond Brewery Stores Sun Inn, Barnes Twickenham Fine Ales Watney Combe & Reid White Cross, Richmond The White Swan, Twickenham ‎ Theatres, cinemas and music venues The Bull 's Head Crawdaddy Club Olympic Studios Orange Tree Theatre Puppet Theatre Barge Richmond Theatre TwickFolk Wathen Hall former Eel Pie Island Hotel Film and recording studios Astoria The Boathouse, Twickenham Eel Pie Studios Olympic Studios Teddington Studios Twickenham Film Studios Media and publishing Richmond and Twickenham Times former Gaydar Radio former Hogarth Press Historical royal palaces Hampton Court Palace Kew Palace Richmond Palace Other places of interest 123 Mortlake High Street 18 Station Road, Barnes 70 Barnes High Street Asgill House Brinsworth House Bushy House Chapel House Chapel in the Wood Clarence House Diana Fountain, Bushy Park Doughty House Douglas House Downe House East Sheen Filling Station Fulwell bus garage Garrick 's Temple to Shakespeare Garrick 's Villa Grove House, Hampton Ham House Hampton Youth Project Harrods Furniture Depository Hogarth House The Homestead, Barnes King 's Observatory Kneller Hall Langham House Langham House Close Latchmere House Lichfield Court Marble Hill House Montrose House The Naked Ladies National Physical Laboratory Normansfield Theatre The Old Court House Ormeley Lodge Pembroke Lodge Pope 's Grotto Poppy Factory The Queen 's Beasts Royal Military School of Music Royal Star and Garter Home St Leonard 's Court Strawberry Hill House Sudbrook House and Park The Terrace, Barnes Thatched House Lodge University Boat Race Stones Victoria Working Men 's Club West Hall, Kew White Lodge The Wick Wick House Yelverton Lodge York House History Adana Printing Machines Admiralty Research Laboratory Alcott House Ashe baronets Barnes rail crash Camp Griffiss Cross Deep House GHQ Liaison Regiment Hampton Court Conference Kew Letters Mortlake Tapestry Works Mount Ararat, Richmond Murder of Amélie Delagrange Murder of Julia Martha Thomas Petersham Hole Pocock baronets Pope 's villa Radnor House Richmond Flyers Richmond, Petersham and Ham Open Spaces Act 1902 Ringway 2 Sheen Priory Star and Garter Hotel, Richmond Towpath murders Treaty of Hampton Court ( 1562 ) Twickenham Park Vandeput baronets Warren - Lambert Wigan baronets Parliamentary constituencies Richmond Park Twickenham former Richmond and Barnes former Richmond ( Surrey ) Other topics Almshouses Archives, museums and art galleries Cemeteries, crematoria and memorials Grade I listed buildings Grade II * listed buildings Hospitals Local government People Places of worship Public art Schools, colleges and universities Sports clubs Parks, open spaces and nature reserves in Richmond upon Thames Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eel_Pie_Island&oldid=798710095 '' Categories : Areas of London History of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Islands of the River Thames Geography of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Islands of London Twickenham Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from December 2016 Articles with permanently dead external links Use British English from September 2015 Use dmy dates from September 2011 Pages using deprecated image syntax Articles with OS grid coordinates Coordinates on Wikidata All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from July 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Ελληνικά Français Edit links This page was last edited on 3 September 2017, at 10 : 19. 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Question: how did eel pie island get its name
Answer: from the eel pies which were served by the hotel on the island in the 19th century