Lots Ait - Back to the Future

Rare opportunity to visit this island over the blue bridge

Ever wondered what lies over the blue bridge by Goat Wharf bus stop on Brentford’s High Street?  Then find out at a popular annual event which takes place on the busy and charming little island of Lots Ait. 

Established in the 1920’s by Thames & General Lighterage Company and closed in 1980, historic Lots Ait Boat Yard was the site of one of the last tidal boat yards on the Thames.  

After careful restoration work, completed in 2012, the site houses John’s Boat Works, a traditional working boat yard - plus a thriving community of boat dwellers, artists and artisans.  It was a key location for the Hollywood movie ‘The African Queen’ and remains home to the Two-Lipped Door snail, unique to this and the surrounding islands.

Past meets present as you walk around the yard and hardstand with John, accompanied by Stuart and Ian Shields, apprentices from the original Lots Ait Boat Yard.  After forging careers in the maritime sector, Stu and Ian are back to share and entertain us with tales, memories and knowledge of life at the old yard.  Curious (and mostly rusty!) artefacts will be available to view and handle, a sunken barge can be discovered, and throughout, historic images can be viewed at their original locations!

Explore Lots Ait’s boat building history and its present life via images, objects, and talking with people who are closely connected to the island, and discover the natural environment of this island and its wild inhabitants with archeologist, Greer Dewdney.

Book tickets for this visit on Sunday 11th September at thamestidefest.net, choosing ‘pre-book events online’. Tickets £3

September 2, 2016