I used to see the Stones playing there, Long John Baldry sometimes played piano and sang in the interval. I remember him making his way to the stage, very tall, and carrying his dog above his head. Those were the days. The birthplace of UK rock and roll. I remember we had to pay 3 old pence to cross the bridge.
A gem of a documentary. Unique film reflecting a unique world and history. I miss it after having lived on a barge there for 3 years - even some of it's bizarre oddball attitudes and politics - and would go back in an instance if the boat was big enough and warm enough in winter! Eel Pie is still part of my life in Twickenham although now as an observer. Thank you for making a film with such surprising nuggets of information.
I have met the couple who live in the Love Shack. I spoke to them at one of the Eel Pie Island open weekends where the public can attend to buy the local crafts.
I used to go for singing lessons at Ivy Castle over on Eel Pie Island. The woman who taught me (Liz) was lovely, and I was so amazed the first time I followed the very bizarre directions that led to her house: "Go over the bridge...follow the winding path until you get to Ivy Castle..."...it was all very mysterious and exciting. And so wonderful to sing next to a grand piano while looking out of the gorgeous windows that led straight out on to the Thames...
My dad heard from a couple of the guys demolishing the hotel after the fire that stuff was going missing (not tools, stuff from the demolition itself) . It wasn't until a frosty morning that they spotted wheelbarrow tracks going to where Trevor Baylis was building his house.
What a fascinating documentary! An interesting history of a place that not too many people even know of it's existence. But I do have great memories of being there in the early 60's when I saw bands like The Rolling Stones performing there, just before they became famous. Walking over that bridge did give a feeling of complete isolation from the teeming surrounding London suburbs.
As a school boy in the late 1940's and during school holidays I would stay with my grand parents who lived in Whitton Dene just opposite the Great Western Hotel. During my stays my grand mother would take me to Eel Pie Island for an afternoon out, there was a large aviary full of Budgerigars we would watch as nan drank her cup of tea and I ate my ice cream. In those days there was not a pedestrian bridge, for a small fee there was a ferry man who would row us across the river in a small row boat. Delightful memories.
It was a crazy, wonderful place (1964-67). I particularly remember Art Chisnell and Jack Marrs with his little goatee beard - he told me he was going to retire down Brighton way. Remember when the posh river steamers passed in the evenings? We used to rush to the riverbank and throw all the empty bottles and glasses at them! The trad jazz and R&B bands were great too. Those days there were always house parties to find after the Newcastle Brown and several joints. Windsor Mick Wos 'Ere, The Duke of Chessington, 'Ace' Dave, etc.
I was in Twickenham Rowing Club from 1961 to 1970. Very brief glimpses of people I remember. Maurice Wheeler, John Walsh, John Burgess, and Steve Johnson who lived on the island next to George Sim's boatyard. Great memories . Thanks for posting.
Music - The John O'Leary / Alan Glen Allstars - Tribute to Cyril Davies - John O'Leary - Voc/Harmonica / Alan Glen - Guitar / Tim Penn - Piano / Al Vincent - Guitar / Glynn Evans - Bass / Peter Miles - Drums - Guest Vocal - Bob Hokum. Recorded @ Eel Pie Club - Twickenham.
Excellent place. The floor reminds me of the Ritz in Manchester. My parents used to go to this club so I'm kind of half expecting to see them in the pictures! My mother used to say to my father when the music was too loud, "you used to do that ..."
Michele Whitby, founder/curator of the Eel Pie Island Museum, 1-3 Richmond Rd, Twickenham TW1 3EA says: "Yes - I was there! The concert was actually at York House in central Twickenham (opposite where the Eel Pie Island Museum has recently opened) and was a great night. I have photos somewhere..."
Celia Holman: Sorry I only just saw your post. I'll try to get some pictures from the museum so thank you very much for the info. We took some video that evening but I've temporarily lost touch with my friend who took them (I'm living in Vancouver, Canada now). I'll post whatever I can find, my email address is: thelimey39@gmail.com if you know of anyone who might have been at the concert that night. In the meantime I'll contact Michele Whitby at the museum in the hope that she has pictures of that marvellous event and perhaps of my party who were next to the stage on the right hand side, we got quite a bit of ceiling plaster on us but I think that only added to the fun. Thank you once again, Dave.
Anybody remember the Art Wood memorial concert on the Island in 2007? Ron Wood (Arts brother) and a host of other great musicians turned up and the ceiling collapsed in pieces (due to some heavy chords) during the evening. Probably the greatest night of my life but I'm not sure which building it was held in, I know that the hotel itself burnt down so this must have been in a less damaged bit.
fascinating from beginning to end. I know what he means about pulling the drawbridge up. I dont live on an island but a peninsula between 2 rivers and when you go under one of the bridges it feels different like you left the rat race behind
Fab! Great to have been alive in the 60's and visited every weekend to see great bands. Crossing the bridge you had to pay a little old lady in a hut, she said "It's a penny dear", remember her?
I used to see the Stones playing there, Long John Baldry sometimes played piano and sang in the interval. I remember him making his way to the stage, very tall, and carrying his dog above his head. Those were the days. The birthplace of UK rock and roll. I remember we had to pay 3 old pence to cross the bridge.
Right up my street. I wish I knew about it back in the day.
RIP my friend Don Craine Thanks for your friendship & support. God bless.
That's very sad news. His interview is one of my all-time favourites and such a lovely man.
I used to live here on a boat house. It was there I met my wonderful wife. I had many
happy time's there.
Such an amazing place, I spend lots of my time going to visit Eel Pie and Richmond. Beautiful part of London.
A gem of a documentary. Unique film reflecting a unique world and history. I miss it after having lived on a barge there for 3 years - even some of it's bizarre oddball attitudes and politics - and would go back in an instance if the boat was big enough and warm enough in winter! Eel Pie is still part of my life in Twickenham although now as an observer. Thank you for making a film with such surprising nuggets of information.
I have met the couple who live in the Love Shack. I spoke to them at one of the Eel Pie Island open weekends where the public can attend to buy the local crafts.
I used to go for singing lessons at Ivy Castle over on Eel Pie Island. The woman who taught me (Liz) was lovely, and I was so amazed the first time I followed the very bizarre directions that led to her house: "Go over the bridge...follow the winding path until you get to Ivy Castle..."...it was all very mysterious and exciting. And so wonderful to sing next to a grand piano while looking out of the gorgeous windows that led straight out on to the Thames...
My dad heard from a couple of the guys demolishing the hotel after the fire that stuff was going missing (not tools, stuff from the demolition itself) . It wasn't until a frosty morning that they spotted wheelbarrow tracks going to where Trevor Baylis was building his house.
What a fascinating documentary! An interesting history of a place that not too many people even know of it's existence. But I do have great memories of being there in the early 60's when I saw bands like The Rolling Stones performing there, just before they became famous. Walking over that bridge did give a feeling of complete isolation from the teeming surrounding London suburbs.
As a school boy in the late 1940's and during school holidays I would stay with my grand parents who lived in Whitton Dene just opposite the Great Western Hotel. During my stays my grand mother would take me to Eel Pie Island for an afternoon out, there was a large aviary full of Budgerigars we would watch as nan drank her cup of tea and I ate my ice cream. In those days there was not a pedestrian bridge, for a small fee there was a ferry man who would row us across the river in a small row boat. Delightful memories.
It was a crazy, wonderful place (1964-67). I particularly remember Art Chisnell and Jack Marrs with his little goatee beard - he told me he was going to retire down Brighton way. Remember when the posh river steamers passed in the evenings? We used to rush to the riverbank and throw all the empty bottles and glasses at them! The trad jazz and R&B bands were great too. Those days there were always house parties to find after the Newcastle Brown and several joints. Windsor Mick Wos 'Ere, The Duke of Chessington, 'Ace' Dave, etc.
Glad to see Trevor Baylis still there, fabulous. Lived in Strafford Road Twickers, in late 80's.
Lovely times
Great documentary - and even quite a nice map :!!!! Best Cathy, Horton Cartographer - Eel Pie Island
:) Pre- fire
I was in Twickenham Rowing Club from 1961 to 1970. Very brief glimpses of people I remember. Maurice Wheeler, John Walsh, John Burgess, and Steve Johnson who lived on the island next to George Sim's boatyard. Great memories . Thanks for posting.
The 1960s club era sounds fun.
Music - The John O'Leary / Alan Glen Allstars - Tribute to Cyril Davies - John O'Leary - Voc/Harmonica / Alan Glen - Guitar / Tim Penn - Piano / Al Vincent - Guitar / Glynn Evans - Bass / Peter Miles - Drums - Guest Vocal - Bob Hokum. Recorded @ Eel Pie Club - Twickenham.
Also the greatly missed Nick Newall on Sax.
Another great production thank you I really like your stuff 👍
Really interesting. Thanks!
Excellent place. The floor reminds me of the Ritz in Manchester. My parents used to go to this club so I'm kind of half expecting to see them in the pictures! My mother used to say to my father when the music was too loud, "you used to do that ..."
Michele Whitby, founder/curator of the Eel Pie Island Museum, 1-3 Richmond Rd, Twickenham TW1 3EA says: "Yes - I was there! The concert was actually at York House in central Twickenham (opposite where the Eel Pie Island Museum has recently opened) and was a great night. I have photos somewhere..."
Celia Holman: Sorry I only just saw your post. I'll try to get some pictures from the museum so thank you very much for the info. We took some video that evening but I've temporarily lost touch with my friend who took them (I'm living in Vancouver, Canada now). I'll post whatever I can find, my email address is: thelimey39@gmail.com if you know of anyone who might have been at the concert that night. In the meantime I'll contact Michele Whitby at the museum in the hope that she has pictures of that marvellous event and perhaps of my party who were next to the stage on the right hand side, we got quite a bit of ceiling plaster on us but I think that only added to the fun.
Thank you once again, Dave.
Great documentary 👍
Fascinating...
Anybody remember the Art Wood memorial concert on the Island in 2007? Ron Wood (Arts brother) and a host of other great musicians turned up and the ceiling collapsed in pieces (due to some heavy chords) during the evening. Probably the greatest night of my life but I'm not sure which building it was held in, I know that the hotel itself burnt down so this must have been in a less damaged bit.
I can see the house I grew up in from up here.
I would live there in a heartbeat. Just lovely the people and history. Still a shame that people with money have ruined the once charm.
I agree, it was a wonderful place in the 1960s when real (semi-skint) people lived there.
fascinating from beginning to end. I know what he means about pulling the drawbridge up. I dont live on an island but a peninsula between 2 rivers and when you go under one of the bridges it feels different like you left the rat race behind
Memories.😊
Fab! Great to have been alive in the 60's and visited every weekend to see great bands. Crossing the bridge you had to pay a little old lady in a hut, she said "It's a penny dear", remember her?
Did The Downliners Sect and Chicken Shack play there?
Reminds me of Toronto Islands.
Yessss! The ward islands off Toronto! Fantastic place I can certainly see the remeblence
white man blues came from here.
a lot of great music from the eel pie island sessions.
Great insight into a part of London i didn't know about.
Did the year and a half of Covid Isolation seem any different on the island?
Those were the nights! Dozens I spent there between 1963 and 1967.
no one mentioned the rowing club!
It's there at 38:20
Hi I am making a short film on Eel Pie Island may I use some of the clips in this documentary.
Ollie, I've got in touch via your email.
Look forward to this, please let me know when finished!
I love he says posh ppl have boots, I mean wellies are like £5 and all those houses are worth at least £1 million now lol
Saw the Stones before they became famous,Always thought Mr Jagger would have purchased a place there.
😁👍👏👏👏
But
Beautiful place ugly politics