A couple planned to sell their house and live in a smaller property, but they bought an abandoned island on the River Thames for £2.925 million with a 13-bedroom mansion, a ballroom, and gardens overgrown with weeds. They restored the glass dome and reopened the Victorian retreat for cafes, concerts, and visitors.

The purchase of a historic island on the Thames turned a relocation plan into a restoration project that brings together Victorian architecture, cultural heritage, events, tourism, and conservation challenges on the banks of Weybridge.

Andy and Sheila Hill’s plan was to sell the family home in Richmond, southwest London, and move to a smaller property.

The decision took another turn in 2021 when the couple paid £2.925 million for a private island on the River Thames, near Weybridge, in the county of Surrey, with a 13-bedroom Victorian mansion in a state of disrepair.

The property, known as D’Oyly Carte Island, had remained vacant for about 12 years.

Windows were broken or boarded up, vegetation was encroaching on the gardens, and a damaged glass dome allowed water to enter the interior of the residence.

Since the purchase, the new owners have restored different areas and started welcoming visitors to a café, concerts, private events, and wellness activities.

The mansion, however, is still undergoing works.

A kayaking trip changed the couple’s plans

Andy Hill, a music industry entrepreneur, discovered the island during a kayaking trip on the Thames organized to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation.

As they passed by the building, he and Sheila observed the property’s state of disrepair.

Sheila, who studied at the Royal College of Art, considered that the residence could be restored despite the visible damage.

“This is very sad. We should do something,” she told her husband, according to Andy’s account of the moment they saw the place.

The property was not formally listed for sale at that time.

Nevertheless, the couple kept in touch with the representative of the then-owner and followed the situation for about a year.

The negotiation was concluded in 2021.

To undertake the project, they also drew on the experience of family members connected to architecture.

The couple’s daughter and son-in-law are involved in the plans for the recovery and reorganization of the spaces, while the island continues to be used as a family residence.

Instead of downsizing the house, Andy and Sheila sold the property in Richmond and moved to a building with 13 bedrooms, a ballroom, large reception areas, and gardens surrounded by the river.

The couple started sharing their domestic routine with workers, construction materials, dust, and structural interventions.

Mansion was built by businessman linked to the Savoy

The history of the island helps explain the scale of the restoration work.

Richard D’Oyly Carte, a British theater and hotel entrepreneur, bought the riverfront land around 1890, when the place was still known as Folly Eyot.

Carte became known for producing the comic operas created by playwright W. S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan.

He was also behind the Savoy Theatre and the construction of the Savoy Hotel in London.

The businessman intended to transform the island into an extension of the hotel, with guest transportation via the river.

The commercial project did not advance after local authorities rejected a license for the sale of alcoholic beverages on the site.

Subsequently, Carte built the Eyot House for residential use and to host guests.

Completed at the end of the 19th century, the mansion featured 13 bedrooms, five bathrooms, a ballroom, and entertainment areas.

The island also has dozens of docking points for boats.

The house hosted artists, entrepreneurs, and members of British society of the time.

Gilbert and Sullivan were among the visitors associated with the property, which functioned as a space for socializing and private musical performances.

After the death of Richard D’Oyly Carte in 1901, the land went through different owners and uses.

The mansion even operated as a hotel, nightclub, and apartment complex before returning to being a private residence.

Over the decades, the lack of maintenance compromised parts of the structure.

The house was left unoccupied, suffered acts of vandalism, and was illegally occupied before being acquired by the Hills.

Dome required curved glass and specialized work

One of the most visible problems was at the top of the construction.

The glass dome over the main corridor had been broken, allowing rainwater to enter the house and reach the lower floors.

The restoration required the manufacture and installation of three layers of curved glass.

The service needed to reproduce the shape of the cover while reestablishing the building’s sealing.

The gardens presented another challenge.

Thorny bushes and vines had grown several meters, making access to parts of the land difficult.

The work included cleaning, pruning, path recovery, and reorganization of areas designated for visitors.

At the end of the island, an old building linked to boat storage and maintenance was converted into D’Oyly’s, an establishment that functions as a café, bar, and creperie.

The location offers access both by the walkway and by the river, although availability for boats depends on mooring points.

For the 2026 season, the café reopened on April 15, according to the island’s official website.

The space serves visitors without the need for a reservation and operates with different hours during the week and on weekends.

Opening occurs while works continue

The transformation did not mean the complete conclusion of the renovation.

The property’s website itself states that Eyot House continues to be restored, while certain areas of the island host activities open to the public.

In addition to the café, the location now offers pilates, yoga, and other wellness practices.

The owners also host private events and maintain mooring points for boats on the Thames.

Land access is via a narrow walkway built over the river.

The bridge connects the property to the nearby Weybridge bank and allows pedestrian circulation, although the logistics of large events require specific emergency planning.

Before expanding the schedule, those responsible had to present safety measures to local authorities.

Among the requirements were evacuation routes, crowd control, and procedures to remove people from the island in case of emergency.

Andy stated that he invested about £35,000 in the necessary adaptations to meet the conditions imposed on the event.

The authorization for the concerts was granted after the inclusion of evacuation plans.

Concerts restore the island’s connection with music

The cultural program was inspired by the property’s original use, designed to bring together guests and musicians.

The first public concerts of the new phase took place in 2023, and the schedule was expanded in the following years.

In 2024, the organizers reported that six performances held over three days attracted approximately 6,000 people.

Part of the program was dedicated to the works of Gilbert and Sullivan, while other shows featured contemporary repertoires.

The 2026 edition took place between July 1 and 5, with daytime and nighttime performances.

According to the organization, all sessions were sold out.

The program included musical tributes, jazz, soul, Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire, and family-oriented activities.

Despite the increase in visitation, the house remains the residence of the Hills.

The couple’s three children and three grandchildren frequent the property, which also hosts family gatherings and birthday parties.

Andy stated that the initial goal was to create a space to gather relatives.

As the project progressed, the couple began to combine the residential function with cultural and commercial use of some areas.

Princess Anne followed the restoration

The project received a visit from Princess Anne on February 7, 2025, during the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company.

She visited parts of Eyot House and talked with professionals involved in the restoration of the mansion and gardens.

During the visit, the princess planted a cedar to replace a historic tree that had died.

She was also introduced to the property’s future plans and attended a performance based on the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire.

The restoration continues without a public deadline for completion.

Andy stated that the family decided to proceed in stages, without setting a final date for all interventions.

“If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said.