Richard D'Oyly Carte was a London theatre impresario who brought together dramatist WS Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan. A key theatreland figure in the latter part of the Victorian era. The Simon Cowell of his era!
Private Island
The island was called Folly Eyot until the eponymous owner bought it. Richard D'Oyly Carte was the producer of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas from 1875 to 1896, founder of the Savoy Theatre and Royal English Opera House (now the Palace Theatre) in London, and a hotelier. D’Oyly Carte build the Savoy Hotel and owned several others including Claridge’s.
He is understood to have bought the island in around 1890, quickly replacing its Folly Eyot title with his name. After buying the plot he began building the giant property, which has 13 bedrooms, a grand ballroom 5 bathrooms, 40 boat moorings and, on the mainland parking for 40 cars.
Eyot House is currently being restored to the standard expected by its former owner, Richard D’Oyly Carte, who hosted his Savoy Hotel guests and his celebrity musicians for drink, food and entertainment.
To keep up to date with the refurbishment and exciting future projects please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Richard D'Oyly Carte
The original purpose of the house was to be a boutique hotel for weekend entertainment for D’Oyly Carte’s Savoy guests and celebrity musicians. However, the refusal of a drinking license by the local authority was never going to thwart the entrepreneurial Richard D’Oyly Carte who nominated the house as his residence and invited the Savoy guests and his celebrity musicians for drink, food and entertainment. Many wild parties and musical performances were enjoyed much to the frustration of the local authority!
He is understood to have bought the island in around 1890, quickly replacing its Folly Eyot title with his name. After buying the plot he began building the giant property, which has 13 bedrooms, a grand ballroom 5 bathrooms, 40 boat moorings and, on the mainland parking for 40 cars.
In its pomp the house was visited by many of D'Oyly Carte's famous friends, including Gilbert and Sullivan. The duo are responsible for an array of great operas that are still performed today, including The Mikado, HMS Pinafore and The Pirates of Penzance.
It is difficult to appreciate the significance of this Victorian trio. In the 1890’s Sir William Gilbert, Sir Arthur Sullivan and Richard D’Oyly Carte were as famous, talented and celebrated as Adele, Ed Sheeran and Simon Cowell are today!
This musical heritage will be preserved with a limited number of intimate performances in the grand ballroom hosted and produced by D’Oyly Carte Music.
Entertainment
D’Oyly Carte Island was the weekend retreat for many of D’Oyly’s famous hotel guests and clients, among them, J.M Barrie who is best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan.
'So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever'..on D'Oyly Carte Island!
As J.M. Barrie made regular acquaintance with the Croc, It can be fairly assumed that D'Oyly's beloved pet may well have been the inspiration for the crocodile in Peter Pan.
The Crocodile, J.M Barrie and Peter Pan
In the Victorian era, the rich and the famous where known to have exotic pets, Richard D'Oyly Carte owned a 2 foot long crocodile on D'Oyly carte island.
In mid June 1897 the crocodile escaped from the island and was reported to been seen disporting itself. D'Oyly Carte offered a reward for capturing and returning the crocodile, just £250 (in todays money).
After an estimated 20-30 days later, the crocodile was captured in a net and it was returned to Richard D'Oyly Carte on D'Oyly Carte Island.
This was covered on the evening newspaper St James Gazette as seen on the left.
D'Oyly Carte commissioned a charming wooden sculpture of his crocodile be carved to be housed in one of the window alcoves at the front of Eyot House, where he resides happily to this day.
A Crocodile in the Thames
The sunken pool that housed the crocodile is located at the rear of the island, behind the back garden. The step is what the crocodile would have used to enter and exit the water.Our plans are to refurbish and restore the pool in memory of D'Oyly's reptilian boon companion (also to accommodate any visiting crocodiles in the years to come).
Whether the island will welcome such an exotic permanent resident in the future, however, is yet to be decided...
The Crocodile enclosure
The late Melvyn Tarran owned the biggest collection of Gilbert & Sullivan Memorabilia in the world, and it is being moved to D'Oyly Carte Island. We're delighted to bring you his collection for you to enjoy.
