 The residents petitioned Middlesex County Council in 1930, requesting to be transferred from Middlesex to Surrey.The island was finally transferred from the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London to Esher Urban District, Surrey on 1 April 1970.For many centuries the island formed part of the lands of the Manor of Imworth (Imber) appurtenant to land that became Forde's Farm and later Boyle Farm.