What island was previously called Formosa?
Spanish Formosa Spanish Formosa Spanish Formosa () was a small Spanish colony established in the northern tip of the island known to Europeans at the time as Formosa (now Taiwan) from 1626 to 1642. It was conquered by the Dutch in the Eighty Years War. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach the island off the southern coast of China in 1544, and named it "Formosa" (Portuguese for "beautiful") due to the beautiful landscape as seen from the sea. The Spanish colony was meant to protect the regional trade with the Philippines from interference by the Dutch base in the south
Formosa Island lock channel is Sashes Island and the channel furthest from Cookham is Hedsor Water, the original navigation channel, which was blocked by the weir in 1830 when the lock was opened, causing loss of trade to then owner Lord Boston. Formosa Island Formosa Island is an island in the River Thames in England at Cookham Lock near Cookham, Berkshire, with two smaller adjacent islands. The island is one of the largest on the non-tidal river Thames with of woodland. It can be reached by footbridge from Cookham. It is between two of the four channels in the river at Cookham,