The lake was designed by Lancelot (Capability) Brown as part of a landscaping design commissioned by Earl John Spencer in 1765, the lake and its surroundings are Grade II heritage landscape. The 30-acre lake was constructed from a marshy stream with a dam wall built across the valley retaining the mass of water. 

In 1896, John Enright became the Distance Fly-Casting Champion of the World at the Lake, and an all-England version of this event was held at the Lake in 1951.

The lake back in the early 1970’s had a mass of Lilly pads down towards what is known as Billy’s yard where the fish could shelter and back then the lake had health fish stocks with anglers catching mixed bags of fish as it was really a pleasure fishery for all members to enjoy.

If we fast forward to present day most of the Lily pads have disappeared, and fish stocks have been heavily depleted by constant pollution incidents and the influx of cormorants coming inland to feed. The predominant species in the lake now are carp and bream with the odd tench.

When the club renews its lease, we will be looking at trying to reverse what has happened to the lake in the past and we will try and bring it back to its former glory. The club needs to acquire the CEFAS license for restocking along with working the biodiversity of the lake to improve the habitat. This would mean reintroducing the Lily pads and have some areas for safe haven for the fish.

Over the last decade the lake has struggled with weed growth and this year we plan to get on top of this by cutting the weed but also leaving weeded areas for fish and other invertebrates to thrive as this is an important part of balancing the lake itself.

There are 32 swims on the lake at present, but this may change depending on how big the weir/over flow will be when all repairs to the dam wall on the park bank are completed when the work commences in the autumn of 2021. This work is due to be completed by January 2022. After the completion the club would be looking to restock providing the CEFAS licence has been obtained by then.

The lake is made up of a very silty bottom as the sediment has probably been there since the lake was constructed which in turn has seen the lake level rise making the general water table higher. In the autumn of 2021, it is expected that repairs to the dam wall and weir will commence with completion due early 2022.

Once the CEFAS licence is granted the club would be looking to restock with a variety of silver fish which will include Roach, Rudd, Bream, Gudgeon, tench and Trout, all of which were native to the lake. We will also be looking to introduce a new strain of mirror carp so in years to come the lake will be able to sustain the balance itself providing we do not suffer too many pollution incidents and cormorant decimation of stock levels.