Fritton Lake: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description| A lake in Norfolk, England}} |
{{Short description| A lake in Norfolk, England}} |
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{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=August 2022}} |
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{{Infobox body of water |
{{Infobox body of water |
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| name = Fritton Lake |
| name = Fritton Lake |
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The lake may be pre-medieval but was largely dug in medieval times to extract [[peat]] for burning.<ref name=judgment/><ref name="NorfolkHeritage"/> It came into use as a [[Duck decoy (structure)|duck decoy]], a site designed for the large-scale hunting of [[waterfowl]].<ref name="NorfolkHeritage">{{cite web |url=http://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF13527-Fritton-Lake-or-Decoy&Index=12724&RecordCount=56734 |website=Norfolk Heritage Explorer. |title=NHER Number:13527|publisher=Norfolk Historic Environment Service }}</ref> Artificial water channels covered with net-tunnels were constructed around the lake. Ducks would be encouraged to swim down the channels using dogs or food and would be trapped on reaching the end. At one point, 21 such channels were in operation around the lake, four remained in operation in 1918.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/britishduckdecoy00whitiala |title=British duck decoys of today, 1918 |pages=73–75|last=Whitaker |first=J. |date=1918 |publisher=London : Burlington Pub. Co.}}</ref> |
The lake may be pre-medieval but was largely dug in medieval times to extract [[peat]] for burning.<ref name=judgment/><ref name="NorfolkHeritage"/> It came into use as a [[Duck decoy (structure)|duck decoy]], a site designed for the large-scale hunting of [[waterfowl]].<ref name="NorfolkHeritage">{{cite web |url=http://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF13527-Fritton-Lake-or-Decoy&Index=12724&RecordCount=56734 |website=Norfolk Heritage Explorer. |title=NHER Number:13527|publisher=Norfolk Historic Environment Service }}</ref> Artificial water channels covered with net-tunnels were constructed around the lake. Ducks would be encouraged to swim down the channels using dogs or food and would be trapped on reaching the end. At one point, 21 such channels were in operation around the lake, four remained in operation in 1918.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/britishduckdecoy00whitiala |title=British duck decoys of today, 1918 |pages=73–75|last=Whitaker |first=J. |date=1918 |publisher=London : Burlington Pub. Co.}}</ref> |
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During the Second World War, a secret training facility was located at Fritton Lake. Its purpose was to train tank crews of [[DD tank]]s – amphibious versions of British [[Valentine Tank]]s and American-made [[Sherman tank]]s. Between April 1943 and May 1944 British, American, and Canadian units came to Fritton Lake to be trained in the use of these tanks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.somerleyton.co.uk/downloads/FrittonLake_DuplexDriveAmphibiousTanks.pdf |title= |
During the Second World War, a secret training facility was located at Fritton Lake. Its purpose was to train tank crews of [[DD tank]]s – amphibious versions of British [[Valentine Tank]]s and American-made [[Sherman tank]]s. Between April 1943 and May 1944 British, American, and Canadian units came to Fritton Lake to be trained in the use of these tanks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.somerleyton.co.uk/downloads/FrittonLake_DuplexDriveAmphibiousTanks.pdf |title=Duplex Drive Amphibious Tanks at Fritton Lake |access-date=2014-05-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506024519/http://www.somerleyton.co.uk/downloads/FrittonLake_DuplexDriveAmphibiousTanks.pdf |archive-date=2014-05-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref> One tank that sank during training remains in the lake.<ref name="NorfolkHeritage" /> The site remained in military use into the early 1950s as part of the Specialised Armoured Development Establishment,<ref>Public Record Office, Kew WO 341/184</ref> during which further amphibious experiments and trials were undertaken. The waterline was raised in 1954 by the building up of a weir.<ref name=judgment>{{cite web|url=http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2003/198.html |title=Green v Lord Somerleyton & Ors [2003] EWCA Civ 198 (28 February 2003) |publisher=Bailii.org |date= |accessdate=2022-09-07}}</ref> |
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==Current uses and amenity== |
==Current uses and amenity== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110527211225/http://www.somerleyton.co.uk/explore/fritton_lake.php Fritton Lake tourism website] |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110527211225/http://www.somerleyton.co.uk/explore/fritton_lake.php Fritton Lake tourism website] |
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140506024519/http://www.somerleyton.co.uk/downloads/FrittonLake_DuplexDriveAmphibiousTanks.pdf] |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140506024519/http://www.somerleyton.co.uk/downloads/FrittonLake_DuplexDriveAmphibiousTanks.pdf Duplex Drive Amphibious Tanks at Fritton Lake] |
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* [http://www.duplexdrivetanks.co.uk Duplex Drive Tank Website] |
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{{authority control}} |
{{authority control}} |
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Latest revision as of 19:13, 3 April 2024
| Fritton Lake | |
|---|---|
 View across Fritton Decoy The view is southwesterly towards Ashby Warren, May 2008 | |
  Fritton Lake  Fritton Lake | |
| Location | Norfolk and Suffolk, England |
| Coordinates | 52°32′35″N 1°39′32″E / 52.543°N 1.659°E |
Fritton Lake or Fritton Decoy is a lake on the border of the English counties of Norfolk and Suffolk close to the towns of Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. It is located within the parishes of Fritton and St Olaves and Somerleyton, Ashby and Herringfleet. A private member's club operates on the Fritton side of the lake, owned by the Somerleyton Estate.[1]
Peter Scott lived in a cottage rented from 2nd Lord Somerleyton on the north bank of Fritton Lake during the 1930s.
Past uses[edit]
The lake may be pre-medieval but was largely dug in medieval times to extract peat for burning.[2][3] It came into use as a duck decoy, a site designed for the large-scale hunting of waterfowl.[3] Artificial water channels covered with net-tunnels were constructed around the lake. Ducks would be encouraged to swim down the channels using dogs or food and would be trapped on reaching the end. At one point, 21 such channels were in operation around the lake, four remained in operation in 1918.[4]
During the Second World War, a secret training facility was located at Fritton Lake. Its purpose was to train tank crews of DD tanks – amphibious versions of British Valentine Tanks and American-made Sherman tanks. Between April 1943 and May 1944 British, American, and Canadian units came to Fritton Lake to be trained in the use of these tanks.[5] One tank that sank during training remains in the lake.[3] The site remained in military use into the early 1950s as part of the Specialised Armoured Development Establishment,[6] during which further amphibious experiments and trials were undertaken. The waterline was raised in 1954 by the building up of a weir.[2]
Current uses and amenity[edit]
Adjoining are a range of attractions:
- The Fritton Arms, a large pub with outdoor areas (open to members and their guests and paying holidaymakers only)
- Fritton Lake Woodland Lodges.[1]
- Admittance
Fritton Lake is a private members' club and holiday resort; non-members are not admitted other than as guests of members, or as holidaymakers staying in the retreats on site.
Events[edit]
Fritton Lake Triathlon includes an open-water swim in the lake. Unseen reeds in parts of the lake mean that unsupervised swimming has been flagged by the owners as dangerous and forbidden.[7][1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Somerleyton.co.uk | Fritton Lake Activities in Suffolk, UK Archived 2011-05-27 at the Wayback Machine website of the owning group, related to Lord Somerleyton seated at nearby Somerleyton Hall.
- ^ a b "Green v Lord Somerleyton & Ors [2003] EWCA Civ 198 (28 February 2003)". Bailii.org. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
- ^ a b c "NHER Number:13527". Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
- ^ Whitaker, J. (1918). British duck decoys of today, 1918. London : Burlington Pub. Co. pp. 73–75.
- ^ "Duplex Drive Amphibious Tanks at Fritton Lake" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-05-06. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
- ^ Public Record Office, Kew WO 341/184
- ^ "Fritton Lake Triathlon,". Archived from the original on 2011-02-06. Retrieved 2011-04-06.