Fritton Lake

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Coordinates: 52°32′35″N 1°39′32″E / 52.543°N 1.659°E / 52.543; 1.659
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Catsmeat (talk | contribs) at 15:48, 18 September 2017 (Added bit about duck hunting. Removed some excessive detail aboout DD tanks, as it's all in the DD tank article that's been linked to.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Fritton Lake is a lake in the English county of Norfolk. It is a popular local tourist attraction located south-west of Great Yarmouth and north-west of Lowestoft on the Norfolk–Suffolk border.[1]

The lake was previously used for large-scale hunting of ducks using duck decoys - artificial water channels covered with net-tunnels, which ducks would be encouraged to swim down using dogs or food. At one point, 21 such channels were in operation around the lake, four remained in operation in 1918.[2]

During World War 2, a secret training facility was located at Fritton Lake. 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.[3] The site remained in Military use into the early 1950s as part of the Specialised Armoured Development Establishment[4] during which further amphibious experiments and trials were undertaken.

Fritton Lake is a very popular tourist attraction, containing the Fritton Arms, Fritton Lake Outdoor Centre, Lakeside Riding Stables and Fritton Lake Woodland Lodges. There is a Pay and Display Car Park adjacent to the Fritton Arms, and visitors may enjoy use of the play ground and lakeside walks as part of their admission. Further activities are available through the Outdoor Centre, such as Boat and Canoe hire, rope walks, bike hire and golf.

The Fritton Lake Triathlon includes an open water swim in the lake.[5]

References

  1. ^ Somerleyton | Fritton Lake Activities in Suffolk, UK
  2. ^ Whitaker, J. (1918). British duck decoys of today, 1918. London : Burlington Pub. Co. pp. 73–75.
  3. ^ http://www.somerleyton.co.uk/downloads/FrittonLake_DuplexDriveAmphibiousTanks.pdf
  4. ^ Public Record Office, Kew WO 341/184
  5. ^ Fritton Lake Triathlon,


External links

52°32′35″N 1°39′32″E / 52.543°N 1.659°E / 52.543; 1.659


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