A gallery of photographs showing the lake at various levels
This view from the dam looking towards the Keepers Cottage and the old boathouse, now the clubhouse. The lake was drained down to this tiny puddle so that the wooden and iron valve mechanism, located in about the centre of the dam, could be replaced. It is still in operation today ! Another picture from 1934 click..... here Go Back
Twenty years later, this photograph shows the lake full to overflowing. A steam train puffs its way towards Birmingham in the background and in the distance are the Lickey Hills, the source of much of our water. The dinghies are National 12's and the boat to the right, No.4, is sailed by Gordon and Rosalie Britton. They went on to win the event and the entrance fees of half a crown (12.5p) per boat were paid to them as their prize!
The rails in the foreground ran down from the old boathouse, now our clubhouse and this view is towards the north east. Perch bank is very visible and has a quite different shape to today. I estimate that the water level is a good 3.5 metres below full in this 1959 photo'.
Looking to the north east again from the Optimist beach during 2003 Junior training summer session. The water level is about 1.7 metres below full.
This photograph was taken at the Lark open meeting in May 2004. Looking north east from the lawn in front of the Keepers cottage and showing the recently installed Fishing Club pontoon. The level is right to the top being about 6 inches below ground level on the dinghy parking area that can be seen to the left middleground. Go Back
We were lucky in 2004, here we see a photo' of the clubhouse taken from the Fishing pontoon with just completed replacement panorama window, the lake is still full and it is now December. The level hardly dropped during the whole season.
Now to 2006 and this dramatic shot was taken during the Junior Training session held in August. The level was about 1.8 metres down by then, perch bank not quite visible with only a few inches covering it. We were hopeful that as soon as the bank holiday use of the canal was past that British Waterways would close their pesky valve and let the lake start the slow filling process. Not to be this year it seems....