Orchardleigh Lake

Orchardleigh Lake (also spelt Orchardlea) (grid reference ST779508) is an 11.23-hectare artificial lake in the grounds of the Orchardleigh Estate, just north of Frome, Somerset, England. It was formed by damming a tributary of the River Frome. Today, the lake is used for angling,[1] and also birdwatching.

Orchardleigh Lake
The smaller of the two lakes as seen from the island church
LocationSomerset
Coordinates51.25593°N 2.31807°W / 51.25593; -2.31807
Typeartificial lake
Basin countriesUnited Kingdom
Surface area11.23 ha (27.7 acres)
Islands1

There is a small island towards the western side of lake where St Mary's Church can be found. It was built in the 13th century, and underwent extensive renovation by Sir George Gilbert Scott, for the Rev. W. A. Duckworth, in 1878. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.[2] Its precise location is 51°15′28.36″N 2°19′33.28″W. Weddings are often performed at the church, which has capacity for 120 guests. It is linked from the mainland via a footbridge, and a public footpath runs nearby over another bridge across the lake.

Note that there are actually two lakes at Orchardleigh: the small lake overlooked by the island church, and a much larger one situated approximately 150 metres away through a wooded area to the East which has a stone-built boathouse.

Orchardleigh Lake birds

In 1932 a pair of black-necked grebes bred at the lake, the only occasion on which this species has been recorded breeding in Somerset. The lake regularly hosts small numbers of common waterfowl, including breeding little and great crested grebes and mute swan, and wintering tufted duck and pochard. Rarer species have occasionally been sighted:

  • Side view of the island church
  • Rear view of the island church

References
  1. "Fishing Information for the Frome Area". Frome Tourist Information Centre. Archived from the original (Word) on 2007-04-11. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  2. "Church of St. Mary, causeway bridge, and gates". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  3. "Rich's Photo page". CVL Birding. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
  • Fidele - a sentimental poem by Sir Henry Newbolt which mentions the lake island at Orchardleigh
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