Bomere Pool facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bomere Pool |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Bomere Pool
Location in Shropshire
|
|
| Location | Shropshire, England |
| Coordinates | 52°40′N 2°44′W / 52.667°N 2.733°W |
| Type | Mere, oligotrophic |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Surface area | 10.3 ha (25 acres) |
| Max. depth | 15.2 m (50 ft) |
Bomere Pool is a big lake located in Shropshire, England. It sits between the villages of Bayston Hill and Condover. This lake is about 4.7 miles (7.5 kilometres) south of Shrewsbury, the main town in the county.
Bomere Pool is very special! It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This means it's a really important natural place. It's the most "oligotrophic" (nutrient-poor) body of water in the Shropshire-Cheshire area.
Even though it used to be open to everyone, Bomere Pool and the woods around it are now privately owned. It's used as a center for towed water sports, like water skiing. There is still a public path near the northern side of the lake that people can use. Some people also live in flats nearby.
Contents
History of Bomere Pool
How Bomere Pool Was Formed
About 18,000 years ago, huge sheets of ice covered much of Shropshire. This was during the last Ice Age. When the ice melted, large blocks of ice were left behind. These blocks were often surrounded by gravel and clay from the melting glaciers.
As these ice blocks finally melted, the ground above them collapsed. This created deep holes or dips in the land. These holes are called 'Kettle Holes'. They had no way for water to drain out. So, they filled up with water and became steep-sided lakes. In Shropshire, these lakes are often called "meres." If a hole filled with clay and peat, it became a moss bog. Bomere Pool is a great example of a kettle hole mere.
People and Bomere Pool Through Time
Humans have used Bomere Pool for thousands of years. Archaeologists have found signs of an old settlement from the Iron Age near the southeast side of the lake.
About 2,000 years ago, a large Roman army camp was built here. There was also a civilian village next to it. People say that Shropshire's oldest ghost can be seen here. It's a Roman soldier looking for his lover. She was lost in a sudden flood. He appears on Easter Day, but only when Easter falls on the same day it did when he died.
Bomere Pool in Books
The famous novelist Mary Webb wrote about Bomere Pool in her book Precious Bane. She called it Sarn Mere in the story. Mary Webb lived nearby when she wrote the book.
Bomere Pool also appeared in some detective novels. These were the medieval stories about Brother Cadfael by the writer Ellis Peters.
Recent Changes at Bomere Pool
From the 1960s to the 1980s, Bomere Pool was a popular place. Local families would visit on hot summer days. They would swim and eat at a small cafe. There was also a free squash court and a pub open to everyone.
In 1986, something amazing was found! A woman walking near the pool discovered bones. They belonged to a woolly mammoth and three baby mammoths. They were found in a nearby bog.
Bomere Pool Today
In 1989, the ownership of Bomere Pool changed. The lake, beach, and other facilities were closed to the public. Now, only residents, members, and guests of a private Wakeboard & Water Skiing Club can use the pool. They use it for water sports all year round.
The only public access is a path near the northern side of the lake. The pool itself covers about 25 acres (100,000 m2). It is surrounded by a quiet forest of about 125 acres (0.51 km2). This woodland used to be part of a Royal hunting forest. The old pub has now been changed into private flats.
