Fritton Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fritton Lake |
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View across Fritton Decoy The view is southwesterly towards Ashby Warren, May 2008
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 Fritton Lake
Location in Norfolk
Fritton Lake
Location in England
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| Location | Norfolk and Suffolk, England |
| Coordinates | 52°32′35″N 1°39′32″E / 52.543°N 1.659°E |
Fritton Lake is a beautiful lake located right on the border of two English counties: Norfolk and Suffolk. It's close to the towns of Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. Part of the lake is managed by a private club, which is owned by the Somerleyton Estate.
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Fritton Lake's Fascinating History
Fritton Lake has a very long and interesting past. It might have existed even before the Middle Ages. However, people made it much larger during medieval times.
Digging for Peat and Catching Ducks
In the Middle Ages, people dug out the lake to get something called 'peat'. Peat is like very old, squashed plant material. People used to burn it as fuel for their homes.
Later, Fritton Lake became known as a 'duck decoy'. This was a special place designed to catch many ducks at once. People built narrow water channels around the lake. These channels had nets covering them. Dogs or food would lead ducks into these channels. The ducks would then get trapped at the end. At one point, there were 21 of these clever channels around the lake! Four of them were still in use as late as 1918.
Secret Training in World War 2
During World War 2, Fritton Lake was home to a secret training base. Its main purpose was to train tank crews to use special 'DD tanks'. These were amazing tanks that could float and move in water, like boats! They were amphibious versions of British Valentine Tanks and American Sherman tanks.
Between April 1943 and May 1944, soldiers from Britain, America, and Canada came to Fritton Lake. They learned how to drive and operate these unique tanks in the water. One of these training tanks actually sank during an exercise and is still at the bottom of the lake today! The site continued to be used by the military into the early 1950s for more water-based experiments with armored vehicles.
What Can You Do at Fritton Lake Today?
Today, Fritton Lake is a popular spot with lots of things to see and do.
You can find several attractions nearby:
- The Fritton Arms is a large pub with outdoor areas.
- The Fritton Lake Outdoor Centre offers many activities.
- Lakeside Riding Stables lets you enjoy horse and pony riding.
- You can also find Fritton Lake Woodland Lodges for places to stay.
Visiting the Lake
There is a Pay and Display Car Park right next to the Fritton Arms pub. Visitors pay a small fee at an entry kiosk. This allows them to use the playground and enjoy walks along the lakeside, which are well-kept.
Activities at the Outdoor Centre
The Outdoor Centre offers many fun activities, which usually have a separate charge:
- You can rent boats and canoes to explore the lake.
- There are exciting rope walks and zipwires for adventure.
- You can hire bikes to cycle around the area.
- There is also a golf course for those who enjoy the sport.
Events at Fritton Lake
Fritton Lake hosts special events, like the Fritton Lake Triathlon. This event includes a swimming race in the lake.
Important Safety Note: The lake owners have warned that swimming in the lake without supervision is dangerous and is not allowed. This is because there are unseen reeds in some parts of the lake that can be a hazard.
