Caversham Lakes

Caversham Lakes is a set of lakes created through gravel extraction between the suburb of Caversham in Reading, Berkshire and the hamlet of Sonning Eye in Oxfordshire, just north of the River Thames.

Overview

The lakes are formed from former gravel pits in the floodplain of the River Thames. The company Lafarge and formerly Redland plc have undertake the gravel extraction though the Sonning Works. Caversham Lakes Trust Ltd has been set up to administer the lakes.[1]

Sport and leisure

The Thames and Kennet Marina is located here. The lakes are also used for sailing through Reading Sailing Club[2] and waterskiing through the Isis Waterski Club.[3][4] Princess Margaret and her husband Lord Snowdon waterskied here during the 1960s.[5] In addition, there is the opportunity for fishing.[6] More recently, the Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake has been created.[7][8]

Sonning Regatta has been held every two years since 2000 just upstream from Sonning Lock next to the lakes. The lakes have been used for the regatta when conditions were too bad on the river.

References

  1. ^ Annual Report and Accounts, 2008–2009, Caversham Lakes Trust Limited, Company number 4290188 (A subsidiary company of The English Sports Council).
  2. ^ "Some club history". Reading Sailing Club, UK. http://www.readingsc.org.uk/~archive.htm. Retrieved September 5, 2011. 
  3. ^ "Isis Waterski Club". 3 Round Inter Club Slalom. UK: Waterski-AZ.co.uk. 2001. http://www.waterski-az.co.uk/isis_rel.htm. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  4. ^ "ISIS". UK. http://www.isis.etondigital.com/. Retrieved September 8, 2011. 
  5. ^ "Focus on Sonning Water Skiing Club: Clearest Water in England?". British Water Skiing Championships Held at Sonning 1964. ISIS. 1964. http://www.isis.etondigital.com/british-water-ski-championships-held-sonning-1964. Retrieved September 5, 2011. 
  6. ^ Philps, Duncan. "Sonning Gravel Pit —Opportunity Knocks". Social and Specialist Angling, UK. http://www.sas-angling.org.uk/articles/sgp-opportunityknocks.html. Retrieved September 5, 2011. 
  7. ^ Pinsent and Redgrave open Caversham, British Rowing.
  8. ^ Stephen Redgrave visits Caversham Lakes, Sport England, UK.