La Mare de Carteret

Another wet and cold day, but at least we don't have the snow that they are enduring on the mainland.
As the name suggests La Mare de Carteret was once marshland and there was a large lake there from which it was possible to catch eels and carp. In the 17th century drains were installed to reduce the level of water. The fourth Lord de Saumarez constructed a canal by enlarging the ditches so that his children and their friends could row down to the sea ! Apparently it was a tough job to keep the canal clear of the encroaching reeds and care also had to be taken at high tides so that sea water did not return up the canal and flood the lake. When the land was purchased by the States of Guernsey it was initially let as farmland, but it was then decided to build a school on it and playing fields. Much of the canal was filled in, but a good length of it still exists behind the school, this picture showing one section.