Todays blip is of Pickmere Lake, as kids we used to hop into my Dads Ford Prefect (black car with big wheel arches and the indicators were little reflective stalks the popped out of the side) and head for a picnic on hot sunny sundays. Pickmere used to have a permanent fairground, rowing and little put put motor boats plus a cruise boat for the less energetic. It was not uncommon for visitors to be queuing all the way back to Tabley along Pickmere Lane @ 2 miles, especially at Bank Holidays. The mere are would be heaving with kids paddling and swimming in the mere watching out for Pike fish in the area (our bogey men).
Walking round it brought back great memories will have to bring the grandkids up here soon.

Pickmere was named after Hugh de Pikemere, a knight rewarded for loyalty by Edward I who had helped by fighting the Welsh and building Beaumaris castle.
Cheshire meres were created as a result of subsidence thousands of years ago or more recently called flashes as a result of salt mining subsidance. The mere at Pickmere was apparently formed when three pits created by subsidence flooded together reaching a depth of 40ft in places. The sudden changes in water depth and temperature can be very dangerous for the unwary and nowadays your not allowed to swim or boat in the mere.
The Cheetham family ran the Pickmere Boating Company for more than 60 years until they retired in 1990. When they retired the new owners let the rowing boats and little motor boats fall into decay and the cruise launch, Princess Irene, was sunk in the middle of the lake. Jet skies and motor boats used the mere in the 90's until the company went bust and the Co-Op bank did a deal with the parish council to change its use to part residential and public open spaces, the caravan site on the edge of the lake has moved back and we're left with great views of the mere. The only use today is by Sale Moor Angling Club.