On The Pond 6 - Carterslodge Pond

I was lucky to photograph this pond as by the time I got there, rain was beginning and having had a dry bright morning this as my last port of call.

Carterslodge Pond lies on the SE edge of St Leonards Forest. It has an area of approximately 3.574 acres and two streams feed it. One is at the head of it and one is just to the extreme right on a small arm of the lake. The stream and the valley it is in is called Darkalley Gill which I think is a great name! The dam or bay is longish and quite high with the outfall producing quite a good waterfall today. The pond is fished by the local Angling Society. In 1875 according to map evidence there was a boat house at the top of the lake on the right hand side. It was still there is 1897 by which time the pond had received an overflow and was marked as being for fish. The wood on the right has the curious name of Dropstones. By the otfall of the pond is a row of concrete cubes that date from World War II. These I think were anti tank defences. They were probably put there at a time when the lane was more important than now as it is a footpath and private lane. This is probaly the favourite pond in St Leonards Forest as it is one of the least known.