Studley Lake
Work on Studley Lake is now complete. To look back and find out what happened at the Lake please click here, or watch the video below.
Studley Lake, part of the Studley Royal Water Garden, is being drained in order to inspect the dam. The lake is a reservoir and under the Reservoirs Act we are legally obliged to survey the lake dam; this last took place in 1984/85. We have secured planning permission for further conservation and restoration work we will carry out while the Lake is drained to restore it to its appearance as it was in 1781.
Studley Royal Water Garden is one of the most spectacular Georgian water gardens in the country, largely
contributing to the estate’s World Heritage Site status, granted in 1986.
Created by John Aislabie and his son William, work began in about 1716 and was
largely completed at John’s death in 1742, although its relationship to the wider
landscape, and hence its design, continued to evolve under William, who died in
1781.
The designed landscape was revolutionary for its time and is today celebrated
for its international importance to the development of garden design in the first
half of the 18 century.
Due to its international importance and in line with the World Heritage Site
management plan for the whole estate, Studley Royal has a management plan and
vision for its conservation: The aim is to reflect how the gardens would have
looked at the time of William Aislabie’s death in 1781.
The silt levels in the lake are now at unacceptable levels and have contributed
to the high levels of algal bloom that are produced throughout the year. The draining
of the lake will enable the removal of silt, which will help to rectify this problem
and enhance the habitat value and quality of the lake.
The need to drain the lake has provided the National Trust with an opportunity
to consider further conservation work on the lake's historic features including
the eastern carriageway and a gargoyle basin.
As part of this consideration research has shown that the island was not present
in 1781 and was actually installed as a result of 20 century dredging operations. The
photograph below shows the original grand vista across the lake and into the gardens. It
dates from the last quarter of the 19 century and is the earliest visual documentary
evidence available of how the water garden used to look.
It is the National Trust's aim, therefore to make the main restoration project
the reinstatement of Studley Royal Lake and its surrounds as one of the gardens
pivotal features and to reintroduce the impact of the grand panoramas as its creators
the Aislabies intended.
An independent company have been contracted to conduct environmental surveys
prior to any project work beginning. The results of these will form an environmental
report. To date nothing of any significance has been found through the survey
work undertaken.
Interpretation panels arepositioned around the lake describing the project and
an exhibition of the aims of the project and findings of surveys undertaken prior
to the commencement of works is housed in the Lakeside Exhibition room and will
be updated regularly until the project concludes.
By reinstating Studley Royal Lake and its surrounds as one of the gardens pivotal
features, the National Trust will be restoring a part of the history of the 18
century designed landscape which has been lost for generations.
These works will also continue the vision for the water garden - to reflect its
appearance as it was in 1781 - and will ensure that future generations will benefit
from the improvements to the cultural heritage experience of the estate via the
restoration and conservation of the extraordinary, unique 18 century designed
landscape.
