Studley Lake
Studley Lake is in fact a reservoir which featured heavily in John Aislabies
original garden plan and it appears in a number of 18 Century paintings by Balthazar Nebot.
In 2009 the lake will be drained in order for the dam to be inspected and for
de-silting. As the lake is a reservoir we are legally obliged under the Reservoirs
Act to survey the lake dam yearly and more comprehensively when required by the
reservoir inspector. The dam was last comprehensively surveyed in 1987.
Whilst the lake is drained we are examining the possibility of removing silt,
which will improve the water quality immensely and benefit inhabitant wildlife
and wildfowl. As the lake is to be drained there are also exciting opportunities
for historical and cultural restoration projects, including the underwater areas
of the historical structures not normally visible.
This could become the most important historic and nature conservation project
opportunity on the estate for over 20 years.
