The header image of the locations of the Boathouse and channel.

The red line indicates the approximate water level in the boathouse on the left and the overflow channel in the centre at the head of the Lake.

The fact that a lake used to exist just off the Garforth to Barwick in Elmet road, comes as a surprise to many, it was formed by containing the Cock Beck after it passed beneath the stone bridge on the road south of the present golf course [Garforth Golf Course]. It was drained in the early twentieth century due to fears of the water entering the nearby coal workings, [disused since the 1920's]. It was drained in more recent years after the sale of the estate in 1964, I am now reliably informed, so the story about the danger to the coal mines was a fiction! Sorry about that, but then at least you can change the text on the Internet!

It seems the dam wall, was breached using dynamite to let the lake contents surge down the valley of the Cock Beck, a sort of mini Sunami, I can read the headlines, Aberford hit by freak wave! The dam wall was sited in the deep cutting that exists beneath the folly. in the section marked A on the image below.

Key Plan of the Former Lake

Click here for a larger plan of the lake. I recommend opening the plan view alongside the main window if you have sufficient screen resolution to follow the various points covered about the former lake.

The plan shows five key areas of interest denoted A-E:
(A) The location of the folly, boathouse, waterfall, dam, overflow channel and two footbridges.
(B) Bridge over the eastern end of the lake.
(C) Promitory with feature crags and planted trees.
(D) Bridge over the Cock Beck at the start of the lake.
(E) Lakeside cottage on the south side of the lake.

Google Maps View

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Lakeside Cottage and Remnants of the Lake Structures

Only Lakeside Cottage remains intact! However pieces of the structures from (A) at the north of the lake, enable some conclusions to be drawn about this fascinating place.

Area Denoted by (A) on the Plan of the Lake

The Boathouse (1)

The boathouse, indicated by the red square, was at the edge of the man made overflow channel, the foundations of the boathouse can be seen in the animated picture below and further down the page is a sketch of how the scene looked back in the nineteenth century. The header picture is taken from approximately the same angle as the sketch.

Foundation area of Boathouse Today

Victorian Sketch of the Lake and Boathouse

Below is an extract from the 'Garforth Observer' circa 1884, kindly provided by the Garforth Historical Society.

The verse by J. P. H. (Unknown poet) is set out below:

			
THE BOAT HOUSE, PARLINGTON PARK.

Nestling amid o'er-arching trees
	The boat-house sleeps;
Lulled by the whis'pring of the breeze,
That steals like lovers' reveries,
Over the lake's calm, crystal deeps!

O! 'tis a lone and tranquil spot,
	where cowslips dwell;
And many a blue forget-me-not,
And many a bright and beautiful plot,
Of daisy, primrose, and harebell!

Wild hyacinths and woodbine sweet,
	Bloom all around;
It seems a place where fairies meet,
And trip the sward with aery feet,
While Oberon in sleep is drowned!

And bark! upon the ambient air,
	Low songs are welling;
That tell of joy which we can share
When all alone and floating there,
Upon the water's silent swelling!

Bright scenes in other lands that smile,
	I can recall;
But Parlington! thy lake and isle;
Thy waterfall and ruined pile,
To me are brighter than them all!

				J. P. H.

Click here for a larger view of the boathouse sketch.

Continued on Lake 2.

Former Lake Page on the old site