Lindholme Lakes lie on the border of South
Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in the uniquely insular area of the Isle
of Axholme. The market town of Epworth home of John and Charles
Wesley, founders of Methodism, is four miles to the east.
The area is on the eastern boundary of Hatfield Chase, once the
great hunting estate of the Stuart kings. Prior to c17 much of the
chase was subject to flooding from the rivers Don and Idle and was
a morass of peat bog resulting from the decomposition of aquatic
plants and moss following the felling of great forest trees. Cornelius
Vermuyden, a Dutch-man, was brought over by Charles I to effect
drainage of the land. Feuds developed between his workers who settled
at Sandtoft and the Isleonians whose living of wildfowling and fishing
appeared threatened.
The River Idle was re-routed. Marl front the dried up length
of the river bed was dug and spread on the now drained peat land
to make it suitable for arable farthing. In the mid 1850's flooding
took place and Lindholme Lake was formed.
The smaller lake was created during file winter of 1984-85 from
inclines which led into the main lake and other non-productive
land.
The lake margins support a great deal of wild life with a variety
of water birds, visiting species and game. Many wild flowers and
plants will also hold the attention of visiting anglers and we
ask that all care be taken to protect this environment.
