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Connaught Water

The construction of this eight-acre ornamental lake started in 1883. It was enlarged in 1893 and the two islands made. Before this transformation, the area consisted of a small swampy pool fed by the drainage from Hill Wood, Fairmead Bottom and Thicket. The aim of the Conservators in the early days was to drain the Forest to improve it for Commoners' cattle and to increase access safely.

The new lake was named after the newly appointed first Ranger of the Forest, the Duke of Connaught. The catchment area of Connaught Water is the woodland and plains northwards to High Beach from where the water is concentrated into two streams entering at the NE and NW corners of the lake.