Monument record BRK 084 - Post-medieval linear lake or canal with an overflow pont at its north east end.

Linear lake or canal with an overflow pond at its NE end. Lake was formed by damming a small NE flowing stream. It is 150m long, slightly waisted in the middle (minimum 33m wide), widening to 48m at the S end, where there is a small island, approximately 14m in diameter. The 1:2500 and the 1:10000 maps show a foot-bridge joining the island to the S side, but this no longer (1992) exists. The 1:2500 map also shows a small round structure, 4m in diameter, in the centre of the island, but has also gone. The island is now tree-covered, but shows signs of having been a garden with some flowers and shrubs still surviving. A boat-house shown at the N. end of the lake on the 1:2500 map has also gone. The lake has a substantial stretch of open water, now used by wild fowl. The 1840 Tithe Map of Creeting St Mary (this area then belonged to that parish) shows that the lake belonged to Rebecca Alexander, the widow of Samuel Alexander, banker, of Goldrood in Belstead, but was occupied by her brother-in-law Thomas Maw, banker, of Needham Market (S1). The Alexander family were Quakers who founded a bank in Needham Market in 1744 (now taken over by Barclays Bank) with a later branch in Ipswich. The lake lies at the S end of a block of land owned by the Alexanders and they were presumably responsible for constructing it some time before 1840, most likely in the 18th century. The lake has some similarity to the early 18th century lake/canal at Abbots Hall, Stowmarket (SKT 016).