Welcome to Discover Lakeside - Doncaster Carr
Please select your trail:
Doncaster Carr – 1771 map
Doncaster Carr was situated on the land now used as the Lakeside Village. The land was split into holdings belonging to many local people, including the following:
Thomas Ellis, wine merchant, Alderman and Mayor of Doncaster endowed a charitable trust in 1557 as St Thomas’ Hospital. It was to provide “harbour for 6 decayed householders, being of good name and fame, who have fallen into poverty by reason of sickness, or other misfortune”.
The almshouses were in St. Sepulchre Gate and were replaced by a row of cottages in 1737. These were demolished in 1950 and new houses built on Goodison Boulevard in Cantley. The original gateway to the hospital was moved to the side of Doncaster Museum on Chequer Road, which is near the town centre.
Isabella Wrightson (1727-1784), the only surviving child and heiress of William Wrightson of Cusworth Hall married John Battie of Warmsworth Hall on 29 December 1748. The family held land at Doncaster Carr, as shown on the Enclosure map, which is available to view in the Local Studies Library.
The world famous Doncaster Carr railway workshops are also located here.
Moorhens and Doncaster Lakeside
Moorhens (Gallinula Chloropus) are a familiar sight at the Lakeside, particularly near the reed beds and lake edge bushes. They are smaller than Coots and can be distinguished by their red and yellow-tipped beaks. Their feet are not fully webbed like ducks, but are lobed (frilly) to allow them to use their long toes to clamber around and even roost in bushes and reeds.
They feed on water weed, seeds, berries, small fish, worms, insects, spiders and snails. The Lakeside Moorhens nest and rear young every year in the reed beds.
The content of this trail has been developed by the Doncaster Lakeside Wildlife Action Group. Visit their website at: http://lakesidewildlifeactiongroup.weebly.com/ or follow them on Twitter @WildlifeLakeDN4.
Question
What type of birds can you see on the lake?
Answer:
Coots, Ducks, Swans, Grebes, Gulls, Moorhens