Heritage Fishing
A 1.3-acre medieval hammer pond and 1.6 acres of private ancient woodland. Fifteen hand-cleared platforms. One party at a time. Always.
At a Glance
- Exclusive hire only — the whole 7.1-acre lake estate, one party at a time, up to 6 anglers
- 15 platforms on a 1.3-acre medieval hammer pond · two rods per angler
- Carp to 24lb, tench, crucians, perch, bream, roach, rudd
- Day sessions from £140 · 24 hours from £250 · up to a full week
- Barbless, catch & release — EA rod licence required
The Full Lake Estate Is Yours
When you book a session at Bay Pond Shaw, you take the entire 7.1-acre Bay Pond area as a single private hire: the 1.3-acre medieval hammer pond, 1.6 acres of ancient woodland, the wildflower meadow, and the estate facilities. For the duration of your session, that enclosed natural environment is yours, and no one else’s.
The ancient woodland is not a backdrop — it is part of the fishing: root structures that hold fish along the margins, canopy that controls water temperature and surface food, and the quiet that makes a long session genuinely restorative.
There are no other anglers, no club members, no day visitors, and no estate staff moving through the area during your session. The gate is locked. The lake is yours.
Scarcity is not a marketing device at Bay Pond Shaw. It is an ecological requirement. The lake performs better — for its fish, its birds, and its water quality — when it is left largely undisturbed. Limited access is how that standard is maintained.
A Medieval Hammer Pond. Catchment-Fed. Unmanaged.
The hammer pond basin in its entirety — including marginal shallows, the deeper central channel, and margins thick with sedge, iris, and fern. Every square metre exclusively yours.
The lake is banked on three sides by ancient woodland — included in full with every session hire. Root features, overhanging canopy, old-growth atmosphere. Privately yours.
The lake is fed by several recorded springs at the head, recharged from the surrounding High Weald aquifer, and drains a 40-acre surface catchment. No mains supply, no artificial aeration, no chemical treatment.
The pond basin was formed in the medieval and post-medieval period by damming a natural gill stream to power the Wealden iron industry. It has held water continuously since.
The deepest point lies at the dam end — 6ft of open water over ancient silt. Shallowing to 2–3ft at the inlet head, where the springs enter and marginal vegetation is thickest.
The lake contains a natural island — an established feature that creates sheltered lies on its lee side and draws fish into the channel between island and bank. A key location for experienced anglers working the margins.
Water rising through the High Weald aquifer arrives cold, clean, and highly oxygenated — the conditions that produce a balanced food chain and well-conditioned fish that fight hard.
A Carefully Managed Mixed Fishery
The fishery has been stocked and tended by local fishing clubs for well over a century, with formal records of club tenancy dating to 1960 — a balanced, well-conditioned mixed community built patiently across generations, not bought in as an instant put-and-take water. The move to exclusive private hire preserves that heritage while removing the pressure of club-membership fishing. Stocking remains ongoing and actively managed.
Carp form the headline population, in good numbers and excellent condition — commons, mirrors, linears, ghosts, platinum commons, and grass carp, with fish to 24lb. Powerful, wary fish that reward patience and skill.
Tench are the characteristic species of this water. The rich organic marginal sediment and the dense aquatic vegetation along the eastern shore provide ideal conditions — and the tench here reflect that. Golden-flanked, deep-bodied, and powerful in their runs, they represent some of the finest traditional still-water fishing available on a private water of this type. The pre-dawn tench bite in late spring and early summer is the lake at its most compelling.
Perch hunt the snag features and root channels of the wooded margins, growing to noteworthy size in that cover. Bream work the deeper central basin in small shoals — patient evening groundbait fishing produces consistent quality — while roach, the reliable indicator of water quality in any ancient lake, are present throughout.
Crucian carp — increasingly rare in modern fisheries, entirely at home in the warm, weedy margins of a traditional hammer pond — reward the patient angler with delicate bites from the original English coarse fishing tradition. Rudd feed confidently on the surface film through the warmer months, taking floating baits on light tackle.
All fish are returned with care. Barbless hooks, unhooking mats, and catch-and-return are conditions of access — not requests. The fish population is not replaced when it is damaged. It is managed. That distinction is what maintains the quality of this water.
1.6 Acres of Private Ancient Woodland
Ancient woodland in England is defined as land that has been continuously wooded since at least 1600 AD — irreplaceable habitat that cannot be recreated on any human timescale. The 1.6 acres of ancient woodland banking the lake at Bay Pond Shaw are private, enclosed, and included without additional charge in every fishing session.
Fishing Features
Ancient root structures and overhanging canopy create natural snag and margin features that no constructed fishery can replicate — productive holding areas along the full northern and western shoreline.
Wildlife Corridor
The woodland is a functioning habitat corridor connecting the lake to the wider High Weald landscape. Kingfisher, heron, tawny owl, and resident woodland birds are a constant part of a session on this water. Significant bat foraging activity has been recorded over the lake margin on every summer evening.
Temperature & Light
The dense canopy moderates the lake’s surface temperature through summer, slows cooling in autumn, and creates the dappled, low-light conditions that move cautious fish into the margins at the edges of the day.
A Night in the Wood
On overnight sessions the estate after dark is part of the experience. No street lighting, no passing traffic — on clear nights the Milky Way is visible from the platforms. Tawny owls hunt the canopy edge; bats work the surface from first dark.
Fifteen Hand-Cleared Platforms
Each of the fifteen numbered platforms has been individually hand-cleared from the natural lakeshore — no mechanical excavation, no imported hard-standing — positioned to cover every principal feature the lake holds. Fish one platform or move freely between all fifteen: the lake is yours to read as you see fit.
Individually positioned to cover all principal lake features — deep-water channels, iris and sedge margins, woodland snag bays, the dam arm, and the open central basin. All 15 available to your party throughout the session.
A strict two-rod limit applies across the full session period. This is an ecological limit, not an arbitrary rule — it reflects the carrying capacity of this water under conservation management.
Sessions run from 24 hours up to a full week. Available formats: 24-hour, 2-day, 4-day, and 7-day week stays. All include full overnight access to the lake and woodland. Arrival and departure agreed at booking.
One party only, every session — day or overnight. Never shared, never membered. The estate does not double-book or operate shared access. When you are here, you are the only party here.
On-Site Estate Shelter
An estate shelter is included with all overnight and extended sessions, and available on day sessions subject to confirmation at booking. Sanitary facilities, eco-composting provision, and a secure lockable space for equipment. Shower and composting-toilet installation is currently being completed — current facility status is confirmed at the time of enquiry.
There are no shared amenities. The cabin is for the exclusive use of the session party only. It is positioned at a respectful distance from the waterline — close enough to be useful, far enough not to intrude on the environment.
No mains electricity — all power is low-voltage solar. No Wi-Fi. These are features, not limitations.
Anglers are responsible for all food and personal equipment. A full kit list is provided at the time of booking. The estate operates on a leave-no-trace basis — this applies to groundbait and hook lengths as much as it does to packaging.
Come Empty-Handed If You Prefer
A complete equipment hire package is available as an addition to any session booking. Rod and reel setups, landing net, unhooking mat, and bite alarms — matched to the conditions and species mix of this specific water, cleaned and prepared before each session.
Please request equipment hire at the time of your session enquiry. We will confirm availability and agree specification before your visit. Hired equipment must be returned clean and in the condition supplied.
Rod and reel setups — matched to lake conditions. Landing net and unhooking mat. Bite alarms. All terminal tackle appropriate to the session.
Anglers travelling light. Guests new to fishing. Anyone wanting to try the water before committing to personal equipment. Children fishing for the first time.
Equipment hire rates on request — confirmed at the time of booking.
Fish With Someone Who Knows This Water
Guided sessions are led by Daniel Wilmer-Brown — the estate owner who has studied this water’s ecology, fish behaviour, and seasonal patterns in detail. This is not an instructor on a commercial fishery. It is the owner of this specific lake, guiding you on his own water.
For groups of three or four, Magdalena Gutowska — co-owner of the estate — joins as a second guide, ensuring every angler in the group has dedicated, personal attention throughout the session.
All guided sessions include exclusive lake access, with tackle on loan at no charge. Full rates are listed below.
All guided sessions must be booked in advance. Availability is limited — enquire early, especially for weekend and peak season dates.
Guided Session Options
- ▸ Morning session — first light to midday. The most productive fishing period on most days.
- ▸ Full day — first light to dusk. Covers the full daily feeding pattern across all principal species.
- ▸ Introduction to fishing — specifically tailored for beginners or children. Includes all equipment, technique, and species identification.
- ▸ Species-specific — focused guidance on a target species. Tench, carp, bream, and perch all fish differently on this water — each requiring its own approach, timing, and technique.
A Private Water Match. Fifteen Pegs. One Club.
Bay Pond Shaw is available for small club match days on an exclusive hire basis. Fifteen numbered platforms provide up to fifteen pegs — the right scale for an intimate club match on a characterful, mixed-species water, without the commercial fishery atmosphere. One club. One date. The estate to yourselves.
All fifteen numbered platforms available as match pegs. Draw conducted by the organising club before fishing begins. Platform positions cover every habitat type on the lake — no peg is a banker draw.
Carp, tench, bream, roach, and perch all contribute to match weights. The mixed population and varied habitat make for genuinely unpredictable, interesting competition fishing.
Keepnets are not used on this water. Match scoring is by immediate weigh-and-return — fish are weighed on landing and returned without delay. This is the standard format for conservation-aware club fishing on managed club waters.
Club matches run strictly as single day sessions, dawn to dusk. Overnight stays are not permitted for matches — a deliberate measure to protect the bankside ecology from the heavier footfall a full peg-line brings. The fishing day is entirely yours; the night is left to the lake.
Organising a Club Match
Club matches are booked as a full exclusive day hire of the 7.1-acre Bay Pond area — day sessions only (dawn to dusk); overnight stays are prohibited for matches to protect the bankside ecology. Enquire with your club name, anticipated numbers, preferred date, and match format. All participants must hold a valid EA rod licence, and the estate angling code applies throughout.
| Club Match — Day Session | Per Day Session |
|---|---|
| Off-Peak Weekday Match Mon–Thu |
£250 |
| Off-Peak Weekend Match Fri–Sun |
£295 |
| Peak Season Flat Match May–Sep · All Days |
£350 |
A Lake With Four Very Different Seasons
An ancient hammer pond does not fish the same way through the year. Water temperature, food availability, and fish behaviour shift dramatically with the seasons — and so does the character of the experience itself.
The tench stir first — pre-dawn sessions in late spring produce rolling,
bubbling fish that have not seen a bait since October. Carp grow visible
and active as the water warms. The dawn chorus in early May is extraordinary.
Primary species: Tench, Common Carp, Roach
Carp cruise the surface and can be sight-fished in the early morning calm.
The canopy closes fully over the water — dappled green light, the lake at
its most beautiful. Evening and overnight sessions are most productive.
Primary species: Common Carp, Tench, Bream
Feeding intensity peaks as fish stock up ahead of winter — carp and tench
make their last concentrated push, and perch produce their finest catches
of the year in the snag features beneath the overhang.
Primary species: Perch, Common Carp, Tench
The contemplative season. The water at its most transparent, the woodland
at its most exposed. Delicate float work for roach, patient feeder fishing
over the bream shoals in the deep basin. Frost on the dam at dawn.
Quiet, cold, and entirely worth it.
Primary species: Roach, Perch, Bream
The Angling Code
Access is granted on full acceptance of the estate’s angling code. These are not suggestions — they are the conditions that protect a private ecological environment managed for the long term.
Maximum two rods in use at any time. This applies regardless of party size. Two rods. The ecology of this lake requires it.
Barbless hooks throughout, no exceptions. Barbed hooks cause unnecessary injury to fish we are committed to protecting for the long term.
All fish returned promptly and carefully. Unhooking mats required. Zero tolerance for delayed or careless handling. These fish are carefully stocked and managed — handle every one as though the fishery depends on it.
Keepnets are not permitted on this water. Specimen fish photography in the water is encouraged. Time on the bank is kept to the absolute minimum.
Natural, traditional, and low-attract baits are preferred. No high-concentration chemical additives, no strongly dyed or artificially flavoured mass baits. The lake’s food bed does not need supplementing.
No amplified sound at any time. No artificial light cast into the water margins after dark. The lake is managed as a quiet environment — the wildlife that uses it requires this.
Ancient woodland features — root structures, overhanging branches, marginal vegetation — are not to be cut, cleared, or modified under any circumstances. They are the fishing environment, not an obstacle to it.
Platforms, the cabin, and all used areas must be left in the condition they were found. No discarded line, no residual groundbait, no litter of any kind. Leave-no-trace is an absolute condition of access.
Common Questions
Do I need an Environment Agency rod licence?
Yes. All anglers must hold a valid EA rod licence. Day, 8-day, and annual licences are available at gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence. The estate does not issue or administer licences.
Is there mobile signal?
Yes — mobile signal is excellent across the entire estate. 4G coverage is strong and reliable on all major networks. There is no wi-fi on site; anglers requiring internet access use mobile data.
Can I bring a dog?
Dogs are permitted on the lake estate when kept on a lead at all times. The ancient woodland and lake margin support active nesting birds through spring and summer — please keep dogs out of the water and away from the lake margin during this period.
Where do I park and how do I arrive?
Private on-site parking is available at the estate entrance for up to 20 vehicles. The car park and drive approach are covered by CCTV. The exact gate location is provided with your booking confirmation. Full arrival instructions and directions from the nearest rail stations (Etchingham and Headcorn, both approximately 15–20 minutes by road) are sent at the time of booking.
What happens in bad weather?
Sessions run in all conditions. The estate shelter provides shelter and the ancient woodland provides natural windbreak. We do not cancel sessions due to rain — which often produces the most productive fishing on this water.
What is the cancellation policy?
The 50% booking deposit is non-refundable in all circumstances — it secures your exclusive date. With 28 or more days’ notice you can move to a new date for free, subject to availability. Cancel with 14–27 days’ notice and 50% of the total session fee is retained. Under 14 days the full fee is non-refundable. All cancellations must be confirmed in writing.
What should I bring?
A full kit list is provided at booking. Anglers are responsible for all food and personal equipment. The estate shelter provides sanitary facilities and covered shelter but does not supply cooking or personal equipment.
“There is no rush here. The fish are not going anywhere. Neither should you be.”Bay Pond Shaw — On the nature of private water
Exclusive Lake Hire — The Full Estate. Your Group Only.
Every booking is exclusive. You are not hiring a peg — you are hiring the entire lake, all 15 platforms, 1.6 acres of ancient woodland, wildflower meadow, and estate facilities — the entire lake estate, exclusively yours. Maximum 6 anglers per session.
Please note: Bay Pond Shaw is being finished through the 2026 season. The swims are currently being refurbished and the shower is coming soon. Current site readiness and availability are confirmed at the time of enquiry before any deposit is taken.
| Session | Off-Peak Weekday Mon–Thu |
Off-Peak Weekend Fri–Sun |
Peak Season Flat May–Sep · All Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day Session Dawn to dusk · no overnight · up to 6 anglers |
£140 | £160 | £180 |
| 24 Hours Arrival 10am · departure 10am · up to 6 anglers |
£250 | £280 | £320 |
| 48 Hours Weekend away · stag · birthday · up to 6 anglers |
£430 | £480 | £560 |
| 72 Hours Fri–Mon block · best value per day · up to 6 anglers |
£580 | £650 | £780 |
| 96 Hours Mon–Thu only · up to 6 anglers |
£700 | — | £890 |
| Full Week Mon arrival – Sun departure · single rate applies |
£1,350 | incl. | £1,480 |
Per-Person Cost
A peak 24-hour session split between 6 anglers = £53 per person. Split between 2 = £160. The price is the same — it is simply divided by your group size.
What’s Included
The whole lake. Up to 15 platforms (currently being refurbished). 1.6 acres of ancient woodland. Wildflower meadow. Welfare facilities (composting toilet and shower — installation in progress). On-site parking for up to 20 vehicles. Night fishing on all overnight sessions. Current site readiness is confirmed at enquiry.
Booking Rules
Two-rod limit per angler. Barbless hooks mandatory. Catch and release only. Unhooking mats required for every fish. All anglers must hold a valid EA rod licence.
Guided by the Owner of This Water
Guiding runs along two clear, separate paths — so you always know exactly what you are paying for. Path A is for day-guests who come purely for a guided slot, with short-term exclusive lake access included. Path B is a flat daily coaching fee for independent guests who have already booked an overnight or multi-day exclusive lake hire.
Standalone Guided Sessions
For day-guests coming only for a guided slot. Short-term exclusive lake access is included in the price.
| Guided Session (lake hire included) | Off-Peak Weekday Mon–Thu |
Off-Peak Weekend Fri–Sun |
Peak Season Flat May–Sep · All Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-Day (4h) 1–2 people · Daniel guiding |
£290 | £310 | £330 |
| Half-Day (4h) 3–4 people · Daniel & Magda guiding |
£380 | £400 | £420 |
| Full Day (8h) 1–2 people · Daniel guiding |
£365 | £385 | £405 |
| Full Day (8h) 3–4 people · Daniel & Magda guiding |
£500 | £520 | £540 |
Private Guided Add-On
A flat daily coaching fee strictly for independent guests who have already booked a 24h, 48h, 72h, or weekly exclusive lake hire. It does not change with seasons or weekends.
| Private Guided Add-On (daily coaching fee) | Flat Daily Rate |
|---|---|
| 1–2 People Daniel guiding |
£325 flat |
| 3–4 People Daniel & Magda guiding |
£480 flat |
Valid EA rod licences required for all anglers. Tackle available on loan at no charge. 50% deposit at booking.
Add to Any Booking
| Extra | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Premium bait pack | From £12 per person | Boilies, pellets, groundbait, method mix — all selected to comply with the estate bait policy. Pre-order at booking or 72 hrs before. Priced per angler by session length: Day £12 pp · 24hr £18 pp · 48hr £28 pp · 72–96hr £40 pp · Full Week £65 pp. Full price list available on request. |
| Hardwood firewood bundle | £20 | For the on-site fire pit. Subject to fire conditions. |
| Early arrival (8am entry) | £35 | Two hours before session start. Must be booked in advance. Subject to availability. |
| Late departure (noon exit) | £35 | Two hours after session end. Must be booked in advance. Subject to availability. |
| Welcome hamper | £65 | Local produce, artisan beer & cider. Pre-order 72hrs before. Ideal for stag, birthday and corporate groups. |
| Guided estate & conservation walk | £40 | 45 minutes. Covers lake, 1.6 acres of ancient woodland, and the spring system. Pre-book only. |
Give Someone the Lake
Some people are impossible to buy for. The angler who has every rod they need. The father who says he wants nothing. The friend who talks about getting away and never does.
A Bay Pond Shaw gift voucher gives them a day — or a night, or a week — with a private medieval lake entirely to themselves. No crowds, no swim next door, no one else’s radio. Just the water, the woodland, and time. It is the kind of present that is still being talked about a year later.
Vouchers are available for any session type — day, 24-hour, multi-day, or a guided session with the owner — or for a value of your choosing. And the day can be built around the person: add the welcome hamper of local produce, artisan beer and cider, firewood for the fire pit, hired tackle if they travel light, or a guided estate walk. Tell us who it is for, and what they would want waiting for them — we will put it together.
We send a presentation voucher by post or email, and the recipient books their dates directly with us whenever they are ready.
Vouchers are valid for 12 months from issue, transferable within the recipient’s party, and redeemable against any session subject to availability. If the lake is booked, we will always find them another date — the gift does not expire because a weekend was busy.
Deposits & Cancellation Policy
Deposit to Book
50%
Of the session total, payable at the time of reservation to confirm your booking.
Balance Due
28 days
Before arrival. Payment by bank transfer (BACS). Details provided on booking confirmation.
Damage Deposit
£100
Taken on arrival. Fully refundable within 48 hours of departure if no damage.
Cancellation & Rescheduling
The 50% deposit is non-refundable in all circumstances — it secures your exclusive date. If your plans change, rescheduling is often the better option.
- FREE MOVE 28+ days' notice — Transfer your deposit to a new date at no charge, subject to availability. If you prefer to cancel outright, the deposit is forfeited and no further amount is owed.
- 14–27 DAYS 50% of the total session fee is retained. The remaining 50% is refunded.
- UNDER 14 The full session fee is non-refundable.
All cancellations must be confirmed in writing. Full terms are provided at booking.
Dates Are Released to the List First
Peak-season weekends, newly opened dates, and the occasional late cancellation go to the estate list before anywhere else. No newsletters, no noise — a handful of emails a year, each one useful.
Reserve Your Session
All fishing sessions at Bay Pond Shaw are arranged by direct private enquiry. Please include your preferred dates, session length, and party size. We respond to all specific enquiries within two working days.