A brief history
Historians believe that the Cheshire meres were created as a result of subsidence thousands of years ago. The mere at Pickmere was apparently formed when three pits created by subsidence flooded together. Some years ago its depth was checked and it was found that there were three separate places where the mere reached a depth of some 40 feet, which gives some support to this theory.
The first reference to Pickmere was in the reign of King John (1199 -1216) and referred only to the mere. This name was later given to the village adjacent to the mere.
Over the years the mere has been known by several names. In an old book about the natural history of the area there is a reference to Pickmere being called, in 1274, Pikemere after a large pike that lived in the mere.
In some postcards circa 1930's the mere is referred to as Pickmere Lake and some visitors to this day ask for directions to Pickmere Lake. As far as we are aware this was never an official name for the mere.
On current Ordnance Survey maps the mere is shown as Pick Mere and the village as Pickmere.
The mere has been popular with fishermen since the turn of the 19th century although there has been no reference to any pike having been caught for many years.
Many other leisure activities have taken place at the mere over the years.
An article in the Guardian in 1933 entitled "Charms of a Cheshire Jewel", suggests motorists and motor-coach excursions should go to Pickmere for "a pleasant day's outing" describing the scene that would greet the visitors and the facilities available to them as follows: -
"Then from here (Lake House car and coach park), a plateau at the head of the lake, there is
suddenly revealed, as if by the lifting of a curtain, a view that almost catches the breath with
its beauty.
The gently sloping banks, studded with stately trees, are picked out in a patchwork of green and
gold. Across the waters they open out to disclose a longer view of the old-world village of Great
Budworth in a cloak of trees from which the bluff tower of the church is silhouetted against the sky…
From the shimmering waters of the lake comes the throb of motorboats fussing on their two mile
cruise round the mere, the splash of oars pulled by the skiffs plying to and fro, the shrill
laughter of children who, with little paddle boats, churn the waters of a miniature lake in
which they are safe from harm.
Pickmere makes a wide appeal. For the lover of scenic beauty there is a feast indeed; Those in
quest of health find a tonic in the bracing air; sculling, canoeing and swimming will tone up
their muscles; and the angler discovers that the mere is the home of specimens worthy of his
skill. Even in wet weather a visit to Pickmere need not be dull, for other attractions are
dancing in the spacious ballroom, Laughterland, and a pleasure fair. Admirable catering
facilities are available at The Lake House, the headquarters of the Pickmere Boating Co. Ltd.…"
The lake is still fished (by Sale Moor Angling Club from the land owned by the Parish) but all the other facilities and activities have long gone.
After over 60 years being run by the Cheetham family the Pickmere Boating Company sold out in spring 1990. The company that bought the land from the family eventually went bankrupt owing a large amount of money to the Co-op bank. During their ownership of the land the village had to put up with car boot sales, bungee jumping, speedboats and jet skis. A young man on a jet ski was killed during this period having hit a powerboat head on.
Representatives of the Co-op bank, at a meeting with the Parish Council, proposed that the council front a planning application to build 12 large houses on the site in return for which they would get the rest of the site and a pavilion for the village. A public meeting was held and the decision was made to accept the proposal.
We therefore now have on the original site, Jacob Way, the Turton Pavilion and the surrounding green and lakeside to be enjoyed by us all.
The Turton Pavilion was named after the late Ray Turton, a relative of the Cheetham family who had been the manager of the Pickmere Boating Company. Mr Turton had been a longstanding, active and valuable member of the Parish Council.
The above information was obtained from the book entitled "Pickmere The Story of a Cheshire Village" by Joseph T Robinson, our local historian, who kindly gave permission for the book to be used as our reference and also supplied most of the black and white pictures on our web site.
