THESE pictures of Earlswood Lakes in the 1940s were sent in by Mrs I K Blackadder, of Colbrooke Road, Redhill, who hopes readers will reminisce about the "good old days" at Earlswood Lakes.
Before and after the war, the lakes were a considerable tourist attraction, with visitors coming from as far away as London to avail themselves of the swimming facilities, boat hire and acres of grassland on which they could sunbathe at the water's edge.
There were, on occasions, miniature train rides set up to add to the fun.
Trains from London to Earlswood were often packed with hordes of people escaping war-torn London for a day in the Surrey countryside, and the lakes car park was full of day excursion coaches.
A refreshments hut served ice lollies, pop and ice creams – as well as souvenir sepia postcards.
There are no longer, of course, swimming facilities at the lakes and the diving board has long since disappeared.
The old boating and refreshment huts have vanished and now the beauty spot is a nature and conservation area. It is the haunt of much wildlife including daubenton bats and kingfishers.
