With a quality stocking program in place over several years the future of this superb fishery is looking fantastic. Now home to five forty pound carp our beautiful large common at 45lbs is well on track to hit '50lbs' in the next few of years again placing Charity Lakes at the top of Norfolks big fish venues.

Traditional mixed species fisheries are in danger of becoming a thing of the past in Norfolk, at Charity Lakes we have a passion to balance the traditional character of this well loved fishery with the opportunity to fish for some of the largest carp in Norfolk. Please take time to look through our website pages where you will find all the details needed to decide that Charity lakes is the place to fish this season.

 Whilst known for its stunning carp and tench not many of our members actually realise the important role this fishery also plays in the community of Lenwade and Gt Witchingham. The land popularly but incorrectly known as Great Witchingham Common includes some 25 acres, 3 roods and 11 perches of land belonging to the Great Witchingham Fuel Allotment Charity. The Great Witchingham fuel allotment was originally created in 1811 by the Enclosure Commissioners under the Great Witchingham Enclosure Act. At that time the purpose of the Great Witchingham Allotment was to be for the benefit of persons in the parish who occupied dwellings in the parish of less than £5 annual value who had no other common rights and who had not been allotted an award of land by the Enclosure Commissioners.

 On the 14th: December 1992 the Charity Commission formerly amended the scheme for the regulation of the Great Witchingam Fuel Allotment Charity. The purpose of the Charity provides " .that the Trustees shall apply the income of the Charity in relieving either generally or individually persons resident in the Parish of Great Witchingham who are in condition of need, hardship or distress .". The present day practice is for the Trustees to receive applications for a grant of aid from needy parishioners each Christmas and to make an annual monetary grant in accordance with the aims of the Charity. The land is not formally registered as a common and the freehold is vested in the Charity Commissioners. 

 Some 6.7 acres, part of Church Lake is occupied by Great Witchingham Church Lands Charity vested in the Board of Finance of the Diocese of Norwich and managed by the Rector and Church Wardens under a measure of 1964.

 The Great Witchingham Fuel Allotment lies between the River Wensum and the village of Great Witchingham. After enclosure the land is understood to have been used variously for grazing, fishing and the provision of fuel for those parishioners so entitled. Up to the mid 1980's the land was excavated for aggregate. The lakes formed following the mineral extraction were landscaped and are currently used for angling. The fishery membership fee forms the major part of the Charity's income which to this day still supports the people of local parishes, along with the Church, School, Village Hall & many community projects.