St James Lake is a narrow lake lying to the Southwest of Brackley set in a beautiful park of around 5 acres, created in 1976, as a balancing lake by Anglia Water for increasing residential development, this man-made lake is believed to incorporate two smaller ponds near to Brackley Castle which was destroyed in 1173 by Henry 3.
In 2016, Brackley Town Council made the lake accessible for all, by developing a kilometre of meandering formal pathway around the perimeter of the lake, which included a picnic area with picnic benches to the Northeast of the lake.
Also, to the Northeast of the lake lays a pocket park. The area was an old disused railway branch line from Banbury to Brackley which was left derelict for a number of years after the closing of the line, now rejuvenated as the Pocket Park. The Pocket Park contains several wetland habitats and old established hedgerows with scrub. The site has now become a very special site due to the reported presence of water vole.
Here are some answers to the questions we receive the most about our services.
If we missed anything, please do not hesitate to contact us. We’ll be happy to help
Juniors under 12, fish for free. However, you must still apply for a membership and be accompanied by an adult at all times. You must be under 12 at the start date of the permit
No, you will be charged the normal yearly fee for a 3rd rod.
A guest 24hr night permit can only be purchased by a yearly night member holder for their guest. A guest night permit can not be purchased by a non-member.
At the moment, there are no toilet facilities at the lake. However, the town centre toilets are only a short walk away.