For many years Sandles was a private house, and Thrupp Lake formed part of the grounds – used for recreation and water sports.
The lake and house were brought by nPower who applied for permission to fill Thrupp Lake with fly ash from Didcot Power Station. Locals then started up the Save Radley Lakes campaign.
In January 2007 Sandles was occupied by about 15 protesters, who stayed for about a month before being evicted, and then Sandles became a barracks for security men who patrolled the lake. A lot of trees were cut down at that time, preparing the lake for infilling.
In December 2008, when this picture was taken, an agreement was reached between nPower and the Save Radley Lakes campaign that the Northmoor Trust would look after the lake as a nature reserve. Initial ideas were to improve access and viewing areas and possibly turn Sandles into an educational resource with outdoor learning space.
9 years have passed during which better access has been provided, and viewing places. The Northmoor Trust has become the Earth Trust; Save Radley Lakes has become the Friends of Radley Lakes. Meanwhile Sandles has been been left bricked up, and visited by every graffiti artist in the area, until now…
A week ago demolition began, and Sandles is now a pile of rubble.
There was a application last year to build a new wetlands visitor centre building with parking, maybe this is the start.
There is a very nice place in Thatcham with a lake, visitor centre and childrens play area, I always thought Radley Lakes would be an ideal place to do a similar thing.
Hurrah, it was a dreadful eyesore.
So that was the name of that scary place. On visits to the lake with the children, we always referred to it as ‘the Scooby Doo house’ and speculated on what might be lurking within!