| HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF AT GEORGE HALL – THE HOUSE THAT BOBBY BUILT! It is often said that history repeats itself, and it is surely more than coincidence that BOBBY GEORGE, acknowledged as one of the most famous and colourful ‘archers’ in the most traditional of British sports, has built his family home and estate GEORGE HALL, ARDLEIGH on land once bequeathed by the King of England, William The Conqueror, to the nobleman Geoffrey de Mangaville, as reward for his loyalty during the period in English history known as the Norman Conquest. There is an inextricable link between darts and the ancient skills of archery. The fabled archers of England played a pivotal role in the history of Britain. However, while they fired their arrows from longbows, today’s darts players throw their ‘arrows’ at a dartboard. And the links do not end there, because English archers were thought to have ‘invented’ the original game of darts (or at least an early version of it) to relieve boredom between battles. It has been written that they would break their arrows in half, attach a smaller flight, and then throw them at the ends of beer barrels, using the central ‘bung’ as the precursor of the ‘bullseye’ which is now the central focal point of the dartboard (as well as being the bull in the standard archery target). Historical facts or just amazing coincidence? Whatever the case, Bobby George is acutely aware that the land which surrounds his impressive, self-built home is steeped in English history. Indeed, the original ‘Manor of Martells’ was actually named in the Doomsday Book. Martells Hall is named as ‘the fourth manor of Ardleigh’, and the name of Martell (meaning ‘hammer’) is well represented in and around the area. It is chronicled that Martell was the name of the family who lived on the land now occupied by George Hall as ‘under-tenants’ soon after the Norman Conquest and the famous Battle of Hastings in 1066. They were wealthy landowners who also possessed an estate called Martells Hall in Rivenhall. Today, George Hall, formerly the site of a magnificent Roman Villa occupies an elevated position grandly overlooking two magnificent fishing lakes and some 12 acres of land. |
| COURSE FISHING LAKES Opening Times OPENING HOURS: 7AM – 7PM Facilities All species of fish: CARP – ROACH – PERCH – BREAM – TENCH – RUDD – CHUB Private car parking (short walk to lakes) Toilet Tea / coffee making and microwave RULES : ‘Day ticket price valid for one rod only PER PERSON (extra rod day ticket price)’ Day Tickets Day tickets can be obtained from – Colchester Bait and Tackle Harwich Road Colchester Essex 01206 860649 MATCHES CAN BE BOOKED THROUGH MARIE ON 01206 231493 | |
| NO KEEPNETS (MATCHES ONLY) NET DIPPING COMPULSORY UNHOOKING MAT, LANDING NET AND DISGORGER MUST BE USED BARBLESS HOOKS ONLY NO BRAID OR HAIR RIGS FREE RUNNING FEEDERS ONLY UNUSED BAITS TO BE PUT IN DUSTBINS NOT IN LAKES RUBBISH TO BE TAKEN AWAY OR PUT IN DUSTBINS CHILDREN 14 AND UNDER MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT AND REMAIN ON SAME SWIM MORE THAN ONE NON-ANGLER BY ARRANGEMENT NO DOGS ALLOWED BAIT RESTRICTIONS NO FLOATING BAITS NO NUT BAITS OR BOILIES NO CAT FOOD SWEETCORN/MEAT ON HOOK ONLY GROUNDBAIT (1 KILO (2.2LB) MAX) FOR CORPORATE ENTERTAINING ) NIGHT FISHING AND LAKE BOOKINGS) RING MARIE ON 01206 231493 OPENING TIMES: 7AM – 7PM IT IS ILLEGAL TO FISH WITHOUT A CURRENT ROD LICENCE UNSOCIALABLE OR DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOUR WILL NOT BE TOLLERATED – PLEASE RESPECT FELLOW ANGLERS FISHING IS AT YOUR OWN RISK MANAGEMENT CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE TO YOUR PROPERTY | |