09/10/2025
The Nostell Priory Big ’Un — A Yorkshire Carp Legend
In a county steeped in carp-fishing history, few fish have reached the same legendary status as the great mirror carp from Nostell Priory, near Wakefield. Often regarded as one of the finest mirror carp ever to swim in Yorkshire, the Nostell Priory Big ’Un left an enduring legacy before its death in 2010.
The Setting: Nostell Priory
The Nostell Priory estate, which dates back to 1654, is described by the National Trust as “one of the great houses of Northern England.” Within its landscaped grounds lies a chain of three lakes, all fed by Hardwick Beck. For many years, the lakes were rumoured to hold hundreds of carp.
The upper lake, in particular, became home to what would become the county’s most celebrated mirror carp.
Early Years and Origins
The earliest known photograph of the Nostell mirror dates back to around 1986, when the late Nick Elliott caught it at just 15lb. At that time, the lake was largely neglected by its controlling club, which focused on match fishing rather than specimen carp angling. This lack of interference, and minimal stocking, allowed the existing carp to thrive naturally.
Over time, carp numbers dwindled due to natural mortality and alleged thefts, and the stock was never replenished. Yet this isolation may have contributed to the mirror’s exceptional growth and longevity.
Rise to Prominence
By the mid-1990s, interest in the Nostell carp had grown among Yorkshire’s top anglers. The Big ’Un had surpassed 30lb, a rare weight for the region at the time.
Yorkshire angler Lee Walton began targeting the lake during this period, describing it as neglected but holding immense potential. Across an 18-night campaign, he caught 18 carp, including the Big ’Un at just over 30lb. He estimated the lake then held 50–60 carp.
Fishing was restricted to daylight hours, governed by “lighting-up” times rather than sunrise and sunset. This limitation, combined with a long walk to the venue, made consistent fishing difficult, especially through autumn and winter.
The Later Years
By 2007, when Simon Crow began fishing Nostell, the Big ’Un had already held 40lb-plus status for over a decade. The lake’s stock had declined drastically—possibly fewer than 20 carp remained in the 20-acre water. Despite the low density, the surviving fish had thrived, with the Big ’Un remaining dominant and other well-known fish, such as Starburst and The Big Lin, reaching the mid-thirties.
The Big ’Un remained an elusive presence. During his three-year campaign, Crow sighted the fish only a handful of times, reinforcing its near-mythical reputation. Its existence was often questioned by anglers online, though sightings and occasional captures confirmed it was still alive and well.
The Capture and Decline
In 2009, Simon Crow landed the Big ’Un at a weight of 43lb 6oz, considered to be the fish’s peak condition. It later reached a top weight of 45lb. The following year, in 2010, Darren McGee caught the fish at 38lb 8oz, showing signs of age-related decline. Later that same year, the Big ’Un was found dead, marking the end of an era for Yorkshire’s carp scene.
Legacy and Aftermath
Following its death, the Nostell lakes suffered heavy otter predation, which significantly reduced the remaining stock. These losses confirmed what many suspected—that the lake’s carp population had been very limited, consisting largely of known, named fish rather than an undiscovered stock.
The Nostell Priory Big ’Un remains one of the most iconic Yorkshire carp ever recorded—a fish that represented both the mystery and magic of old, unfashioned estate lakes. Though gone, its story stands as a hallmark of northern carp-fishing history.
