DECOYS AND WILD-FOWLING IN ESSEX. 67
(26.) Dovercourt Decoy, one mile E. of Ramsey, on a marsh
adjoining South Hall, has not been worked for sixty years.
The four following decoys lie along the S. side of the estuary of
the River Stour, within three miles E. of Bradfield. All have been
worked within living memory, but no particulars are now obtainable.
(27.) Roydon Hall Decoy lies near Roydon Hall, S. of Stour
Wood, one mile W. of Ramsey and four miles E. of Bradfield.
(28.) The Old Decoy, or Jacques Hall Old Decoy, lay
half a mile E. of Jacques Hall, and one mile N.E. from Bradfield.
It is now dry.
(29.) Jacques Hall Decoy lay three-quarters of a mile S. of
the last-named, and one mile S.E. from Bradfield. Slight traces
only of it now remain.
(30.) Pond Hall Decoy lay half a mile E. of the last-named,
and, like it, is in the parish of Wix. Both are about a mile S. of the
River Stour. Mr. Fitch sends me the following interesting advertise-
ment (dated 1754) relating to this decoy :
" A Sober Man, either single or married, who can come well recommended,
and understands managing a DECOY Pond, by enquiring at Pond-Hall in Wicks,
near Manningtree, in Essex, may hear of a Place. He will have Husbandry
Work found him after the Catching Season is over, and a House to live in, if
married."
"Whereas the Wild-Fowl coming and going to and from my Decoy-Ponds
have several Times last Season been affrighted by People shooting and making
Paths through my Fields, out of the ancient Church or Foot-Paths : I give this
publick Notice, to prevent such unwarrantable Practices, that I will bring an
Action at Law against any Person who shall presume to do any Detriment to
my said Ponds for the future : And as an Encouragement to my Decoy-Man, or
any other Person who will make Discovery of any one doing me Damage in the
above Manner, or breaking my Hedges ; I do offer upon the Conviction of any one
Person, or Persons, a Reward of Two Guineas, to be paid by me.
"Tho. Hickeringill."
(31.) Wormingford Decoy, on the S. bank of the river, three
miles W.S.W. from Nayland, is further removed from the sea than
any other Essex decoy. The pool is nine acres in extent, and is
still much visited by Wild-fowl. It is skirted by reeds and bulrushes,
and surrounded by willows and alders.*
* It is by no means improbable that other Essex decoys, now forgotten, may yet be brought to
light. For instance, Mr. Fitch has been informed of the former existence of decoys on Osey
Island and at Mundon, but can rind no trace of them ; while the "Old Pool" and the " New
Pool" appear on the Ordnance Maps in a detached portion of Great Stambridge parish, due
S.S.E. from Burnham.
It may be useful to point out that, as near as can be made out, the above-named decoys are
marked on the following old county maps :—
Maps in Morant's Essex (1768) : 6, 8, Brick House, Mundon, 12, 18, 30.
Chapman and Andre's (1777) : 2 (marked but not named), 5, 7 (an old decoy), 12, 17(2), 20,
24, 25, 27.
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