184 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
neighbourhood was one just over the arm of the Colne Estuary at Brightlingsea.
* * * It is a most secluded spot, on the Wyvenhoe side of the Twenty-seven
Acre Grove, on Mr. Bateman's estate, known as Heronry Wood, a little more than
a quarter of a mile west of Brightlingsea Church. Mark Gooch, the old keeper
told us that formerly the Heronry certainly contained over 100 nests, but that
forty-three or forty-four years ago the largest trees were felled, and this seriously
diminished the number of Herons."
Then the Rooks came and robbed the eggs, while more trees were felled, and
an unruly tenant used to shoot the birds on their nests (much to the annoyance
of Mr. Bateman), till "in 1870, there were about thirty nests * * * ; in 1871,
there were only fifteen or eighteen ; and the Herons finally deserted the spot in
1872," the majority probably going to Birch, though a few established themselves
at St. Osyth. Since 1872, Mr. Bateman has done all in bis power to encourage
the Herons to return, but has so far been frustrated by the Rooks. The few
which migrated to St. Osyth established themselves in Nunn's Wood, where they
still flourish under the protection of Sir John H. Johnson, who writes to Mr.
Fitch as follows : " Five or six years ago, a solitary pair came and built on a tree
on an island in one of my ponds. Then one or two more pairs came and built on
another tree, and two years ago a pair built on a low tree in my little wood closely
adjoining." In 1877, there were five nests, and Mr. Fitch tells me there are now
two small colonies at St. Osyth.
There can be no doubt that there have formerly been various other Heronries,
now extinct, in our county. Thus, quaint old Norden speaks of " Towleshunt
Darcye: nere wch is a fayre Heronry." Morant, in his History of Essex (1768
i. p. 78), says of Belhus, Aveley :—
" Here was formerly a Heronry, which being a thing not commonly to be met
with, was esteemed a circumstance of no small consequence, while the diversion
of Hawking was in fashion ; but of late years not thought to balance the incon-
veniences attending it, and the Herons therefore are not suffered to build longer."
Morant (i. p. 208) also says : " The Manor of Heron or Herne [whence Heron-
Gate], East Horndon, seems originally to have taken its name from a Heronry
here." Mr. J. F. T. Wiseman, of Paglesham, informs me that, about the year 1882,
there was a nest in his wood at Barton Hall. Mr. A. Smee says (My Garden,
p. 530), " I have seen a nest at Chigwell in Essex "—doubtless an offshoot from
the Heronry at Wanstead. Mr. Fitch says (50. i. 142) :—
There is a disused Heronry at Walton's Hall, Mucking. * * * It stands on
the edge of the marshes south of the railway leading from Stanford-le-Hope to
Tilbury, about half a mile from the Thames. The trees are oak and ash, with a
few elms. Mr. William Clark, jun., who has been tenant of Walton's Hall for
some years, tells me he never knew a nest there, although six to eight Herons are
constantly to be found on his marshes. It is the same here [at Maldon]. I see
half a dozen Herons almost every day throughout the spring, and have often
wondered where they can breed. About seven years ago, there was one nest in
Mundon Furze, two and a-half miles south from here, which was destroyed by
shooting through the nest and killing the parent bird. Still this same nest was
repaired and occupied next year, and two other nests were built not far off.
Mr. Fitch also mentions (50. ii. 174) having either seen or heard of solitary
Heron's nests at Stony Piece, Lawling Hall, Latchingdon ; the Nursery, Bradwell
Glebe ; the Old Farm (Dunmow Wick), Burnham ; Steeple ; Scot's Grove, oppo-
site Guisnes Court gate, Tollesbury ; and the Great Wood, Tolleshunt Major.
There used also to be a Heronry, consisting usually of from twelve to fifteen
nests, in Bower Hall Grove, on Mersea Island, until it was stubbed about forty
years ago. I have been told that there were formerly nests [at " Tofts," Little
Baddow, but have failed to obtain any confirmation.'