THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS. | Wormegay. -While resident at Dersingham about 1818, George Skelton for a short time worked a Decoy near Wormegay, 7½ miles NNE. of Downham Market, and close to the N. bank of the River Nar. The pool was only an acre in extent, and had four pipes. Mr. Southwell was informed by an old inhabitant of the neighbourhood that this Decoy was last used in 1838, but that about sixty years ago (1818) it was worked by John Balls, who had some very successful seasons, and made several hundred pounds in a few years. The last year it was used, being much out of repair, it was said the amount received was only £20. Stow Bardolph, 2miles N N E. of Downham Market, in the Stow Bardolph Fen, are the remains of a Decoy which has not been used for the last sixty years. It was the property of Sir Thomas Hare, and well situated to attract wildfowl. Hilgay, in the parish of Hilgay, 5 miles SSE. from Downham Market, on the Woodhall Estate, and 1½ miles NE. of Southery, was an old Decoy known as the Woodhall Decoy, which thirty years ago was owned by a Mr. Wilson. As it was not found to answer, owing to the flooding of the fen, it was given up about 1860 and the traces of it are now obliterated. It was situated on land now the property of Mr. Stocks. Mr. H. M. Upcher states that for about fifteen years the brothers William and George Skelton worked this Decoy, and that at Methwold, next mentioned. Methwold.-On a tract of land called "The Severals," in the parish of Methwold, 4½ miles SSE. of Stoke Ferry, 1½ miles E. of Southery, and ½ a mile from the Decoy at Hilgay, last described, stood another, which was built in 1806 by William Skelton, who with his brother George worked this and the Hilgay Decoy for fifteen years, when the fens became so flooded the two pools could no longer be kept up at a profit. They then remained unused till 1824, when Mr. Wilson hired the land of the Duchy of Lancaster and repaired the pipes. A man who worked this Decoy informed Mr. Upcher that he caught a great many fowl, chiefly Duck, Wigeon, and Teal. He could not tell the exact number "driven up at once," but was certain that three to four dozen had been taken " at one drive." Wilson died in 1856, and his widow kept on the Decoy with old T. Williams (see Wrangle and Lakenheath) as a Decoyman. She gave it up to her brother, Mr. Harwin, in 1862. Williams continued to act as Decoyman till 1870, when one night he fell into a fen ditch and was drowned (his age being reputed at over 100 years). |
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