Page 79 HISTORY OF DECOYS.

HISTORY OF DECOYS.


East Hall Decoy and West Wick Decoy, south of the Blackwater, near Bradwell, have been disused for many years, but have been worked in present memory. They were both in the parish of Bradwell-juxta-Mare, not far from the Decoy at Marsh House. Mr. R. Page, who works the latter, informs me that their positions are still to be discerned. The former was placed ¾ of a mile NW. of Bradwell, and the latter the same distance N N E. South Hall Decoy, S. of the Blackwater, in the parish of Paglesham, and ½ a mile from South Hall, is in the occupation of Mr. James Wiseman. It has been disused for 100 years; it is now cared for, though not worked, but there is some chance of the Decoy being put into repair by its owner. It is placed on the N. bank of an arm of the River Roach, and is a mile SW. of Paglesham. Mr. Wiseman informs me that the Decoy has the remains of six pipes running ESE., SE., S., SW., NW., and N., and is an acre in extent. Ramsey Island, on the south shore of the Blackwater River. In an old map of Essex, published in 1772, a Decoy marked "Old Decoy" is placed just south of the channel which forms the southern boundary of Ramsey Island, in the parish of St. Lawrence, and close to a farm called "Stansgate Wick." No notes or any traces of this Decoy are now obtainable. Steeple Decoy, in Canney Marsh, on the south side of the Blackwater, and close to the river, on the E. bank of Steeple Creek, half-way between Steeple Church and the River Blackwater. In connection with this Decoy I append some most interesting details written by my friend Mr. J. E. Harting. They are so valuable that they could not possibly be omitted from a work on Decoys. "Steeple Decoy, in Canney Marsh. -Tradition only points to the place where, in what is to this day known as the Decoy Marsh, one hundred and sixty years ago, a profitable business was carried on in the capture of wildfowl, chiefly Wigeon, for the London market. Fortunately, however, for those who, at the present day. take an interest in such matters, the Essex yeoman who constructed this Decoy, being a business-like man, took the trouble to write down the cost of its construction, and for thirteen years kept a strict account of the numbers of wildfowl captured by him and of the prices which they realized.