Page 92 THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS.

THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS.


Of these four pools, though worked in present memory, no particulars are now procurable. They are as follows:- Roydon Hall Decoy, 2 miles W. of Ramsey and 3 miles E. of Bradfield, on the S. side of Stour Wood, near Roydon Hall. The Old Decoy, or Jacques Hall Old Decoy, is placed a ½ mile E. of Jacques Hall, the same distance S. of Jacques Bay, on the Stour River and a mile N E. of Bradfield, and 300 paces S. of the Harwich and Man ningtree Railway. The pond is quite filled up and its enclosure alone a remains. Jacques Hall Decoy ¾ of a mile S. of the last-named, is placed the above pool, of which little trace remains. It is distant I mile SE. of Bradfield, 300 paces E. of Bluehouse Farm, the same distance N. of Kingswood, and ¾ of a mile N. of Wicks. Pond Hall Decoy. -A ¾ mile E. of Jacques Hall Decoy, and 4 a mile S. of Bradfield, are the remains of the above-named pool. It is near the residence of Miss Simpson, from which it derives its name; like Jacques Hall Decoy it is just a mile S. of the Stour River Both are in the parish of Wix, or Wicks, and the land they are situated on was part of the possessions of the large Benedictine Monastery of Wix. Traces of this Decoy are still plainly visible, though it has not been in use for many years. Wormingford Decoy, 3 miles WSW. of Nayland, on the S. bank of the River Stour, some 12 miles above Manningtree. This pool is 9 acres in extent, is skirted with reeds and bullrushes, and surrounded by willows and alders. During the winter months it is much visited by wildfowl; but no record, its owner states, exists of its history as a Decoy. Leaving the Stour and travelling south we come to Villa Farm Decoy, 2½ miles SSW. of Elmstead, and I mile E. of Wivenhoe. A Decoy existed here many years ago. The pond still remains, but is almost grown over with reeds and willows.