Duck DecoysDuck Decoys

Their origins, Their origins, history and legacyhistory and legacy

What is a duck decoy?What is a duck decoy? A duck decoy is a shallow pond A duck decoy is a shallow pond

either man made or naturally either man made or naturally occurring which has been occurring which has been modified to facilitate the capture modified to facilitate the capture of wildfowl by means of attraction, of wildfowl by means of attraction, distraction, camouflage and distraction, camouflage and confinement.confinement.

Where were duck decoys located?Where were duck decoys located?

Anywhere where the topography of the land Anywhere where the topography of the land allowed the construction of the ponds i.e. mainly allowed the construction of the ponds i.e. mainly on flat landscapes with an abundance of fresh on flat landscapes with an abundance of fresh water such as the Fens, Somerset Levels and water such as the Fens, Somerset Levels and other areas of marshland located across the UK other areas of marshland located across the UK and where the numbers of wildfowl such as the and where the numbers of wildfowl such as the Ducks, Teal and Widgeon, were in sufficient Ducks, Teal and Widgeon, were in sufficient numbers as to make the construction of the numbers as to make the construction of the ponds, a viable and economic proposition.ponds, a viable and economic proposition.

When were duck decoys first When were duck decoys first constructed?constructed?

The first recorded duck decoy ponds were established in The first recorded duck decoy ponds were established in the Low Countries probably in the 16the Low Countries probably in the 16thth century and these century and these structures were known as structures were known as eendekooieendekooi from the Dutch for from the Dutch for eendeneenden meaning duck and meaning duck and kooikooi meaning cage. meaning cage.This was inevitably contracted to “decoy” by the English, This was inevitably contracted to “decoy” by the English, with the word later taking on the broader meaning of “to with the word later taking on the broader meaning of “to lure”.lure”.One of the first to be constructed in England was for Sir One of the first to be constructed in England was for Sir William Woodhouse at Waxham in Norfolk around 1620 William Woodhouse at Waxham in Norfolk around 1620 with Royalty soon taking an interest in Duck Decoys with Royalty soon taking an interest in Duck Decoys when King Charles II had one constructed in St James’s when King Charles II had one constructed in St James’s Park in 1665 by a Dutchman, Sydrach Hilcus, who was Park in 1665 by a Dutchman, Sydrach Hilcus, who was brought over from Holland at a cost of £30brought over from Holland at a cost of £30

An agreement made in 1666 for the An agreement made in 1666 for the construction of a Duck Decoy construction of a Duck Decoy

Articles of Agreement, and bond in £100 between (a) Harbert Morley of Glynde, esq., and (b) Martin Hilkis Articles of Agreement, and bond in £100 between (a) Harbert Morley of Glynde, esq., and (b) Martin Hilkis of Peasmarsh.    of Peasmarsh.    22 May 166622 May 1666

ContentsContents: : 1. (a) wishes to set up a 'duckoy' for the taking of duck and wild fowl and has laid out a pond at 1. (a) wishes to set up a 'duckoy' for the taking of duck and wild fowl and has laid out a pond at the lower end of the Bricklamps field cont. 1¾a. For £50 (b) agrees to finish the decoy by 1 July the lower end of the Bricklamps field cont. 1¾a. For £50 (b) agrees to finish the decoy by 1 July next.next.2. The pond is to be 2 foot deep and full of water.2. The pond is to be 2 foot deep and full of water.3. (b) is to provide 'goodpoles, reed, willow, setts, netts for the pipes' and other materials.3. (b) is to provide 'goodpoles, reed, willow, setts, netts for the pipes' and other materials.4. (b) is to stock the 'duckoy', with 20 good 'Coy Ducks' and 2 good 'Coy Doggs' and from 24 4. (b) is to stock the 'duckoy', with 20 good 'Coy Ducks' and 2 good 'Coy Doggs' and from 24 June for 6 years is to be responsible for the upkeep of the pond. He is to provide oats and June for 6 years is to be responsible for the upkeep of the pond. He is to provide oats and feeding for the 'Coy dogs' and 'Coy ducks'. At the end of the term he is to leave new netts fitting feeding for the 'Coy dogs' and 'Coy ducks'. At the end of the term he is to leave new netts fitting for the pipes and 2 good 'Coy doggs'.for the pipes and 2 good 'Coy doggs'.5. (b) agrees to maintain sufficient bayes about the pond and especially against the Cowham and 5. (b) agrees to maintain sufficient bayes about the pond and especially against the Cowham and Cowham crofts and that the pipes running into the Cowham brooks and the Cowham crofts are to Cowham crofts and that the pipes running into the Cowham brooks and the Cowham crofts are to be sufficiently bayed. The waters of the pond are not to be imbayed so high as to annoy the be sufficiently bayed. The waters of the pond are not to be imbayed so high as to annoy the Cowhams, Lampwish, Gorebrook or the pond next above.Cowhams, Lampwish, Gorebrook or the pond next above.6. (a) will pay the residue of the £50 when the pond is completed.6. (a) will pay the residue of the £50 when the pond is completed.7. (b) is to manage the decoy and have a good deputy approved by (a) to take care of the 7. (b) is to manage the decoy and have a good deputy approved by (a) to take care of the 'duckoy' and breed the young fowl and feed the old ones. (b) is to have half of the fowl taken and 'duckoy' and breed the young fowl and feed the old ones. (b) is to have half of the fowl taken and (a) the other half.(a) the other half.8. (b) is not to dispose of any of the fowl without the consent of (a).8. (b) is not to dispose of any of the fowl without the consent of (a).9. (b) agrees to fence the pond with reeds and next year provide willow setts for shelter.9. (b) agrees to fence the pond with reeds and next year provide willow setts for shelter.10. (b) agrees not to erect any decoy within 5 miles of Glynde during the said term. If (b) fails in 10. (b) agrees not to erect any decoy within 5 miles of Glynde during the said term. If (b) fails in the performance of these articles the agreement shall be void.the performance of these articles the agreement shall be void.Witnesses: John Childe, John Baker, Edward Robarts, Nicholas Simons.Witnesses: John Childe, John Baker, Edward Robarts, Nicholas Simons.

Location of local Duck DecoysLocation of local Duck Decoys

The following two slides show quite clearly the The following two slides show quite clearly the location of local Duck Decoys and those to the location of local Duck Decoys and those to the East of Bourne.East of Bourne.

Although taken from an 1824 OS Map, the Although taken from an 1824 OS Map, the decoy ponds must have been relatively intact for decoy ponds must have been relatively intact for the surveyor to record them and despite the fact the surveyor to record them and despite the fact that many of them would have been disused for that many of them would have been disused for a number of years prior to the survey.a number of years prior to the survey.

Duck Decoys local to Duck Decoys local to Billingborough and PointonBillingborough and Pointon

Duck Decoys local to BourneDuck Decoys local to Bourne

Location of Mill Yard Farm DecoyLocation of Mill Yard Farm Decoy (Neslam Fen) c1850 (Neslam Fen) c1850

Aslackby Fen DecoyAslackby Fen DecoyAerial Photo 1963Aerial Photo 1963

Aslackby Fen DecoyAslackby Fen DecoyAerial Photo 1983Aerial Photo 1983

Today’s Duck DecoysToday’s Duck Decoys

Very few working Duck Decoys now remain in Very few working Duck Decoys now remain in England and none in the Eastern Counties which England and none in the Eastern Counties which is surprising when one considers that the region is surprising when one considers that the region accounted for over 60% of Duck Decoys accounted for over 60% of Duck Decoys constructed in England.constructed in England.

The closest to our area is the National Trust The closest to our area is the National Trust owned Boarstall Decoy located near Bicester owned Boarstall Decoy located near Bicester and is open to the public April through August. and is open to the public April through August.

And finally, the legacy.And finally, the legacy.

The word “decoy” has come into use in the The word “decoy” has come into use in the English language in so many ways since English language in so many ways since its original inception.its original inception.Q Ships – Seemingly unarmed merchant Q Ships – Seemingly unarmed merchant vesselsvesselsQ Cars – Unmarked police vehiclesQ Cars – Unmarked police vehiclesDecoy Airfields – Folkingham and AnwickDecoy Airfields – Folkingham and AnwickDecoy troops and equipment - build up to Decoy troops and equipment - build up to D-DayD-Day