Earthwork remains of possibly 18th century decoy pond, 'South Hall Decoy', north of Pagelsham Reach (EHER 82123)

A rectangular decoy pond which is known from vertical photography and is illustrated on the 1:10,560 1st edition OS map. The pond is banked and has six arms from the corners of the pond. An article from 1943 describes the pond as having already been out of use for 150 years.

A possible (a low possibility) decoy pond appearing on vertical photography as a rectangular pond, approximately 90 x 60m. The pond is banked and has six arms from the corners of the pond. It does not appear on the 1st edition 6 inch map, though does appear on the 1:10,560. The arms are more noticeable on the 2nd and 3rd edition maps 1895-1922. We do not have the 4th ed map for this area. <1> - <8> Also recorded on the NMP cropmark plot is a linear feature aligned NE-SW, with a curved corner at the south end which creates a new SE-NW alignment, and which is to the immediate north-west of the decoy pond. It may be a boundary ditch for the pond. <7> South Hall Decoy is in the parish of Paglesham, about half-a-mile from South Hall and a mile S.W. from Paglesham, on the north bank of the Roach, an arm of the Crouch. It covers one acre and had six pipes, running E.S.E., S.E., S., S.W., N.W. and N. It has not been used for one hundred and fifty five years. <9>