Cropmark of post-medieval decoy pond, 'Grange Decoy', south-east of Grange House (EHER 2066)

A decoy pond with six pipes and measuring a little more than an acre. It was possibly ploughed out in the 1960s but is still visible as a cropmark.

A decoy pond. It was possibly ploughed out in the 1960s. <1> <2> <3> At the Grange Decoy Pond, 1,500 to 2,000 ducks were taken annually in about 1886, and it was stated in 1890 that even recently 10,000 had been taken in a year. During the period from 1924 to 1935, 20,782 ducks were caught, giving an average of 1,732 per annum. However, these returns reveal a serious decline, for in 1924 the total number caught was 3,457, while the same figure for 1935 was 550. The pond was a little more than an acre in extent and had six pipes. There appeared to be an inter-relation between this and the neighbouring Marsh House decoy (EHER 37). One pond would keep the lead in the number of Wigeon taken for several seasons and then the other would have its turn or the ducks might desert one in favour of the other. Mr. J. Whitaker visited this decoy on July 19th 1918, when he found it in good condition, and he gives rough measurements of the lengths of the pipes as being between 63 and 70 yards. The pipes were covered with netting on wooden hoops, with side and top supports of wood. <4>