The High Halstow Duck Decoy
By Keith Robinson
On 17th September a party of nine, consisting of members of the KAS Marsh Group and the Faversham Society Archaeology Research Group, visited the site of the recently listed duck decoy at High Halstow.
This is the only example of a ‘pipe-decoy’ - which used a small dog to entice wild ducks to their death in curved netted channels - extent in Kent. Probably built c1680 and in operation until c1737 when there is evidence that the surrounding woodland was felled. This is one of the four documented ponds in the county.
Despite the sweltering heat earlier in the week the day dawned grey and overcast. The well-defined nature of the pond and pipes suggest that the field in which it lays has always been pasture rather than having been cultivated other than for hay.
In 1697 the decoy was part of a 106 acre farm, known as Nordown, rented by Abraham Snusher from Chatham brewer Thomas Best. Snusher’s farm house stood close by with the usual range of barns, stables and sheep house. A small cottage - Little Decoy Cottage - was later built closer to the pond. All these buildings are now gone.
The four pipes leading from the reed-choked, one acre pond are clearly discernible, the fourth pipe being part of the water feed channel connected to the marsh’s drainage system. Three alternative pipe positions can be clearly seen, probable evidence of works undertaken to improve the efficiency of the pond before closure.
The creation of a decoy pond involved considerable investment in money and labour but was always at the mercy of the weather and the changing habits of the fowl. It has been calculated that catches of 2,500 to 5,000 birds in a season were required for a pond to be economically viable.
The High Halstow decoy is on land owned by the RSPB Northward Hill Nature Reserve whose permission is required to visit. English Heritage’s Research Report series No 17-2014 is an invaluable guide to the site.