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Summary

Skellingthorpe duck decoy, 550m to the north-east of Decoy Farm.

Full description

Earthworks of a duck decoy pond constructed before 1638 (or 1693) and last used in 1840. A double-ditched oval enclosure surrounds a sub-rectangular pond with pipes curving from each corner. It is largely overgrown with scrub but with small areas of open water and the outline of the pond is still discernible. {1}{2}{3}{4}

The duck decoy at Skellingthorpe is the best preserved in the county. The complete layout and associated features survive as earthworks. It is thought to be one of the oldest decoys in Lincolnshire, and was in existence by 1693 when it was leased for a yearly rent of 16 pounds, 10 shillings, demonstrating the high income potential of the decoy. It is a significant landscape feature in a 1743 engraving of the south-west prospect of Lincoln, where it is shown to be well wooded in comparison with the surrounding treeless fen. The land around the decoy was drained and enclosed for farmland following an Act of Parliament, and it had been the last Lincolnshire decoy in active use when it ceased being worked in 1840. At about this time Decoy House was renamed Decoy Farm. For more detail see the scheduling document 30101. {5}{6}{7}

<1> PADLEY, J.S., 1882, THE FENS AND FLOODS OF MID-LINCOLNSHIRE, p.60, plans.1, 5 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI928.

<2> A. Roebuck, 1935, 'Lincolnshire Duck Decoys' in The Lincolnshire Magazine, vol.2, no.5, p.136 (Article in Serial). SLI3978.

<3> Lincolnshire County Council, Sites and Monuments Record Card Index, SK 97 SW: R (Index). SLI2881.

<4> J.K.S. St Joseph, 1945-79, Cambridge University Collection, EX 0012 (1950) (Aerial Photograph). SLI175.

<5> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 1997, SCHEDULING DOCUMENT 30101, MPP 22 (Scheduling Record). SLI4464.

<6> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1992-1996, Lincolnshire National Mapping Programme, SK9471: LI.631.1-3 (Map). SLI3613.

<7> Heaton, A.M., 1990, Skellingthorpe Decoy: A Fenland Feature Near Lincoln, - (Unpublished Document). SLI4818.

Monument Types

• DECOY POND (Post Medieval - 1600 AD to 1840 AD)

Associated Events

• Site visit to duck decoy
• Aerial photo of duck decoy

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument
• SHINE

Sources and further reading

Related records

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