Monument record MDO8205 - Post medieval duck decoy ponds, Morden Heath, Wareham St Martin

A post medieval duck decoy complex consisting of two ponds, the northern ‘Outer Decoy Pond’, now ‘Old Decoy Pond’, which attracted wildfowl to the area, when they were caught in the southern pond, which was the more traditional Decoy Pond. The decoy complex was built just before 1724, and ceased operation in 1856. Earthwork remains of these post medieval decoy ponds are visible on aerial photographs of Morden Heath.

The Duck Decoy complex consists of two ponds, the northern ‘Outer Decoy Pond’, now ‘Old Decoy Pond’ (NGR SY 91284 91883) which attracted wildfowl to the area, when they were caught in the southern pond (NGR SY 391320 91329), which was the more traditional Decoy Pond. The decoy complex was built just before 1724, and ceased operation in 1856. <1>

Earthwork remains of these post medieval decoy ponds are visible on aerial photographs of Morden Heath, Wareham St Martin <3>. Remains of another potential decoy pond is also visible just to the south of these ponds (MDO30564). These features were digitally plotted during the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project.

Badger, J, Young, D, López-Dóriga, I, and Treasure, E, 2023, Morden Bog National Nature Reserve (NNR) Decoy Pond, Decoy Heath, Wareham, Dorset. Palaeoenvironmental Assessment Report (Unpublished document). SDO21126.

<1> Prendergast, E D V, 1986, The History of the Mordon Duck Decoy (Article in serial). SDO11598.

<2> DCMS, 2000, Scheduled Monument Notification 2000, 17-May-00 (Scheduling record). SWX2721.

<3> Dorset County Council, 2002, VAP (Aerial Photograph). SDO13141.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1320645 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 15 2024 11:12AM