100 



COATHAM MARSHES, AND THE WILD DUCK DECOY 

 THAT FORMERLY EXISTED THERE. 



By R. Lofthouse. 



Coatham Marshes, a large expanse of flat low lying land, lies 

 to the west of the ancient Village of Coatham, which, according 

 to Atkinson (History of Cleveland), was at one time a place of 

 some importance. He writes of it thus, " From various items of 

 information touching East Cotum presented in the documents 

 connected with Gisburn Priory, and other religious houses, and. 

 with the Prus inheritance and succession, and the like, it is easy 

 to see that the Vill, in old times, certainly could not be described 

 as ' a mean, insignificant village,' any more than, perhaps, as a 

 ' fallen Sidon mourning by the waters.' There were ships trading 

 to the port, paying groundage and other dues, salt-works, a mart." 

 It was "a fishing town of some importance, and, with Redcar, 

 contributed towards the supply of different monastries with the 

 necessary article of fish," and it is said that in ancient times a 

 Church or Chapel existed there. 



The Marshes at the present day are about two miles long 

 from east to west by about three-quarters of a mile broad in the 

 widest part, and are bounded on the north by sand-banks 

 (through which passes the railway to Saltburn and "Whitby) of 

 slight and varying elevation, and covered in places with long 

 wiry grass, and in others with a close benty turf and an interest- 

 ing flora and fauna, the ground in places being literally covered 

 with various Helices, chiefly H. virgata, H. nemoralis, H. 

 ericetorum, etc. Beyond the sand-banks the waves break on a 

 fine broad etretch of level sand. On the south the Marsh is 

 bordered by cultivated fields. 



