HISTOKY Of DECOYS. 153 



low that formerly, during exceptionally high tides, the sea frequently broke 

 into them over the sea-walls and laid many thousand acres under water, 

 and in many parts they are still liable to be flooded by freshwaters during 

 the winter. Though there were other considerable tracts of marsh lands 

 in this county, such as Kenn Moor, near Clevedon, NE. of the River 

 Yeo, it was, and indeed is, those previously named that are most haunted 

 by wildfowl, and about which the Decoys of Somerset are placed. 



Decoys in the Countv of Somerset. 

 Decoys in use. 



Sharpham Park. 

 Shapwick. 



King's Sedgemoor (3). 



Decoys not in use. 



Meare. Stoke. 



Compton Dundon. Nyland. 



Aller. i Cheddar Water. 



Godney. 

 Westbury. 



Kenn Moor. 



SJiarphant Park, 2 miles SW. of Glastonbury, formerly attached to 

 the Abbey of Glastonbury. The Decoy is situated between Glastonbury 

 and Walton. 



It is now part of the estate of Lord Kilcoursie, and is at present let 

 to Mr. G. Porter, the tenant of the farm. 



This Decoy is the most ancient in the county, and all the other Decoys 

 in Somerset closely resemble it in shape and size, and were without doubt 

 copied from it. For a plan of it, see plan facing page 93, Berkeley Decoy. 



It is placed in what was formerly the Deer Park of the Abbot of 

 Glastonbury, and had — or for that matter may have now, if by necessity 

 enforced — a faculty, giving extensive rights of stopping trespass, and 

 enforcing quiet in its neighbourhood should occasion demand. In the 

 vicinity of the Decoy are the remains of the Fish House and Stews, 

 that, together with the wildfowl obtained in the neighbourhood, supplied 

 the refectory of the Monks of Glastonbury and the table of its Abbot. 



X 



