HISTORY OF DECOYS. 



171 



Decoys in the County of Sussex. 



Decoys in use. 

 Firle. 



Decoys not in use. 



Tangmere. 



Angmering. 



Tortington. 



Glynde. 



Ratton. 



Peasmarsh. 



Fir/e, 4 miles SE. of Lewes. — This is the only Decoy in use in 

 Susse.x. It is placed in Firle Park, the residence of Viscount Gage. It 

 consists of a piece of water of four acres, with only one Decoy pipe 

 attached to it. 



The takes are small, and the pipe is used merely to supply the owner's 

 table. Some years ago, before the drainage of Pevensey Marsh, as well 

 as the low lands round Lewes, the Firle Decoy was far more successful 

 than is now the case. 



This neighbourhood previous to its final drainage was much frequented 

 by Snipe, and within even the last half-dozen years as many as 500 Snipe 

 have been seen collected at a time on one field near Firle. 



Tangmere, 3 miles NE. of Chichester. — A Decoy existed in this 

 parish, and near the borders of the parish of Aldingbourn. On an Ordnance 

 Map of 18 13 its exact position is shown on Aldingbourn Rise, near Castle 

 Hill. 



The Decoy has been disused many years, and the South Coast 

 Railway (Brighton to Portsmouth) goes right through the site of the pool. 

 The old " Decoy House " has been lately renovated by the Duke of Rich- 

 mond, but all traces of the Decoy itself have long since vanished. The 

 land is part of the ancient domains of Halnaker House, the ruins of which 

 are i-^ miles north of Tangmere village, and which was last inhabited by 

 the Countess of Derby before the estate was added to the Goodwood 

 property. 



Besides the Decoy, there are various old Fish Stews in the vicinity of 

 Halnaker House, and which were, Avith the Decoy, appurtenances thereof, 



