Haughton Decoy. The date of construction is unknown. It is placed in the centre of a wood of 30 acres, and consists of a pool of 8 acres. It has two pipes, with wooden hoops, covered with wire netting. The fowl … are captured by lowering a trap-door at the entrance to the pipes, after they have entered them for food placed therein. The pipes are 35yds in length, 18ft wide across the entrance, and 11ft high. The water in the pipes is not more than 6in deep. The ancient fishponds and other appurtenances of the Decoy evince the great care and expense that has been bestowed on it and its surrounding in bygone days. This Decoy is, as far as can be ascertained, the oldest trap Decoy in our islands. (1)
It appears on a panoramic view of Haughton drawn c 1709. (3) (4)
(The castle) was used as a decoy in recent times. It was then the property of the Duke of Newcastle. (5)
This decoy has an overall area of 14 acres - not 8 as above. The ponds and pipes are now overgrown, but have a marshy base and doubtless still hold seasonal water. The central terraced gun mound has a maximum height of 8.8m, it is now thickly covered in blackthorn and dead timber; the remainder of the decoy is generally lightly wooded apart from the occasional clump of impenetrable evergreen. The present owner, a Mr Vallance of Mansfield, is now abroad, but it is generally understood locally that it is Mr Vallance's intention to retain the decoy as a wildlife refuge. (6)
The bailey has been reconstructed as part of the duck decoy in the late C17… Since the decoy and the motte and bailey are inextricable, perhaps the whole area of the decoy should be scheduled. (8)
See M 4452 for motte & bailey

Data Held (Document). SNT2647.

View, Knyff and Kip, Maps

<1> Payne-Gallwey R, 1886, The Book of Duck Decoys (Published document). SNT4551.

<2> VCH, 1910, Notts, p 401 (Published document). SNT1384.

<3> Thoroton Society, 1931, TTS, pp 6-7 (Published document). SNT351.

<4> Knyff & Kip, 1707-8, View of Haughton (Illustration). SNT1553.

<5> DOE, AM7 - undated, no author (Unpublished document). SNT52.

<6> Colquhoun FD, 1974, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT582.

<7> Hart CR, 1984, AM107 (Unpublished document). SNT754.

<8> Samuels JR, 1986, AM107 (Unpublished document). SNT1231.