EDO6334 - Abbotsbury Swannery Duck Decoy Restoration Project; observations and recording 2011-12

A watching brief was carried out on behalf of Ilchester Estates during restoration of the Duck Decoy and its enclosing wall in accordance with conditions of scheduled monument consent. The restoration of the Decoy Pond involved no ground disturbance other than the driving in of new stakes around the margin and no archaeological observations were feasible. Subsequent works to the enclosing wall were generally non-invasive. It was concluded that the wall was of mid-17th century construction with later localised repairs. Surrounding posts and stakes were not regarded as historically significant. Organic material preserved beneath and within the foundations of the wall suggested that the wall was built on dry and slightly less maritime ground and that considerable top soil loss had taken place along the margins of the Fleet. There was little of archaeological significance.