Doggets Playing Field is a large field used for dog-walking in the early hours and lots of football in the afternoon, especially in summer. It's a lovely patch of green for the local residents, with a basketball court, football goal posts and a children's play area.
Close by is a short walk to a few great local places such as a Fishing Lake (The Bobbing Ponds*) this can be accessed by walking along Stillwells Rd & then following the road through the white gate, follow the road called Doggetts Chase to the end and you'll find the Fishing Lake also known as The Bobbing Ponds* to the left, then you will be met with a beautiful farm and a duck pond with plenty of ducks wandering around.
"**The fishing ponds on Doggetts farmland have long been known by local people as “the Bobbin'”. The name comes from the fact that these ponds were said to have been used by witch hunters to prove the guilt of women, and a few men, accused of witchcraft or sorcery."
"Testing could take many forms and torture was permitted by law. Searching for unusual body marks, such as birthmarks or a third nipple which was taken to be a sign of the devil was allowed. A particular attachment to a pet cat, frog or other creature which could be seen as an incarnation of the devil was seen as certain proof of guilt. But the most common test was “swimming” the suspect.
Swimming meant that the accused would be attached to a stool or chair fixed to a long pole. The “bobbing stool” was lowered into deep water and the accused held under for some time. The pond at Doggetts farm was used to test those suspected locally.
If they were still alive on being raised again, they were guilty of witchcraft on the grounds that they must have renounced their baptism by consorting with the devil, therefore had no affinity with water and could not drown. If the accused drowned they would be seen as innocent, albeit dead!
If found guilty of witchcraft by any of these dubious means, the accused would be burnt at the stake in the middle ages. By the 17th century they would be sentenced to be hanged. Altogether, some 500 people were executed for witchcraft in England, 300 of them were convicted during the Civil War and period of Cromwell's government.
So, although today the “Bobbin' ” ponds are a tranquil area where people walk, fish and enjoy the nature reserve, they have a grizzly past. It would be interesting to know how many innocents lost their lives here just because they lived or behaved in an unusual way. Nicknames can go back a very long way."