Saham Toney - where there is a large pike in the mere.

In researching the Goffe family line, I come across Saham Toney, Norfolk, a village where Thomas Goffe was supposed to have been born in the late 1500s.  Looking for additional information about Saham Toney, I go to Wikipedia.  It is a village of some 1,500 souls in 680 homes.  Under the History section I discover about the most English village description possible.

There is evidence that Saham Toney was close to a significant Romano-British settlement. The Peddars Way footpath, partly using remaining Roman roads, passes close to the village.

The village derives part of its name from the 13-acre (53,000 m2) mere that is in the parish. The mere is well stocked with fish especially eels of two species, one noted for their delicious, and the other for their nauseous flavour, also one is of a peculiar shape. There are also large pike in the mere. The privately owned mere which is dangerous is thought to be as old as the last ice age. Access is by special permission of the owner only.