Summary

Buckton Dovecote, 375m north west of South Buckton House.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 12 May 2016. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

The monument includes the remains of a dovecote of late medieval/early post-medieval date, situated on gently sloping ground just north west of the village of Buckton. The dovecote is of tun-bellied type and is beehive-shaped with an internal diameter at its base of 3.6m. The dovecote has a door on its south side and the remains stand to a height of approximately 3m to 4m with the north side being substantially preserved and with portions of the other sides remaining. The dovecote has 12-13 rows of nest holes surviving, making a total of roughly 250. The dovecote was first mentioned in documentary sources in 1626. Buckton Dovecote is a listed building Grade II.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Dovecotes are specialised structures designed for the breeding and keeping of doves as a source of food and as a symbol of high social status. Most surviving examples were built in the period between the 14th and the 17th centuries, although both earlier and later examples are documented. They were generally freestanding structures, square or circular in plan and normally of brick or stone, with nesting boxes built into the internal wall. They were frequently sited at manor houses or monasteries. Whilst a relatively common monument class (1500 examples are estimated to survive out of an original population of c.25,000), most will be considered to be of national interest, although the majority will be listed rather than scheduled. They are also generally regarded as an important component of local distinctiveness and character.

Buckton Dovecote is of an uncommon tun-bellied type. The monument provides information on the keeping of doves as a source of food, an important practice during the late medieval and early post-medieval periods.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:- 6058

Source: Historic England