Details

The monument includes the standing and buried remains of a small dovecote
located on rising ground immediately south of Pumphouse Farm. It is a Listed
Building Grade II, and is believed to be early 17th century in date.
The dovecote is timber framed with brick infilled panels to each wall and a
two gabled roof of red plain clay tiles. The roof is surmounted by a timber
cupola with two rows of entry holes and alighting ledges. The cupola is
rendered with arch braced gables, and a plain tile roof. The dovecote measures
2.8m by 2.8m by 6m high and stands on a 1.3m high brick plinth. The plinth is
constructed of late 18th century-early 19th century brick upon a foundation
of earlier 17th century brick. It is believed that a lower level of timber
framed panels originally existed and was later replaced by the plinth.
Access to the dovecote is via a small, 0.5m by 0.5m, wooden door located at
the top of the plinth on the western side, in an infilled original doorway
which measured approximately 0.75m by 1.3m high.
The interior of the dovecote contains timber `L' shaped nestboxes without
alighting ledges.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.
It includes a 1 metre boundary around the archaeological features,
considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

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.

The dovecote immediately south of Pumphouse Farm survives as a well preserved
example of a smaller domestic 17th century timber framed dovecote. Although
once quite numerous, only a small number of buildings survive which retain
fixtures and fittings, and this dovecote is one of only a small number of such
structures to be identified for protection.

Source: Historic England