Building record 2024/1/3 - Dovecote at Puddington Old Hall

Outbuilding 30m west of Puddington Old Hall. Formerly stable and dovecote. 18th and 19th century in date. Irregularly coursed sandstone blocks and some English garden wall bond orange brick. Welsh slate roof. 1 and 2 storey, 3- bay east front. At left end is a board door and a 9-pane window, with some ventilation slots. Right end bay is taller and under gable. Has door and loading bay above. 3 holes to pigeon loft above. Line of ventilation slots to rear. Interior - right end has dovecote with 2 tiers of nest boxes with brick ledges on all 4 sides. The Romans appear to be the first to have used dovecotes to give a supply of fresh meat though there are no remains of such structures in Britain. Dovecotes and pigeon houses were introduced to Britain from France in the 11th century. They were normally circular buildings with pivoting ladders that allowed the removal of young birds and eggs. They represent an important source of fresh meat for the estates they were built on and the droppings were used as fertiliser. In the 16th and 17th centuries the droppings were as essential source of saltpetre used in the manufacture of gunpowder. In Medieval times, they were allowed only on the estates of lords or monastic land. Laws were passed in the 18th century, to enable others to build them.