Monument record 1230/0/1 - Dovecote at Tabley House

A grade II listed dovecote at Tabley House dating from around 1760. 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. In Medieval times, they were allowed only on the estates of lords or monastic land. In the 18th century, laws were passed to enable others to build them.