Building record 1332/2/9 - Watch Tower or Pigeon House

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Summary

Grade II listed Watch Tower. It was built in the 18th century as a dovecote and now converted into a house. It is brick with stone slate roof. The present building replaces an earlier building erected to enjoy the view over the formal garden and east to the Pennines. The tower stands on a hill whose west edge has been artificially steepened. The garden pools were designed to be viewed from this point. 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.

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Type and Period (3)

Full Description

Watch Tower, formerly listed as the Pigeon House. The garden pools were designed to be viewed from this point, at their east end. The tower stands on a hill whose west edge has been artificially steepened, though its original profile has been changed by Victorian terracing. It stands directly on the central axis of the line of pools, which fall away and narrow westwards. It is probable that the present building replaces an earlier building erected to enjoy the view over the formal garden and east to the Pennines(1). Present building is now a house, formerly a pigeon loft, built by Lord Mohun. Early C18 with later additions and alterations. Brick with stone slate roof. Full architectural description (2).


<1> Turner R C, 1986, The Gardens at Gawsworth Hall, /5 (Oral Communication). SCH3124.

<2> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 58601 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

<3> Various, Aerial photographs, NB 83 1953 Cambridge University Committee for Aerial Photography (Aerial Photograph). SCH128.

<4> English Heritage, 2001, Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest (Report). SCH2822.

Sources/Archives (4)

  • <1> Oral Communication: Turner R C. 1986. The Gardens at Gawsworth Hall. /5.
  • <2>XY Digital Archive: English Heritage. 2005. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. 58601. [Mapped features: #41141 58601; #54299 58601]
  • <3> Aerial Photograph: Various. Aerial photographs. NB 83 1953 Cambridge University Committee for Aerial Photography.
  • <4> Report: English Heritage. 2001. Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

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Location

Grid reference Centred SJ 893 698 (9m by 19m) (2 map features)
Map sheet SJ86NE
Civil Parish GAWSWORTH, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE EAST
Historic Township/Parish/County GAWSWORTH, GAWSWORTH, CHESHIRE

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Record last edited

Feb 16 2022 5:32PM