Monument record 830/3/7 - Good Wyfe Hamlet's House, Vale Royal House

The Good Wyfe Hamlet's House is shown on a view of the house on an early estate map of Vale Royal (probably 1616). However, in plan it is given as a Pigeon House. It may have been the Abbey Pigeon House converted into a later dwelling. The site was possibly accurately located during the geophysical survey. The Romans appear to be the first to have used dovecotes or pigeon house 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.