Monument record 935/1/2 - Dovecote at site of Aston Old Hall, 40m east of Gamekeepers Cottage

Dovecote at site of Aston Old Hall, 1691, of Flemish bond brown brick on weathered plinth of large buff sandstone blocks. Now roofless. Recessed blocked doorway above plinth at front has flush sandstone quoins and lintel wih 1691 incised. Interior: formerly divided into two chambers by full-height wall from front to back - now removed. 13 rows of nesting boxes below eaves; six rows in each gable - more than 800 boxes in all, probably 1300-1400 when central wall existed. A splendid example, regrettably partly decayed. It use is documented in the Aston papers at Aston Lodge; the eggs, birds and the lime for manure, were all valued. Full architectural description (1). Dovecote originally free-standing, with date stone of 1691 above bricked up W doorway. Roofless, large in comparison to other egs, stands on plinth of sandstone blocks 11m x 5.4m. Built of brick, 12m high at gables, with plain brick band halfway up wall. Blocked doorway on W has sandstone quoins & lintel. 2 entrances at rear are probably recent. Dovecote originally divided into 2 chambers by a wall up to the roof. Wall now removed but toothing still visible. Probably originally provided c. 1300 nest boxes. In N wall is a window opening with a stone mullion, now blocked up, which originally provided an entrance for the birds. Dovecote at Aston is important as it is one of the few double dovecotes in England. The design & construction suggest it was the work of master builders (2).

<1> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, /3/41 (Report). SCH1934.

<2> English Heritage, Various, Old/Original Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Description), /30381 (Scheduling Record). SCH4606.

<2> English Heritage, Various, Schedule Entry (Scheduled Ancient Monuments Amendment), /30381 (Scheduling Record). SCH2950.