Dovecote 125m north of Minster Lovell Hall

Reasons for Designation

Dovecotes are specialised structures designed for the breeding and keeping of doves as a source of food and as a symbol of high social status. Most surviving examples were built in the period between the 14th and the 17th centuries, although both earlier and later examples are documented. They were generally freestanding structures, square or circular in plan and normally of brick or stone, with nesting boxes built into the internal wall. They were frequently sited at manor houses or monasteries. Whilst a relatively common monument class (1500 examples are estimated to survive out of an original population of c.25,000), most will be considered to be of national interest, although the majority will be listed rather than scheduled. They are also generally regarded as an important component of local distinctiveness and character.

The dovecote at Minster Lovell survives well and retains all its interior features. It is documented as being part of the farm complex associated with the adjacent manor and provides evidence for this part of the medieval agricultural economy.

Details

The monument includes a 15th century dovecote, situated 125m north of the remains of Minster Lovell Hall. The dovecote is circular in plan and measures 6.2m across internally. Its oolite stone walls are 1.2m thick and, including its stone slate roof, it stands c.5.5m high. The interior walls contain 18 tiers of nest holes and every row has a perching ledge. Of the 600 nesting holes, those in the bottom tier have now been blocked. The dovecote formed part of the economy of the adjacent farm which provided for the needs of the manor to which they belonged. It is known that the surviving manor and its associated buildings were built in the early 1400s by William Lovell, the seventh baron of Tichmarsh. The site had already been home to the family since at least AD 1100. The dovecote, which is also a Listed Building Grade II*, is in the care of the Secretary of State and is open to the public. Excluded from the scheduling is the stone boundary wall which runs around the dovecote and falls within its 2m protective margin, although the ground beneath is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

21803

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Taylor, A J, Minster Lovell Hall, (1992), 15
Taylor, A J, Minster Lovell Hall, (1992), 3

Other
PRN 3175, C.A.O., Dovecote, (1993)
Old County Number OXON 8, ENGLISH HERITAGE, FILE AA 66263, (1993)

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