Dovecote 170m north east of the junction between Main Street and Exton Road

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 Empingham is a well preserved example of a circular stone dovecote which retains its nest boxes. The three storey elevation is unusual in a circular dovecote of this date.

Details

The monument includes the standing and buried remains of a circular stone dovecote, located 170m north east of Exton Road crossroads on rising land behind the village. The dovecote is a Listed Building Grade II of 17th or 18th century origin and is built of well-dressed grey stone. It has three stories and is entered on the ground floor by a square headed door. There are two sets of round headed windows; those on the first floor face east and west and are larger than those on the second floor which face north and south. A protruding slate string course is located close to the top of the walls, immediately beneath the upper windows. The modern conical roof is of wooden shingles with a wooden ball finial. The interior retains its nest boxes, with projecting stone alighting ledges, although no potence survives.

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:

30067

Legacy System:

RSM

End of official list entry

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