Dovecote immediately north of Hogsbush Farm House

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 north of Hogbush Farm House survives well and is a good example of this class of building retaining much of its original character. The dovecote is particuarly interesting in having a carved armorial panel with merchants mark.

Details

The monument includes a dovecote situated immediately north of Hogsbush Farm House in the village of West Yatton affording views over the valley of the By Brook to the west. The dovecote, which is Listed Grade II, is square 7m by 7m and approximately 8m high. It is of rubblestone construction and has a stone tiled roof with coped gables. There is a stone tiled, pyramidal roofed wooden louvre on the ridge of the roof. On the south side there is a low doorway with timber lintel, with a modern barred opening directly above. On the east and west sides there are small openings in the gable ends, the opening to the west with a stone lintel. The inside is lined with simple nest boxes which are coated with lime wash. To the right of the door there is a stone carved armorial panel with a merchants mark carved into it. The mark is attributed to Thomas Wilde, a Bristol Merchant who owned the property in 1640. The concrete apron fronting the building on the south side is excluded from the scheduling, as is the cattle feeding trough and steel hooped dividers, although the ground beneath these features 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:

31659

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Aubrey, J, Wiltshire Topographical Collections, (1862), 120

End of official list entry

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