Monument record 1679/5/7 - Castle dovecote to the rear of the Green Dragon hotel

Remains of medieval dovecote located in the outer bailey of Higham Ferrers castle

{1} Subject to Trial Excavation of November 1991 by Northamptonshire Archaeology Unit.

{2} Rectangular dovecote 36ft x 16ft.10ins. Internally. The east & west end walls stand 11ft high.

{3} Rectangular dovecote 36ft x 16ft.10ins. Internally. The east & west end walls stand 11ft high. Photograph.

{4} Documentary references to two dovecotes within the outer ward of the castle.

{5} Rectangular dovecote 36ft x 16ft.10ins. Internally. The east & west end walls stand 11ft high.

{7} Documentary references to two dovecotes within the outer ward of the castle.

{8} In existence in 1313 as part of Higham Ferrers castle. The building is in need of attention.
- Film 2, photo 18,19.

{9} {10} A dovecote is recorded with the capital messuage in 1298, while in 1313-14 the farm of two dovecotes within the courtyard was 6/8d. In 1535 the dovecote below the manor was held by the warden of the College and in 1649 it is described as lying in the Castle Yard and being well stored. It is depicted by Eayre in circa 1720 as a roofed building, and it is again identified on the 1789 map. A wall of this building is still standing in the garden of the Green Dragon.

{11} Three hand-dug test pits were excavated within the structure of the dovecote on behalf of Higham Ferrers Tourism Board to evaluate the site of the Dovecote. The standing fabric comprises three sides, one of which is rebuilt, of a rectangular building, roofless and with a largely grassed centre. An accumulation of 19th to 20th century waste material covered the entire dovecote interior to a depth of c 0.65m deep.

{13} Remains of dovecote as described by authy.2. GP AO 62/53/8 eastern aspect.

{14} No change.

<1> 1992, SMR REPORT FORM, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN48873.

<2> 1915, The Court Rolls of Higham Ferrers, p.369 (unchecked) (Series). SNN37519.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP96NE7 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<4> Steane J., 1974, The Northamptonshire Landscape, p.180 (unchecked) (Book). SNN5137.

<5> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.267 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<6> 1855, Associated Architectural Societies Reports, p.369 (unchecked) (Series). SNN57421.

<7> Kerr W.J.B., 1922, Higham Ferrers Castle and Park, 154 (unchecked) (Article). SNN60514.

<8> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

<9> Foard G.; Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Higham Ferrers (Medieval - Industrial), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100543.

<10> Bainbridge T., 1789, Higham Ferrers, 1789 (NRO Map 1000), (unchecked) (Map). SNN100544.

<11> Patenhall M.; Soden I., 2007, Archaeological Evaluation of The Higham Ferrers Dovecote, Higham Ferrers Castle, Northamptonshire, April 2007, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105845.

<12> Chapman P. (Editor), 2008, Archaeology in Northamptonshire in 2007, p.299 (unchecked) (Article). SNN106430.

<13> Seaman, B H, 1962, Field Investigators Comments, F1 BHS 23-MAY-62 (Note). SNN113373.

<14> Seaman, B H, 1970, Field Investigator's Comments, F2 BHS 16-JUL-70 (Notes). SNN111541.

Record last edited

Jan 17 2024 3:02PM