Building record 1679/4/6 - Former Medieval/Post Medieval Dovecote

Dovecote, part of Chichele College. At least as early as 1591, probably demolished in the 19th century.

{1}{2} Immediately to the north of the garden stood a dovecote, presumably belonging to the medieval college, but which still stood in 1737. N.B. It is possible that the close in which the dovecote lay was also college property by 1737.

{3} Norden’s pictorial street plan of 1591 shows an isolated square building within Chichele College grounds, to the northwest of the college court. The building is depicted with a tiled dual-pitched roof, while its facade is peppered with dots which appear to represent openings. Probably the same gabled dovecote as shown on a map of 1737, just north of the college orchard. A chain-surveyed map of 1789 allows a better understanding of where the dovecote was sited. It shows it having a rectangular plan, its long axis aligned north-south. Subsequently shown on maps until 1899, by which time it appears to have been demolished. The 1884 Ordnance survey map seems to indicate that it is a dwelling by this period.

Archaeological investigation was undertaken during groundworks for an extension at 44 Saffron Road. The earliest activity was a buried soil dated to the 12th/13th centuries which may relate to the laying out of burgage plots at this date. Several of these tenements are known to have been acquired for Chichele College, established in the early 15th century. A deposit of made-up ground dating to the 13th/14th century was overlaid by a demolition spread comprising limestone and tile with increased density on the southern side of the site, suggesting that the dovecote lay further south than previously thought; immediately south of the present house (44 Saffron Road). A later 19th century building may have re-used some of the limestone from the demolished dovecote.

<1> COLBECK J., 1737, Higham Ferrers, 1737 (NRO Map 1004), (unchecked) (Map). SNN100548.

<2> Foard G.; Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Higham Ferrers (Medieval - Industrial), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100543.

<3> Wilson, M., 2017, Archaeological Investigation: 44 Saffron Road, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire, 2017 (Report). SNN111017.

<4> Crank, N. (Editor), 2018, South Midlands Archaeology (48), p. 72-3 (Journal). SNN111393.

Record last edited

Mar 18 2019 2:47PM