Building record 1683/1/2 - Dovecote, c.160m NE of Newton Field Centre

An exceptionally large late C16/early C17 dovecote of squared coursed limestone

{1} Late C16/early C17. Squared coursed limestone, closely laid in tight courses, pointed to about 1 metre above ground level, then tail-bedded only. Collyweston stone slate roof gable copings with miniature gables to ends and tips, central coping ornamented with Tresham trefoils. 2 timber- framed hipped louvres to ridge. Quoins. Low entrances left and right, round- headed and chamfered, one right-hand one retaining heavy double-rebated door with huge lock, in situ on strap hinges. Left-hand one remained inside dovecote until recently, but has apparently been burnt (only scattered iron fragments from lock and hinge now survive). 2 rectangular chamfered openings at high level. Central tablet reading "MAURICE TRESHAM". Interior has thousands of L-shaped nesting boxes in 2 separate lofy chambers. An outstanding dovecote, exhibiting craftsmanship of the highest quality.

{3} One of the largest in the county. No traces remain of the stately home it was attached to. Photo.

{5}Standing building; post-medieval dovecote; only remaining structure from manor of Little Newton;

{6} An exceptionally large late C16/early C17 dovecote of squared coursed limestone, closely laid in tight courses, with stone slate roof and hipped lanterns. Central coping ornamented with Tresham trefoils. Two low round-headed and chamfered doors; one retains its heavy double-rebated door. Interior has around 2000 nesting boxes in two separate lofty chambers. Masonry is generally in fair/good order albeit there are a few isolated missing stones. Roof slates and lanterns are in poor condition. Some patch roof repairs undertaken in 2015 but re-roofing is required.

[8} Late 16th century; measures 53ft9in by 23ft7in. The height to the eaves is 20ft and to the ridge about 35ft. There are two large square lanterns on the ridge as the whole is two cotes divided by a central gable which has a flat stone coping over the roof. The kneelers of this gable are carved with trefoils and on the south face, below the carved kneeler, a recessed panel bears the name 'MAURICE TRESSHAM' in raised lettering. Each compartment has accomodation for two thousand pairs of birds. The three feet thick walls have a marked batter.
The dovecote's builder was one of several Maurice Treshams known to have existed in the family- he was born in 1530 and came into the estate when he was only 8 years old. He was the eldest son of John Tresham of Newton, geddington and Pilton who married Dorothy, daughter of Maurine Osborn; photographs;

{9} Undated photo.

{11} The dovecote at Newton-in-the-Willows was assessed by the Oxford Archaeological Unit in 1995 as part of the Monuments Protection Programme.

{12} Photo dated 1965;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 12/178 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), J12 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100754.

<3> 2012, Retro: Looking back on how the county used to live, (checked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN107865.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.115/Site 10 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<5> 1983, HBMC LIST OF SCHEDULED MONUMENTS, (unchecked) (Mention). SNN45436.

<6> Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2016, p. 53 (Report). SNN110747.

<7> Historic England, 2017, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2017, p. 60 (Report). SNN111090.

<7> Historic England, 2018, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2018, p. 60 (Report). SNN111434.

<8> Collins P., 1972, Dovecotes: With Particular Reference to the Dovecotes of Northamptonshire (Dissertation). SNN71824.

<9> Photographs of buildings in Newton (Photographs). SNN112917.

<10> Markham C.A., Northamptonshire Notes and Queries, p.163 (unchecked) (Series). SNN104795.

<11> OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT, 1995, Monuments Protection Programme Step 3 report: Site Evaluation for Dovecotes, Site 53 (Report). SNN113461.

<12> Miss June Swann, 1960s- 70s, Miss June Swann Photographic Archive (Photographs). SNN116665.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2025 12:40PM