Building record 941/0/29 - Dovecote approx 27 metres east of The Dovecote

Circular dovecote probably of 16th century date.

{1} Dovecote. Probably C16. Squared coursed lias with stone slate roof. Circular with battered sides and conical roof surmounted by glazed lantern with finial. Moulded stone string course and cornice. Single plank entrance with stone lintel. Probably restored in C19. Interior: Approximately 400 nesting boxes; loft with ladder.

{3} Probably one of the smallest in the county. The whole of the lantern and roof is comparatively new, having been placed on the old walls by the late Earl Spencer, about the year 1848. Small doorway 4'3" high and 2'1" wide. The building is 18' in diameter outside, the walls being about 3' thick; from the gound to the string course is 7'6" and the same height to the eaves of the roof and the total height is about 30'. Inside it is divided by a modern floor, at the height of the string course. Local tradition affirms that it was erected in c1320 at the time of the rebuilding of the church, but considered to be at least a hundred years later than that.

{4} Photographs;

{5} Undated photo.

{6} The dovecote at Upper Harlestone assessed by the Oxford Archaeological Unit in 1995 as part of the Monuments Protection Programme. It was recommended for Scheduling.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 11/213 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G01 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<3> 1905, Northamptonshire Notes and Queries, p. 97-8 (Series). SNN58542.

<4> Collins P., 1972, Dovecotes: With Particular Reference to the Dovecotes of Northamptonshire (Dissertation). SNN71824.

<5> Photographs of buildings in Harlestone (Photographs). SNN112560.

<6> OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT, 1995, Monuments Protection Programme Step 3 report: Site Evaluation for Dovecotes, Site 4 (Report). SNN113461.

Record last edited

May 19 2022 9:01AM