Building record 3030/2/4 - Dovecote on Site of Manor House & Gardens, Wakerley

Roofless ruin of rectangular stone dovecote, C16-C18. Stone nesting boxes with alighting steps inside.

{1} Roofless ruin of rectangular stone dovecote. C16th-C18th. Stone nesting boxes with alighting steps inside. Partial collapse of north and east walls has occurred and other parts are unstable.

{2} Partial collapse of the internal east wall nesting boxes has occurred and the wall to the north has collapsed to a few courses above ground level. There is evidence of structural instability to the south and east elevations. It is likely that livestock is contributing to the displacement of stonework.
Positive discussions have been held with the agent about the need for repair and management.

{3} Dovecote, to S.E. of the earthworks of the gardens of the former Hall which was demolished at the end of the 17th century, is almost square in plan and now ruined. Nesting boxes, with stone slabs and alighting ledges for some 378 pairs of birds survive. It does not appear on the map of 1772 and may be the dovecote built by the Exeter estate in 1775; the masonry by Adam Elsam cost £13 os. 2d., the carpentry by Thomas Archer £2 9s. od., and it was thatched.

<1> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2008, Heritage at Risk Register, 2008, p.38 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN106096.

<2> Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2016, p. 52 (Report). SNN110747.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1984, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 155/Site 13 (Series). SNN77384.

<4> Historic England, 2017, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2017, p. 59 (Report). SNN111090.

<4> Historic England, 2018, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2018, p. 59 (Report). SNN111434.

<5> Kaye, J, 1991, Dovecote at Wakerley (Note). SNN112871.

<6> OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT, 1995, Monuments Protection Programme Step 3 report: Site Evaluation for Dovecotes, Site 54 (Report). SNN113461.

<7> Historic England, DOVECOTE MAIN STREET, WAKERLEY, BF084563 (Archive). SNN114958.

Record last edited

Dec 16 2024 12:45PM