SNN114908 - Apethorpe Hall, Apethorpe, Northamptonshire. The Dovecot Roof - Historic Buildings Report

The circular Dovecote was built as an eye-catcher in the grounds of Apethorpe Hall in c.1740, probably to the design of Roger Morris. The roof structure was largely dismantled to carry out repairs in summer 2011, in association with a programme of recording and analysis. Its original domed roof structure survived in very complete form, though in dilapidated condition. Built of oak, the roof structure is ingenious, combining traditional carpentry with widespread use of ‘forelock’ bolts, a type which was a precursor to bolts with screw threads and nuts. However, the design form, with a dome rising above a low-pitched ‘skirt’ roof, was over-ambitious and suffered early structural failure. After falling out of use in the 19th century, the Dovecote was converted to serve as a water tower.