These structures were homes for doves, originally built by monks to provide themselves with fresh meat through the winter.
But they were long a source of dispute with their peasant tenants, as the birds lived off the grain from their fields, so on top of their normal tithes to the church, they were being indirectly taxed also. When the monasteries were dissolved, dovecotes were often built on wealthy estates, and could be huge, and very expensive and ornate.
But with the food shortages that followed the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century it was decided that the doves consumed far more food than they produced, so a few were kept for ornament only. This last I find a bit strange, because in today’s world, feeding cattle with corn is generally seen as a good thing, but I don’t get the maths on this.
Can I take up residence? I can coo…
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If you are happy in confined spaces and can find your own grain, you are welcome!
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Very nice specimens of dovecote – where are they? I can remember visiting a very good one once which looked a bit like your top photo, but in a street setting, and can’t for the life of me remember where it was!
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the same place i find most of my pics – i google them. glad you liked my choices. the designs were probably regional, so it may be near the one you are thinking of. cheers
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