Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1556 to 1922. A dovecote situated within the grounds of Hawley manor. The dovecote is dated by its architectural features to the early 17th century (a plaque on the north eastern dormer window inscribed with the date 1556 is believed to be a 20th century insertion). The square, north east-south west aligned building has sides measuring 7 metres in length, and is constructed of red brick laid in English bond. It is topped by a pyramidal clay-tiled roof, lit by Dutch-style dormer windows on three sides. This is surmounted by a glazed lantern below a large, ogee-shaped cupola decorated with carved wooden corner pendants. Other external architectural details include a mid-height string course, leaded lights with coloured glass and a moulded wooden eaves cornice. Built within the lime washed interior walls are 549 integral nesting boxes, many edged with a parapet to stop yound birds from falling out. Below each row is a brick ledge which functioned as an alighting platform. Human access to the nesting boxes is by way of a wooden peg ladder leading up to two sets of beams fixed into the walls. The building remained in use as a dovecote until 1939. The cupola was renewed in 1922, and further repair work was carried out to the building after fire damage in 1970

Monument Types

• DOVECOTE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1556 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 5274 SUTTON-AT-HONE HAWLEY ROAD (south-west side) Hawley
Dovecot to south-west of Hawley Manor (formerly listed as TQ 57 SW 3/75 1.8.52 Columbarium at Hawley Manor)
II* GV
2. Dated 1556 on north-west gable but probably C17. The date does not appear on a photograph of 1890. Large red brick square pigeon house laid in English Bond. Pyramidal old tiled roof with curved gable to 3 faces. This is surmounted by an elaborate glazed louvre with ogee-shaped tiled canopy having pendants which were renewed in 1922. Moulded wooden eaves cornice. The interior contains 549 nesting boxes and 2 wooden beams with pegs used to gain access to the holes and a smaller ladder to gain access inside the roof. This is a fine example of a brick dovecot. (See article in Archaeologia Cantinna 1974). A.M. Listing NGR: TQ5477872229 (1)

Description from record TQ 57 SW 96:
[TQ 5488 7204] Dovecote [NR] (2)

[TQ 549 721] Howley Manor dovecote. (3)

A brick built square pigeon house, laid in English Bone, it has a tiled gabled roof with dormer windows surmounted by a tiled cupola. Above this was a weather vane though this was stolen in 1974 (see illustration). Built by Thomas Mayo, probably in the 17th century, it is dated 1556 but this date does not appear on a photograph of 1890 (4).

The canopy framework was renewed when the building was restored by G. E. Burgess in 1922. Adjoining are a pair of gates with recumbent lions for the Leigh family. They are probably the original stable gates. Scheduled. (4-5)

The building has been fully restored and is in excellent condition. (6)


Remained in use until 1939 and repaired in 1970 after fire (Schedule).

Additional bibliography. (7)

from the National Heritage List for England:
The monument includes a dovecote situated within the grounds of Hawley Manor on the northern edge of Hawley village, around 2km south of Dartford. The dovecote has been dated by its architectural features to the early 17th century (a plaque on the north eastern dormer window inscribed with the date 1556 is believed to be a 20th century insertion). The square, north east-south west aligned building has sides measuring 7m in length, and is constructed of
red brick laid in English bond. It is topped by a pyramidal clay-tiled roof, lit by Dutch-style dormer windows on three sides. This is surmounted by a glazed lantern below a large, ogee-shaped cupola decorated with carved wooden corner pendants. Other external architectural details include a mid-height string course, leaded lights with coloured glass and a moulded wooden eaves cornice.

The position of now removed, later lean-to garden structures is indicated by areas of render covering the lower courses of the north western and part of the south western walls. Access for humans is through a central, studded oak plank door through the north eastern wall. Built within the lime washed interior walls are 549 integral nesting boxes, many edged with a parapet to prevent the young birds from falling out. Below each row is a brick ledge which functioned as an alighting platform. Human access to the nesting boxes is by way of a wooden peg ladder leading up to two sets of beams fixed into the walls. A further peg ladder gives access to trap doors at the base of the lantern. At the centre of the brick floor is a square recess, interpreted as the setting for a now removed water tank. The building remained in use as a dovecote until 1939. The cupola was renewed in 1922, and further repair work was carried out to the building after fire damage in 1970. The dovecote is Listed Grade II*. Those parts of the later, Grade II Listed garden boundary walls and gateway which abut the north eastern and south eastern corners of the dovecote and which fall within the monument's protective margin, are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath them is included.

ASSESSMENT OF IMPORTANCE
Dovecotes are specialised structures designed for the breeding and keeping of doves as a source of food and as a symbol of high social status. Most surviving examples were built in the period between the 14th and the 17th centuries, although both earlier and later examples are documented. They were generally freestanding structures, square or circular in plan and normally of brick or stone, with nesting boxes built into the internal wall. They were frequently sited at manor houses or monasteries. Whilst a relatively common monument class (1500 examples are estimated to survive out of an original population of c.25,000), most will be considered to be of national interest,
although the majority will be listed rather than scheduled. They are also generally regarded as an important component of local distinctiveness and character.

The dovecote at Hawley Manor is a fine example of a post-medieval, ornamental dovecote and survives particularly well in mostly original condition. It incorporates high quality, unusual architectural details and retains rare internal features, including nest parapets, wooden access ladders and beams, and the water trough setting. (8)

<1> English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.

<2> OS 1:2500 1964 (OS Card Reference). SKE48206.

<3> DOE (IAM) AMs Eng 2 1978 115 (OS Card Reference). SKE40692.

<4> DOE (IAM) Record Form 25.7.47 (OS Card Reference). SKE40743.

<5> Arch Cant 89 1974 33-36 illus (OS Card Reference). SKE35990.

<6> DOE (IAM) Computer Printout undated (OS Card Reference). SKE40710.

<7> English Heritage, 1995, Monuments Protection Programme, Step 1 Report - Dovecotes (Unpublished document). SKE16578.

<8> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading