Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1533 to 1566 Early 16th century dovecote in the grounds of former Leeds Priory, built of red and vitreous brick in English bond with diaper work. Ashlar stone quoins to south west corner. Probably built to serve the priory. Scheduled.

Monument Types

• DOVECOTE (Medieval to Modern - 1533 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 85 SW 78:
[TQ 8222 5290] Dovecot [NR] (remains of) [NAT] (1) At [TQ 8222 5291] is a building known as "Chapel" (TQ 85 SW 77) and to the south end is a contemporary square brick dovecot: it is roofless and derelict. (2) Smaller Dovecote at TQ 822 529 in grounds of former Leeds Priory, Grade II. Dovecot. Mid 16th century. Red and vitrious brick in English bond with diaper work. Ashlared stone quoins to south-west corner. Rectangular, approximately 20ft. broad and 18ft. long externally, standing to height of approximately 10ft. with wall approximately 3ft. 6 inches thick. Calletted stone plinth with chamfered stone coping. Roof fallen in. Narrow door less than 5ft. high towards north end of east wall, architrave of ashlared ragstone with three-centred arched head, plain chamfer and broach stops. Iron hooks for door to inside of architrave, and broad oak lintel. Interior: nesting boxes from floor to eaves except in north wall (rebuilt internally). Eleven boxes vertically, with continuous brick ledges to mouths of each row. Roughly one yard south of, and aligned with, larger dovecote. Scheduled as an Ancient Monument. (3-6) The pigeon house (or houses is at present still standing though in urgent need of repair. Originally a single building on a rubble plinth with diaper brickwork and a crowster gable it has at some point been divided in two to provide part pigeon house and part accommodation. All roof timbers and floor timbers have collapsed into the building. It would be worthwhile to recover and replace them as the roof is of interest. (7) Additional bibliography. (8) This small dovecot is as described. Most of the rotting roof timbers have been removed from the interior and some of the nesting boxes have collapsed. In urgent need of repair. (9) Additional bibliography. (10)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
LEEDS LOWER STREET TQ 822 529 (east side)
9/100 Smaller Dovecote at TQ 822 529 in grounds of former Leeds Priory GV II
Dovecot. Mid C16. Red and vitreous brick in English bond with diaper work. Ashlared stone quoins to south-west corner. Rectangular, approximately 20' broad and 18' long externally, standing to height of approx. 10' with walls approx. 3'6" thick. Galletted stone plinth with chamfered stone coping. Roof fallen in. Narrow door less than 5' high towards north end of east wall, architrave of ashlared ragstone with three-centred arched head, plain chamfer and broach stops. Iron hooks for door to inside of architrave, and broad oak lintel. Interior: nesting boxes from floor to eaves except in north wall (rebuilt internally). 11 boxes vertically, with continuous brick ledges to mouths of each row. Roughly 1 yard south of, and aligned with, larger dovecote. Scheduled as an Ancient Monument. (P. Tester, Archaelogoia Cantiana Vol. 93, 1977 and Vol. 94, 1978. J. Caiger, Two Kent Pigeon Houses, Archaelogia Cantiana Vol. 89, 1974). Listing NGR: TQ8220052900 (11)

Additional bibliography. (12-14)

<1> OS 1:2500 1968 (OS Card Reference). SKE48210.

<2> English Heritage, 1995, Monuments Protection Programme, Step 1 Report - Dovecotes (Unpublished document). SKE16578.

<6> Arch Cant 94 1978 (OS Card Reference). SKE36172.

<8> Arch Cant 93 1977 (OS Card Reference). SKE36113.

<10> Bldgs of Eng West Kent and the Weald 1980 370 (OS Card Reference). SKE38069.

<11> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<12> English Heritage, 1995, Monuments Protection Programme, Step 1 Report - Dovecotes (Unpublished document). SKE16578.

<13> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2001, ARCHAEOLOGICAL BUILDING RECORDING AND WATCHING BRIEF DURING CLEARANCE WORKS (Unpublished document). SKE7416.

<14> DOVECOTE AND TUDOR BUILDING AT LEEDS ABBEY FROM N.E. (Photograph). SKE1458.

Sources and further reading

Related records