Bruton Dovecote

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Bruton Dovecote
Bruton Somerset Dovecote.jpg
Location Bruton, Somerset, England
Coordinates 51°06′29″N 2°27′11″WCoordinates: 51°06′29″N 2°27′11″W
Area 6 square metres (65 sq ft)
Built 16th or 17th century
Owner National Trust
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name Dovecote about 370 metres South of Bruton Church (also known as
Pigeon Tower)
Designated 24 March 1961[1]
Reference no. 1056424
Scheduled monument
Official name Prospect tower 230 m south of King's School
Designated 14 February 1953[2]
Reference no. 1019895
Bruton Dovecote is located in SomersetBruton Dovecote
Location of Bruton Dovecote in Somerset
The Bruton Dovecote is a limestone tower that was built between the 15th and 17th
century in Bruton in the English county of Somerset. The structure was once used as
a dovecote, and may have been a watchtower or prospect tower prior to this. It is a
Grade II* listed building[1] and scheduled monument.[2][3][4]

It has been associated with Bruton Abbey and the Berkley family who owned the
estate after the dissolution. It is known that the conversion to house pigeons and
doves took place around 1780. It was acquired by the National Trust in 1915 and
they have managed the site since then undertaking restoration work.

Contents
1 History
2 Location
3 Architecture
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
History
Though the Bruton Dovecote's date of construction is not known precisely, the
structure was built some time between the 15th and 17th century.[2] Architectural
historian Lydia Greeves suggests that the building was once within the deerpark of
Bruton Abbey and was adapted by the monks from a gabled Tudor tower.[5] However,
John and Pamela McCann, authors of The Dovecotes of Historical Somerset, claim that
the structure was not built until after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the
1530s. The authors claim that the Berkley family, who acquired the lands of the
Abbey, constructed the building as a prospect tower.[6] Dendrochronological dating
commissioned by the National Trust found that timber in the door and window frames
came from trees felled between 1554 and 1586.[7]

The conversion to be a dovecote took place around 1780.[8] Pigeons and doves were
an important food source historically kept for their eggs, flesh, and dung.[9]
Although it is now a roofless ruin with some of the windows blocked up, it
previously had a chimney and the fireplace can still be seen.[1] The National Trust
acquired the freehold from Sir Henry Hugh Arthur Hoare of the Hoare baronets, whose
family seat was at Stourhead, in 1915.[10] The tower was subsequently designated as
a scheduled monument in 1953 and a listed building (Grade II*) in 1961.[1][2]
In the 1980s the dovecote was inspected as part of an investigation into an
outbreak of psittacosis (also known as parrot disease or parrot fever), a zoonotic
infectious disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydophila psittaci, at the adjoining
King's School. No cause was found for the infection.[11] In 2010 restoration work
was undertaken including repairs to the tops of the walls; these are exposed as the
building no longer has a roof. Wall ties were used on the south west corner where
the masonry was bulging.[12] In addition, car parking and educational signage was
provided. This was partially funded by South Somerset council, Bruton Town Council
and the Heritage Lottery Fund to a total of £105,000.[13][14][15]

Location
The dovecote stands on Lusty Hill to the south of Bruton overlooking the town. It
is approximately 370 metres (1,210 ft) south of the Church of St Mary,[1] and 230
metres (750 ft) south of King's School.[2] It is on the Leland Trail.[16]

Architecture
The square tower was built of local coursed oolitic limestone with Doulting stone
dressings. The walls are 2 feet 8 inches (0.81 m) thick at the base,[6] and the
tower is 6 square metres (65 sq ft) in plan.[2] The doorway has an ovolo moulded
arch which is 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) high. This suggests a construction date in
the late 16th or early 17th century. Another entrance was made for cattle to enter
at a later date but this has been blocked up. Several of the windows have also been
filled with stone.[6] On the north-east face there were two-light chamfered
mullioned windows on each floor while on the north-west wall they were one- and
two-light windows.[1]

It has over 200 pigeon holes, which were installed after the original construction,
possibly before 1780.[2][17][18] Six tiers of nest boxes remain; however there were
previously several more, possibly as many as 850. They are made of regular blocks
of tufa each around 8 inches (200 mm) square and 16 inches (410 mm) deep.[6]