Description

16th century. 3-stage, circular tower later converted into dovecot. Coursed rubble.

NW (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: stone entrance leading to vaulted basement, shot holes from battle or siege now blinded; outside stone stair leading to 2nd stage (access to upper stage internal).

3 blinded shot holes at basement level, gun loops on NW elevation. Later conical slate roof with metal ball and spike finial surmounting.

INTERIOR: not seen, 2000; upper stages both contain 367 nest holes constructed from vertical partitions of red sandstone in 13 tiers.

Statement of Interest

Described as a neat mansion in 1851, the house was acquired in the early 1700's by Lord Edmonstone who was developing the local coalfields. The house has undergone many modernisations. A wing added to the rear in 1835, which was originally the front of the house. The house is listed separately, although a curtain garden wall links this dovecot tower. The dovecot has survived well intact. It is thought to have originally been a 16th century defensible tower whose upper chamber was converted to house pigeons. It still contains gun loops in the lower stage's 3 ? ft thick stone walls, whilst the upper portion has the remains of 367 nest holes. Its overall circumference is 46ft. The conical slate roof is newer.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17828357

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock