Lakes Guides, topics |
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| dovecotes, Cumbria | ||||
| county:- | Cumbria | |||
| Pigeons for Pies |
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| Domestic pigeons were once kept to provide meat for the table; pigeon is delicious.
Special buildings, called dovecotes, were built to house the birds handy to the house.
Or a pigeon loft was provided in a barn. |
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 BRF21.jpg |
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| The cost of keeping the pigeons was not high, they fed themselves from the countryside
- something which does not endear them to the arable farmer. Today they are a nuisance.
Supplementary feed might be needed in winter, especially with lying snow. The dung
from the pigeon loft was valuable, ten time better than ordinary dung according to
some authorities. Their feathers and down served for pillows. |
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| Modern dovecotes grace numerous gardens, but these are for pet pigeons, not a food
supply. |
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| hearsay:- | John F Curwen, 1913 reports that:- |
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| hearsay:- |
"... For a long period the aristocracy only were allowed to keep pigeons, and even
as late as 1615 we find the Lord Chief Justice Coke sending instructions to the constables
of every hundred that "no dove-houses were to erected or maintained by any but the
lord of the manor and the prason."" |
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| Curwen 1913 |
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| BXP87.jpg |  |
barn, St Bees, NX97631216 -- Dovecote, and door. (photo 16.11.2012) | ||
| BYA15.jpg |  |
Clifton Rectory, Clifton, NY53202707 -- Dovecote. (photo 22.3.2013) | ||
| BQV47.jpg |  |
Cumpston Hill, Mallerstang, SD77879767 -- (photo 18.6.2009) | ||
| BLZ48.jpg |  |
Graythwaite Hall, Satterthwaite, SD37059126 -- Dovecotes. (photo 28.4.2006) | ||
| BUS12.jpg |  |
Holker Hall, Lower Holker, SD35907738 -- Dovecote by the sunken garden. (photo 9.6.2011) | ||
| BQA66.jpg |  |
house, Preston Patrick, Kaker Mill, SD54288431 -- Dovecote in the garden. (photo 6.2.2009) | ||
| BXS20.jpg |  |
house, Wetheral (3), NY46615451 -- Dovecote. (photo 30.11.2012) | ||
| CED14.jpg |  |
Ivy Cottage, Rickerby, NY41445708 -- Dovecote. (photo 23.10.2015) | ||
| BRF21.jpg |  |
Kirkland Hall Cottages, Kirkland, NY65063256 -- Dovecote. (photo 3.8.2009) | ||
| BSA91.jpg |  |
Little Langdale, Lakes, Langdales, NY31580339 -- Dovecote, (photo 1.2.2010) | ||
| BOF55.jpg |  |
Old Hall Farm, Ulpha, SD18239245 -- Dovecote. (photo 1.10.2007) | ||
| BSS80.jpg |  |
Soulby, NY74921103 -- Dovecote (photo 11.5.2010) | ||
| BUY93.jpg |  |
Tithebarn, Laversdale, NY47646262 -- Dovecote. (photo 22.7.2011) | ||
| BQI78.jpg |  |
Wath, Ravenstonedale, NY68380512 -- (photo 3.4.2009) | ||
| BQJ88.jpg |  |
Whitecloserigg, Arthuret, NY45627079 -- Dovecote holes in the barn gable; now inhabited by jackdaws. (photo 11.4.2009) | ||
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| references:- |
Beacham, M J A: 1990: Dovecotes in England, an Introduction and Gazetteer: Trans of
the Ancient Monuments Society: vol.34 Cooke, A O: 1920: Book of Dovecotes: Foulis, T N : 1995: Dovecotes, Monument Protection Programme Report: English Heritage Hansell, Peter &Hansell, Jean: 1988: Doves and Dovecotes: Millstream Books Hansell, Peter &Hansell, Jean: 1988: Dovecote Heritage: Millstream Books Hansell, Jean: 1998: Pigeon in History: Millstream Books Hansell, Peter &Hansell, Jean: 2001: Dovecotes: Shire Publications (Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire):: ISBN 0 7478 0504 0 Thomas, Michael: 1980: Dovecotes: National Trust &Avoncroft Museum of Buildings |
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