At first glance this brick and stucco octagonal building rising out of the garden at Hellens Manor, Much Marcle, looks like it must be a gazebo. But no, further examination reveals that it is a dovecote. Also known as a columbarium, dovecotes were designed for the production of doves (pigeons) for the table. Their interiors typically have as many nest holes in the walls as can be squeezed into them, with ladders being used to retrieve the birds, eggs and nestlings. This example is prominently dated with the year of its construction - 1641. The large "W" denotes, Fulke and Margaret Walwyn, the owners of the manor at that time.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Nikon D5300
