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Summary

Remains of a circular dovecote, built of limestone rubble and lined with nest boxes.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1172191: DOVECOTE AT SX 460 689

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX46NE/519
• Old Listed Building Ref (II)
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX46NE7

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• DOVECOTE (Built, Early Medieval to XIX - 1066 AD (Between) to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Copeland, G. W., 1943, Notes on Devon dovecotes: Part 4, 267-272, Pl. 28 (Article in Serial). SDV336450.

Gawton, Bere Alston. A circular structure built of a rubble of marble-like pieces of limestone and Hurdwick stone. Only fragments remain.

Royal Air Force, 1946 - 1949, Royal Air Force Aerial Photographs (Aerial Photograph). SDV342938.

Circular feature visible within copse.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950, SX46NE7 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV239487.

The remains of Dovecote at Gawton are on a round rocky mound within a bramble-grown part stone-walled circular enclosure. The only remaining fragment of the dovecote, which was a circular structure, built of a rubble of marble-like pieces of limestone and Hurdwick stone, is a piece of curved wall on the side about 13 feet long. The approximate height is 13 feet and the internal diameter about 15 feet when intact. The building was formerly known as Gawton Moorhouse and was a shelter for travellers (citing Copeland 1943; Hoskins and Finberg 1952).
Site visit 21st August 1950. Less than half of the southern arc of this circular building remains, standing to a height of 3.5m. A projecting ridge at the top of the wall possibly indicates the lower level of its roof. It is in ruinous condition.

Hoskins, W.G. + Finberg, H.P.R., 1952, Devonshire Studies, 157 (Monograph). SDV351522.

Department of Environment, 1987, Tavistock Hamlets, 85 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV221830.

Dovecote. Probably C17 or earlier. Granite rubble. Foundations and about 1/3 segment of the walls of circular dovecot, with pigeon holes inside from top to bottom, no perches.

Wills, A., 2008, Devon's dovecotes, an undergraduate investigation, Appendix 1G, Photo (Undergraduate Dissertation). SDV366424.

Located on an earthwork platform, about 40m diameter. Originally circular, less than a third of the building now remains. The standing remains are 4.2m high, the wall 1.2m thick. Of rubble limestone construction, the interior lined with next boxes. A blocked doorway is visible on the outside but inside it is covered with nest boxes suggesting a change in design or use.

Unattributed, 2025, Tithe Map Field Name (Unattributed Sites and Monuments Register Entry). SDV366439.

The field is called Culver House on the 1842 Tithe Map and Apportionment.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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