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Summary

Site of a ruined dovecote that stood about 90m west of Oakenbury Farm. It was almost square, the only square stone built dovecote so far recorded in the county. The Orchard in which it stood was called Pigeons Orchard.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX64NW/4/1
• Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division: SX64NW18

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• DOVECOTE (Built, Medieval - 1066 AD (Between) to 1539 AD (Between))

Full description

South West Heritage Trust, 1838-1848, Digitised Tithe Maps and Transcribed Apportionments (Cartographic). SDV359954.

To the west of Okenbury is a field named as Pigeons Orchard on the Ringmore Tithe Apportionment (Plot 89). The rectangular building within the plot maybe the dovecote.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

Rectangular building depicted.

Copeland, G. W., 1956, Notes on Devon dovecotes: part 5, 198 (Article in Serial). SDV129118.

Okenbury. About 90 metres west of the farm called Okenbury stands a ruined dovecote built on the living rock. Almost square, fairly well built of local stone. The only square stone built dovecote so far recorded in the county. The south wall is intact. Most of the east wall and a fragment at the south end of the west wall still stand. It is possible that the lower courses of the west wall lie buried under debris, etc. In the south wall are 12 tiers of nest holes, alternately disposed, about 7 to each tier, measuring about 152mm by 165mm. There are 11 tiers in the east wall and the apparent remains of a large opening at the top to the north, which may have been for the entrance and egress of the birds if the structure had no glover or lantern. There are about 9 holes traceable in the fragment of the west wall. About 150 holes in all. No alighting edges. The holes are L-shaped on plan. The dovecote was probably originally 5.79 metres square. At the south end is a stone built pentice, with doorways against the cote, east and west. There are the remains of a doorway whose wooden lintel lies nearby. There may have been a pentice on the north side also. The original doorway to the dovecote may have been in the west wall. Okenbury is an ancient building, mentioned in domesday. Chapel licensed there until 1410. A tradition that the chapel, which stood in the courtyard near the mansion was used as a pigeon house and was destroyed by fire about 1850. The dovecote was already in ruins by then.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1980, SX64NW18 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV140874.

Ruined dovecote to the west of Okenbury Farmhouse. A fairly well-built structure of local stone which must have originally been about 19ft square with some 150 nest holes.
The south wall most of the east wall and the south end of the west wall are still standing, and the lower course of the rest of the west wall may lie buried under vegetation. The stone-built pentice on the south side is a later addition. There are indications that there was also a pentice on the north side. The doorway was probably in the west wall (citing Copeland 1956).

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

Site visit 5th March 2008. No remains located.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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