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Summary

A circular brick dovecote about 20m diameter and 20m high with 16 tiers of nest holes in a regular grid pattern. Dated to 17th or 18th century, it originally had a conical slated roof.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1107484: DOVECOTE APPROXIMATELY 80 METRES EAST OF WARLEIGH HOUSE

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX46SE/3/1
• Old Listed Building Ref (II): 99127

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• DOVECOTE (XVI to XXI - 1501 AD to 2009 AD)

Full description

Copeland, G. W., 1937, Devon Dovecotes, 399 (Article in Serial). SDV266150.

Circular dovecote at Warleigh house, Tamerton Foliot. This circular dovecote is of brick, standing in grounds of mansion to which it belongs. It has a conical slated roof, surmounted by a circular lantern, also with a slated conical roof, embellished with a ball finial and vane. Had a potence, as, in the centre of the floor there remains the lower socket stone of the former central beam. The narrow doorway is of granite and is simply moulded. Over 500 nest holes. Probably late 16th-early 17th century. Still a little used by pigeons.

Hoskins, W. G., 1954, A New Survey of England: Devon, 484 (Monograph). SDV17562.

Department of Environment, 1956, Plympton St Mary RD, 5 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV140824.

17th century. Description similar to Copeland. Early use of brick in this area.

South Hams District Council, 1983, Proposed Conversion of Dovecote (Planning Application). SDV336627.

Plans, elevations and section of proposed conversion of dovecote into serviced cottage for elderly person at Warleigh House.

Timms, S. C., 1984, Dovecote at Warleigh House (Personal Comment). SDV336626.

Dovecote to be converted to residence. Architects plans in Parish File.

Department of Environment, 1984, South Hams, 10 (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV336648.

Dovecote. Circa early C18. Circular on plan. Red brick in roughly Flemish bone on stone rubble plinth. Conical scantle slate roof with woodern lantern also with conical roof and with ball finial with wind vane. Reused moulded granite 4-centred arch doorway with spandrels and old nail-studded door. The interior has about 500 nesting holes.

Cherry, B. + Pevsner, N., 1989, The Buildings of England: Devon, 889 (Monograph). SDV325629.

Dyer, M. J. + Manning, P. T., 1998, Objective 5B: Lower Tamar Valley Recreation and Land Management Iinitiative: Cultural Heritage Appraisal, 67 (Report - non-specific). SDV319814.

McCann, J., 2001, The Dovecote of Warleigh House, Tamerton Foliot, Devon (Report - Survey). SDV336649.

The dovecote at Warleigh House is situated on level ground c.60m east of the manor house and 25m west of a stone barn. The cylindrical brick building is c20m diameter and c20m high to the eaves with doorways to north and south. The roof has collapsed but timbers and stones from it remain inside. There are 16 tiers of nest holes in a regular grid pattern with 457 remaining. It is one of the largest and least altered dovecotes in devon; probably built in the second half of the 18th century.

Wills, A., 2008, Devon's dovecotes, an undergraduate investigation, Appendix 1T; Photo (Undergraduate Dissertation). SDV366424.

Circular, brick dovecote, dated to the early 18th century. About 7.5m high and 6m external diameter. It has a moulded granite lined door opening, possibly reused from an earlier building. The single oak door is the only opening. It is now in a poor state of repair. The roof structure has now gone and the top is covered with a general-purposed damp proof course lining held down by ropes and bricks. There are large vertical cracks through the brickwork on the south-west side. Interior not accessible.

Clark, J. + Richardson, D., 2013, Warleigh House (Un-published). SDV358401.

Ordnance Survey, 2025, Mastermap 2025 (Cartographic). SDV366286.

Circular structure shown.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4021 - Unnamed Event

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