WORCESTER 



nests, instead of the rather frequent com- 

 promise of giving one for every second or third 

 tier. 



As has been already pointed out, the pro- 

 vision of a potence in a square dovecote is of 

 comparatively rare occurrence — south of the 

 Tweed at least — and its utility obviously limit- 

 ed. One inclines to think that, where so found, 

 it has been introduced without due consider- 

 ation; the dovecote's builder having noticed 

 its presence in a circular or octagonal house, 

 admired it as a useful and ingenious contriv- 

 ance, and jumped too hastily to the conclusion 

 that it would prove of equal service in his own. 

 Experience would go far to disappoint his 

 hopes. 



Of square dovecotes built of stone there are 

 a dozen or more examples in Worcestershire. 

 Of these no less than six were present in one 

 village — that of Bretforton. One, said to be 

 of medieval age, is at the Manor House. A 

 second, with one wall rebuilt in brick and tim- 

 ber, bears the date 1630; while a third is of the 

 middle of the eighteenth century. 



Elsewhere, at Dunhamstead, a stone dove- 



89 



