BOOK OF DOVECOTES 



buildings, is agoodsixteenth-century dovecote; 

 square, and built oftwoandaquarter inch bricks. 

 The doorway is modern, but belowtheeaveson 

 the east wall is a curious little window having a 

 three-centred head. The roof is thatched, and 

 hipped on all four sides. 



Finally, a dovecote with fittings of unusual 

 style stands in the grounds of the thirteenth- 

 century Notley Abbey, at Long Crendon. It is 

 a good-sized building of stone, square, with a 

 tiled hipped roof, and is seemingly a survival 

 from the Middle Ages. But its most striking 

 feature will be found within. Projecting in- 

 wards from the walls are shorter walls, all fitted 

 with nest-holes. This arrangement, obviously 

 economicalof space, permitsof provision for be- 

 tween four and five thousand pairs of birds. One 

 is inclined to wonderwhythismethodof obtain- 

 ing much additional accommodation was not 

 oftenerused. Theonlypossibleobjection which 

 occurs is that of overcrowding and diminution 

 of air-space, a point on which the medieval 

 builder was not over strict. What is clear is that 

 the plan was seldom followed, this being the 

 only instance so far brought to notice. 



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