BOOK OF DOVECOTES 



church, if only to read the following quaint in- 

 scription, quoted by Mr. H. A. Evans in his 

 Highways and Byways in Oxford and the Cots- 

 wolds; it will be found upon a brass inside the 

 porch, and runs: 



The Dissection and Distribution of 

 Giles Handcox 



Who earth bequeathed to earth to Heaven his soule 

 To friends his love to the poore a five pound dole 

 To remaine for ever and be imployed 

 For their best advantage and releefe 



In Dagling worth 



April the 9. 1638. 



Mr. Evans, by the way, deserves mention 

 here as one of the few writers in the Highways 

 and Byways series who pays any marked at- 

 tention to those old buildings which are our 

 chief delight. Mr. Lucas, for instance, passes 

 over the Sussex dovecote at Trotton without 

 giving it a single word. 



A very similar dovecote of almost equal ex- 

 ternal attraction exists at Bibury, near North- 

 leach. Though circular, it carries on its roof 

 a small square lantern mounted on four pillars, 

 the whole seemingly a modern addition; there 

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