TUDOR HOUSES IN DORSET. 63 



but with the change of fashion during four centuries, there 

 have been so many re-arrangements that the original features 

 have become obliterated. At Athelhampton new gardens in 

 the Tudor style have been very skilfully laid out, which give a 

 good idea of their appearance. 



DOVE COTE. 



Pigeons were a useful addition to the larder, so that 

 "columbaria" are often included in ancient deeds. The 

 cote was usually of stone, square or octagonal, with a gabled 

 roof and a cupola at the top. The circular type, however, 

 seems to have prevailed in Dorset, as at Athelhampton (D.F.C. 

 XXXII, p. Iv.) and Melplash. In the centre of the interior 

 is a revolving ladder fixed so that it can be rotated for 

 examination of the broods in the square nesting holes 

 (Illustrated in Gardens Old and New I, 147). There are also 

 good examples at Godlingston (Hutchins 1 1, 669), Clifton Maubank 

 (Ibid., IV, 425) and Bingham's Melcombe. At Woodsford the 

 second floor of the central eastern tower was used for pigeons, 

 the holes for nesting remaining in the wall above, though the 

 tower no longer exists (Ibid., I. 453). There was of course one 

 at Shaftesbury Abbey (Ibid., Ill, 37). 



See a deed of 25 Eliz. at Marnhull (S. and D. N. & Q. VI, p. 

 169) and 37 Eliz. (Ibid. 254), when four pigeon cotes were at 

 Tolpuddle, though there is none there now. Later they were 

 introduced in the garden design, merely as an ornamental 

 feature. (See description of early one of 1326 in Ardicvologia 

 XXXI, p. 194). 



FISH POND. 



Fish pools ("stagna") and stews ('vivaria") contained fresh 

 fish for fast days, a welcome change from the diet of the salt 

 or dried sort. After the Reformation they fell into disuse or 

 became merged in the garden scheme. Bindon Abbey had 

 extensive ponds fed by the river Frome. (Plan in H. I, 353). 

 There were also some at Ower Moigne (D.F.C. , XXX, p. xlix). 



