102 Old Dovecots {Scotland). [Sess. 



Realme, neither within Burgh, nor in Countrey, except that person, 

 builder of the Doucate, have lands and teinds pertaining to him, 

 extending in yearly Rent to ten Chalders^ victual, next adjacent 

 to the said Doucate, at the least lying within two miles to the 

 same : And als declares, that it shall nowise be lawful to the person 

 foresaid, worth in yearly rent the foresaids ten chalders victual, to 

 build moe Doucates upon, and within the bounds foresaids, except 

 one Doucat only. 



James VI. Par. 22, c. xix. (1617). From 'Chambers's Encyclo- 

 pedia ' (1880). — It has been held that the statute imposes no restraint 

 on proprietors possessed of a greater rent beyond limiting them to 

 one dovecot for each portion of ground that yields ten chalders 

 yearly. The statute does not extend to dovecots already built, 

 and if a dovecot be challenged it must be proved to have been 

 built subsequently to the date of the statute, otherwise the con- 

 trary will be presumed. If an estate be purchased or otherwise 

 acquired from a person who was legally entitled to build a dove- 

 cot, the dovecot may be legally retained but cannot be rebuilt if 

 it became ruinous. 



Several of these old Acts of Parliament, although doubtless 

 long in desuetude, were only repealed in 1906. The following, 

 however, still appear to remain in force: Act 1617, c. 19 

 (relating to the building of Dovecots); Acts 15.67, c. 16, and 

 1597, c. 27, prescribe penalties for the slayers of pigeons; 

 while the breakers of dovecots are dealt with in the Acts 

 1474, c. 61, and 1579, c. 84, power being given to Justices 

 to deal with such matters by Act of 1661, c. 38. 



On one occasion a person owning a dovecot, having parted 

 with the requisite amount of land, was challenged and ordered 

 by the Court to build up the holes of said dovecot. Against 

 this decision he appealed, and was successful in his appeal, 

 being allowed to retain his dovecot as if he still possessed 

 his land. 



An old dovecot near Tranent bears the date 1587 and 

 name David Setoun. 



The following extracts relating to dovecots may be of 

 interest : — 



' The Fife Coast from Queensferry to Fifeness,' by Henry 



^ Chalder (0. Scots), a dry measure containing nearly eight Imperial quarters 

 of wheat or flour ; for other grain, fruit, potatoes, &c., eleven and a half quarters. 

 —'Webster's Dictionary' (1889). 



