SHROPSHIRE 



lying south of Shrewsbury by some twenty 

 miles. It is of about the same period as that at 

 Whitehall, or perhaps somewhat later, Itlacks 

 the corbel-table, and is rather broader in pro- 

 portion toitsheight; but thewide-eavedlantern 

 hasaverypleasingeffect; and thereof, although 

 its tiles are comparatively modern, isagreeably 

 broken by four dormer windows, one in each 

 alternate section of the octagon. The length 

 of each of the eight walls is ten feet; height to 

 the eaves about fifteen. 



The potence inside is in good working order, 

 while of the ne^ts, nearly six hundred in num- 

 ber, some are still occupied by pigeons, and the 

 building has a cheerful, thriving, well-kept air. 

 With regard to the nests it is interesting to 

 note that the inner arm of the L turns to the 

 left in every tier; a rather unusual variation 

 from the more general practice by which, when 

 the direction does not change with each tier, 

 the turn is to the right. Such are the little 

 differences for which the dovecote-lover early 

 learns to look. 



The doorway is quite noticeably narrow, be- 

 ing two feet two inches wide, though nearly 



71 



