BOOK OF DOVECOTES 



of over five hundred. The partitions between 

 them are noticeable as being of a very porous 

 limestone, known as "coral rag" and stated to 

 be French. Ivythorn manor-house dates back 

 for over seven centuries, but the dovecote is 

 of less antiquity. 



Anotheroblong dovecote occurs at Witham, 

 near Bath. It formerly stood in the middle of 

 other farm buildings belonging to Witham 

 Priory, for it is mentioned in an inventory of 

 the early part of the sixteenth century. Its old 

 surroundings havenowdisappeared,aroad runs 

 through their site, and by this road the dove- 

 cote stands. Moveover, it has suffered drastic 

 alteration as to purpose, being to-day the Par- 

 ish Room. 



It is a building thirty-one feet long by thir- 

 teenfeet in breadth, with aheightoftwentyfeet 

 to the high-pitched roof. The roof is newly tiled, 

 but still retains its ancient timber- work. The 

 walls are three feet thick and are supported by 

 four buttresses. The ancient doorway has now 

 disappeared. The still remaining nests are of 

 the orthodox L-shape. 



There is an unusual internal feature for which 



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