Edinburgh, Morningside, Hermitage Of Braid, Dovecot
Dovecot (17th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh, Morningside, Hermitage Of Braid, Dovecot
Classification Dovecot (17th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Hermitage Glen; Braid Road; Hermitage Of Braid House; Blackford Hill Public Park
Canmore ID 52651
Site Number NT27SW 28
NGR NT 24842 70301
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/52651
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT27SW 28 24842 70301
Dovecote [NAT]
OS (GIS) MasterMap, June 2010.
For Hermitage of Braid House (NT 25050 70302), see NT27SE 351.
For nearby (and presumably associated) icehouse (NT 25051 70247), see NT27SE 438.
For Hermitage of Braid, Lodge (69B Braid Road: NT 24472 70264), see NT27SW 1650.
For (presumably associated) footbridge (over Braid Burn, at NT 24473 70228), see NT27SW 1651.
(NT 2484 7030) The large rectangular dovecot, 35'3 1/2"x 18'2", in Hermitage glen is thought to have been built in the late 17th or early 18th century. It is well-preserved, the 2' thick walls built of red sandstone rubble with oyster shells in the mortar, and it is two-chambered. One string course runs round all four sides. Each chamber has an entrance in the front wall, and above each entrance over the string course there is a window 30" square; there is also a triangular dormer window, with seven entrance holes, in the lean-to roof, for each compartment. Five elegant stone urns ornament the building. There is a total of 1965 nest-holes.
A N Robertson 1945.
Apart from missing the five stone urns this dovecot is as described in the previous information.
Visited by OS (B S) 3 December 1975.
Watching Brief (23 February 2012 - 6 March 2012)
NT 3248 6703 (centred)
Archaeological works consisting of a Watching Brief and Level 1 Historic Building Survey were required by The City of Edinburgh Council as a condition of planning consent during ground breaking works at Hermitage of Braid Walled Garden, Edinburgh. No archaeological material was encountered during the Watching Brief. The Building Survey revealed that the Garden wall had undergone several modifications.
Information from Rob Engl (AOC Archaeology) 23 March 2012. OASIS ID:aocarcha1-122268
