Barnyards Of Findlater, Dovecot

NJ56NW 42.01 53993 66742

(NJ 5399 6675) Dovecot (NR)

OS 6" map, (1938)

The circular stone-built beehive-type dovecot at Findlater Castle is probably of sixteenth century date.

A N Robertson 1957.

The dovecot, as described by Robertson (1957), is in good condition.

Visited by OS (WDJ), 19 September 1961.

Findlater, dovecote. Air photographs: AAS/00/14/G35/4-6 and AAS/00/14/CT.

NMRS, MS/712/100.

(Name cited as Findlater Dovecot). This beehive-shaped dovecot is of randon rubble construction and measures 19m in external diameter at the base. It has been built in three diminishing tiers, each capped with a rat course. The shallow domed roof is pierced by a flight hole at the central apex. The doorway is in the S face and has simple ashlar jambs under a relieving arch; there are two small flight holes above the second rat course.

Within the interior there are about 700 small and closely-fitting stone nesting boxes (measuring about 15cm by 15cm and 36cm in depth) arranged from floor to apex flight hole in diminishing layers. The loose sentral pivot stone for potence is a reused stone (measuring 43cm by 63cm by 15cm in thickness) with moulding on two sides.

The dovecot is in private ownership but has been restored by Banff and Buchan District Council; it stands at an altitude of 70m OD and probably dates from the 16th century.

[GRC/AAS photography listed].

NMRS, MS/712/101, visited (GRC) 19 May 1992.

A N Robertson 1957.