Dunipace Park, Dovecot

NS88SW 19 83819 81908

NS88SW 82.00 83669 81905 Dunipace House

(NS 83819 81908) Dovecot (NAT)

OS 6" map (1967)

This structure consists of a tower which, though it is now converted into a dovecot, evidently once contained the external stair of a mansion, together with two short lengths of walling set at right angles to one another and evidently representing the last remains of an L-shaped house of a type commonly datable to the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries. Too little of the structure survives, and what survives has been too much altered and patched for any idea to be formed of its original size or appearance; but it was clearly older than the tower, which has been fitted into the re-entrant angle as an addition. The tower may date from about the mid-17th century. It appears externally as part of an octagon, though only three of its sides are completely free. Each of the free sides measures 5'11", except the W one which is enlarged to 7'3" at its base to accommodate the entrance.

The masonry is rubble with squared dressings; there are two string-courses. Octagonal construction ends 1'6" above the upper string-course; the uppermost portion is circular. No doubt it was added when the tower was converted into a dovecot. The roof is slated and carries an ornamental lantern adapted for the entry of pigeons; another entry is on the S. There is a built-up window in the NW face of the tower. Internally, the tower has been lined with stone nests, which have covered any traces of the stair to the house.

The old house of Dunipace is probably to be associated with the Livingstones of Dunipace, who owned the property from the end of the 15th until the mid-17th century.

RCAHMS 1963, visited 1955

The building is as described. Recent excavation trenches around its base do not appear to have revealed any foundations.

Visited by OS (DWR) 23 January 1974

Digging to establish the plan and extent of the mansion was started in 1972. Finds include a Bronze Age scraper and fragments of 18th - 19th century earthenware. A two and a half feet rubble scatter and cement debris only, mark the foundations.

Falkirk Archaeol Natur Hist Soc 1973

NMRS REFERENCE:

Extract from letter of Mr John Reid, 10 Graeme Place, Falkirk, to Geoffrey Stell, June 1990:

'At the present time I am attempting to write histories of the baronies of Dunipace and Denny. I note from Stirlingshire ii, p.397 f that no attempt has been made to date "the old house of Dunipace". This was invariably known in earlier times as "The Place of Dunipace" and it seems possible to narrow a date to within thirty years. The Dunipace writs contain a charter of 1522 in which Walter Forrester of Torwood resigns 3 roods of land in favour of Mr Alexander Livingston, son of Alexander Livingston of Dunipace, described as being "at the east end of the town thereof" and which bears the later endorsement "Chartour quhairupone the place is situat". [SRO GD1/529/321]. In a letter of 1558 to his son John concerning the marches of the estate, the same Mr Alexander Livingston mentions the house when describing the extent of "morrayes landis" which he says "lay in rin [rig] with johne gilmuir and robert sklandars in ye ryt syd of ye place od donypace". [SRO GD1/529/47].

It is also of interest to note the letter makes mention of a dovecote - certainly one of the earliest references to such in this area. It reads; "ye clark hes thrie buttis at ye end of my dowcatt".'