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Edinburgh, Corstorphine, 2 Dovecot Road, Dovecot
Dovecot (16th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh, Corstorphine, 2 Dovecot Road, Dovecot
Classification Dovecot (16th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Corstorphine Dovecot, Edinburgh
Canmore ID 52675
Site Number NT27SW 5
NGR NT 20047 72516
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/52675
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT27SW 5 20047 72516
(NT 2004 7251) Dovecot (NR)
OS 1:10,000 map, (1973).
This beehive-shaped 16th century dovecot, which would once have been the pigeon house of Corstorphine Castle, is 86'10 1/2" in circumference externally. Its walls are 3'10" thick, and there are 3 string courses, the walls being slightly recessed above each course.
The entrance is on the N. The whole interior wall is covered by 28 tiers of stone nests, 1060 in all.
Pigeons still use this dovecot, entering by 6 holes in the S wall above the middle course.
A N Robertson 1945; RCAHMS 1929, visited 1920.
This dovecot is as described and in good order.
Visited by OS(BS) 2 December 1975.
Fergueson Sketch Book No. 9
1 page in pencil.
Field Visit (20 August 1920)
Within the grounds of the Tapestry Factory in Dovecot Road, Corstorphine, there is a dovecot, circular on plan and probably of 16th-century date. It is built of rubble in four tiers, defined by string-courses, with open top and a group of six pigeon-holes in the wall. The internal diameter is 19 feet. The nests, which are of stone, rise from ground to apex. The entrance faces north and has been furnished with outer and inner doors.
RCAHMS 1929, visited 16 September 1920.
Watching Brief (29 July 2003)
NT27SW 5 20047 72516
(NT 2004 7251) Archaeological monitoring was undertaken in July 2003 while contractors excavated a short trench from the doocot to the nearby garden wall. There were no features or finds of archaeological significance.
G Ewart 2003
Sponsor: Historic Scotland
Kirkdale Archaeology
