Herdmanston, Dovecot

NMRS REFERENCE:

NT46NE 1.00 4724 6980 House

NT46NE 1.01 472 698 Wall

NT46NE 1.02 4714 6984 West Gate

NT46NE 1.03 4729 6986 East Gate

NT46NE 4 4716 6981 Chapel

NT46NE 3 47092 69978 Dovecot

NT46NE 39 4700 6967 Icehouse

NT46NE 46 4730 6992 Stable

(NT 4710 6997) Dovecot (NR)

OS 6" map (1969)

Dovecot, Herdmanston: On the opposite side of the River Tyne from the site of the mainly 17th century mansion of Herdmanston (see NT46NE 1) stands a double lectern type dovecot, measuring 35ft by 18ft 9 ins, with a slate roof, two dormers, and crow-stepped gables; there are the remains of stone ball ornaments on the rear parapet. The random rubble walls are 3ft thick with dressings and two string courses; a coat of arms on the S wall bears the remains of the date '1669'. There were formerly twelve or seventeen entry holes in each dormer, no ruined, also an entry hole and ledge in the wall of the left-hand chamber. There are large numbers of stone nests (once about 2,000) and the remains of revolving ladders in both chambers.

J Whitaker 1938; D C Bailey and M C Tindall 1963

This dovecot is generally as described.

Visited by OS (BS) 25 July 1975.