Mertoun House, Dovecot
Dovecot (16th Century)
Site Name Mertoun House, Dovecot
Classification Dovecot (16th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Mertoun House Policies; Mertoun, Dovecote
Canmore ID 57264
Site Number NT63SW 5
NGR NT 62018 31894
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/57264
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Mertoun
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Ettrick And Lauderdale
- Former County Berwickshire
NT63SW 5 62018 31894
For Mertoun House see NT63SW 34.00.
(NT 6201 3189) Dovecot (NR)
OS 6" map, (1967).
The old conical dovecot in the garden of Mertoun House is about 30ft high and 18ft in overall diameter. It is divided into four stages by string courses and has an aperture in the centre of the roof for pigeons. Modern buttresses have been placed against the basement to strengthen it. It is dated 1576 over the doorway.
RCAHMS 1915.
Said to be the oldest dated dovecot in Scotland.
A N Robertson 1957.
This dovecot is as described by the RCAHMS.
Visited by OS (WDJ) 19 September 1962.
Publication Account (1915)
Dovecot.
At the south end of the flower-garden stands an old dovecot, conical in form (fig. 144 [SC 1173144]). It is divided into four stages by encircling string-courses or ledges, and has an aperture for the ingress and egress of the pigeons in the centre of the roof. Over the doorway in the basement is the date 1576. The structure is about 30 feet high and measures in diameter over all about 18 feet. Buttresses have in recent years been placed against the basement to strengthen it.
OS Map: Unnoted.
Photographic Survey (1953)
Photographic survey by the National Buildings Record Scottish Council in 1953.
Sbc Note (15 April 2016)
Visibility: Standing structure or monument.
Information from Scottish Borders Council
