Musselburgh, High Street, Pinkie House, Dovecot
Dovecot (17th Century)
Site Name Musselburgh, High Street, Pinkie House, Dovecot
Classification Dovecot (17th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Inveresk; Doocot; Pinkie Park; Loretto School; Pinkie House Policies
Canmore ID 53681
Site Number NT37SE 39
NGR NT 35083 72867
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/53681
- Council East Lothian
- Parish Inveresk (East Lothian)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District East Lothian
- Former County Midlothian
NT37SE 39 3508 7286
(NT 3508 7286) Dovecot (NAT)
OS 1:1250 map (1958).
For Musselburgh, High Street, Pinkie House (Loretto School), at NT 34880 72651, see NT37SW 4.00.
For icehouse at NT 3504 7256, see NT37SE 84.
The dovecot in the park of Pinkie House is one of the most interesting dovecots near Edinburgh. It is a fine rectangular, two-chambered building, 24'6" x 15'5 1/2" with 3'4" thick walls. The walls are recessed above each string-course; the lower course is 8' from the ground and is on all walls, while the upper joins the front cornice. Iron brackets remain on the front wall-nets were fixed to them to catch the pigeons as they flew out.
Each chamber has an entrance in the front wall. There is a panel above each entrance, one showing a monogram of Alexander Seton, who built Pinkie House, and Margaret Hay, his third wife (they were married in 1607 and he died in 1622); the other shows his arms. A square window opens into each chamber. They were once closed by stones which contained the entrance holes for the pigeons. In the interior are a total of 1087 nests, and each chamber has a potence.
A N Robertson 1945.
Photographic Survey (September 1964)
Photographic survey of the exterior of Pinkie House dovecot and ice house, Musselburgh, by the Scottish National Buildings Record in September 1964.
Publication Account (1996)
Close by Pinkie House is another remnant of the past, the Pinkie dovecot figure 23.G. Of double-chambered lectern style, it dates from c 1607, when the marriage of Alexander Seton and Margaret Hay took place. This is commemorated, yet again by the intertwined initials AS and MH.
Information from ‘Historic Musselburgh: The Archaeological Implications of Development’ (1996).
