Dovecote At Site Of Aston Old Hall

The dovecote at the site of Aston Old Hall, built in 1691, is constructed of Flemish bond brown brick set on a weathered plinth made of large buff sandstone blocks. Currently, it has no roof. There is a three-course plain brick band that mimics a first floor, and the end gables are stone-coped with kneelers. A moulded stone eaves cornice adds to its architectural detail.

At the front, there is a recessed blocked doorway above the plinth, featuring flush sandstone quoins and a lintel with the year 1691 incised into it. The rear has a wide central entry and a narrower entry to the right, both of which have been inserted or altered and are supported by plain oak lintels.

Inside, the dovecote was originally divided into two chambers by a full-height wall that has since been removed, although the toothing from this wall is still visible. There are 13 rows of nesting boxes below the eaves, with 6 rows in each gable, totaling more than 800 boxes, and likely 1300-1400 when the central wall was still in place. Each row of boxes is supported by a brick platform made of two courses, with the lower course set diagonally. A high-level opening has been inserted in the left end, leading from the loft of an adjoining coach-house.

This dovecote is a remarkable example of its kind, though it is regrettably in a state of partial decay. Its historical use is documented in the Aston papers at Aston Lodge, noting that the eggs, the birds, and their lime for manure were all considered valuable.