Dovecote About 150 Yards West Of Grafton Manor And Adjoining Chapel

This dovecote, located about 150 yards west of Grafton Manor and next to a chapel, dates from the mid- to late 16th century and was altered in the mid-19th century. It is constructed from dressed coursed sandstone rubble and features a plain tiled conical roof with a circular plan. The structure was raised in height, and a chamfered eaves cornice was added in the mid-19th century. The entrance is on the east side, and a 19th-century lantern is missing. Inside, there are seven tiers of nesting holes in the stonework, with two tiers of continuous stone alighting ledges and five tiers of timber nesting boxes above. A potence, which is a type of support structure, still survives. The dovecote is situated on a small piece of land that extends into the fishpond, which, along with the adjacent terraced gardens, was created by John Talbot in the late 16th century as part of this landscaping scheme.