Ornamental Pigeon Loft About 80 Metres East Of Cascade Building

The ornamental pigeon loft, located about 80 metres east of the Cascade Building, is an early 19th-century structure that may have originally served as an ice house. Constructed from limestone ashlar and rubble with stone dressings on the north and west sides, it showcases a picturesque Gothic style.

The north elevation features a tower with a central pointed arched window, which has an ogee multifoil inner head and a moulded surround. Above this, there is a hollow-chamfered hood mould with stops. The weathered plinth includes a square-headed opening in a chamfered surround, and the structure is accented with ashlar long and short quoins, a cornice, and an embattled parapet that extends around the side elevations.

On the left side, there is a pointed arched opening that has been blocked in brick, topped with a ball at the apex of the arch. The right side includes a small pigeon entry and perch within a moulded stone surround, leading to a loggia on the plinth. This loggia features a large pointed segmental-headed arch opening to a cellar recess, which has a keystone and displays the arms of the Codrington family set on a shield above it. Flanking the shield are pierced balustrades with moulded balusters and pointed arches between each. The corner die on the right side has a panel with three blank inverted shields.

Inside the loggia, there are stone benches, and at the southeast corner, a plain pier with raised panels on the sides. The rear of the tower has a pointed arched door, with a cornice that returns from the front and a plain parapet. The interior includes pigeon holes on either side of the front window and a small stone fireplace to the left, featuring a trefoil head and pointed arch with a stone mantel above. This loft is an important landscape feature of Dodington Park, situated on a small hill overlooking the lake.