Loquhariot Doocot is a Grade B listed building in the Midlothian local planning authority area, Scotland. First listed on 22 January 1971.

Loquhariot Doocot

WRENN ID
western-quoin-cream
Grade
B
Local Planning Authority
Midlothian
Constituency
Midlothian MP: Kirsty McNeill (Lab)
Country
Scotland
Date first listed
22 January 1971
OS grid reference
NT 371 608
Coordinates
55.83674, -3.00576
Source
Historic Environment Scotland listing

Also on this page: flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

The Loquhariot Doocot is an 18th-century single-chamber lectern dovecot, situated on the lands of Loquharoit, which has historical connections to Borthwick Castle and the Hays of Lochorwart, dating back prior to the castle's construction. It was later part of the Vogrie Estate. The dovecote is relatively small, displaying characteristics of the lectern dovecote type that developed from the 16th and 17th centuries. The lean-to roof faced southeast to provide sunlight and protection from northern winds.

The exterior features crow-stepped gables and beaked skewputts. A rat course is visible, and a central doorway is located on the southeast elevation, with a short landing ledge and two round-arched flight holes above the rat course. Small ventilation openings are present on the northeast and southwest elevations, positioned below the rat course, while the northwest elevation is blank. The interior contains stone nesting boxes, originally numbered 304 in 1971.

The roof was lost in 1971, and in 1997 a large vertical crack was noted on the northeast elevation. The dovecote’s historical purpose would have been to provide an additional source of food in winter. The surrounding farm buildings and farmhouse are 19th-century additions.

Local climate

Loquhariot Doocot receives an average of 950 mm of rain a year. This makes it wetter than 73% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is lower than that of 58% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 53 freeze-thaw cycles a year, more than 94% of listed buildings. Of these, 32 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

More on this building

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