Dovecote

The dovecote is located in an isolated position 100 meters northwest of Manorbier Castle, accessible by a side path that passes the ruined corn mill. The structure is partially hidden by the village sewage works.

This dovecote is likely the manorial dovecote of Manorbier and probably dates back before the castle began to decay in the early 16th century. It bears a strong resemblance to the dovecote at Angle, which is believed to be from the 15th century.

The dovecote is large and cylindrical, topped with a corbelled-dome roof. Its walls are made of large limestone rubble, roughly arranged in courses, and are approximately 1.1 meters thick, including the nest boxes on the inside. The corbelled dome is constructed from smaller stones. A low doorway faces east, featuring a flat arch with a relieving arch above it. Internally, the doorway is rebated for a lost door-frame. The internal diameter of the dovecote is about 4.8 meters, and the height to the base of the dome is around 5 meters.

There are three levels of entrance holes for pigeons, with about seven holes at each level that pass directly through to the interior. Inside, there are 12 rows of nest holes in the walls, plus one row at the base of the dome, totaling 23 holes in a full circle.

At the base of the dome, there is a stone shelf that projects about 10 centimeters. The dome tapers to an eye at the apex, which is about 1.2 meters in diameter. Above this point, there are broken slabs, and there is no evidence of a potence.

This dovecote is recognized as a Grade II* structure due to its well-preserved state as a late medieval example of a West Country type.