Information for record number MWA2141:
Honington Hall Dovecote

Summary Honington Hall Dovecote, a stone building used for the breeding and housing of doves or pigeons. It has a sundial on its south wall. It dates to the Post Medieval period and is situated at Honington.
What Is It?  
Type: Dovecote, Sundial
Period: Post-medieval (1540 AD - 1750 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Honington
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 26 42
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Listed Building (Grade: II)
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

 
Description

 
Source Number  

1 Octagonal ?late 17th century pigeoncote of stone with dressed angles. Old tiled roof rising to moulded wood lantern. Sundial on face.
2 Possibly earlier than the house. It has the original stone nesting boxes, and the central post with revolving ladder for access to the nests.
3 Photograph.
4 A stone Sundial is fixed vertically on an external wall supported by two corbels.
5 Foster Dovecote #12.
6 Octagonal stone Dovecote, probably older than 17th century house, probably contemporary with Elizabethan stable block. Stands close to separate granary. Dovecote built of pale limestone with contrasting quoins. Defaced Sundial mounted on S wall facing house, window inserted under eaves in W wall. Roof tiled and surmounted by a cupola. Internal walls lined with original stone nest boxes, tiers separated by wide bands of stone which form alighting ledges. Potence still survives with ladder - would still rotate if some of guano cleaned out - and sits on carved stone plinth. Entrance in roof can still be closed. Now used by pigeons. Very good example of a 16th century or 17th century Dovecote built as part of a picturesque stableyard.
 
Sources

Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: LBL
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1960
Page Number: 5
Volume/Sheet: Stratford-on-Avon Ru
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 5, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1965
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 5
   
Source No:
Source Type: Photograph
Title: Photograph of Honington Hall Dovecote
Author/originator: Glover?
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Photograph
Title: TBAS vol 66
Author/originator: Sapcote E S
Date: 1945-6
Page Number: 123
Volume/Sheet: 66
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Site Visit
Title: SMR Card
Author/originator: PWF
Date: 1982
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: PRN 2282
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: The Warwickshire Dovecotes
Author/originator: Foster P W
Date: 1979
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: MPP Assessments (Dovecotes)
Author/originator: EH
Date: 1998
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Warks #18
   
Images:  
Dovecote at Honington Hall
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 18/05/1987
Click here for larger image  
 
Dovecote at Honington Hall
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Date: 18/05/1987
Click here for larger image  
 
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
designation Listed Building Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a statutory list. These buildings are protected by planning and conservation acts that ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them.

Depending on how important the buildings are they are classed as Grade I, Grade II* or Grade II. Grade I buildings are those of exceptional interest. Grade II* are particularly important buildings of more than special interest. Those listed as Grade II are those buildings that are regarded of special interest.
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source LBL Listed Building List. Buildings and structures, such as bridges, that are of architectural or historical importance are placed on a list. Buildings placed on the list are protected through various planning and conservation acts which ensure that their special features of interest are considered before any alterations are made to them. The Listed Buildings List is compiled and maintained by English Heritage. It includes details of where the building is, when it was built, a description of its appearance, and any other special features. back
source SMR Card Sites and Monuments Record Card. The Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record began to be developed during the 1970s. The details of individual archaeological sites and findspots were written on record cards. These record cards were used until the 1990s, when their details were entered on to a computerised system. The record cards are still kept at the office of the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source TBAS Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society is a journal produced by the society annually. It contains articles about archaeological field work that has taken place in Birmingham and Warwickshire in previous years. Copies of the journal are kept by the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
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period Post Medieval About 1540 AD to 1750 AD (the 16th century AD to the 18th century AD)

The Post Medieval period comes after the medieval period and before the Imperial period.

This period covers the second half of the reign of the Tudors (1485 – 1603), the reign of the Stuarts (1603 – 1702) and the beginning of the reign of the Hannoverians (1714 – 1836).
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monument DOVECOTE * A building, or part of a building, used to house doves and pigeons, usually placed at a height above the ground, with openings and provision inside for roosting and breeding. back
monument YARD * A paved area, generally found at the back of a house. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument CARVED STONE * A stone (including standing stones, natural boulders and rock outcrops) decorated with carved motifs. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument WOOD * A tract of land with trees, sometimes acting as a boundary or barrier, usually smaller and less wild than a forest. back
monument SUNDIAL * A structure used to show the time of day by means of the sun shining on a 'gnomon', the shadow of which falls on the surface of the dial which is marked with a diagram showing the hours. Can be freestanding, usually on a pillar, or fixed to a building. back
monument STABLE * A building in which horses are accommodated. back
monument GRANARY * A building, or first-floor room in a building, for the dry and secure storage of grain after it has been threshed and winnowed. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record