Dovecotes!

[Roland]

Have at Wood Newton, just outside of a place called Geddington there is a massive barn that must be 30 foot high. It is split into two. Each section must be 70 foot long x 30ft wide. This is what was once called the ‘Dovecote’ or Dove House.

It has blocks inside for steps in the 2 foot wide wall or so.

Only a little door about 3 foot high and 2 wide, always closed, to allow entry. Also it only has a few slits opening at the top where pigeons can pass through, so it is pretty dark.

Like I say it was originally used for rearing stock pigeons / Doves for sale, and providing the local inhabitants with a meal, via the ‘Lord of the Manor, The Duke of Buccleugh.

Now outside there is a stream. Into the walls it is either a ‘Step’ set out, or a step set in. Then around the corner of the stonework of the Step set in is a part for the birds to nest. Thousands literally most have been raised at one season… think I count nearly 500 ‘Nests’ in each section.

Now apparently this produce first class squabs / young etc. –As many will testify now for there are few stray pigeons, and a lot of fantails breeding here most years.

Now these youngsters don’t see daylight proper till they find their way out … which is incidentally the first time they are able to drink!

Likewise now the same system is used for Widowerhood by many.  .. A ‘Widower’ not a Widow, as that is a female. This of course keeps them cool calm and very protective… they go banana’s when you put you hand into their nest, AROUND the corner for it is closed off by a Cardboard system leaving very little light at all inside. This is where they are of course raced to… What goes round comes round I guess