Bamburgh Dovecote
Dovecote In Bamburgh, Northumberland
An old dovecote overlooking the mighty Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland.
If you've ventured to Bamburgh, it's likely that you've parked under the spectacular Bamburgh Castle in the Links Road car park. If you can take your eyes off the mighty castle, you'll also spy this 16th/17th century dovecote standing proudly in the field opposite.
We've covered a number of dovecotes on the site, so you'll find plenty of info about these beauties here: Dovecotes
This one is likely to be 16th century as it's a classic beehive style, before the designs got a bit fancier in the 17th and 18th centuries. The dovecote was built from rubble masonry with walls approximately 1.2 meters thick at the base, 5.5 meters high with a diameter of 6.7 meters. Inside, there are roughly 250 nesting boxes where the birds would roost. While the original design was largely windowless to keep the birds secure, three windows were added to the south side in later years.
The birds would have supplied the castle and village with meat, eggs, feathers and manure, so despite the pigeon's unfavourable reputation, they were actually very useful back in the day.
You can't get right up to the dovecote, so it's best to admire it from afar. If you walk along to Doctors Lane just off the Front Street, you can get a better view from the private car park at the end of the road.
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How To Find Bamburgh Dovecote
Where Is Bamburgh Dovecote?
Lat / Long
55.606714, -1.713082
What three words
Where To Park For Bamburgh Dovecote?
Lat / Long
55.607441, -1.710648
What three words
Park in the main car park below the castle.
Contributed by Sandra Clemens
I love the great outdoors and have been a National Trust & English Heritage member for years. I also love going off the beaten track and finding places like Sharp's Folly or Rothley Castle which are hidden gems in Northumberland. My favourite recent hike was climbing Red Screes in the Lake District on a whim, not fully grasping how high 776m was. It was still an achievement to conquer a Wainwright walk and I hope to do more one day.
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More Dovecotes
So this dovecote wasn't enough and you want more? Don't worry we have you covered.
Northfield Doocot
Dovecote East Lothian BordersA dovecote or doocot as the Scots call it, next to Northfield house in East Lothian.
Temple Thornton Dovecote
Dovecote Morpeth NorthumberlandA Grade II, early 19th century dovecote with the square tower loosely modelled on the tower of The Church of St Andrew in Hartburn.
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