Dovehouse approximately 7m south-east of Blois Farmhouse (EHER 31056)

A 17th century dovecote situated seven metres south-east of Blois Farmhouse.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: The monument includes a 17th century dovecote situated 7m east of Blois Farmhouse on the south valley slope of a tributary of the River Stour. It currently stands within a cottage garden (Claydon's Cottage) and apparently has always done so. The dovecote, which is Listed Grade II, is square in shape, timber-framed and sits on a brick plinth. Originally it is said to have been constructed with walls of clay bat, although the framework is currently clad with weatherboards. The structure has two stories separated by flooring of wooden boards. Each storey is accessed by a door in the south-west side. It is roofed with handmade red clay tiles. The roof is low pitched and originally had a gabled louver to allow the passage of birds. The interior is lined with approximately 200 nesting boxes of clay bat on all four walls. Of equal size and square in plan, the boxes are made of flat vertical and horizontal slabs of unfired clay and chopped straw approximately 25mm thick. Each nest box has an arched entrance, and under each tier of nests there are continuous perching ledges. All modern fences and walls, where they impinge on the dovecote's protective margin, are excluded from the scheduling, although the ground beneath is included. <1> 1999. Photographic survey. Photographs: <2> See also: <3> <4> Listed by Historic England as 18th to 19th century. <5>