Willington Dovecote
nr Bedford, Bedfordshire
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Location Guide |
A
16th century stable and stone dovecote built alongside Willington Church. It
resembles some Scottish and French dovecotes. It is a very large 2 chambered
dovecote with
crow stepped gables
and contains around 1500 nest boxes.
It is constructed of
coursed limestone
rubble with ashlar dressings, possibly reused from Newnham Priory which was
dissolved in 1535. It is a rectangular building divided into 2 square
chambers by a central cross-wall. The end gables are crow-stepped, with
moulded copings and kneelers. It has a clay tile roof that is divided into 2
pitches by a band of wooden louvres. The south elevation has one small
dormer with wood mullion to the left hand chamber. There is one small
doorway to each chamber.
On the inside each chamber
contains about 700 nesting boxes, around 1400 in total, built of stone with
a brick lintel to each opening.
The nest boxes inside by
Paul
Famer
It was commissioned
in 1530 by Cardinal Wolseys Master of Horse, Sir John Gostwick, the Earl of
Gostwick, and later in service of Henry VIII. It was completed in around
1541 being made from the remains of a manorial complex.
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Location: Willington Dovecote, Willington,
Bedfordshire |
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Grid Reference:
TL106499 |
Ceremonial County:
Bedfordshire
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Map Link:
Multimap
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Aerial photo:
Multimap Aerial
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Getting there: 4 miles east of Bedford From
A421 around Bedford take the A603 to Sandy at the Willington roundabout go
through the village at end turn left follow to its end then turn right into
Church End. Dovecote is on the right. |
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Access: Ramped access to stable entrance.
Stairs to other floors. |
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Website:
National Trust
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Other Useful Websites:
Geograph
Geograph2
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Email:
willingtondovecote@nationaltrust.org.uk
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Address: Willington Dovecote, Church End,
Willington, Bedfordshire |
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Postcode: |
Telephone: 01480301494 |
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Opening Times: Apr-Sept Last Sunday of
the month 1pm-5pm. Otherwise by appointment only. |
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Charges: Voluntary £1 donation |
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Nearby Locations: |
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Other Location Pages: |
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Other Relevant Pages: Dovecots
Dovecots
in England
Dovecots
in Wales
Doocots in
Scotland
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Notes:
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