Stock's Farm Dovecote, Aldbury, Ashridge Estate

Summary

A small brick-built dovecote dated 1753, once part of the adjacent Stock's Farm

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Description

A small brick-built dovecote located in a field of pasture slightly to the north of Aldbury village in Hertfordshire. The dovecote was once part of Stock's Farm, owned by the Duncombe Family since 1503, which lies 200 metres to the south-east. John Duncombe died in 1746 and it was his son Arnold who was responsible for the construction of the new mansion. Arnold must have developed his interest in building projects when the dovecote was built in 1753 with a highly ornamental brick elevation. According to a plan of Aldbury parish produced by Thomas Goodman in 1803 the dovecote lay at the south-eastern extremity of a meadow known as 'Dovecote Meadow'

The building is almost rectangular in plan, measuring 5.68 x 3.88 metres. The walls are brick with a low plinth 0.2 metres high. The southern corner of the building is made up of bull-nosed bricks, evidently to avoid damage from passing vehicles and animals. The clay tile roof has a single pitch with the ridge orientated NW-SE, astride the ridge is a wooden louvre, probably dating to 1975, although it may be based on an original design. There is a single doorway with two window lights above in the south wall and a high window facing east.

The south elevation facing back to Stock's Farm was clearly intended to impress and is the only elevation to be decorated in a chequered brickwork pattern of vitrified headers. At the top of the gable is a large diamond and cross picked out in vitrified headers. There is a projecting string course at eaves level and a large date of 1753 picked out in vitrified headers below. The northern corner of the building incorporates evidence to suggest that the east wall has been truncated and may have incorporated an opening.

Internally the floor is of beaten earth. The walls are lined with nesting holes arranged in pairs on either side of an alighting ledge. It has been calculated that there would originally have been 482 nest holes, although unfortunately nest holes have been removed from the east and south walls. The roof was felted and re-laid in 1975, a process which involved the replacement of nearly all the common rafters. The original purlins survive and support two parallel collars holding up the louvre.

The dovecote ceased to function sometime during the 20th century, probably when the Duncombe's left the parish. Following this it had been allowed to fall into disrepair and in 1975 the roof was completely re-laid. Selective internal and external repointing was also necessary and probably undertaken at the time of the roof repairs. The building was then given to the National Trust as part of a bequest in the 1980s. Remedial repairs to the roof involving the addition of boarding, new battens and relaying the tiles were carried out in 2006.

Interpretation
A small brick-built dovecote dated 1753, once part of the adjacent Stock's Farm.

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