5 (or more) interesting things within a mile of your house - 2. A Doocot
4:59pm, 11th Jan 2024 | 4 Comments
Blog by 57.5 Degrees of Pain
| More by this blogger
| More bloggers
The most prominent feature in the village is the motte where Old Eren Castle once sat. The Castle was built in 1180 and has been gone for centuries, but around 1740 the local estate built a doocot.
Maybe better known as a dovecote in the rest of the country, these have been constructed for millennia to attract pigeons and doves to nest, providing a ready supply of eggs, meat and bird poo for fertiliser or tanning leather.
Our example is circular and features eight holes for birds to get in and out, a door for the humans, a ridge around the whole structure to prevent rats accessing the holes and a modern roof. Inside there are apparently 515 nesting boxes, but I've never seen the door open.
In 1987 the village bypass cut the 'big house' off from it's doocot. Not sure if home grown pigeon was ever on the menu since it's been a hotel/ restaurant, but I don't think our feathered friends can access their salubrious accommodation these days. Maybe you just can't find the staff to shovel bird poo.
It is a fine place to see the view (see several shots of the battlefield in yesterday's blog), and changes it's mood at different times of day and year.
March
April
May
Maybe better known as a dovecote in the rest of the country, these have been constructed for millennia to attract pigeons and doves to nest, providing a ready supply of eggs, meat and bird poo for fertiliser or tanning leather.
Our example is circular and features eight holes for birds to get in and out, a door for the humans, a ridge around the whole structure to prevent rats accessing the holes and a modern roof. Inside there are apparently 515 nesting boxes, but I've never seen the door open.
In 1987 the village bypass cut the 'big house' off from it's doocot. Not sure if home grown pigeon was ever on the menu since it's been a hotel/ restaurant, but I don't think our feathered friends can access their salubrious accommodation these days. Maybe you just can't find the staff to shovel bird poo.
It is a fine place to see the view (see several shots of the battlefield in yesterday's blog), and changes it's mood at different times of day and year.
Got something to say?
To see the comments on this blog, or to add a comment yourself, you need to either sign in or register as a user.