Doveholes

Inside the Dovecote are hundreds of spaces for the Doves or Pigeons to nest. The pigeon provided an important variation to the mediaeval diet, particularly in winter and larger households would have had dovecotes, accompanied by a warren for rabbits and a pond for fish. The birds were not only a source of meat but were also used medicinally and the dung from the dovecote was considered one of the best fertilizers. The feathers and down from the pigeons, along with other fowl, were used for stuffing pillows and mattresses.