Dovecote behind Sunny Brae, Embleton. Photo Northumberland County Council, 1970.

(NU 23312230) Dovecot. (1)

At the southern end of Embleton is an ancient dovecote, conical in shape and very substantially built. (2)

Stands at the rear of No 3 Glebe Cottages, and is approached through the gardens of the row of cottages. Perhaps 17th century. Built of stone, beehive shape, in four rows of concentric circles diminishing in size upwards. Very thick walling, with a low door on the south side, and a small window above. No other openings, but open at the top. Grade 2. (3)

Scheduled. (4)

Dovecote at rear of No 4 Sunny Brae (formerly listed as South Dovecote at the Glebe). Grade II*. Medieval or C17. Exterior coursed large sandstone rubble with cut sandstone door surround; interior has sandstone bands between whinstone nesting boxes except in upper part, where the boxes are of brick. Circular plan with walls 1.1m thick at the base; convex profile with four set-backs. Boarded door on south in chamfered block surround; window opening above and to left is later insertion. Interior: 10 sets of nesting boxes below remains of wooden platform, and 5 above. The dovecote lacks dateable architectural features, but its overall form is similar to that of a group of dovecotes in the Tees Valley, eg. Gainford Hall, Barforth and Caldwell, some of which may be of late medieval date.(5)

Tun-bellied dovecote built with large sandstone rubble blocks. It has a diameter of 3.3m at the base and an approximate height of 6.1m. The walls are 1.1m thick at the base and include three string courses above which the walls are stepped inwards. The door is low and has a chamfered block surround, the window above it and to the left is a later insertion. The interior is made up of sandstone bands sandwiched between nest boxes made of whinstone. An unusual survival within this dovecote is a wooden platform running around the walls. This could possibly be a gallery for the birds or it could be for the collection of eggs, depending on its size. Above this platform there are five tiers of nest boxes made of brick and below the platform are ten tiers of whinstone nest boxes.
In fair condition. This tun-bellied dovecote is typical of a group of similar dovecotes found in North Yorkshire and in the south of County Durham. They are not particularly common and usually date to the 16th and 17th centuries. This is an interesting example as most of the dovecotes of this type have nest holes as opposed to nest boxes. The fact that it has a mixture of nest box materials is also unusual. It also contains a wooden platform which is a rare survival. Not much information was present on this platform but it should be adequately preserved and repaired if necessary, along with the rest of the interior of the dovecote. The dovecote as a whole seems to have retained its integrity, especially internally and displays some interesting and unusual details. Recommend retain scheduled status. (6)

Scheduled. (7)

NU 232 223. Dovecote S of Glebe Farm. Scheduled No ND/117. (8a)