Description

ASTON BY SUTTON C.P. ASTON LANE SJ 57 NE South West of 3/41 Dovecote at site of Aston Old Hall. GV II Dovecote 1691 of Flemish bond brown brick on weathered plinth of large buff sandstone blocks. Now roofless. 3-course plain brick band at mock 1st floor; stone-coped end gables with kneelers; moulded stone eaves cornice. Recessed blocked doorway above plinth at front has flush sandstone quoins and lintel with 1691 incised. Wide central entry and narrower entry to right, both at rear, inserted or altered under plain oak lintels. Interior. Formerly divided into two chambers by full-height wall from front to back, now wholly removed but toothing visible. 13 rows of nesting boxes below eaves; 6 rows in each gable - more than 800 boxes in all, probably 1300-1400 when central wall existed. Brick platform of 2 courses, the lower course diagonally set, at the base of each row of boxes. High level opening in left end inserted, from loft of adjoining coach-house. A splendid example, regrettably partly decayed. Its use is documented in the Aston papers at Aston Lodge; the eggs, the birds and their lime for manure were all valued.

Listing NGR: SJ5531578043

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