Site type DOVECOT
Canmore ID 52675
Site Number NT27SW 5
NGR NT 20047 72516
Council EDINBURGH, CITY OF
Parish EDINBURGH (EDINBURGH, CITY OF)
Former Region LOTHIAN
Former District CITY OF EDINBURGH
Former County MIDLOTHIAN

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Archaeological Notes

NT27SW 5 20047 72516

(NT 2004 7251) Archaeological monitoring was undertaken in July 2003 while contractors excavated a short trench from the doocot to the nearby garden wall. There were no features or finds of archaeological significance.
Archive to be deposited in the NMRS.
Sponsor: HS
G Ewart 2003

Architectural Notes

NT27SW 5 20047 72516

(NT 2004 7251) Dovecot (NR)
OS 1:10,000 map, (1973).

This beehive-shaped 16th century dovecot, which would once have been the pigeon house of Corstorphine Castle, is 86'10 1/2" in circumference externally. Its walls are 3'10" thick, and there are 3 string courses, the walls being slightly recessed above each course.
The entrance is on the N. The whole interior wall is covered by 28 tiers of stone nests, 1060 in all.
Pigeons still use this dovecot, entering by 6 holes in the S wall above the middle course.
A N Robertson 1945; RCAHMS 1929, visited 1920.

This dovecot is as described and in good order.
Visited by OS(BS) 2 December 1975.

Fergueson Sketch Book No. 9
1 page in pencil.

Evening Standard (1954) 'Sutherland's tapestry', Evening Standard Newscutting 22 January 1954

Ewart, G (2003i) 'Corstorphine Doocot (City parish of Edinburgh), watching brief', Discovery Excav Scot, vol.4
Page(s): 68

RCAHMS (1929) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Tenth report with inventory of monuments and constructions in the counties of Midlothian and West Lothian, Edinburgh
Page(s): 27, No.33 Held at RCAHMS A.1.1.INV/10