Findlater Doocot

Findlater Doocot

Standing alone in a farm field near Sandend, on the Aberdeenshire coast, stands a 16th-century dovecot, or doocot, built to provide food for the owners of nearby Findlater Castle, a few hundred yards away.

History

We don't know who built the doocot, or when, but it was probably erected by the Ogilvy family, who owned the castle for two centuries, beginning in 1450. Alternatively, it may have been built by Sir John Gordon, who briefly controlled the castle from 1560-62.

The dovecot is built in a traditional beehive style, found across Scotland. This style uses a circular base, rising in three stages, each stage tapering slightly towards the top. Each stage is separated from the next by a rat course, a projecting lip of stone that prevented rats from climbing the walls and gaining access through the hole at the top.

The nesting boxes

Facts and figures

The doocot measures 19m across the base, with a doorway in the south face. There are two small rectangular 'flight' holes in the top tier, opening only inwards.

The doocot has 700 nesting boxes, each box measuring 15cm wide x 15cm high x 36cm deep (5.9" x 5.9" x 14.2"). A pivoting 'potence' or ladder is based on a reused stone 43cm by 63cm by 15cm (16.9" x 24.8" x 5.9") in the centre of the doocot.

The nesting boxes start at 46cm (1'6") above thre ground and rise up to the apex. The base is formed by a paved floor, which made it easier to collect pigeon dung, which was then used as fertiliser.

The doocot door

The doocot is made of mixed rubble covered by traditional lime harling. Carved stone is used for the door lintel, jambs, and 'alighting ledges'; lips of stone for birds to alight and preen.

Visiting

The Findlater Doocot is extremely easy to get to. From the A98 immediately east of Sandend, follow the brown signs for Findlater Castle. This gets you onto a single-lane road that leads to a signposted drive to Sunnyside Beach, Findlater Castle & Doocot.

The drive ends in a small car park beside the Barnyards of Findlater. Take the signposted footpath towards the castle and you will see the doocot in the field ahead of you.

The north facade

Storm clouds over Findlater Doocot

Every time that we have visited, the top half of the split door giving access to the doocot has been open, allowing us to view the doocot interior and the nesting boxes.

I highly recommend continuing your walk to take in the castle, a few minutes away.