Structure Name: Biddlestone Home Farm: Hemmel and dovecote

Description:
 

Free-standing lectern-type hemmel, with a two rows of pigeon holes above the arched ground floor entrance. The structure is c.6m square and two storeys high, with brick nesting boxes inside. It has been suggested that this hemmel is constructed from the remains of a bastle house or pele tower.
 

Extant: Yes

Legal Status: Listed Building Grade II

Location: Biddlestone Home Farm, NORTHUMBERLAND

Eastings: 395280m (view map)

Northings: 608270m (view map)

Position Accuracy: 5m

Positional Confidence: Absolute Certainty

Structure Types Identified: BASTLE, DOVECOTE, HEMMEL

Chronology:

• LATE 18TH CENTURY   Constructed in the late 18th or early 19th century.

Notes
 

This structure 'formed part of an investigation into various forms of dovecote. I entered the hemmel, shooing the cows out of the way, so that I might determine whether there were pigeon nesting boxes inside, and did so successfully until I found myself pushing against a rather large bull. Not knowing how to tell the difference between a friendly and an unfriendly bull, I bid a hasty retreat.'
[Stafford Linsley's annotation]
 

• Additional information about the structure type DOVECOTE is available.

References:

• Images of England
• Keys To The Past
• Northumberland SMR

The information displayed in this page has been derived from authoritative sources, including any referenced above. Although substantial efforts were made to verify this information, the SINE project cannot guarantee its correctness or completeness.

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