West Pitkierie Dovecot Near Anstruther East Neuk Of Fife Scotland

Tour Scotland Spring 4K travel video of West Pitkierie, Dovecot or Doocot, near Anstruther on ancestry, genealogy, history visit and trip to the East Neuk of Fife. Originally built by lairds to provide secure accommodation for flocks of rock doves, the doocot’s purpose was to provide estates with a delicacy for the table. The birds were prolific, needed little space as they lived in nesting boxes which lined the inside walls of the doocot, their guano, dung. Although the Romans kept pigeons, it was the Normans who introduced doocots to Britain. The first ones appeared in Scotland in the 12th and 13th centuries. About two miles from Anstruther, on the road to St Andrews, stood the mansion house of Pitkiery. It is now only a farm house, but the dovecot is still conspicuous. John of Pitkiery is mentioned in the middle of the thirteenth century. Later 18th century. 2 storey octagonal with concave sides, harled rubble, ashlar plinth and bandcourse between ground and 1st floor, cornice and blocking course with capped ball finials at angles. Door at ground, oculus with keyblocks above and at upper floor.

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