SCOTTISH "DOO-COTS"

Evening Star, Issue 19319, 4 August 1926, Page 11

SCOTTISH "DOO-COTS"

WHY THEY ARE PRESERVED. “ Doo-eots ” or “dove-cotes” are dotted all over the Lothiims, the ancient Kingdom of Fife, Forfarshire, Perthshire, etc., sometimes standing alone, sometimes beside an ancient keep, or towering above and dwarfing some little rod-tiled cottage or farm steading (writes A. Walker, in the ‘Weekly Scotsman’). They are of various designs, square, round, sexagonal, etc., but the most common is the square. They arc quite large solid stone structures, on one side a square stone wall, on the opposite side like the hack view of a cottage. Tho square side almost always faces the north, the opposite, with sloping root, tho south; the inclined part being pierced with numerous holes or pigeon doors.

At one time no estate nr lairdship in the oast and midlands of Scotland was complete without its dove-cole. The reason is difficult to find._ They may have been for tho providing of fresh dainty food or for sporting purposes. INTERESTING BELI EES.

Perhaps as an archery lest or from a religious superstition that the dove was specially worthy of protection—as a symbol of heavenly love, pence, and prosperity. Some color is lent to tho last of these conjectures by the further belief that if a dove cote was destroyed the lady of the family would meet with her death within the yoai;, and also by tho fact that a “ doo-cot ” is often ; found standing !cing_ after the manor, keep, or castle to which it was attached has disappeared. A law, I believe. used to exist that a “don-cot” might borepaired, but could not he taken down, j There arc still three “ doo-cots | standing in my native village, with some of the old porlionors’ dwellings alongside—the sign of a lairdship—and, according to the old proverb, “ A wee ; pickle land, a hantle o’ pride, and a doo-cot.” Here is how Allan Ramsay, ; 200 years ago, described u “ erolter’s j place of abode ” : j A snug thack boose, before the door a green, ■ I Hons on tho midden, denies in dubs : are seen. I On this side stands a barn—on that ! a byre, ■ j A peat stack joins and forms a rural j , square; , | The house is Glands—there yon may - see him loan, _ j And to hLs divot scat invite Ids freen. | In an Act of Janies IV., passed in 1503, breakers of “ Dow-eattes ” are among the offenders mentioned, and the privilege of building and maintaining a “doo-cot” was jealously regarded by its owner. 'The keen competition in the building of “doo-cots” came to bo regarded as an abuse, and it was sue- i cossfnlly checked by an Art o< James VI. of Scotland iu 1617, declaring that “Hereafter no person shall have tho power or privilege to build a doo-eat upon any lands within this realm, except they have lands and toinds extending in yearly rent to ten chalders victuals, and adjacent to the said doo-cat at the least, be lying within two miles of the same.” And it was unlawful lor him to build more than one. GOOD EXAMPLES.

A fine example of the hay-stack variety is still to he seen at Abcrdour Castle. Of the ornamental hind, one is at the stables of Erskino House, in llonfrewshire.. For beauty and design the one at Honglaston, near Milugavio, is the finest the writer has ever soon. H is sev-'gonal, each side measuring lift. The upper windows (now ho -dod up wor ■ the pigeons’ means of entrance. And there are no fewer than btio nests. One for every day in the year. Mv paternal grandfather, it may bo of interest to add, was a noted “ doocot ” builder.