Bogward Dovecot
{{Short description|Historic building in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2019}}
Bogward Doocot is a rare early beehive-type doocot, or dovecote, in the Scottish town of St Andrews, Fife.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Hz5ZtShXvoC&q=Bogward&pg=PA48|title=Fife|last=Gifford|first=John|date=March 1988|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=9780300096736|location=|pages=|language=en}} In 1971, it was designated as a Category A listed building by Historic Scotland.{{cite web |url=https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB40932 |title=Historic Environment Scotland |accessdate=2019-07-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/200387020-bogward-dovecot-st-andrews|title=Bogward Dovecot., St Andrews, Fife|last=Stuff|first=Good|website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk|access-date=2019-07-28}}
History
The doocot was most likely built in the early to mid-16th century. RCAHMS notes from 1956 describe the building as being in 'good condition', despite the roof having collapsed. Management of the building was passed to the St Andrews Preservation Trust in 1960, following which the roof was repaired, and the door replaced.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WfYJAQAAIAAJ&q=Bogward+Doocot|title=Scotland|last1=Tomes|first1=John|last2=Muirhead|first2=Litellus Russell|date=1977-01-01|publisher=Benn|isbn=9780528846663|location=|pages=235|language=en}}
The doocot was originally owned by the Priory of St Andrews, which benefited from both the meat and eggs of the resident pigeons, as well as their accumulated manure, which was used as a natural lime-rich fertilizer.
Description
The doocot is located to the west of St Andrews, on Doocot Road, which was named after the structure.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4IlOAAAAYAAJ&q=Bogward+Doocot|title=The Best Buildings in Britain: A Catalogue of Grade 1 Buildings and Grade A Churches in England, Category A Buildings in Scotland and Western Isles, Grade 1 Buildings and Grade A Churches in Wales|date=1980|publisher=Save Britain's Heritage|language=en}} It contains three rat-courses, used to prevent rats from climbing the doocot and stealing eggs. Birds may use the upper rat-course as a ledge when entering the doocot. A wooden door at the base of the structure allows entry to its interior, where there is a rotating ladder, giving access to the nesting boxes at the top.
References
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{{Commons category|Bogward dovecote}}
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