Willington Dovecote & Stables

Enjoy the tranquil setting of this outstanding 16th-century stone-built dovecote and stable buildings, which nestles alongside Willington church.

A nesting site for barn owls and kestrels the dovecote is a great spot for bird watching. However, we now try keep pigeons out of the dovecote's 1,500 nesting boxes.

Looking around the stables today you will see plenty of evidence showing how the building was used as stables, including four loose horse boxes on the ground floor, each with space for a horse. However, the brick floor is not thought to be more than 200 years old, so what was the building used for before 1800?

Indeed, the whole building is rather puzzling. As you walk around, look out for openings in the walls that have been closed up. At one time the windows were glazed and there’s evidence that there may have been an entrance from the outside to the upper floor.

Originally the layout upstairs was very different. The partitions were moved to divide up the north end of the upper floor to store a variety of foodstuffs for the horses below.

Today the building is roofed in hand-made tiles, but it may originally have been thatched. The roof is very steep and unusually there are two different designs of roof timbers.

Timings & Tours

Sunday 15 September:

14:00-17:00

Location & directions

Dovecote, 28 Church Road, Willington, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK44 3QB

Telephone number:

+441480301494

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

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