Restoring a rare 16th-century dovecote — one of only a handful remaining in Buckinghamshire

The Monks Risborough Dovecote, situated west of St Dunstan's Church, is a remarkable Grade II listed structure dating from the late 16th century. Built of coursed rubble clunch and chalk with flint and tile, with large dressed stone at the quoins and a small semi-circular stone arch over the door, it is finished with a distinctive pyramid tile roof. Inside, over 200 original nest boxes remain — a testament to its original purpose of housing pigeons and discouraging birds of prey.

When MDJ Conservation took on this project, the dovecote was in serious need of attention. The clunch and flint fabric had deteriorated significantly, with failed mortar, loose stonework and areas of structural concern throughout. The building required a sensitive, knowledgeable approach — one that would stabilise and conserve the historic fabric without compromising its character.

The works included rebuilding failed sections of clunch, removing loose and deteriorated lime and repointing throughout with a carefully matched lime mortar. A lime shelter coat was then applied to the entire exterior — the traditional method of protecting clunch and chalk buildings from moisture penetration. The result is a beautifully restored building that will be protected for generations to come.