Lundin House - the main mansion on the Lundin Estate - was almost completely demolished in 1876. The tower was left standing and is still a local landmark. A lesser-known building that still stands (albeit as a ruin) is the Doocot or Dovecot that served Lundin House. It is listed on the 'Buildings at Risk Register':
www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/details/908010
A doocot is a structure full of pigeon holes for housing doves or pigeons, which were historically an important source of food. Early Scottish doocots were a beehive shape but a 'lectern' style with a mono-pitched roof became more common from the late 16th century. These structures continued to be built well into the 18th century (when the Lundin one is thought to date from), with some becoming quite decorative in style. The Lundin House Doocot is gothic in style - a style which can also be seen at Eglinton in Ayrshire (see below)
www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/details/908010
A doocot is a structure full of pigeon holes for housing doves or pigeons, which were historically an important source of food. Early Scottish doocots were a beehive shape but a 'lectern' style with a mono-pitched roof became more common from the late 16th century. These structures continued to be built well into the 18th century (when the Lundin one is thought to date from), with some becoming quite decorative in style. The Lundin House Doocot is gothic in style - a style which can also be seen at Eglinton in Ayrshire (see below)
The doocot can been clearly seen on the 1854 map below of Lundin House (prior to the demolition). The longer building to the north east of the dovecot housed the kennels. Lamont's Diary shows evidence of a dovecot at Lundin House in the 1660s, although that would have been an earlier structure. The images further below show the dovecot (front and rear) still roofed and in much better condition in the 1970s (source RCHAMS). It's too bad that this interesting little building has not been maintained. If you know any more about this structure - please comment!
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