"A dovecot is not just a birdhouse; it's a statement that says, 'I am of rank, and I shall have fresh squab for supper.'"
This quote is attributed to the modern Pro 3 version of my wee Gem Gemini AI tool December 15th 2025.
It does give prelude to what is to come!
Today we talk or more accurately show you the inside of a dovecot or doocot.
I have so many pictures that I have not put on the interwebbyy thing yet, well thanks to the weekly contest from 
Picture details .. Sat 17 May 2025 12.32 Aberdour, Scotland Camera: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL ƒ/1.7 1/24 2.02 mm ISO365 PXL_20250517_113242917.MP.jpg 12.5 MP 4080 × 3072 Ultra HDR
Apologies in advance if I intercahnge dovecot with doocot, in Scotland we call a dove a doo so dovecot is often referred to as a doocot!
It is quite tricky to actually only choose one picture that illustrates a theme of patterns, so here are a few more that highlight the dovecot and so I shall pin this post and add it to WorldMapPin.
The dovecot is specifically described as being "beehive-shaped" and is a circular, free-standing structure.
The beehive design is considered the most elegant type and is usually one of the earliest designs, denoting its primacy as the first dateable dovecot in the parish.
The dovecot dates from the 16th century, and is first recorded in a charter from 1540!
I can testify to the bees working in the orchard! There are numerous bee hives in the apple orchard and it is a joy to behold!
The interior contains a large number of stone nesting boxes. In 1979, a survey recorded that there were 597 stone nesting boxes inside, though some sources suggest it could house up to 600 pairs of birds.
Its purpose was to provide the household with a reliable supply of meat (squab) and manure, especially during the winter months.
I love history and find it fascinating that here we are standing inside something that was built 500 years ago.
The mind boggles, how many people have been inside there cathing the doves or squabs to eat?
the dovecot was built during the time the castle was owned by the Douglas Earls of Morton. Regent Morton, the 4th Earl, who governed Scotland in the 1570s, was an enthusiast for French architecture and landscape gardening and was responsible for improvements to the gardens and terraces, near where the dovecot is located.
The dovecot was still in use as late as 1746.
Aberdour Castle is located in the beautiful village of Aberdour, in Fife, Scotland.
The earliest part of the castle, a modest hall house, dates back to the 12th century (around the mid-1100s or 1200), making it one of the oldest standing masonry castles in Scotland. It was then successively expanded and adapted over the next four centuries.
We visited in May 2025 and it shows that Scotland does indeed get good weather!
If you want to see why I am showing you a Wings picture then I implore you to go read ... Qurator's Photo Quest | Patterns
Yes I am sharing a picture with the theme Patterns
Some facts are courtesy of my Gemini 3.0 Pro account but all images and ramblings are from me, the mad Scotsman TengoLoTodo unless otherwise stated. All photos captured with my Google Pixel 9 XL Pro on Saturday 17th May 2025 at Aberdour Castel, Aberdour, Fife, Scotland... 
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