Jonjon explores Nottingham… Wollaton Dovecote Museum

Glance: Wollaton Dovecote Museum

This is among Wollaton’s (or West Nottingham’s) handful of oldest-surviving buildings, and hence lucky enough to gather enough protests to save it from demolition.

Built in the 1560s by Wollaton Hall’s Willoughby family – two decades before they had the hall.

See for yourself: Wollaton Dovecote Museum

1. The museum opens monthly and on the day you’ll see all these signs reminding you yet again it’s opening today (it works - the dovecote is so packed with visitors and gung-ho exhibition guides). Bright yellow and scattered all across Wollaton’s fences and bushes, it’s hard to miss this featured event as you follow the arrows into ever tinier roads, and finally into Dovecote Drive.

2. It was indeed originally a dovecote rearing thousands of doves for their meat and eggs, more than enough for the local population. Converted into a stable by the late nineteenth century. But then after it changed hands in 1926, the house became so under-repaired that it was nearly demolished.

3. A conservation society happens here. Hence all these posters and boards on Wollaton’s past and its hidden places; a guide introduces me to a secret garden at the side of Wollaton Park with the hope of it being restored.

Also historic maps for purchase.

Time is asset come join my 25-min museum tour. Or find yourself in my novel, check out the photo of the day and finish it off with a secret prize.

Tags - in_depth_tourism; museum; London_writer; London_travel; indie_writer; independent_blogger