Heritage award for dovecote
AN 18th century dovecote was a winner at the South Cambridgeshire District Council bi-annual built heritage awards. Rayners Dovecote in Foxton won the award for local initiative resulting in the restoration of a building of local interest and enhancement o
AN 18th century dovecote was a winner at the South Cambridgeshire District Council bi-annual built heritage awards.
Rayners Dovecote in Foxton won the award for local initiative resulting in the restoration of a building of local interest and enhancement of the historic environment.
Dudley Pusey is a member of the Friends of the Dovecote and was chairman of Foxton Parish Council when the group was established.
He said: "The parish council agreed to the concept of restoring the dovecote.
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"It had no roof and we sympathetically restored the brickwork as it needed building up.
"We finished the restoration in December 2006, on the 300th anniversary of the plaque which can be seen on the dovecote."
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The plaque above the pedestrian door to the dovecote is dated 1766 and features the initials of a married couple, Mr and Mrs Rayner. The Rayner family name lives on in the village.
Councillor Deborah Roberts, district councillor for Foxton and Fowlmere, said: "It is a really wonderful focal spot for the people in the village and I applaud those behind the project.
"Thanks to Dudley, he had the vision before everyone else; no one could imagine how lovely it would be.
"It is a great improvement on the whole area and something people can enjoy."
The district council's heritage awards recognise and reward best practice in the care of the historic built environment.
Mr Pusey said: "Getting the award was really satisfying after all the hard work.
"I have had really positive comments about the dovecote.
"Someone said to me this is the best thing that has happened to Foxton in five years.
"We combined the three projects - the dovecot, the meadow and the footpath and it's great to see it all come together. It benefits the whole village.
