Dovecotes

For many centuries domestic pigeons were kept in specially built houses in order to provide meat for the table, a practice that probably originated in the Middle East and was first described in Roman times. These buildings are known in England as dovecotes, pigeon houses, columbaria and culverhouses (culver being the Anglo-Saxon for pigeon). Although most of these combined granary structures are no longer in use, a number are still to be found in many parts of the world.