WHEN you think of the county’s top National Trust sites, this beautiful hidden gem may have slipped under your radar – but it is certainly worth a visit.
Ask anyone to name National Trust sites near Worcester, and they will no doubt extol the virtues of the sprawling 18th-century Lancelot Capability Brown landscapes of Croome or the stately elegance of Hanbury Hall.
Perhaps they will mention Greyfriars in Friar Street in Worcester city centre or The Fleece Inn in Bretforton, famous as a Father Brown filming location and beloved by Taylor Swift.
But how many visitors have ventured to Wichenford Dovecote, a grade II* listed, 17th century timber-framed dovecote set in tranquil surroundings off Venn Lane?
A dovecote is designed to house pigeons or doves and has internal nesting holes. There are 557 wooden nesting boxes inside this one, restored in the mid 20th century.
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Dovecotes served as a ‘living larder’ for wealthy households, providing a year-round source of fresh meat, eggs and dung for fertiliser.
When I arrive, the place is deserted. Even the postman looks lost. The electric gates swing open to reveal no throngs of visitors, no hustle and bustle, no ‘person of a certain age’ in a semi-comatose state positioned directly in front of me, staring vacantly into space and standing between me and a cup of coffee.
There’s no queue for the car park, the cafe or the gift shop. Well, to be fair, that’s because there isn’t a cafe or a gift shop (or really any car park to speak of). But let’s not split hairs. This is not your typical National Trust property. There are no bins either. I’m not sure I’m really selling this so far but bear with me.
It’s a great choice for people who love their history but perhaps find themselves a tad overwhelmed by crowds.
A National Trust spokesperson said: “A charming 17th-century half-timbered dovecote at Wichenford Court. The building, although small, is very striking.”
A sign reminds people to ‘enjoy exploring the dovecote, but please bear in mind the surrounding land, gardens, ponds, barns and driveways are part of a private residence’.
Again, this is another way in which this National Trust site is different from others you may have visited.
It also has the advantage of being near Hawford Dovecote (around eight miles away), ‘the last remnant of a former medieval monastic grange’ and a ‘curious crooked dovecote which ‘sits prettily in the Worcestershire countryside’.
Surviving virtually unaltered since the late 16th century, the picturesque dovecote, retains many of its nesting boxes and original features.