Nest Hole Sponsorship Scheme
The Nest Hole Sponsorship Scheme was devised in 1999 primarily to raise funds for the purchase and restoration of the Dovecote building and surrounding area, to include the buildings immediately adjacent to the Dovecote, the walls and gates surrounding it, the riverside frontage, riverbed, waterfall and sluice and the little building adjoining the sluice, formerly used to house the generator (turbine shed).
The purchase and restoration of the main building were achieved in 2001. Since then the Trust has converted the stable block into usable units, two of which are rented out and one used by the village as storage; the 1960 Bradstone tractor shed situated by the roadway has been demolished and stone boundary walls with integral seats for passing walkers have been built to re-instate the farmyard setting. In 2017/18 the Trust undertook necessary repairs to the former water mill (lean-to) on the southern side of the Dovecote, uncovering its head-leat and replacing the asbestos cement roof with pitched Welsh slate . At the same time the ruined turbine shed was repaired and renovated, the turbine removed, shot-blasted, painted and re-instated and the head race and exit leats were partially revealed and repaired to show the former function of the building as a generator of electricity to the Manor House. .
Despite these achievements, it still remains for the Trustees to insure and maintain the whole site and generate income for the Naunton Dovecote Trust to secure the future of the Site, cover ongoing costs, and fund further improvements. The next planned project is to bring mains water on to the site and convert the 4th stable block unit into a small kitchen, disabled W.C. and display area.
There are several ways in which our income is being maintained, and the Nest Hole Scheme continues to be one of them.
There are two ways in which one can ‘sponsor’ a Nest Hole:
(i) by donation of a sum exceeding £50 to the Naunton Dovecote Trust or
(ii) by becoming a ‘Friend’ of the Naunton Dovecote Trust, which entails completing a Standing Order for a minimum sum of £10 p.a. for an individual, or £25 p.a. for a household. Any gift to the N.D.T. by a U.K. taxpayer also qualifies for Gift Aid, which means that approximately £25 for every £100 donated can be reclaimed from the Inland Revenue by the Trust (which is a registered Charity). Being a ‘Friend’ means that you are kept in touch with Trust activities by means of their Newsletter ‘Dovetales’.
What does ‘sponsoring a Nest Hole mean?
In 1999 Mary Fiveash drew up four technical drawings showing each individual dove nest hole inside the Dovecote (there are 903 ‘open’ holes). Each of the four elevations (N, S, E, and W) are divided into five sections; each section was given the name of a field lying in the direction of the elevation, i.e. ‘Gazeley Bottom’ is west of the Dovecote, ‘Sugarwell’ is north etc. Each donor chooses a hole (or holes) and receives a Certificate, showing their hole.
Images of these drawings are displayed below:
The donor is also entitled to an Entry in the Dovecote Book, which will eventually be included in the proposed display/archive area at the Dovecote site. The donor is invited to write something about themselves, and their association with Naunton and can also dedicate their Entry to a third party. This is often used as an opportunity to remember someone who has died, or a former resident of Naunton.
The donor can write anything they wish – bearing in mind that we hope that it will be of interest to future residents of Naunton, giving them a picture of the people who helped to save the Dovecote. Entries can be formal and factual or amusing and anecdotal – some nestholes are dedicated to much-loved animals, some to friends or family members. We encourage former residents of Naunton to give some insight of life in the village as early as they can recollect, to make a historic record for the future.
If you would like to become a ‘Friend’ of the Naunton Dovecote Trust please contact Penny Hanks
by email – info@nauntondovecote.uk
or by post at – Spring Barn, Naunton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL54 3AS