Text copyright Valerie Martin 1999.

In 1973, after lying derelict and almost forgotten for many years, and buried amongst trees and shrubs, the old Pigeon House on the Muntham Estate was sold for £23,000. This was with planning permission for conversion to a private dwelling. By spring of 1977 the conversion was complete.

Dovecotes or pigeon houses were once an essential part of any large establishment before the days of refrigeration and frozen foods. The birds provided a handy source of fresh meat for any household. The Muntham Pigeon House appears to date from the 1700s and Joseph Merlott may have designed it when the house was built in 1741.

In 1859 Henry Woodyer was responsible for re-facing Muntham Court and it appears he redesigned the pigeon house by facing the original red brick with knapped flints to match the mansion. The top storey of the Pigeon House contained elongated hexagons in the decoration at its base, thus forming inlets for the birds in days of old when it was used as a breeding House for pigeons. The interior white washed walls were lined with comfy nesting boxes and perches. The birds provided a year-round source of food for the estate. The Pigeon House Walk connected the property to Muntham Court mansion.

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