The National Trust’s Dovecote stands on a hill above Bruton and is included as an optional detour on the walk around the town (see the town walk overleaf).
This mysterious building with 200 pigeonholes may have been begun by Bruton Priory (later Abbey) before Henry VIII dissolved it. The Berkeley family, who bought the Abbey, may have used it as a prospect tower for watching hunting.
Below the Dovecote are medieval pillow mounds – pillow-shaped artificial rabbit warrens with stone chambers and tunnels covered by earth.
This was where the Canons kept rabbits for their meat and fur. In the 18th Century, it was used as a Dovecote.
From the Dovecote, a walk northeast gives fine views of the town and leads round the remains of the old Abbey fishponds.
Source: Bruton information leaflet: Bruton Town Council – South Somerset District Council
