Doocot Conversion, Arncroach

We have been appointed to restore and develop this former Doocot that forms part of a steading on this rural estate in Fife. The project seeks to restore some of the traditional features of this historical building while also converting it into a luxury one bedroom house for self catering accommodation.

Doocots or Dovecots are common across the farmland of Fife. These vernacular buildings were originally used to house pigeons providing households with a year round source of fresh meat and eggs. The droppings collected from the floor were also used as fertiliser, for tanning leather and even making gun powder!

Today, many of the Doocots lie derelict or disused so it was good to have the opportunity to convert one of these traditional Scottish buildings giving it a new modern purpose and bringing it back into use while respecting it’s history and architecture. The building will have three floors – with the entrance hall, kitchen, dining space and WC on the ground floor, a double bedroom with en-suite shower room on the first floor and a lounge on the second floor. The original pigeon holes on two walls at the top floor of the Doocot will be restored and and will form part of the lounge. A new pitched roof with feature windows and roof lights will provide amazing views over the countryside. The new external walls on the top floor will be finished with black charred timber cladding. This project is due on site later this year.