Dovecot in Woodstock

I chanced upon this lovely old dovecot in the Oxfordshire village of Woodstock today.

As sometimes seems to happen when blipping, a random local chap came along mid shot and told me all he knew about it - which amounted to 'very old... built by a Frenchman'.

I believe dovecots were sometimes a real status symbol, only for the nobility (their 'droit de colombier'), but this was in the grounds of an altogether more humble, derelict house. No sign of any doves, so their eggs, droppings (and lives) are safe for now.

But not sure about the dovecot it self - the man said it is under threat from developers. I hope it stays - I think it's rather beautiful.