About Us
McCarthy Dovecotes was established at the bottom of my brother’s garden in a small abandoned garage, my father and I began work on various projects from playhouses to welly trees, garden planters to dovecotes, after much tea and deliberation we dedicated ourselves to the manufacture of dovecotes and have been since 2005.
Many customers later from our little workshop in a converted Lancashire tripe factory, we now offer a range of dovecotes that push the boundaries of the industry.
Since 2005 McCarthy Dovecotes have delivered many bespoke requests from our customers including tree mounts, titcote conversions, bird tables and bespoke paint finishes. Whilst we cannot guarantee to do all requests those ideas which drive the order range and offer forward will be considered. Please do not hesitate to contact us.
Please browse around our website at all the different items and when you are ready get in touch.
Design Features
Our Dovecotes offer many individual design features unique to McCarthy & Sons Ltd
The Roof – The six or eight 2″ x 2″ solid roof spars are machine cut with 2 angled groves to allow the 15mm ply infill which offers a unique and precise finish. The roof is designed to allow ventilation and air flow which prolongs the lifespan of the roof.
The Perch Platforms – The platforms whilst being extremely decorative and unique to McCarthy & Sons Ltd also have added benefits. They are totally removable which helps prevent any damage during delivery and makes servicing your cote easier. When in place they also form a lip which helps reduce the tendency of your doves to drag out their eggs when nesting.
Nest Compartments – Each cote has individual nest compartments designed with the “around the corner”method which provides protection for your Doves against direct wind.
Mounting Sleeve – To avoid unsightly and over engineered fixings we construct an internal box within the Dovecote. During installation the Dovecote simply slides onto the post for a secure streamlined finish
The Detail – throughout the Dovecote extra care has been given to the aesthetics from the roof detail to the individual canopies over nest entrances, decorative dado rail and curved frill. Extra care and attention has been made to make the Dovecote not only practical but beautiful.
Our Products
The two types of materials used in the construction of our Dovecotes are best redwood timber and birch plywood. The roof spars are made using 2″ x 2″(50x50mm) timber and infilled with 15mm birch ply which is also used to form the walls of the cote.
For the internal floors, wall dividers, perch platforms and mounting sleeve we use 9mm birch plywood.
The feed tables are made using 9mm birch plywood (with drain holes) which is trimmed with 2″ x 2″(50x50mm) redwood to a mitred finish, it sits on 4 french curve brackets which are fixed to a 4″ x 4″(100x100mm) tanalised post which is router edged, sanded and painted.
The Dovecotes are finished with a code 3 lead cap formed over the apex of the roof and crowned with a regal finial.
All our products are protected from the elements using the Cuprinol system of 2 applications of clear preservative and then 3 coats of Ronseal paint from the Xactly Exterior Range
Those coats with a stained wood finish we use 2 applications from the Ronseal wood preserver series.