The Dovecote Tower, commonly known as the Pigeon Tower, stands at the northwestern edge of the Terraced Gardens. Italian in style, the Tower was built in 1910 by Lord Leverhulme as part of his extensive Rivington estate. The first two floors were home to ornamental doves and pigeons, whilst at the top was a small sitting room that was used as a lookout over the boating lake, and by Lady Lever as a sewing and music room.
The three floors are linked by a solid stone staircase that runs up the semi-circular spine of the building. On rare occasions when the metal barricaded door allows access.
The Dovecote Fireplace image by munki-boy
The Dovecoat and Tower image by @Clive_SJohnson
The ruins of Lord Leverhulme’s terraced gardens at Rivington, known to locals as the Chinese Gardens.
A Series of waterfalls flowing over man-made cascades, down to an area known as The Dell.
The site of Leverhulme’s Roynton Cottage at Rivington which was destroyed by arson many years ago.
The remains of the circular stone plinth that supported a sundial, overlooking Leverhulme’s gardens at Rivington.
The site of The Bungalow, Leverhulme’s former residence at Rivington, remains of tiled floors can still be seen today.
The site of Lord Leverhulme’s aviary, situated on a terrace above his gardens at Rivington.
The site of South Lodge, at the foot of Leverhulme’s terraced gardens at Rivington.
Leverhulme’s ‘African Bridge’ known to locals as the Seven Arched Bridge inspired by a trip to Africa.
This stretch of wall adjacent to the tower was converted to a dovecote by Leverhulme, you can still see the ‘pigeonholes’ in the wall.
The Japanese Lake was the centre-piece of Leverhulme’s Japanese Garden. A tranquil lake with ornamental lanterns and a pagoda in mock-Japanese style, a bridge reminiscent of the famous Willow Pattern and waterfalls over a man-made rock wall with small caves.
The old gardens that served Leverhulme’s kitchen at his residence at Rivington.
