[a][3] The Church of St Michael, which stands adjacent to the dovecote, was originally the principal building of the preceptory site.

[4] The Friends of Garway Church society gives a build date for the dovecote of 1326.

[b][5] The dovecote is circular and constructed of sandstone rubble with a flattened conical roof.

[c][6] The pigeons kept within the structure provided a source of meat, and their droppings were used as fertilizer.

[8] The Friends' website describes Garway as "the finest medieval dovecote in England",[1] a view supported by Alfred Watkins in his study, Pigeon Houses of Herefordshire and Gower.