The Old Stable Block Peover Hall

The Old Stable Block at Peover Hall is a substantial building of mixed dates, with a core dating to 1654 and an 18th-century first floor addition. The brickwork is of plum and red English bond, with stone dressings, and the roof is slate. It is located within Peover Hall Park.

The front elevation has a moulded stone plinth and stone quoins. A central doorway has a moulded stone surround, a four-centered arch, and a deep lintel featuring an inscribed panel reading "The Gift of Mrs Ellen Mainwaring/to her son/Thomas Mainwaring Esq/1654.” There are three five-light windows with moulded stone surrounds and mullions on either side of the doorway. The first floor is of lighter coloured brick, with three circular pitch holes set within plain stone surrounds. Kneelers support finials with splayed lower bodies and pyramidal caps to the gable ends; similar finials are at the gable apex. It is noted that the kneelers, finials and stone coping appear to be reused elements from an earlier, single-storey building. A 20th-century addition is attached to the left, and the Coach House stands to the right.

The rear includes an 18th-century addition comprising three gabled projecting wings of two storeys and single-storey ranges of loose boxes. The projecting wings feature circular pitch holes on the first floor, with one acting as the entrance to a pigeon loft.

Originally, the interior contained 16 stalls; three at the extreme right were bricked off and destroyed in a 19th-century alteration. The terminating posts of the stalls extend upwards to form columns, creating an elaborate screen. Each post has an octagonal pedestal supporting a Tuscan column with two astragal mouldings to the lower bay and an abacus above. Semi-circular arches rise from the upper body of each column and terminate in a cyma-moulded lintel. Projecting keystones with pendants and three diamond-pointed panels flank each side of the lintel, above which are fluted consoles corresponding to the columns and keystones. Fretwork panels and a modilion cornice complete the upper section. Square posts to the rear of the stalls have arched braces. A panelled ceiling to the front features strapwork and floral patterns in relief. The 18th-century upper floor incorporates reused trusses from the earlier 17th-century roof, which retain angle braces.

The design of the internal screen shares similarities with the chapel screen at Cholmondeley Castle (dated 1655). This lavish detailing makes the stable block notable as one of the most opulent buildings of its date in Cheshire.