Stable Block At Firbeck Hospital

The stable block at Firbeck Hospital, likely built in the late 18th century and remodeled in the early 19th century, now serves as workshops and storage. It was originally part of the Firbeck Hall estate. The building is constructed of rubble and ashlar limestone with a slate roof and features a U-shaped plan.

The front of the stable block is symmetrical and consists of two storeys with a layout of one central bay flanked by three bays on each side, where the end bays project slightly. A tall central carriage entrance is framed by ashlar piers and an impost band leading to a basket arch with a prominent keystone. The entrance is adorned with 19th-century iron gates that have three rails, curved braces, and decorative inverted U-shaped bars with finials. The end bays feature 24-pane sash windows with wedge lintels, while the first-floor band runs continuously from the impost of the arch. The second and fourth bays have blind first-floor windows with square-faced surrounds, and the end bays have unequally-hung sashes with glazing bars.

An eaves band runs along the top, and the central bay has a shaped gable that includes a clock within an architrave. The ashlar parapet connects to matching false gables on either side, which feature blind arrowslits. The roof is hipped, with corniced ridge stacks at the hips and a central bell turret.

The courtyard elevation of the rear-right wing is one storey high and has eight bays. Keyed, round-arched doorways are located in bays four, six, and eight, while the other bays contain sashes, except for bay two, which now has garage doors. The opposite wing is also one storey and consists of four bays, each with bonded ashlar surrounds and segmental arches leading to the carriage house. An attached range that encloses the rear of the courtyard is not of special interest.