Stables At Nostell Priory

A substantial stable block with riding house, greenhouse, offices and ancillary structures, now converted to garages, restaurant and other uses. The complex comprises four ranges enclosing a rectangular courtyard. The south and west ranges were designed by Robert Adam and built between 1770 and 1776. The north and east ranges were built later, between 1827 and 1829, to designs by James Pritchett and Charles Watson of York. The buildings are constructed in sandstone ashlar with roofs of stone slate, slate, and glass.

The north range forms the entrance front and is a substantial structure of two storeys with seventeen bays following classical proportions. The composition is symmetrical, with a five-bay centre block containing the entrance archway, linked by five-bay blind-arcaded ranges to single-bay corner pavilions. A continuous impost band and balustraded parapets between the central and outer pediments emphasise the horizontal character of the design. The entrance block is a three-bay pedimented centre that breaks forward slightly. This contains a giant round-headed archway with long-and-short voussoirs and a raised triple keystone. The ground floor windows are twelve-pane sashes, while the first floor has square six-pane sashes. An oculus appears in the pediment. On the centre of the roof stands a two-stage clock tower, built to Robert Adam's original design. The tower has a square-section tapered first stage containing clock faces on all four sides under small open pediments. Above this sits a circular Tuscan bellcote with a lead-clad dome topped by a finial weathervane bearing the initials "CW" on its tail. The five-bay flanking ranges are set back slightly and feature pilasters, moulded imposts on the band, and moulded semicircular arches above with raised triple keystones. These ranges have a moulded cornice and an interrupted balustraded parapet with urns above the central block and pavilions. The pedimented pavilions each have a doorway at ground floor with a raised triple keystone and a square six-pane sash above, with two-bay return walls. The rear side of the centre block matches the front elevation, but the set-back flanking ranges differ considerably. The western range features a ground-floor arcade of five segmental-headed wagon doors, whilst the eastern range has two doorways and twelve-pane sashes with square windows above both floors.

The east range, known as The Little House, has a symmetrical east facade of two storeys with seven bays, plus two-bay pavilions of two higher storeys. The pedimented three-bay centre breaks forward slightly and contains twelve-pane sashes at ground floor and six-pane sashes above, with a blind oeil-de-boeuf in the pediment. To the left are four-pane sashes on both floors. To the right, the fenestration matches that of the pavilions but with taller ground-floor windows. A balustraded parapet runs between the pediment and pavilions. Ridge chimneys flank the pediment, and side-wall chimneys serve the pavilions, which have low pyramidal roofs. The courtyard side of this range is of lesser architectural interest.

The south range was designed by Robert Adam and consists of a large riding house with flanking greenhouse and garden house, terminating in pavilions. The five-bay south front of the riding house has pilasters and a central three-bay bowed loggia of giant round-headed arches. Blind arches appear in the outer bays, with panels above the arches. A twelve-pane sashed window is located in the arch to the left (the other side is concealed by ivy). A plain frieze and cornice complete this elevation. The garden house (left) and greenhouse (right) are both five-bay Doric colonnades. The garden house is blind except for small windows at the top of the second and fourth bays. The greenhouse has two-stage glazing in each bay with arched lights, and these columns feature wooden cladding. Both colonnades have entablatures matching that in the centre. The end pavilions have Venetian windows at ground floor, six-pane sashes above, and pyramidal roofs with chimneys to the outer side walls. The courtyard side of this range features round-headed arcades; the arches of the riding house are blind except for Diocletian windows above the impost band. The roofs of the greenhouse and garden house are carried down to a low level. The arcade to the greenhouse is otherwise similar to that of the riding house except for doors in the second and fourth bays. The arcade to the garden house was formerly open but is now glazed.

The west range, also designed by Robert Adam, has a symmetrical west facade of seven bays plus two-bay end pavilions. A central full-height pedimented Tuscan architrave frames a recessed round-headed arch with a Diocletian window above a plain doorway. To each side are twelve-pane sashes at ground floor only. The two-storey pavilions have similar ground-floor windows and square six-pane sashes above, with shallow pyramidal roofs. The courtyard side of this range is of lesser architectural interest.