Outbuildings Immediately To The West Of Wordsley House

Outbuildings, dating from the late 17th or early 18th century, are located immediately to the west of Wordsley House. Constructed primarily of brick in a Flemish bond pattern, they feature gabled roofs covered with plain tiles. The buildings are arranged in an L-shape. The main east-west range incorporates, from east to west, a dovecote, stable, smithy, and another stable. A cross wing extends northwards from the western end, providing space for vehicle storage, with lofted areas above – the cross wing’s loft was used as a granary from at least the 19th century.

The south-facing facade of the east-west range is blank, while the north-facing elevation is two stories high and features 19th-century plank loft doors. From left to right (eastwards), it includes a segmental arched plank door with an overlight to the dovecote, a similar door leading to the stable, a brick elliptical-arched doorway (housing a 20th-century two-light window) to the former forge, and another plank door with an overlight to the stable. The east gable end has flight holes. The cross wing has a double entry on its south elevation and segmental arch on its north gable.

Internally, the stables retain late 19th-century stalls, and the forge has a hearth. The dovecote contains brick nesting boxes. The east-west range has a roof structure with collar trusses, raking side struts, trenched purlins, and windbraces. The cross wing's roof is of a 4-bay queen-strut design with trenched purlins and steps leading to a first-floor granary.

Historically, these outbuildings represent a complete and significant example of a building associated with the inn trade, dating from a period of economic growth in post-Restoration England. They are situated near Marlais House and Wordsley House, which was formerly an inn from the late 17th century. This multi-purpose building provided accommodation and servicing spaces for horses and vehicles, in addition to a space for supplying pigeons and extensive lofted areas intended for fodder and stable hands.