Stables At Arbury Hall And Attached Wall And Gate Pier To Left

This is a stable block, built around 1675, located within Arbury Park, Nuneaton and Bedworth. It is likely to have been designed by Sir William Wilson. The structure is constructed of English bond brick with sandstone dressings and has a plain-tile roof with stone-coped gable parapets. The rear includes internal and external stacks, mostly dating to the 19th century. The stable block follows a U-plan with wings extending to the rear and a projecting entrance block.

The stable block is two storeys and an attic, comprising 3-5-2-5-3 bays. The symmetrical front features a moulded plinth, rusticated alternating quoins, moulded string courses and a cornice. The central section projects two bays and contains a large classical portal with a moulded round arch, a console keystone, and moulded imposts. The portal has paired Ionic half-columns, an entablature with a pulvinated frieze, and an open pediment displaying an elaborate cartouche of arms with garlands. Double-leaf fielded six-panelled doors are recessed within the portal, with a multi-paned overlight. Cross windows with recessed cavetto-moulded leaded glazing are present throughout, all set within eared and shouldered architraves and brick flat arches. A painted sundial is positioned between the first-floor windows, featuring a patterned surround and the inscription 'LIFE'S BUT A WALKING SHADOW'. Projecting cross wings have ashlar doorways with a moulded round arch, a keystone, sunk spandrels containing hemispheres, and a broken pediment with ball finials. Moulded and fielded eight-panelled doors are housed within these doorways. First-floor windows throughout include blind upper lights, and some windows are blind. The shaped gables of the centre and wings are accentuated by moulded kneelers, ball finials, and windows with cornices. A clock is located within a diagonally-set painted moulded frame on the centre of the building. The return sides feature three bays, with fielded four-panelled and six-panelled doors set against large stone lintels on the left side. The rear of the building is irregular, with 19th-century additions and alterations. The interior has not been inspected.

A wall constructed of Flemish bond brick, with stone coping, adjoins the stable block. A sandstone ashlar gatepier, featuring a moulded plinth and cornice, is topped with a ball finial with a fillet. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned in 1674 to produce two drawings for the portal, however, these were not ultimately used in the construction.