Court Lodge Stable Cottage Wren Court

BIRDINGBURY FRANKTON ROAD SP46NW (East side) 5/5 Wren Court, Court Lodge and 06/10/60 Stable Cottage (Formerly listed as Stable Block, Birdingbury Hall) II Stable block, now 3 houses. 1742. Converted late C20. Possibly designed by Richard Trubshaw. Built for Sir Theophilus Bidduiph. Flemish bond red brick with sandstone ashlar plinth and dressings. Old tile hipped roofs; C19 and C20 brick ridge, internal and lateral stacks to rear and wing. L-plan, with wing on right to rear. Mid Georgian style. 2 storeys; 7 bays. Symmetrical front has projecting pedimented centre. Large moulded and rusticated archway has triple keystone carved with coat of arms and acanthus leaf. Recessed late C20 two-window range within archway. Pediment has mid C18 clock with slate face in moulded stone surround quartered with acanthus leaves. Left and right ranges each have central doorway with moulded stone eared and shouldered architrave, triple keystone and pediment. Court Lodge on left has glazed door; Wren Court has late C20 six-panelled door; both have sidelights and overlight. Sashes have moulded stone sills and flat arches with triple keystones. Stone coped brick parapets, swept up at ends. Central painted wood octagonal bell turret has keyed round arches and ogee lead roof with fox weathervane. Return sides, rear and wing have brick dentil cornice. Extensive late C20 alterations. The bell is noted as having the inscription 'Sir Theophilus Biddulph H B MAD ME 1745'. The building was originally the stables of Birdingbury Hall (q.v.). Richard Trubshaw is known to have worked at Birdingbury Hall in 1742. (Howard Colvin: A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, p.842).

Listing NGR: SP4326468752