Stable Block On South Of Upper Courtyard At Pishiobury Park

Stable Block on the South Side of Upper Courtyard at Pishiobury Park

This very long stable block of old red brick dates to the late 16th century, probably 1580–1590, and was built as stables to the brick courtyard house of Sir Walter Mildmay that stands to the north. The block runs parallel to the house but is set across the slope, with access from the upper courtyard to the north.

The building is two storeys with a plinth and a projecting band of three courses at approximately first floor level that rises to a blunt point over each ground floor window. Projecting eaves courses feature a top course carried on alternate projecting headers. The gable parapet is constructed with axed brick corbelled kneelers. At the west end, brick-on-edge raking coping tops the gable parapet, while at the east end a half-round coping sits over a tile course. The steep pitched roof is covered in concrete tiles and is crowned with an 18th-century central wooden cupola.

An original first floor window on the north side is a two-light ovolo-moulded timber-mullioned window recessed one inch from the outer face. The window spacing disregards that of the roof principals. The west gable shows a blocked window opening central on the first floor with a small blind circular recess above. Gable chimneys have been inserted.

All floor beams are concealed by later casing. In the west part, a wide straight staircase mounts to the first floor. The original roof structure features closely-set trusses above. The first floor was originally open to a splendid roof of oak ogee-arched braced trusses with upper collars, butt purlins, strainer purlins at half-bay spans, and flat-laid rafters tenoned into the single purlin on each slope. The roof shows evidence of being plastered up the slopes and under the main collars. It was designed to carry a central louvre or flèche in the position of the later 18th-century cupola. A ceiling with chamfered and ogee-stopped cross-beams, presumably 17th century, has since been inserted.

A single-storey 17th- or 18th-century brick extension on the east end has a hipped queen strut roof. A short rear 18th-century red brick extension serves as a coach house under three parallel hipped slate roofs.

The 18th-century central cupola is in three stages. Its base has slate hanging in a white wooden surround topped by a broad cove painted white. The middle stage is square with corner pilasters and full entablature, bearing large clock faces to the north, east and west (the south face is blank black). The upper stage is a circular lantern with six free-standing Doric columns with square abaci supporting a dentilled entablature and low lead-covered dome. A large bronze bell hangs from the underside of the dome.

An 18th-century mounting block with three Portland stone steps up to a landing sits near the end of the north side.

The original usage appears to have been stabling on the ground floor with lodgings on the first floor in two large dormitories, with superior accommodation at each end beyond a staircase.

Attached to the northwest corner of the stable block and running north is the high red brick screen wall to the upper courtyard, punctuated by a gateway flanked by piers. The wall is in irregular header bond and is possibly contemporary with the stable block. The gate piers are probably 18th century, with projecting plinth and gate rebate inside, topped by white stone ball finials on elaborate square moulded caps.

The building is the principal survivor of the 1580–1590 building period at Pishiobury and retains much of its original construction, design and character.