Palace House Stables And Trainers House

TL 6463 7/170

NEWMARKET (including EXNING) PALACE STREET Palace House Stables and Trainers House

GV II

Racing stables and trainers house. Circa 1857-60 for Baron Meyer Rothschild, extended in 1903. Western court and trainer's house is of buff-coloured brick with red brick dressings, the south and west ranges of dressed stone and flint with red brick dressings and plain tile roofs; the eastern court is of red brick with terracotta dressings and slate roofs. Plan: Stable ranges around 2 almost square courtyards; the west court with trainer's house on north side, and eastern court added in 1903. The small detached ancillary stables and dung-pit immediately east are probably of the 1903 period. Exterior: 2 storey trainers house has almost symmetrical 3-bay front with plate glass sashes, tripartite on ground floor and with central porch with Tuscan columns and entablature. Single storey ranges around western court have stable doors with overlights and 4-pane sashes. Two-storey range facing western court has external stone stairs to left and carriageway through to eastern court which has single storey north range with gable at centre with tablet dated 1903 and surmounted by ogee cupola; the 2-storey eastern range has gabled centre, half-hipped dormers and segmental carriageway on right; the south side is enclosed by wall. At centre of eastern court a terracotta fountain in form of obelisk with dolphins, set on pedestal and in eastern court on ornate cast-iron lamp standard. Immediately east, 2 small detached stable ranges and circular brick-walled dung-pit. Interior: Trainers house has staircase with stick balustrade. Stables have rib-lined and tiled walls and stoneware troughs and mangers in corners. History: James I's hunting seat was at Newmarket and later a Royal Palace was built by Charles I, but destroyed during the Commonwealth. In 1661 Charles II bought Earl of Thomond's house, nearby, enlarged it; the remains of this palace comprises the lower 2 storeys of Palace House Mansion (q.v.) and Palace House Stables is thought to be on the site of the Royal stables. The Baron disposed of the Royal Palace in 1815 and in 1857 Baron Meyer Rothschild bought it, rebuilt what is now Palace House Stables and in 1860 installed Joseph Hayhoe, the trainer, in the trainer's house. Palace house was the seat of the English branch of the Rothschild family and Edward VII reputedly often visited. In 1989 the trainer's house was damaged by fire. Sources: H Colwin, Biog. Dict of British Architects; History of the Kings Works V, pp 214-217. J P Hare, History of Newmarket and Annals of the Turf II. R Longrigg 'History of Newmarket and Horse Racing'. I Chapman - Plan of Town of Newmarket dated 1787.

Listing NGR: TL6448063320