Sefton Lodge

Large house situated near to Sefton Lodge Stables and Cottage. Dated 1872 on plaque above doorway on south east side. Probably designed by William Young for C.J. Lefrevre, racehorse owner, in a picturesque Italian style. Additions were made after circa 1883 in similar style by Young for Caroline, Duchess of Montrose, and her second husband W.S. Crawfurd. Wings were added to the main block in the 20th century for H.J. Joel, mostly demolished in 1995, with other minor and 20th century additions and alterations.

The exterior is constructed of gault brick with bright red brick dressings and dressed stone details. The roofing consists of low-pitched hipped, gabled, and lean-to slate roofs, with wide verges and eaves over the main block supported on shaped timber brackets set on stone corbels. The house has many tall brick stacks with offset moulded bases and cornices, topped with ceramic chimney pots.

The plan comprises an irregular double depth block with an entrance porch on the north west side flanked by later 19th century single storey wings. The garden front faces south west above a raised paved terrace and has two canted bays to the left, and to the right the flank of a long wing with a large canted bay set against the wing's gable end. A 20th century extension is on the north east side. The building is two storeys with minor single storey wings and projections, and a cellar.

On the north west front, the entrance porch has a lean-to roof and is flanked by later 19th century single storey front-gabled wings with offset plinths faced in decorative patterns in red brick. A flight of stone steps leads to the porch, where a doorway with sidelights is set in a timber frame.

The interior features an open well staircase with curtail step supporting a richly moulded cast iron newel, two balusters to each tread cut to elaborate contrasting profiles, and a swept mahogany handrail. Reception rooms contain timber chimney pieces elaborately carved in early 18th century style, possibly brought in from elsewhere, moulded window and door architraves, panelled mahogany doors with brass furniture, and moulded plaster ceiling cornices. The drawing room has a moulded plaster ceiling in Elizabethan style.

Following completion of the Lodge and Stables, then called Bellevue, C.J. Lefevre set a record in 1873 as a racehorse owner by winning a total of 110 races in the racing season. In 1883 the lease was assigned to Stirling Crawfurd, second husband of Caroline, Duchess of Montrose, a notable racehorse owner and patroness of horse racing. She and Stirling Crawfurd, also a racehorse owner, occupied the Lodge, and their horses, previously trained at Bedford Lodge Stables, were installed in the Stables. The whole establishment was renamed "Sefton" after Crawfurd's Derby winner of 1878. From 1905 to 1982 the property was owned by members of the Joel family as a base for their horse racing interests in Newmarket. As a group, Sefton Lodge and Sefton Lodge Stables and Cottage represent the best example of a 19th century horse racing establishment in Newmarket designed to accommodate and train only the horses belonging to the resident owner.