Stable Block Attached To South Of Dyrham House

Stable Block attached to south of Dyrham House

This stable block, built in 1698 to designs by William Talman and probably largely supervised by Edward Wilcox, foreman, forms a substantial complex of service buildings for Dyrham House. The garret storey was removed in the 19th century.

The block is constructed around two courtyards. The west elevation is of very fine coursed freestone with stone dressings, while the east elevation is of rubble. Roofs are slate with weathered ridge stacks.

The west elevation is a tall single storey, comprising 15 bays. The central three bays and small outer pavilions break forward. The central feature is a high carriage entry, opening to the south courtyard, with a heavy triple keystone and a Tuscan column to each side (cylindrical without entasis). On each side of the entry is a recessed stone cross window with flat mullion and transom. An outer pilaster without entablature supports a thin cornice and pediment, with the central part of the pediment breaking forward over the two columns. To each side extends a five-bay range with similar windows, cornice, and a small gabled dormer to right and left. This section was re-roofed between 1845 and 1860, shallower than before; the former garret storey around the whole block contained staff quarters. At each end is a small pavilion with a central door in moulded architrave (the left one blocked with a two-light casement inserted) and an oculus in moulded surround above, flanked by pilasters and surmounted by a segmental pediment.

The east elevation is of two storeys, with a plan of 8:3:8 bays, the central three bays forming a cross wing between the two courtyards. All windows are two-light casements, recessed with square mullions and leaded lights. Two doors are positioned to the left. A plinth and string course run above the lintels of the ground floor windows, and deep eaves cornice is present. To the left of the central cross wing stands a tall round-headed carriage entry, repeating the design of the west entry. Above the western carriage entry is a wooden cupola with Doric columns to each corner, an ogee dome, bell, and weathervane. The central three bays have blind windows, as do three windows at ground floor to the right. To the right, double panelled doors with overlight and a Tuscan portico are present; the block above was raised to three storeys in the same style between 1845 and 1860.

Inside the south courtyard, the west range has three windows at first floor, the central one blocked, and a large cart entry. The north range has five windows at first floor and four at ground floor, with a central segmental-headed opening leading to the north courtyard. The south range has three windows at first floor and a clock, with 20th-century garage doors. The east range has four windows at first floor and two at ground floor, with a door to the left.

Inside the north courtyard, two storeys rise, with four windows to the east, three to the north, and five to the south. The windows to the north are two-light casements with ovolo mullions of 19th-century date.

The interior formerly contained stabling, nurseries, kitchens and offices, a brewery, laundry, coach houses, and rooms for staff. The dairy in the central wing retains its original fittings: blue and sepia Delft tiles on the walls, marble shelves to each side supported on Tuscan columns and cornice, and a central stone fountain (formerly in the courtyard) with a square base, moulded stem, large circular bowl, and finial to the central stem. The front corridor contains a niche with a head for a waterspout and a basin with 19th-century taps, positioned in line with the route of a former cascade from east to west in the gardens. The former kitchen in the east range features a large bolection-moulded fireplace with keystone. The room rises open to the full height of the building and contains an eagle in the ceiling supporting a 19th-century lantern. This room was later used as a hall for collecting rents from tenants.