Former Rubbing House

The Former Rubbing House is a building for racehorses, constructed by 1706 for Salisbury Racecourse, with some alterations made in the late 20th century.

It is made from local stone, possibly limestone, flint, and red brick, and has a roof covered with bitumen sheeting. The building is rectangular in shape and consists of a single storey with three bays. The exterior features horizontal bands of cut and squared stone, flint nodules, and red brick, with the most regular banding found on the east elevation. The entrance front, facing south, has ashlar quoins and a tall central doorway designed for horse and rider access. This doorway has a segmental-arched brick head and is fitted with a pair of modern timber plank doors, although the upper part of the opening has been boarded over. Above the doorway, there is a heavily-weathered stone that may have once been carved. On the east elevation, there is a small, low opening with a timber lintel that has been infilled, likely a former drain. The rear wall of the building has been partially rebuilt and shows a large crack towards its eastern end.

Inside, there are two iron tethering rings set into the back wall, and the floor is made of concrete. The roof timbers date from the late 20th century, and the underside of the roof is boarded.