The Ivy Longhouse And The Ivy Stables

The Ivy Longhouse and The Ivy Stables are a service wing with a dovecot and stables, originally associated with Ivy House, dating to the 17th century with significant remodelling in the early 18th century. They are now used as dwellings. The building is constructed of limestone ashlar with a stone slate roof, hipped to the right end of the stables. Moulded ashlar ridge stacks are located to the left of the service wing, with a bellcote positioned between them.

The service wing comprises three units, while the stables extend to the right and are subdivided. The front elevation of the service wing is symmetrical, with a seven-window range. It features rusticated quoins to the central, pedimented bay and to the entrance bays on each side. One bay on the left is now part of The Ivy West Wing. The Ivy Longhouse and The Ivy Stables each present a three-window range. A cornice and parapet define the front, while a platband and parapet are visible at the rear. The central range and the bays on the left and right are stepped slightly forward, accentuated by chamfered rusticated quoins. Leaded windows feature raised surrounds and roll-edge stone mullions; those on the first floor have a three-light central window beneath a pediment, flanked by two-light windows. The central ground-floor Venetian window is flanked by two-light windows, each featuring a semicircular arch and moulded imposts. Projecting side bays are distinguished by a raised surround, a keystone, and imposts above semicircular-arched doorways, each with a radial fanlight. The rear of the building incorporates 17th-century moulded stone mullioned windows with thick glazing bars, later replaced with early 18th-century sash windows.

The interior features stone-flagged floors on the ground floor and oak boards on the upper floors. A through-passage on the inside left has double doors, approximately 3 metres tall, complete with 18th-century hinges, locks, bolts, and chain. The former servants’ hall, to the left of the passage, includes a stone segmental arch over the open fire, flanked by 18th-century cupboards with three-panelled doors. The room to the right of the passage has a wide segmental arch framing the open fire, which backs onto the passage, and a segmental-arched recess to the left, possibly a former bread oven. A large 19th-century dresser is situated against the right-hand wall. The room farthest to the right, within the pedimented range, is now a 20th-century stairwell. This range once served as a dovecote, and the walls of the first-floor rooms are lined with angled ashlar recesses. First-floor rooms to the left retain 18th-century edge-roll-moulded stone fireplaces. Evidence of 18th-century alterations is visible in the oak-boarded attic. The 17th-century roof structure consists of three bays with tie beams. The front purlins have been cut to accommodate the gable behind the 18th-century pediment; remaining purlins are trenched and the ridge is stepped.