Stables, Riding School And Entrance Archway To Corsham Court Stables, Riding School And South Entrance Arch

CORSHAM CORSHAM COURT ST 8770 5/100 Stables, Riding School and South entrance arch GV II*

Two ranges flanking main drive, traditionally called stables and riding school, said to be late C16 but more probably late C17, and monumental gatepiers and archway between, c1700-20. The two ranges are matching but 9-window to west, 5-window to east, rubble stone with hipped stone-tiled roofs, 2-storey with coved eaves cornices and recessed chamfered 2-light mullion-and-transom windows. North sides, facing the house, were embellished by J. Nash 1797-8 with buttresses between each bay, dripcourse over ground floor windows (possibly original) and coped gablets with finials. East range has central door in flush moulded surround and both ranges have similar door in end wall to drive. South sides are plainer, 7-window to west 4-window to east with hoodmoulds over lower windows and each with door in tall surround with over light, probably early C19. West range is 2-storey internally, east range open to roof. Coped rubble stone walls enclose a yard each side, walls apparently rebuilt or regularised in C20. Central entrance arch is ashlar, Baroque-style flanked by 2 massive ashlar piers each encasing angle of adjoining range and linked in at eaves level by small carved scroll. Four alternate large and small bolection-moulded panels, moulded cornices with pulvinated friezes and massive ball-finials with acanthus cupping. Raised gatestops with moulded capitals and acanthus finials appear above shoulder of central archway. Archway is rusticated with large central arch flanked by pedestrian arched gateways, rusticated piers to centre with moulded imposts and short piers over carrying open segmental pediment. Side arches have keystones, rusticated walling over, plain bands at impost level of main arch and large carved scrolls above, abutting upper piers of main arch. Spearhead iron gates. (F.J. Ladd, Architects at Corsham Court, 1978 8,13,21-2 and 107).

Listing NGR: ST8735570584