Former Stables To Stover House Approx 50M To North

The former stables to Stover House, located approximately 50 meters to the north, is a disused stable block dated 'J.T. Built 1779' for James Templer. Constructed from Haytor granite ashlar, the building is now set below ground level and features a serpentine front with blind arcading facing a sunken area that was once a yard, situated beyond Stover House.

The structure is 1½ storeys high and includes a continuous axial chamber backed by a series of separate compartments, all now entirely below ground. Designed in the Italian Baroque style, it has 11 bays of blind arcading with a continuous plinth impost band, block cornice, and a coped parapet. The central two bays project forward, featuring wide segmental archways with smaller segmental window openings above, possibly indicating a coach house. All openings are set within the archading, with four bays to the left containing alternate round-headed doorways and flat lintelled window openings, each topped with an oculus (pitching eye) except for the last bay, which has a window that disrupts the rhythm.

To the right, there are five bays mirroring those on the left, except for the penultimate bay, which has a ground floor window instead of a door, and the final bay, which features a blind segmental arcade arch. Inside, there is a continuous axial stone barrel vault at the front, along with a fireplace and a separate compartment at the north end. Behind this, there are stone segmental vaults at a right angle to the main axis, leading to a sequence of five smaller interconnected chambers, possibly used as loose boxes, each with a west doorway that is now blocked. The floors throughout are cobbled, and tethering rings are present, while the interior and all openings lack fittings.

This building is a significant architectural feature within the garden. The terraces, summerhouse, and landscaping appear to have been added on top of the building, which likely ceased functioning as a stable at that time. There is also a blocked entrance to the north, possibly leading to an additional yard outside the loose boxes.