Coach House And Stables Approximately 1 Metre North East Of Parford House

A coach house and stables, dating to the 17th century and altered in the early 20th century, stands approximately 1 metre north-east of Parford House. The buildings form two sides of a service courtyard to the east of Parford House, with the longer block facing south and backing onto the road.

The structure is primarily granite stone rubble, plastered to the front, with a disused granite stack and a thatched roof. The plan incorporates a central cross passage with a clock tower above. To the left is what may have been a tack room with a hayloft above, and to the right are three coach houses, now used as garages. A taller stables crosswing projects forward, its roof extending over the driveway. The south side of the courtyard is enclosed by a tall stone rubble wall.

The building incorporates older elements: the store room section of the main block was originally a three-bay open-fronted linhay, and the stables crosswing was formerly a bakehouse, containing a large, blocked granite fireplace with a soffit-chamfered oak lintel of large scantling at its rear. The store has a doorway, a small window, and a casement with glazing bars. The garages have large plank doors. The gabled clock tower has a painted clock face and a wrought iron weather vane. The roof of the main block is hipped to the left and butts against the crosswing’s roof. The stable block has two adjacent doors, the right of which has an overlight, and a small window to its right. A granite water trough and mounting block are set against the wall. Internally, the early 20th-century refurbishment has largely obscured original features, though the store room retains a 17th-century roof with cruck principals to the rear and straight principals to the front supported on timber posts, and the stables now contain two loose boxes. The roof of the stables includes a large A-frame truss, likely of the 17th century, minus its collar.

The complex is a notable group of service buildings associated with Parford House, offering an attractive courtyard setting.