Stable At Downley Farm On North Side Of Farmyard

The stable at Downley Farm, located on the north side of the farmyard, dates from the early 19th century and was built for the Dashwood Estate. It is constructed of flint with red brick quoins, surrounds, stepped dentilled eaves, and features a gable at the east end. The roof is made of plain tiles and is half-hipped at the west end. The stable is a single storey with a loft and consists of four bays.

On the south elevation facing the yard, there is a wide stable door in the fourth bay, with a drain to the right and a vent to the left, along with flanking windows. A similar door is located at the left end, with a window on the right. All openings are topped with segmental brick arches and the windows have small panes.

The rear of the building features a central loft door that rises through the eaves under a gablet, while an added lean-to on the right is not considered of special interest. The right return has a loft opening with a board door.

Inside, the left end is lined with boards and contains two stalls equipped with a wooden trough and manger. The remainder of the interior is divided into stalls for two, six, six, and two cows, each with wooden troughs and mangers, and there is a gap in the floorboards above to allow filling of the mangers from above. Wooden pegs and a wooden corn shoot from the loft are also present. A ladder leads up to the loft, which is divided into seven bays by roof trusses featuring principal rafters with curved braces up to collars, clasped purlins, and a plank ridge on yokes.

This stable is an important part of the farmyard group and retains its original interior features. It is likely to be of a similar date to the farmhouse, which is dated 1819.