High Stables

High Stables is a stable range that has been converted into a house, built between 1728 and 1732. It was designed by John Simpson and Robert Doe, likely following designs by Colen Campbell and Roger Morris for John Aislabie. The building is constructed of ashlar with a stone slate roof and consists of four ranges of one and two storeys surrounding a square courtyard, featuring corner towers. The ground floor has alternately rusticated quoins.

The east front showcases a seven-bay arcade flanked by two-storey towers in the Palladian style. The arcade is supported by rusticated piers and features round arches with keystones. It has a moulded cornice, a shallow parapet, and ball finials. Each tower contains a sash window with glazing bars set in an architrave with consoles and a pediment, along with a six-pane sash window above in an eared and shouldered architrave. The arcade cornice continues as a first-floor band, with a moulded eaves cornice, a shallow blocking course, and a pyramidal roof topped with a copper ball finial and weather vane. There are corniced stacks on both the left and right sides, and a cupola with a shallow pointed roof and ball finial is located at the centre of the rear (west) range. A large stone cistern is situated in the centre of the courtyard.

While the interior was not inspected during the resurvey, it is known to contain fine mid-18th century fireplaces salvaged from Studley Royal House. Notable rooms include the 'black and white' room, which features marble flooring from the altar area of the estate chapel, and the 'red room', which was originally the chapel and later served as a trophy room.

Colen Campbell's work in Yorkshire includes the design for Newby Park, Baldersby, for Sir William Robinson, Aislabie's brother-in-law. Aislabie returned to Studley after his disgrace as Chancellor of the Exchequer following the South Sea Bubble Crisis of 1720. High Stables was built as the racing stable block for Studley Royal House, although the north and south ranges were converted for service use shortly after construction. After a fire in 1946 destroyed the house, High Stables became the principal residence.