Royal Stables

The Royal Stables, dating to circa 1890, were built for Samson Fox of Grove House. The building is constructed of gritstone ashlar with tile roofs and a leaded bell turret. It is arranged around an open courtyard, with its long axis running north-south. A central entrance is located on the south side, accessed through an arched gateway, which is flanked by a two-storey gabled tower featuring a bell turret topped by an open ogee lead roof and clock faces on each side. The tower’s first floor has “loophole” windows and a parapet with gargoyles on the corners. The gable above the tower is half-timbered with chimneys to either side. To the east of the entrance, the building is two storeys high with windows either side of a low, wide-arched opening containing a recessed doorway, windows, and a first-floor string course. To the west of the entrance, the ground floor windows have been altered, and dormers have been added to the roof. The east side is also two storeys high, with mostly small windows and roof lights; some first-floor windows have projecting gablets. It terminates in a gable with a blocked upper window of seven lights arranged in a cross. The west side features small, low windows in pairs and roof lights above. A projecting chimney stack with gables and a dormer are situated towards the south end. A window on the left side is similar to those in a photograph of the “Turkish Bath” and corresponds to the location of a washing shed indicated on contemporary plans. The courtyard is paved and contains entrances to individual dwelling units, featuring wooden panelling and arched, recessed entrances. The interiors have not been inspected. A low forecourt wall with rusticated terminal piers surmounted by ball finials stands to the front (south) of the stables.