Quadrangular Stable Complex at Rhiwlas, including Y Stablau and Stablau Isa

Quadrangular Stable Complex at Rhiwlas

This is a large quadrangular stable yard range in loose Gothic style, dating from 1869 and built by R J LL Price, Esq. It is constructed of slatestone rubble with dressed limestone and granite dressings, and has slate roofs with projecting verges and moulded bargeboards with geometric finials. The complex incorporates two cottages, Y Stablau and Stablau Isa, within its overall structure.

The complex comprises a central castellated entrance section with flanking two-window, one-and-a-half storey cottages. The entrance is tunnel-form and leads to a square courtyard, with single-storey cart and coach bays to the sides and a stable section opposite the entrance, which also has a castellated central section.

The main road-side facade is symmetrical, with the entrance in the form of a pointed arched gateway flanked by octagonal turrets that rise above the roof-line of the flanking cottage sections. The parapets are crenellated with faux machicolations in the form of corbel-courses, and a central decorative iron weathervane tops the entrance. The two cottages are reflected in plan. Y Stablau on the left has a boarded door with rectangular overlight and original plain sashes (two-pane to the ground-floor bays and four-pane to the upper floor); the door and window frames have canted, rendered bays to the ground floor. Stablau Isa on the right has a later gabled stone porch with slated roof and replaced first-floor windows (four-pane casements with tilting upper sections). Both cottages have central two-stage chimneys and central entrances with large outer gables and narrower inner gables.

The rear elevation of this front range has a central gable over the pointed-arched courtyard entrance, with smaller flanking pointed-arched coach entrances with boarded doors (the left one part-glazed). Rear cottage entrances with sash windows are present, the door to Stablau Isa being a part-glazed modern replacement whilst the other is boarded with a rectangular overlight. Two first-floor windows under the eaves to each cottage are sashes with two panes, except that to the far left (Stablau Isa) which is a modern casement window contained within a flat-roofed dormer.

The stable section opposite the entrance front has a central advanced tower section of two storeys, castellated as before with turrets rising slightly at the corners, flush with the remainder. This section has paired pointed-arched entrances with an inset marble dedication plaque above, inscribed "Built by R J LL Price, Esq., 1869". An inset enamelled clock dial is contained within an oculus above the plaque. Two-bay single-storey flanking sections flank this tower, with original unhorned twelve-pane sashes and large tin louvre funnels to the roof. The north side of the complex has five entrances with boarded doors, the central one with flanking sashes. The south side has three large arched coach bays to the centre with boarded doors; to the right of these are two boarded entrances with a sash between them, whilst to their left is a modern garage opening with a further arched entrance beyond.

The entrance tunnel has plastered, scribed walls and soffit, with an original multi-panel gate decorated with trefoil ornament and oculi (one panel is missing). Within the stable entrance block, the walls are of orange and red brick with yellow brick floors. Stables and two tack-rooms open off to the right and left, with original stalls present.