The Stable Court

The Stable Court

The Stable Court forms three sides of a square around a courtyard. The mews block comprises a long east range with a central gabled gateway, and north and south ranges. All parts are two storeys, constructed of coursed sandstone under hipped slate roofs. The buildings are characterised by square hoodmoulds, multi-pane windows and a plinth band.

The most prominent feature is the tall gabled gateway at the centre of the east range. This is a square structure with square-section turrets at each angle. The tops of the turrets become round and are capped with flat coping stones and finials. Each face of the gateway bears two blind arrow loops, one to each storey. The entrances are set under dressed segmental arches. Above them are two string courses separated by a row of shields. The centre of the outward-facing gable contains a circular recess holding a stone tablet and bearing a shield. Above this is a blocked cruciform-shaped vent. The gable verges bear two decorative bands. The courtyard-facing elevation is similar, except the gable is occupied by a clock fixed to a square blue panel beneath a hoodmould.

The outward-facing wall of the east range has four blind arrow loops on each side of the gateway. To the left above these are three 20th-century two-light casement windows, while to the right is a row of breather holes. The interior sides flanking the gate tower on the left and right are symmetrical. All openings are under square hoodmoulds: a central door with multi-pane overlight is flanked by cross-windows, above which are small two-light casement windows. The windows are multi-paned except for the top left one, which is replaced with shutters. The left door is panelled and ribbed; the right side has stable doors. The left roof pitch has a large skylight.

The courtyard elevation of the north wing has four panelled and ribbed doors to the left, right and centre. A fourth door immediately to the right of the left doorway is the only one without a square hoodmould and overlight. The right-hand two doors are flanked by multi-pane cross-frame windows. The upper storey has four two-light casement windows under hoodmoulds; the left window is original with small panes. The west end of the north range has a large centrally placed blocked window opening with a smaller opening above it with iron bars. Both have square hoodmoulds. Attached to the west end is a square single-storey structure of snecked masonry under a hipped slate roof, with panelled and ribbed double doors to the front. It has a small lean-to to the rear.

The south range consists of former cart sheds or garages with accommodation over. The west half may be a later addition or rebuild. There are two circular masonry stacks, one to the left (east) and another just left of centre. The ground floor is characterised by wide doorways under segmental arches with double panelled and ribbed doors, all painted blue. To the left are six continuous doorways. To the right are four further double doorways more widely spaced. Between these two elements is a panelled door with overlight. The upper storey has seven two-light casement windows with small panes. The four to the left are under square hoodmoulds. There are no openings to the west end. The rear has two-light casement windows as elsewhere, some with hoodmoulds. Two ground floor windows are blocked and there are two later insertions.

Inside the gateway, a stone staircase runs up the south side with an iron handrail. In the wall below the stairs are three round-headed openings with voussoirs at different heights. The lower two are recesses, while the highest one has a door under a tympanum with steps leading down to a basement. The north side of the entrance has a similar doorway, with a second at the east end which is blocked, and a blocked square feature between the two. The stairs lead up to the first floor of the adjoining range, which is currently empty but was formerly used for accommodation. It has a king-post roof with narrow struts. A further flight of stairs leads to the clock tower. The south range contains accommodation in the upper storey, while the former cart sheds below are used for storage. Stables are located in parts of the north and east ranges. They contain wood-panelled loose boxes with tiling to the rear faces and mangers in the corners.

The building was used for stables, accommodation and storage.