Stables E of Mentmore church

Stables E of Mentmore church, Wing Road, Mentmore

Building

Roofed and walled permanent structures.

Asset type

Late nineteenth century stables to Mentmore Towers, now converted to houses. Significance: Mid-period Rothschild estate building in characteristic Old English style, one of the main estate buildings serving the mansion. Converted to domestic use, interiors altered. Domestic stable yard for large country house reflecting particular equine interest of successive C19 owners (B19). The Stables and Riding School (1869-70) (B21).

Age

Built in 1869-1870 and extended in about 1879. North, west and south ranges shown on estate mapping of 1875-8, with east range added by 1879.

Architectural and Artistic Interest

Domestic stable block serving the mansion. Converted to residential use. Grooms Cottage & The Granary (north range): North range converted to residential use. 1 ½ storeys. English bond red brickwork (as for Archway and Church End Stables) but with garage doors prominent and with small dormers (like The Mews). Stable Yard: West range converted to residential use. 2 storeys. Symmetrical composition to court: Red Brick. Red tile roof with big central brick gable; smaller brick gables in roof to either side. Door in corner under lean-to roof, semi-circular brick head to porch with stone imposts and keystone. Rear to churchyard asymmetrical. Red brick with few windows but with big chimney to gable to left with 2 diagonal stacks. Survives largely intact. Archway Cottage and Church End South range converted to residential use. 1 ½ storeys. English bond red brickwork (as for the Mews) but without garage doors. No rooflights in blue tile roofs but with larger dormers than The Mews. Remains of riding house, red brick walls, roofless, adjacent to rear as garden area. The Mews East range converted to residential use. 1 ½ storeys. English bond red brickwork with garage doors prominent in façade to court. Semicircular brick head to porch with stone imposts and keystone. Small paned casement windows with stone lintels. One small dormer in roof, with rooflights to either side. Some evidence of alterations in brickwork round garage doors. Stable Cottage: House as accommodation for stable staff. Possibly by Devey, 1870s. Red brick (Flemish bond) under red tile roof. Straight joint to The Mews to the S. Small paned windows under crude arched brick heads, half-timbering panels in big gable to court with plain rendered panels. Big chimneys. Leanto roof over door. At rear, two boldly projecting blank gables with decorative half-timbering with plain plaster, both prominent in views towards church. Gable nearest road has tall double Tudor-style diagonal chimneys. Not shown along with east range of stables on estate mapping 1875-8, but appears on OS by 1879. Key element of domestic stable yard for large country house with riding house reflecting particular equine interest of successive C19 owners.

Group Value

Group of buildings of local note around a courtyard

Landmark Status

With the adjacent Church Cottage they form an important element in the approach to the village from Wing.

10 Jan 2023

31 Jan 2024