Building record 255/2/4 - The Stables, Poole Hall

<1> Architectural History Practice, 2007, Poole Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire, R4591 (Client Report). SCH9204.

The Tithe Map of 1842 depicts Poole Hall along with three other buildings - the 'coach house' to the north of the house, 'moat cottage' at the north end of the moat and a single range of stables to the north-east of house. The OS map of 1872 shows that two further ranges of stables had been added by that date - a western range and a northern one (adjoining the original east range), altogether arranged around a central cobled yard. The earliest eastern range features circular windows set closely avove the regular ground floor windows. Like the coach house (CHER 255/2/3), many of the stable entrances have solid stone lintels.

<2> Peter de Figueiredo (Independent Consultant), 2016, Outbuildings at Poole Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire: Heritage Statement, R4592 (Client Report). SCH9205.

The stables to the north-east of the Hall are arranged around a cobbled courtyard. The north stable range dates from circa 1870. It is a simple two-storey rectangular brick building in Flemish bond with a slate roof and a series of door and window openings with stone sills and lintels. On the courtyard side it has two stable doors and six window openings, with a taking-in door on the upper floor. The rear elevation has no openings.The outbuildings is divided into two spaces by a brick wall; the left was a pair of loose boxes, the right a tack room.With its comparatively large window openings and taking-in door, it was likely erected as an estate workshop rather than stables.

The earliest stable building located to the east of the courtyard is lower in height than the northern range and has four stable doors and four window openings at ground floor level, with three circular openings above. The round windows have stone architraves and the stable doors stone lintels. The survival of oak trusses within the building, together with a stone plinth along part of the courtyard and south elevations, suggest it was originally a timber-framed building. Following the removal of a lean-to extension on the east side, a panel of decayed oak box-framing was revealed, however, the majority of the timber frame was probably replaced in the early nineteenth century when the present brick walls were built. These are in English garden bond with a dentil course of bricks at eaves level. There is a pattern of projecting brick courses potenially nesting boxes for pigeons. Inside, the building is divided into four spaces, probably three stables with a smaller tackroom. Above the three spaces were probably used as a hayloft.