Description

TL 14NW WILLINGTON CHURCH END

4/116 Stables of former Manor
House (formerly listed as
Willington Stables)
13.7.64
GV I

Stableblock, originally belonging to Manor house. Probably between 1535 and
1541. Built by Sir John Gostwick, at one time Master of the horse to Cardinal
Wolsey and later in service of Henry VIII as Treasurer and Receiver-General of
the First Fruits and Tenths at the Dissolution. Coursed limestone rubble with
ashlar dressings, possibly reused from Newnham Priory (dissolved 1535). Clay
tile roof. Rectangular 2-storeyed block, first floor probably being
accommodation for grooms. Crow-stepped gables with moulded copings and
gargoyles to kneelers. String course to all sides at first floor level, and
at eaves level to gable ends. 3-stage buttresses, diagonal to corners, 2 each
to front and rear. Front (W) elevation: ground floor has 2 4-light windows to
outer bays. Each has 4-centred arched lights and stone mullions under square
heads with moulded labels. First floor has similar 3-light window to R of
central bay. Broad central doorway with 4-centred head and moulded dripstone.
E elevation: 3-light window to first floor central bay, in similar style to
front elevation. Ground floor RH bay has blocked square headed 3-light window
with relieving arch above. To ground floor of LH bay is blocked square headed
doorway. To first floor of LH bay is chimney breast supported by 3 different
corbels. Gable ends: each has 3-light window, in similar style to others,
except that one (serving room with fireplace) has more complex mouldings to
mullions, heads and surround. Both have a relieving arch and eaves level
string course which returns around the base of the window. Interior: all
windows have internal wood lintels. Ground floor retains post holes in floor
and E wall, originally supporting stalls and troughs. First floor has 5-bay
queen strut roof, with open arch-braced collar truss to centre of each bay.
Divided into 2 rooms, 3 bays to N, 2 bays to S, by timber framed wall with
brick infill and plastered surface. This wall is recessed to W half, the
recessed area being ceiled over. The attic level of the first, third and
fourth main trusses (from N) are also infilled. S room has fireplace to E
wall, with depressed 4-centred arch, and back wall in herringbone brick with
some C20 repairing. "John Bunyan 1650" incised into chimney piece is probably
not genuine. building refloored C20, and stairs inserted to replace ladder.
(Willington Dovecote and Stable, Tudor Farm Buildings, National Trust leaflet,
with text by J Godber.)

Listing NGR: TL1060549908

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Willington Dovecote and Stables at Wikipedia
• Willington Dovecote and Stables official website
• Wikidata Q8021993

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)