Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Location

Full description

December 1983. Listed, Grade II.
Listing Description excerpt:
"Stables, cart shed and outhouse. From 1784 by Sir John Soane. Gault brick with pantiled roofs. Four ranges around a square courtyard. Open cart shed to north, stables to east and west and outhouse to south."
Information from (S1).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S1) for the current listing details.
Amended by J. Cullis (HES), 29 November 2019.

April 2021. Building Survey.
Level 2 survey of stable block ahead of proposed change of use and associated internal and external alterations.
As noted in the Listing Description this group of buildings were also the work of Sir John Soane and are set out on the same orientation as the Hall and incorporate many of its architectural motifs, including the use of arcading. The first cartographic source to show these buildings in any details is a tithe map of 1841 (S2), which is of interest as it shows the north range to be of equal width to the western and eastern ranges and with an unroofed gap at its eastern end. By the time the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25-inch map was published in 1882 (S3) the northern range had acquired their present form. The southern range is shown as 'L'-shaped, with a long extension (now removed) extending to the south of its eastern end. Other structures that no longer exist include a small internal projection at the southern end of the western range and two lean-to-structures along the external, western side of this range, one of which was a toilet block (as indicated by the existing line of the Victorian sewer).
The southern range is separate from the other buildings and appears to have originally been constructed as offices or outbuildings. An angled wall scar indicates the former position of the extension shown on the early Ordnance Survey maps, which was apparently demolished during the 1980s. It is noted that several of the tie beams in the 'A' frames of the roof exhibit evidence of having been in use as structural timbers elsewhere. These include one lavishly carved timber that displays several orders of rolled carving along its length. It is likely that this and other timbers came from the earlier hall that was replaced by the one built by Soane. Apparently, an identical carved timber has also been identified in a nearby barn, suggesting many such timbers were retained for reuse in lower-status contexts.
The west elevation of the western range bears the roof scars of the former lean-to toilet buildings depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition map. Although most of the window glass in this range has been replaced, the northernmost of the ground floor windows on the eastern elevation contains several panes of bottled glass that are likely to be original. The interior of the ground floor contains stabling, with one original loose box surviving at the norther end of the range. A room which forms the lower ground floor of the northern end of the range is clad in timber, with the thick, heavy timber planking on the eastern wall thought to be original. Historical, mid-19th-century graffiti was noted on the left-hand jamb of the eastern window. Large parts of the roof have been repaired in the recent past, although a substantial number of the timbers date from its original construction in the late 18th century, including several that show evidence of having been reused from an earlier structure.
Architecturally the eastern range mirrors the western range, although unlike this range its original loose boxes all survive within the ground floor. The roof of the eastern range is though entirely modern, having been replaced in 1990s.
The exterior, rear elevation of the northern range was clearly not intended to be viewed from a distance, being the most functional and architecturally poor executed of the stable block's elevations. The roofless opening shown on the tithe map corresponds with what is now a cobbled passageway that provides access to the courtyard. This widening of this range in the mid 19th century means that the northernmost blind openings of the western and eastern ranges are now cut by the extended line of the roof. Internally, the original southern edge of the roofline is supported by a row of vertical timbers set into cobbled surface of the cart shed. The northern half of the roof represents its original pitch and construction; the southern half having been replaced during the construction of the cantilevered extension (much of which was then replaced during the recent restoration of the roofs). Traces survive of the raised brick pavements that demarcated the bays of the original cart lodge.
See report (S4) for further details, including full, detailed descriptions of these buildings. See also digital photo archive (S5).
P. Watkins (HES), 26 May 2023.

Monument Types

• CART SHED (18th Century to 21st Century - 1784 AD to 2100 AD)
• OUTBUILDING (18th Century to 21st Century - 1784 AD to 2100 AD)
• STABLE (18th Century to 21st Century - 1784 AD to 2100 AD)

Associated Finds - none

Protected Status

• Listed Building
• SHINE

Sources and further reading

Related records

Find out more...

• Parish Summary: Shotesham (Parish Summary)