Stables

It is highly probable that the stable block was built on the site of the earlier Woolverstone Hall. Indeed, many of the 2 ½” Tudor bricks from the hall were used in the construction of the stable block and can be seen in the wall today. The stables were designed by John Johnson and built contemporaneously with the new hall c. 1776 for William Berners. The stable block is built round a square, cobbled yard which is approached through an archway. The facade of the two-storey building is made of Woolpit brick and Portland stone, an echo of the new hall. The remainder is in red brick. Coade stone is used for ornamentation with a delightful faun, or maybe Pan himself, on the keystone above the archway. The stone either side of the entrance is protected by two cannon. The lofty water tower was added in the mid to late 19th century and contains three separate tanks, only one is in use today.

Originally, there were space for 19 stalls and 8 loose boxes. These spaces all had channelled floors to facilitate cleaning and half-glazed tile walls. They were fitted with all the necessaries for the well-being of horses: harness rooms, blacksmith and coach house. On the first floor there was accommodation for three grooms. It’s interesting to note the natural air conditioning built in with iron grills between floors and several ventilation hoods containing turbines activated by wind or rising air, on the ridge of tiled roof. There is a clock in the pediment face. This also chimed and must have been audible across the fields. The mechanism in the tower is dated 1725 by George Clarke of Whitechapel but restored and improved by H. H. Kingdon of Ipswich in 1869. It would be interesting to know how it found its way to Woolverstone. 

As the reign of the horse gradually gave way to that of the motor vehicle, the Stables also acquired two heated garages.

After the hall was sold, the stables were utilised for storage and accommodation for Officers during the WW2 while the hall was briefly the stone frigate HMS Woolverstone. In later years, when the Hall became an educational establishment, the first storey rooms were converted into accommodation for students and staff as well as a sickbay. The stable block is currently awaiting further development.

For further information on this listed building please go to: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1036943