Stables

Most racehorses at this time were kept in stalls but loose boxes were beginning to be used but mainly for foaling. In 1843, Mr. Scott of Cheltenham had stables built with rows of loose boxes. This magnificent building shows a completely new design with the loose boxes around the edge of a specifically designed house.

It was known as Priam Cottage, Downs Cottage or Downs Farm in the early part of the 19th Century. Not connected to Priam the Derby Winner. However in the late 19th Century John Jones and Arthur Nightingale trained from there and they had horses owned by the Prince of Wales. Above the entrance of the

The stables date from the 19th century. The courtyard is graced with an arched entrance. The riding school is on the right and the stables in front and to the left. They consist of stalls and some loose boxes for ponies. The floors are all tiled and the walls ceramic tiled. The fittings are all

This room contains up to 18 sets of harness. The collection will date from the 1880’s and later. The interior of the harness room is luxurious. The parque floor and panelled walls are typical of a property of that status. Most tack rooms had wood panelling and often tiled floors in the Victorian period. The

This magnificent equestrian ‘palace’ was built at a time when innovation in the keeping and treatment of horses was a popular pastime for those with resources. The cost of such a unique building for the housing of horses would have been very high. Even buying good quality horses was for the rich only. This brilliant

The 16th Earl of Derby built these stables in 1903. Architecturally they are Victorian, with a classic clock tower. A clock being important as stable lads did not have wrist watches in those days and everything was run on military precision. The Honourable George Lambton was his trainer winning 14 classic races. He also set

Clarehaven, Newmarket is situated on the Bury Rd just outside the town of Newmarket, the stable date from the early 20th century. It was purchased by Sir David Robinson in the 1960’s and became a base for his racing operation. John Gosden is the current trainer and has enjoyed success with Raven’s Pass winner of

A stable interior, 1747 by James Seymour, (1702-1752) all finely bred horses would have been stabled and rugged. These may well be racehorses. Stalls were common and loose boxes only reserved for foaling mares and stallions. The rugs show a curious wrapping of the belly probably learned from the Central Asian grooms who would have

This is an engraving of the interior of Marlborough House stables taken from, ‘The London Illustrated News’ 1890’s. It shows the well-built Victorian stabling with the corner stable for the stallion or the mare and foal. The metal work would have been wrought of the highest quality and the stables would have been properly drained.

Racing and stable scenes after paintings by James Seymour engraved by T Burford. Circa 1752. These show 18th century stabling little different in design to the ones in Dunster Castle. The walls are now solid and divide the horses from each other. The cobbles are much the same. However it is nice to see sheaves