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Stables

The main doors out of the Luggage Hall lead to a large courtyard overlooked by the Dower House and Duke Ralph's imposing stable block. This West side is faced with the same Versailles style stonework as the North front of the main house while through the arch on the East, it is built of rather simpler red brickwork. For five years (1976-81) major restoration works were carried out to save the stables, following architects' warnings of the threat of imminent collapse. This involved, among other things, the underpinning of the foundations, which were sited on a geological fault and had been gradually undermined over the centuries by the seepage of water from a culvert directly beneath.

The Stables Arch
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Inside the Stables

The uneven movement of the building resulted in cracks and distortions in the structure that can be seen particularly clearly to the right of the arch. Steel and concrete frames were inserted in the top of the building to hold it together and due to dry rot, wet rot, furniture beetle and death watch beetle almost all the woodwork, including windows and floor joists, was renewed, with timber from stricken elm trees, grown on the Estate.

Coach for the 5th Duke of Buccleuch
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The interior has been adapted and now houses offices, educational facilities, refreshment rooms and exhibition areas that contain the magnificent family coach.

 


 

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