DescriptionStable range situated south of the River Dee on the edge of parkland and immediately to the east of the site of Bryn-y-Pys House which was demooished in 1956. It is a multi-period range, with the main, two storey, stable block dated to 1840 by the date on the cupola, but with both earlier origins and later 19th century alterations, including the insertion of new windows. The dovecote at the east end is probably contemporary with the original part of the main stable block, but the two are linked by a late 19th century single storey stable range which itself also has later alterations.
The block is a long estate range comprising large, 2-storey, former stables and a coach-house to the right, (partly converted to service accommodation) and a later stable range of lower height to the left, with octagonal dovecote at extreme left end. The range is built of red brick with slate roofs, hopped to main block.
The main block has an advanced and pedimented central bay surmounted by the cupola, and with a tall segmental carriage arch with stressed voussoirs, keystone and an impost band. the pediment has a blind oculus and a cornice, and the octagonal timber cupola has an ogival swept roof and weather vane dated 1840. The original design was probably symmetrical about this central pediment, each flanking range having a deep loft opening flanked by blind recesses, all with cambered heads. This pattern has been altered to the right by the insertion of 3 horned sash windows, and by the later 19th century addition of a square stair tower projecting at the left hand corner, with a pyramidal roof, dentilled eaves and rounded corner. On the ground floor are large sash window which are also probably insertions.
There is a full-height lobby with 6-panel doors behind the carriage arch, which probably originally had through access to the rear yard, but now has round-headed French doors.
The steep-roofed single storey stable range to the left is late 19th century, but a vertical break indicates that it may itself be of more than one period. An entrance to the left of centre has recessed, diagonally-set, doors under a cambered arch.
The dovecote to the far left is built in English Garden Wall bond brick and has a timber cupola similar to that of the main stable block. There are circular openings to alternate faces, and low cambered doorway. At rear of the dovecote, a low and broken section of brick wall curves around, formerly enclosing rear yard.
Internally the stable range retains stalls with iron stanchions and ball finials, together with an elaborate 3-bay timber roof with roll moulded hammerbeams springing from stone corbels, and carrying queen struts to arched braced collars. The octagonal dovecote has approximately 80 dove boxes, and timber piers to centre, which formerly carried a potence, survive.
(Source; Cadw listing description) S Fielding RCAHMW 08/11/2005