MEM25602 - Burnells Stables (Building)

Burnells Stables is part of a group of buildings associated with Burnells, an early 20th century hunting lodge and country house constructed in the 1920s. It was converted from its original function as stabling for the main house into a private dwelling in the 1970s. The Stables are located downhill and slightly to the south west of the main building complex, and are now shielded by woodland from view from the upper buildings. It is currently reached along a separate driveway, with the building centred on SS96624311 and visible on 2022 MasterMap data where the building is listed as "Stable Flat." [1] The building itself is rectangular in shape, constructed from brick, which is currently painted white on the exterior. The roof is slate. There are large areas of horizontal wood cladding which dominates the end gable and frontage. The end gable and lower floor frontage cladding is unpainted, creating a contrast to the white brick of the gable and the white painted cladding of the upper storey. The lower floor frontage shows signs of the original form of the stabling as white wooden pillars extend from the overhanging jetty of the second storey, dividing the frontage into compartments which represent the positioning of the original stables. The floor plan of the interior confirms this, with multiple smaller rectilinear rooms based on the original stable divisions, with a larger end room at each side perhaps once used as tack rooms or feed stores. Windows have now been inserted in each of these bays in place of the original stable doors which have since been removed and the openings filled in. Smaller windows are present along the upper frontage at similarly regular intervals. The roof overhang is adorned with simple shpaed edged painted wooden barge boards with a wavy edge. The same wavy pattern is to be found above and below the upper window on the gable end and a more angular interpretation of this is to be found at the base of the upper storey marking the division between brick and wood cladding. A brick chimney protrudes from the rear of the building. The upper storey was likely used as accomodation for grooms and/or other estate staff. [2] The stables are of historical interest as they represent a specific moment in the history of human-equine interaction on Exmoor. Earlier purpose built stables associated wth country houses needed to incorporate carriage horses and associated vehicles and equipment. However, this example from after the advent of the motor-car is purely associated with pleasure riding and hunting for sport, rather than a mode of transport. The presence of extensive garaging close to the house itself emphasises the primacy of motor vehicles, but the presence of a large purpose built stable block with likely groom accomodation demonstrates the continued importance of the horse to Exmoor residents during the early 20th century.