Listed Building: Fineshade Abbey Stables at SP 723 9770 (4/116)

Stables. Datestone 1848 for Monckton family of Fineshade Abbey. Squared coursed limestone, with ashlar dressings, and slate roof. Courtyard plan with buildings on 3 sides. Entrance front, to north, is 2 storeys with central entrance arch, flanked by blank ranges of casement openings, to left and right. Archway has rusticated surround with armorial device above. Central octagonal stone cupola supported by volutes. Hipped roof. Clock in cupola. End elevations of range have one-window ranges of casement openings to ground and first floors. West range, linking north and south ranges, is single storey with attached stone piers. South range is of 2 storeys. with hipped roof. Courtyard elevation of west range has lean-to at ground floor with 7 bays of segmental arch-head openings. Casement openings above. Courtyard elevation of west range has datestone above arch and flanking casement openings. Fourth side of courtyard is enclosed by retaining wall. Fineshade Abbey was founded c.1200 on the site of Castle Hymel. The site was bought in 1546 by Sir Robert Kirkham, who incorporated the abbey ruins into a house. In the early/mid C18 the house was bought and rebuilt by William King. In the mid C18 the house passed to the Monckton family; it was largely demolished in 1956. (RCHM: An Inventory of Architectural Monuments in North Northamptonshire: p61)

Record last edited

Dec 16 2021 4:16PM