Listed Building record MDR14217 - Outer Stable Block and Outbuildings, Calke Abbey, Calke Park, Calke

Outer stable block and outbuildings, Calke Abbey, Calke Park, Calke, of early 19th century date. 'The barn is probably a Type 6 barn, with a traditional three-bay corn working part, a separate feed preparation bay (mill), and a smaller end bay perhaps for storage. The barn is likely to date from the first half of the 19th century and was probably designed as a flail-threshing barn and one which could be used as a pre-High Farming threshing machine barn. When built, the threshing machine was a well-known alternative although it was not in general use until the 1840s. The separated-off first bay, integral to the design of the building, may have housed hand operated machines to turn straw in to chaff for animal feed before the advent of steam power. The chaff could then be removed from the loft through the high opening in the west end wall, where timber supports of a former platform still project out from the wall. It is unclear whether the chaff cutter was on the ground or upper floor. The south-east corner has been much altered but there is likely to have been an original entry through in to the shelter sheds that bordered this position (now the servery for the National Trust café). The earliest plan of 1857 shows an adjoining structure at the east end and both this plan and later Ordnance Survey maps show it as roofless yet fully enclosed; it is not clear what its original function was. It now has a flat roof and is used as kitchens. The barn has been much altered by the National Trust. It is used as a tearoom/restaurant area with modern access in the south-east corner from the collecting area. Whilst this barn is of traditional form and build quality, its possession of additional separated bays at either end indicates its extended role in feed preparation within a largely livestock dominated estate. The likely timing of its construction probably coincides with a significant change in the economics of agriculture in Britain, from a dominance of arable to pastoral farming. The building is of regional rather than solely of local importance.' (2) From the National Heritage List for England: 'PARISH OF CALKE CALKE PARK SK 32 SE 4/15 Outer Stable Block, Barn and Attached Buildings GV II Stables, barn, brewhouse, smithy and ancillary buildings. Early C19, one range dated 1804. Red brick with plain tile roofs. Brick coped gables with plain kneelers and two ridge stacks to smithy. Two L-ranges set in sequence. One and two storeys. Southern range forms a courtyard with the separately listed stable block and riding school. Two storey smithy and dovecote flanked by lean-to stable ranges. South elevation: Smithy has two broad basket arches, the left hand one encompassing a door and window, the right hand one just a window. No openings above. to the left, window and door repeated three times, all with segmental arches. To the right a doorway with flat arch, a window and a door with segment heads. Two storey return range to south east. West elevation has four bays of alternating doors and windows with segment heads. The right hand bay projects and is gabled, with blind segment headed doorway and circular pitching eye above. East elevation has an irregular six bays of segment headed windows interspersed by four round- arched doorways. Four segment headed shuttered openings above. Datestone inscribed Novr llth 1804. Northern L-range consists of a barn on the north side with single storey range to south east. East elevation has irregular three windows and doors, all with segment heads. West elevation, to crew yard, has a five bay colonnade with walls to two-thirds height, returning, with various lean-tos behind the smithy. The barn has tall double doors to south and three other doorways with segmental arches. Three tiers of cross breathers. To the north the full height cart entrance has been widened in C20. Three square pitching openings and three tiers of cross breathers. A stone coped wall encloses the west side of the crew yard. Listing NGR: SK3668222728.' (2)