BUILDINGS IN TALBOT YARD, YORKERSGATE, MALTON. Case UID: RECOMMENDATION. Recommended Grade: II

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1 ADDRESS BUILDINGS IN TALBOT YARD, YORKERSGATE, MALTON Parish MALTON District RYEDALE County NORTH YORKSHIRE Case UID: Date First Listed: 27-OCT-2010 Formerly Listed As: RECOMMENDATION Outcome: Yes, list Recommended Grade: II 14-APR-2010 BACKGROUND: After examining all the papers on this file and other relevant information and having carefully considered the architectural and historic interest of this case, the criteria for listing are fulfilled. CONTEXT The buildings of Talbot Yard have fallen into disrepair. At the time of the inspection, the yard was still tenanted but effectively disused, and the owners were planning to renovate the buildings. HISTORY Talbot Yard developed to provide stabling and carriage housing to the nearby Grade II* listed Talbot Hotel established by the Wentworth family in the mid-c18. As Malton's first private hotel, the Talbot Hotel became a social focal point for members of the town's horse-breeding and racing community. The hotel was later used as a coaching inn by "The Mail" operating between York and Scarborough during the C19. The buildings at Talbot Yard have evolved since the early C19 as shown on contemporary maps including the 1809 and 1843 Terrier Maps, and successive Ordnance Survey maps. The first building on the site appears to be the carriage house, and a separate range extending at right angles from its north-east corner which were in place by 1809, but are not shown on the 1801 Terrier Map. This latter building possibly survives as part of the existing range on the south side of a cobbled passageway. By 1843 further buildings had been added to the north and west around two rectangular yards. By 1892 some limited demolition had taken place to the south of the central range between the two yards, whilst in the western yard open fronted sheds had been added, of which one range still survives with cast iron pillars dated A 1920 Plan of Talbot Yard indicates the contemporary functions of the buildings, showing them mainly as looseboxes and stalled stables, but including a granary at the end of the cobbled passageway and a saddlery north of the carriage house. DESCRIPTION Talbot Yard comprises a number of different sized buildings, all associated with the housing of horses, arranged around a pair of yards. The carriage house is aligned with the Talbot Hotel across the road to the south, and faces west across the eastern yard. Extending from the north-eastern corner of this yard there is a cobbled passageway around which are arranged a sequence of looseboxes. On the north side there is a two-storey stable range that incorporates a throughpassage exiting the north side of Talbot Yard. To the west, dividing the two yards, there is a large two-storey stable range which originally opened onto the eastern yard. This building is brick-built Page 1 of 6

2 to the east, but has a stone-built southern gable and rear wall. Attached to its western (rear) wall is a single-storey, timber addition which opens onto the western yard. The north side of this yard is formed by a two-storey stone building with a three-bay lean-to gig house. Talbot Yard is on high ground overlooking the road, and has a southern retaining boundary wall which incorporates the Vanbrugh Arch which now forms a pedestrian access from the road to Talbot Yard, providing direct access between the Talbot Hotel and the carriage house. This arch and boundary wall are already listed Grade II. The main building material for Talbot Yard is various types of red brick, mostly being early to mid-c19 in character, indicating a succession of building phases, however coursed stonework has also been employed, mainly associated with the western yard. Roofs are gabled, some with sandstone kneelers and all covered with pantiles. A number of buildings retain C19 external joinery with windows on the ground floor tending to have vertical wooden slats for ventilation, but also including some glazing subdivided with glazing bars. Despite the collapse of some roofing there is a good range of surviving stable fittings throughout the site, including timber stall partitions, mangers and hay racks. The carriage house has a central, slightly projecting bay of two storeys with an attic dovecote above and space for a single carriage at ground floor level. It is flanked by two-bay stable wings each subdivided into three stalls, the wings also having an attic storey interpreted as domestic accommodation for stable hands. Although the carriage house is not architecturally embellished, its design appears well executed with a symmetrical western façade, with care taken over its massing, proportions and alignment with the hotel to the south. This design has been partly altered by the addition of an external staircase. The eastern elevation is blind and of several builds including an area of stonework interpreted as part of an earlier stone boundary wall. The southern gable has three window openings. The various single-storey looseboxes arranged around the cobbled passageway or narrow yard retain wooden plank doors, iron strap hinges, latches and a selection of surviving mangers and hay-racks. One of the buildings, unfortunately with a collapsed roof, retains timber partitions forming looseboxes; the other looseboxes are divided by walls. The adjacent two-storey stable block contains a three stall stable, and two looseboxes. The attic storey was probably a hay loft and has a couple of taking-in doorways. Changes in the brickwork indicate that the roof was raised, probably in the later C19. The central stable range that divides the two yards is built of regularly coursed stone of different styles on the south and western elevations and brick on the eastern elevation. This may indicate conscious design and presentation of more expensive building materials on the more prominent facades, or alternatively different phases of the building's development. A large flat-headed entrance has been inserted into the south elevation. A lean-to building has been built against the western elevation, possibly converted from the open sheds shown on the 1892 map, and an entrance has been punched through into the stable range at the base of an inserted staircase. Although the original ground-floor window and door openings have been blocked internally, original external joinery remains. Internally, stable fittings have been lost and the first floor has been refitted as offices. On the northern side of the western yard there is a two-storey stone building, which may be part of a building shown on the 1801 map, with a blocked, basket arched carriage entrance to the left and an inserted garage entrance to the right that has a timber lintel. Above, there are blocked taking indoorways. It has an A-frame roof structure of sawn soft wood with pegged purlins and has been modified with the insertion of a very wide dormer window. On the south side of this building is a three-bay lean-to gig house supported by two cast iron posts inscribed: "T.READ MALTON 1871". Page 2 of 6

3 ASSESSMENT: CONSULTATION Consultation was carried out with the applicant, owner, occupier and the local authority. No responses were received. ASSESSMENT The Principles of Selection for Listing Buildings (March 2010), state that because of age and rarity, most buildings that predate 1840 will be listed. It also notes that the Secretary of State may take into account the historical functional relationship between a group of buildings, sometimes termed group value, when assessing buildings for listing. Finally, that the state of repair of a building is not a relevant consideration when deciding whether it meets the test of special interest, and thus the criteria for listing. English Heritage's more detailed selection guides do not specifically cover stabling associated with hotels, however the Selection Guide for Agricultural Buildings (2007) does highlight that the survival of stable fittings, although not as rare as fittings for cow stalls, is of note. The early C19 carriage house, with its symmetrical façade, its positioning relative to the hotel and pedestrian archway, the Vanbrugh Arch and its retention of a range of internal fittings is clearly of special interest. The rest of the buildings of Talbot Yard, while more utilitarian in form, are mostly pre-1840 in date and also retain a range of historic fittings. They have undergone a number of incremental alterations, especially in the western yard. While some of these alterations have been detrimental, the addition of the gig house (with its dated cast iron pillars) is of more positive interest. Unlike the carriage house, the arrangement of these buildings appears to have been planned with little regard to the position of the hotel. However, they have clear historical, functional group value with the hotel and their survival complements that of the carriage house, allowing a better understanding of the complex as a whole. Malton and Norton were key centres in the rise of horse breeding and racing in the late C18 and into the C19, which may explain why the hotel had a relatively large provision for stabling, and adds additional historical interest. This factor, combined with the group value between the carriage house and the rest of the complex, justifies a listing recommendation for Talbot Yard as a whole. CONCLUSION Talbot Yard is recommended for designation at Grade II. REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION: The buildings of Talbot Yard, a carriage house, stabling and other associated buildings mainly dating to the early C19 and built to serve a hotel, are recommended for designation at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Date: the carriage house predates 1809 and the rest of the complex was mainly constructed by 1843 * Group value: the carriage house has visual group value with the Grade II* listed Talbot Hotel and the Grade II listed boundary wall and pedestrian archway, with the complex as a whole having strong functional group value with the hotel * Historic interest: the ample provision for stabling for the hotel is considered to reflect the importance of Malton and Norton in horse breeding and racing in the C19 * Stable fittings: the survival of C19 stable fittings such as stalls, hay racks and feed troughs is of note. Page 3 of 6

4 VISITS 12-FEB-2010 Full inspection COUNTERSIGNING Countersigning Comments: Agreed: These stables and ancillary buildings at Talbot Yard are an evolved series of stabling dating from the start of C19. They are comparatively rare as a series of commercial (as opposed to domestic or agricultural) stables and despite their poor condition, they retain features associated with this use. They merit designation in the national context. 11.viii.2010 Second Countersigning Comments: HP Director Comments: Proposed List Entry MALTON 27-OCT-2010 YORKERSGATE BUILDINGS IN TALBOT YARD GV II Case UID: Proposed LBS UID: Carriage house, with associated buildings, early C19 for the Wentworth family and the Talbot Hotel. MATERIALS Mainly red brick with limestone dressings and pantiled roofs. PLAN Talbot Yard consists of a pair of yards, both open to the south, divided by a two-storey north-south stable range. The yards are separated from the road by the Grade II listed wall attached to No. 50, Page 4 of 6

5 Yorkersgate. The main, eastern, yard has a carriage house on its eastern side with a single-storey saddle room to its north. Beyond to the north, extending eastwards, there is a cobbled passage flanked by looseboxes. On the north side of the eastern yard there is a two-storey east-west range that has a through-passage exiting Talbot Yard northwards. The smaller western yard is bound to the west by the Mount Hotel (which is not included in this designation). On the north side is a two-storey stone building with a lean-to gig house. CARRIAGE HOUSE Central, two-and-a-half storey, gabled bay, flanked by two-bay, one-and-a-half storey wings that are slightly set back. The central section has a carriage entrance with a timber lintel with a brick relieving arch above. To the first floor there is a pair of domestic window openings. Above is an equilateral arched opening to the attic interpreted as being for a dovecot. The gable is raised and coped with decayed kneelers. The flanking wings form ground floor stabling with domestic accommodation above (for grooms) that interconnects with the first floor of the central section. Access to the first floor is via an added external staircase to the left of the central section. The gable end of the south wing is coped, retaining kneelers and has two ground-floor windows with one at the first floor. The rear (east) elevation is blind and retains fragments of earlier stone walling suggested to be remains of a C17 boundary wall. Interior: Lime plastered throughout. Stables retain stall divisions, hay racks and other fixtures and fittings. Fireplace position on the first floor of the central section. THROUGH PASSAGE BUILDING This is of two storeys and six bays with three ground-floor doorways on the south side, that to the west opening onto a through-passage which exits Talbot Yard northwards. The first floor has two taking-in doors (presumably to a hay loft) which are boarded. Brickwork suggests that the roof has been raised. The ground floor retains stall partitions and other stabling fixtures and fittings. SINGLE STOREY RANGES These flank the cobbled passageway that extends eastwards from the eastern yard and mainly consist of looseboxes generally retaining features such as hay racks. Breaks in brickwork indicate that the buildings are of different builds. A plan of 1920 marks the eastern end of the south range as a granary and the western end as a saddle room. The saddle room faces west and retains a fireplace opening, as well as timber planking with pegs to some of its walls. At the time of the inspection, the roof of the central section of the southern range had largely collapsed, although the timber partitions forming the looseboxes survived. NORTH-SOUTH RANGE This is of two storeys and has a brick-built east wall, a dressed stone west wall and a rubble stone south gable that is coped, retaining kneelers. The east elevation is of most interest, retaining door and window openings for stalled stables, with hayloft openings above. These generally retain joinery, although at the time of the inspection the openings were blocked internally with blockwork. At the north end there is a larger blocked opening (formerly internal) to an open-fronted shed forming a cross wing connecting to the through-passage building (q.v.). At the time of the inspection, only the eastern part of this open-fronted shed remained roofed. The south gable of the north-south range has an inserted vehicle entrance. On the west side there is a brick and timber boarded lean-to extension which is considered to be an early C20 alteration that is not of special interest. This elevation was probably originally blind. The north-south range is altered internally. GIG HOUSE RANGE The north side of the western yard is formed by a dressed stone, two-storey building with a wide, Page 5 of 6

6 inserted roof dormer which is probably an early C20 alteration. To the west end of the south elevation there is a basket arched carriage entrance that has been infilled with brickwork. To the centre there is a timber linteled garage entrance with a hayloft opening above that is partially obscured by a lean-to roof. This roof is supported by a pair of cast iron pillars that are embossed "T.READ MALTON 1871". HISTORY Talbot Yard developed to provide stabling and carriage housing for the Talbot Hotel, across the road to the south. The Talbot Hotel (listed Grade II*) was owned by the Wentworth family from the mid-c18 and became Malton's first private hotel, becoming a focal point for members of the town's horsebreeding and racing community. The hotel was later used as a coaching inn by "The Mail" operating between York and Scarborough during the C19. Although the stone-built range on the north side of the western yard (with the basket arched carriage entrance) may be marked on an 1801 Terrier Map, the first of the current buildings to be clearly depicted is the carriage house which is not shown on the 1801 Terrier Map, but is shown by Also shown is a range extending eastwards from the carriage house's northern end which could be the single-storey range on the south side of the cobbled passage, although changes in brickwork suggests that this range is later in date than the carriage house. Talbot Yard's complex of buildings (apart from lean-to sheds) appeared to be effectively complete by an 1843 terrier map. By the 1892 Ordnance Survey map there had been some limited demolition to the south of the central range between the two yards (possibly explaining its rubble-built south gable). In the western yard, open-fronted sheds had been added of which one range still survives with cast iron pillars dated A plan of Talbot Yard in 1920 indicates the contemporary functions of the buildings, showing them mainly as looseboxes and stalled stables. REASON FOR DESIGNATION DECISION The buildings of Talbot Yard, a carriage house, stabling and other associated buildings mainly dating to the early C19 and built to serve a hotel, are designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Date: the carriage house predates 1809 and the rest of the complex was mainly constructed by 1843 * Group value: the carriage house has visual group value with the Grade II* listed Talbot Hotel and the Grade II listed boundary wall and pedestrian archway, with the complex as a whole having strong functional group value with the hotel * Historic interest: the ample provision for stabling for the hotel is considered to reflect the importance of Malton and Norton in horse breeding and racing in the C19 * Stable fittings: the survival of C19 stable fittings such as stalls, hay racks and feed troughs is of note. Page 6 of 6