You would be forgiven for thinking that this was a private house, because nowadays it is precisely that. Built in 1590-ish, it is the original stable block for Chawton house, and typical, if rather grand, of stables built before the Ag Rev. The basic design was the same for a house, barn or almost any other farm building. The horses would be walked in through the front door, probably tethered in pairs along the wall, with a wooden partition to stop them kicking each other, wooden or metal mangers on the walls, and a drain in the centre of the floor. One wing was probably a tack room ; the second storey would be for the storage of hay and feed, and probably provided sleeping for the stable staff.I imagine that the farm horses would share the place with the riding horses; that was the usual arrangement.
