Raby Castle, Park and Garden’s recent development, known as ‘The Rising’ won in the Georgian Group Architectural Awards for the reuse of a Georgian Building.
Part of ‘The Rising’ included a magnificent suite of 18th-century equestrian buildings which have been fully restored as part of a wider regeneration project. Over the last two years, three beautiful buildings have been given a future. The Grade II* listed Coach House and Stables by John Carr of York, originally housing carriage horses, carriages and grooms’ accommodation, had latterly become a small café and shop. The Riding School used to provide cover for events in inclement weather. Finally, the Grade II* listed Dutch Barn, a hidden architectural gem, has been restored after falling out of use over recent years.
All three buildings have been sympathetically renovated and repurposed by the Raby workforce supported by specialist consultants and contractors, to high standards, using appropriate materials from locally-sourced slate to salvaged estate stonework.
To achieve this, the Raby in-house team was expanded under the supervision of experienced heritage building specialists. Full roof and fabric repairs, new flooring, including areas of underfloor heating drawing from local ground-sourced heat, careful interior design, and landscaping in the surrounding area using largely local reclaimed materials have created three public-facing spaces at the heart of a transformed visitor experience. Built for the Earls of Darlington, keen horsemen, hunters, race-horse breeders and trainers, these buildings have been placed into their historic context and can now be shared with visitors.
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