23. The Stable Block
Within the square stable block, you can find a restaurant, gift shop and a gallery which shows an eclectic programme of exhibitions reflecting the themes of the Garden - plants, landscape, earth and sustainability.
In Paxton's day, 200 years ago, this stable block contained twenty-two carriage and riding horses, two large coach houses, a harness room, lofts and rooms for coachmen and stable boys. Each pen had a wooden plaque stating the horse's name, height, birth date and parentage. When these horses died they were given honourable burials. Doves were also kept here, in the spaces within the brickwork, but now it is home to nesting house martins.
Within the square stable block, you can find a restaurant, gift shop and a gallery which shows an eclectic programme of exhibitions reflecting the themes of the Garden - plants, landscape, earth and sustainability.
In Paxton's day, 200 years ago, this stable block contained twenty-two carriage and riding horses, two large coach houses, a harness room, lofts and rooms for coachmen and stable boys. Each pen had a wooden plaque stating the horse's name, height, birth date and parentage. When these horses died they were given honourable burials. Doves were also kept here, in the spaces within the brickwork, but now it is home to nesting house martins.
