The Stables at Cressing Temple

The Stables

The building that now houses the stables was built in 1623 as part of the complex that made up the 'Greate House'. Today we call it the Granary and we believe it was originally designed as a maltings. In the Court Hall is the steeping pit for the barley and in the Toilet Block was once the Kiln. The upper storey was the drying floor used to germinate the barley before cooking it into malt.

Cressing Temple in 1876 by which time the horse yards were well developed.

The ground floor was converted to stables sometime between 1794 and 1842. Map evidence shows us that the stable yard was developed and the Horse Shelter built. The Stallion Box was added sometime between 1876 and 1894 next to the Craft Barn which had been there since the 18th century. Another open shelter was built into its south side to serve the Colt Yard.

The horses were kept outside or under the Horse Shelter and were only brought inside to clean, feed and harness up. The harnesses and collars were hung on home-made hooks.

Horse-power was the main source of agricultural power until the 19th century when steam engines took over the heavy ploughing. With the invention of the diesel engine, tractors finally saw the end of horse drawn machinery but this was not until the 1950's.

Heavy horses were kept at Cressing Temple until the mid 1960's and Mr Frank Cullen was a keen competitor showing his Suffolk heavy horses across the county.