Letham Grange Riding Stables, Arbroath

Brick built with slated roof riding school with coach house, sited to the south-east of the stable block. South-west elevation with two arched entrances to riding school. Slated roof over, with long, ridge ventilator. Lit by small, high windows running along the north and south elevations. Coach house/ groom's accommodation abuts to north, probably later flat roofed, single storey extension with bow-window. One of a number of ancillary buildings to Letham Grange. Appears on the 2nd edition (1:2;500 series) OS map.

In the 13th century the lands of Letham were granted by the Abbey of Arbroath to Hugo Heem. Ownership of the land changed numerous times over the centuries and comprised a number of estates (Gazetteer for Scotland). In 1822 John Hay Esquire, former Provost of Arbroath, bought and consolidated Letham, Peebles and New Grange estates to form Letham Grange. Hay had a mansion built near the site of an earlier manor called Newgrange. The new mansion house, named Letham Grange, was designed by Archibald Simpson and built between 1827 and 1830. Hay died in 1869. Letham Grange was sold in 1876 to James Fletcher Esquire of Rosehaugh (1807-85). The house and estate remained in the ownership of the Fletcher family until the mid-20th century (Groome, p.502).

James Fletcher hired the architect John Rhind to extensively remodel the house and improve the estate between 1877 and 1885 (Dictionary of Scottish Architects; Montrose, Arbroath and Brechin Review). On his death the estate passed to his son Fitzroy Charles Fletcher (1858-1902) and improvement works continued, including considerable extensions to the Home Farm, the addition of large, heated greenhouses, and the construction of the stable block to the immediate west of the walled garden in around 1888 (Arbroath Herald and Advertiser, 1902). The stable is first shown on the 2nd Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1901 and replaced an earlier stable block located southwest of the walled garden (as shown on the 1st Edition map of 1859). The earlier stable became the estate dairy and is named Dairy Cottage on mid-20th century maps.

The late-19th century stable block was fitted with electric light in 1892, at the same time as the mansion, riding school, dairy and estate offices (Dundee Advertiser). Further upgrades in 1896 included the addition of enamel tiles to the internal walls, adamantine clinkers (small paving bricks) to the floor and the construction of new horse stalls in the east wing. The groom's accommodation, formerly in the east wing, was moved to the riding school nearby and could accommodate 10 grooms (Dundee Courier, 1896). (Historic Environment Scotland List Entry for Letham Grange Stables).

22 June 2022: External inspection finds the former riding school disused and appears to have been so for some time. The pitched slated roofs appear to be in fair overall condition, the flat roofed extension could not be assessed in full but there are signs the felted finish is missing in part. Gutters are chocked with vegetation to the southern elevations. Window glazings have been widely lost but doors appear to be secured. Brick walls appear to be relatively plumb, to the southern elevation trees are however well established and growing in close proximity to the walls. Damp patches/ staining and mortar loss are evident to most walls, notably the southern elevations. Ivy growth is overwhelming the south-west corner of the building.