Editing Stable (section)

== History ==

[[File:Lednice riding hall and stables, Lednice, Czech Republic 01.jpg|thumb|Stables and riding hall in Czech Republic]]
[[File:Eyam Hall stables.jpg|thumb|English two-story stone stables with exterior stone steps (use has been converted)]]
During the times when horses were the primary mode of transportation, European high society and royalty kept large stables of horses to pull carriages, ride, and breed. Many of these stables were elaborately constructed and still exist today.

In England, the stable was historically the second building constructed on a farm.{{r|pickles|p=7}} The world's oldest horse stables were discovered in the ancient city of [[Pi-Ramesses]] in [[Qantir]], in [[Ancient Egypt]], and were established by [[Ramesses II]] (c. 1304–1213 BC). These stables covered approximately 182,986 square feet, had floors sloped for drainage, and could contain about 480 horses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/oldest-horse-stables |title=Oldest horse stables |website=Guinness World Records|access-date= 2016-06-27 }}</ref>
Free-standing stables began to be built from the 16th century. They were well built and placed near the house because these animals were highly valued and carefully maintained. They were once vital to the economy and an indicator of their owners' position in the community. Relatively few examples survive of complete interiors (i.e. with stalls, mangers and feed racks) from the mid-19th century or earlier.{{r|pickles}}

Traditionally, stables in [[Great Britain]] had a [[hayloft]] on the upper floor and a pitching door at the front. Doors and windows were symmetrically arranged. Their interiors were divided into stalls and usually included a large stall for a [[Horse breeding|foaling]] [[mare]] or sick horse. The floors were cobbled (or, later, bricked) and featured drainage channels. An outside stone stairway constructed against the side of the building was common for reaching the upper level.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southhams.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3975&p=0|title=The Barn Guide by South Hams District Council|website=southhams.gov.uk|access-date=19 April 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714120125/http://www.southhams.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3975&p=0|archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref>{{r|pickles|p=7}}