Park Lane Stables are stables in

Teddington Teddington is a suburb in south-west London in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. In 2021, Teddington was named as the best place to live in London by ''The Sunday Times''. Historically in Middlesex, Teddington is situated on a long m ...

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames () in southwest London forms part of Outer London and is the only London borough on both sides of the River Thames. It was created in 1965 when three smaller council areas amalgamated under the London ...

built around 1830 and originally conceived as a fire station when fire engines were horse drawn. Today the stables are run as a charity belonging to the

Riding for the Disabled Association The Riding for the Disabled Association, also known as the RDA is a United Kingdom based charity founded in 1969 focused on providing therapeutic horse-riding, equestrian vaulting and carriage driving lessons to people with developmental and physi ...

History

19th century

The stables were built to house a fire station around 1830 by the

Abbot of Westminster The Abbot of Westminster was the head (abbot) of Westminster Abbey. List Notes ReferencesTudorplace.com.ar{Unreliable source?, certain=y, reason=self published website; and Jorge H. Castelli is not an expert, date=January 2015 * Westminster ...

in what was then known as Alms House Road, on account of the almshouses in the street opposite the stables. In 1831 a parish fire engine was purchased and put in the care of the

beadle A beadle, sometimes spelled bedel, is an official of a church or synagogue who may usher, keep order, make reports, and assist in religious functions; or a minor official who carries out various civil, educational, or ceremonial duties on the ...

, a caretaker employed by the Abbot of Westminster. In 1837 the Abbot gave up the land and ownership turned to the local civic parish council.

20th century

In the 1901 census the stables are described as 'Council Stables, Engine House ndCouncil Yard', belonging to the civil parish. In 1950 Keith Luxford leased the stables from the council to start a riding school which became known locally as the 'Children's Riding School'. In the late 1950s the stables were taken over by Peter Churchill who ran horsemanship night courses and a riding school. By 1963 the stables were run by John Quinn. In 1989 ownership passed to Mr and Mrs P Dailly who continued to operate the riding school as 'Park Lane Stables'.

21st century

As a result of foot and mouth disease in 2001 and the closure of local parks, the stables were forced to shut; they remained so until 2008 when Natalie O'Rourke MBE took over management and subsequently founded Park Lane Stables RDA as a registered charity. In 2016 after refurbishment HRH Princess Anne re-opened the stables in her capacity as RDA president. Mid 2021 the stables were classed as an 'Asset of Community Value' by the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and in November 2021 as a 'Building of Townscape Merit', affording it further protection from development.

Campaign to save the stables

In the beginning of 2021 the stables faced closure due to the landlord wishing to sell the property. A community effort raised over £1 million to purchase the building via crowd funding, and the purchase was completed in late 2021.

References

{{reflist Teddington