HOLMFIRTH CONSERVATION g ROu P CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL HOLMFIRTH CONTENTS Summary of Special Interest and Issues 1 1. Introduction 6 1.1 What is a Conservation Area? 1.2 What is a Conservation Area Appraisal? 1.3 Who has produced the Appraisal and why? 1.4 Public Consultations 2. Location and Setting 10 2.1 Location and Topography 2.2 Landscape 2.3 Geology 2.4 Archaeology 3. Historical Development 12 4. Open Spaces and Natural Environment 19 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Parks and Open Spaces 4.3 Public Footpaths 4.4 Graveyards 4.5 Riverscape 4.6 Trees 4.7 Public Realm 4.8 Views 5. The Buildings 28 5.1 Understanding 5.2 Condition and Authenticity 5.3 Building Materials 5.4 Mid-to-late 18th century 5.5 Late Georgian to early Victorian 5.6 Mid-to-late Victorian 5.7 Post-Victorian to Modern 5.8 Shops 5.9 Listed Buildings 5.10 Conservation Area Character Buildings 5.10.1 Key Buildings 5.10.2 Positive buildings ii HOLMFIRTH CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL 6. The Character of the Conservation Area 43 6.1 Character Areas 6.2 Old Town 6.3 Hightown 6.4 St John’s 6.5 Riverside 6.6 Cliff 6.7 New Town 7. Positive, Neutral and Negative Aspects of the HCA 53 7.1 Positive Aspects 7.2 Neutral Aspects 7.3 Negative Aspects 8. Boundary Review 56 8.1 Review of Holmfrth Conservation Area Boundary 9. Issues in the Conservation Area 58 10. Bibliography 60 11. Acknowledgements 62 This work together with the accompanying appendices is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, with the exception of the image on the cover page which is copyright Tim Green, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License . This license permits others to distribute, remix, adapt and build upon this work, for commercial use, provided the original work is properly cited. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ PHOTOGRAPH CREDITS The Black and white photograph on page 16 has been supplied by Kirklees Images and the photograph of Dancers in Church Yard on page 20 was supplied by Andrew Whittaker iii FIguRES Fig 1 Holmfrth Conservation Area 6 Fig 2 Geological Map of Holmfrth 11 Fig 3 Detail of 1771 Map by Thomas Jefferys 12 Fig 4 Detail of 1802 Map of Upperthong Township 13 Fig 5 Detail of 1836 Map of Wooldale Township 14 Fig 6 Detail of Ordnance Survey Map of 1854 15 Fig 7 Detail of Ordnance Survey Map of 1891 16 Fig 8 Detail of Ordnance Survey Map of 1949 17 Fig 9 Detail of Ordnance Survey Map of 2002 17 Fig 10 Map of Open Spaces and Footpaths 19 Fig 11 Street Views 26 Fig 12 Views overlooking Holmfrth 27 Fig 13 Analysis of Building Survey Data 29 Fig 14 Map showing Building Periods 31 Fig 15 Map showing historic shop fronts 34 Fig 16 Map of Listed, Key and Positive Buildings 38 Fig 17 Map of Character Areas 43 Fig 18 Review of Boundaries 56 APPENd ICES A1 Public Consultation A2 Public Consultation Questionnaire SUMMARY B Car Park Survey C Footpaths Survey D Tree Survey and River Survey E Maps F Survey Methodology G Training Manual H Statistical Analysis Data I Schedule of Listed Buildings J Schedule of Key Buildings K Historical, Social and Economic development This HCA Appraisal should be read in conjunction with Appendices A to K inclusive. iv S u MMARy OF SPECIAL INTEREST ANd ISSu ES Holmfirth Conservation Area and its Character Areas Holmfrth’s special interest is based not only on individual buildings, but also on its relationship between the buildings and the environment. The components of this special interest can be summarised as follows: Topography • The town of Holmfrth is built in the valley bottom and on the adjacent hillsides. • Its location provides extensive views from outside into the town, and from inside to the surrounding landscape. • The river Holme running through it provides a focal point in its centre. Parks, Open Spaces and the Riverside • In densely built-up valleys, parks and gardens and open spaces provide a counterpoint to the built environment. The HCA is note-worthy as it contains several such areas. • Similarly, the river, having shaped the town over many years, can now provide a peaceful environment for all to enjoy. Public Realm The HCA contains numerous examples of: • stone-setted streets, stone paving and stone kerbs; • steep and narrow footpaths, bounded by drystone walls, which provide good views and connectivity. 1 HOLMFIRTH CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL Built Environment Holmfrth is an example of a late Georgian/ Victorian northern mill town. The special interest of the buildings lies in: • its domestic architecture and civic buildings which survive, largely, intact; • the numerous examples of weavers’ windows, under and over buildings, and stone buildings, with stone-fag roofs predominating; • domestic houses which have been turned into shops; • the presence of a working mill, Ribbleden Mill; • Approximately 75% of the buildings in the Conservation Area have survived from late Georgian/Victoran times. View from Cooper Lane Character Areas Although Holmfrth has a high degree of unity in its buildings, each of the Character Areas within the HCA is distinctive. The condition of the buildings and environment in each is varied, as is its make-up. Old Town forms the historic core of Holmfrth with many of the oldest buildings. It contains: • closely built houses on the valley sides, some of which retain weavers’ windows; • under and over, stone built and stone- fag roofed buildings, used for both housing and shops; • busy streets and adjacent quiet backwaters; • stone fag pavements and setted tracks; • the river Holme; • views of the valley sides and moors beyond; • high percentage (81%) of the buildings are late Georgian/Victorian. Settled Street in Daisy Lane 2 HOLMFIRTH CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL Hightown is an important area because of its: • terraces of stone-built houses separated by stone-arched ginnels; • Victorian civic buildings which contrast with the domestic scale of properties nearby; • views, which are some of the best in Holmfrth and epitomise the character of the town; • high percentage (78%) of the buildings are late Georgian/Victorian. Ginnel leading to the rear of the properties adjoining The St Johns area is of particular note as it has: • an historic church and graveyards; • imposing houses set within substantial grounds; • steep stone footpaths and setted hillside tracks; • views across Holmfrth to felds and the moors beyond; • a high proportion of buildings surviving (76%) from late Georgian/Victorian times. View of St John’s Church Riverside, as the name suggests, has the river Holme fowing through it, giving the area a rural feel. Whilst containing many elements present in other parts of the Conservation Area, it contains unique features, including: • the last remaining mill pond in HCA; • high stone retaining walls; • the historic Upperbridge over the river Holme; • tall, four-storey under-and-over houses; • A high proportion (61%) of the buildings are late Georgian/Victorian. Riverside dwelling – Scarfold 3 HOLMFIRTH CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL Cliff area also contains many of the common features. However, it also has a number of buildings of particular note and special interest, including the: • former railway station building; • Druids Hall; • Bamforth & Co. building; • Ribbleden Mill – the last working mill in the Conservation Area; • a high proportion (78%) of the buildings are late Georgian/Victorian. Former Station Building The distinctive character of New Town lies in its river setting and gardens. Notably, it contains the Technical Institute building and former Police Station as well as: • numerous trees which dominate the banks of the river; • the riverside walk where herons, kingfshers and mallards can be seen; • Holmside Gardens; • the supermarket and associated car park; • a high proportion (65%) of the buildings Holmside Garden are late Georgian/Victorian. Issues in the Holmfirth Conservation Area HCA is described by Historic England as being ‘at risk’. A Management Plan is needed to address the issues identifed below for the beneft of the existing community of users and residents, and also to attract new businesses, residents, shoppers and tourists. Built Environment Existing Buildings: Consideration needs to be given to: • maintaining the historic features of heritage assets - Listed Buildings, Key Buildings; • resisting the erosion of character through the cumulative effect of small- scale changes; • maintaining and enhancing traditional shopfronts; • encouraging the reinstatement of original architectural design features. New Development: ensuring these: • take account of the character of the HCA; • complement the scale and form of neighbouring buildings; • make use of locally sourced natural sandstone. 4 HOLMFIRTH CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL Parks and Open Spaces Consideration needs to be given to the: • maintenance of the walls and paths; • current limited access to the parks and graveyards; • the maintenance of trees; • succession of tree planting and increase in the variety of species used. Riverside Consideration needs to be given to the: • enhancement and improvement of access to the river; • presence of invasive species (plant and animal life) in and near the river; • coordination of the style, materials and painting of the footbridges; • visual impact of utility pipes crossing the river. Public Realm Consideration needs to be given to the: • availability of a ‘streetscape manual’; • coordination of street signs, street furniture – including streetlights, seating, railings and litter bins; • maintenance of stone retaining walls and boundary walls; • strengthening of controls over advertising in shop windows, fascia boards, shop lighting, security shutters, ‘A’-boards and street clutter; • proliferation and location of commercial and domestic waste-bins; • use of stone and setts rather than tarmac repair; • restriction of parking; • removal of overhead wires; • increased provision of community noticeboards; • preservation of the spectacular views and vistas of Holmfrth.