Anstey Conservation Area Appraisal

CABINET - 9TH JUNE 2011

Report of the Head of Planning and Regeneration

ITEM 12 QUENIBOROUGH AND BARKBY & BARKBY THORPE CONSERVATION AREA CHARACTER APPRAISALS

Purpose of the Report

To request formal adoption of the Conservation Area Character Appraisals and Management Plans for Queniborough and Barkby & Barkby Thorpe.

Recommendations

1. That the Character Appraisals and Management Plans for Queniborough and Barkby & Barkby Thorpe Conservation Areas set out in Appendix 1 and Appendix 3 to this report be adopted.

2. That delegated authority is given to the Head of Planning and Regeneration in consultation with the Lead Member for Planning, to make minor amendments to correct any typographical errors in the Queniborough and Barkby & Barkby Thorpe Conservation Area Appraisals prior to publication.

Reasons

1. To provide adopted guidance that identifies the special character and creates a sound basis for the management of Queniborough and Barkby & Barkby Thorpe Conservation Areas.

2. To allow the Head of Planning and Regeneration to make minor amendments to documents before they are finalised for publication.

Policy Context

The Council’s Corporate Plan 2009-2012 includes an aspiration for Charnwood to be “… a place of choice to live, work and visit — a Borough to be proud of.”

The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 places a duty on Local Authorities to formulate proposals to preserve and enhance conservation areas.

Policy HE2.1 of “Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment” (PPS 5), published by the Department of Communities and Local Government, states that local planning authorities should ensure that they have evidence about the historic environment and heritage assets in their area and that this is publicly documented.

Local Plan Policy EV/1- Design, seeks to ensure a high standard design of all new development and that the design should be compatible with the locality and utilises materials appropriate to the locality.

Background

Queniborough Conservation Area was designated in December 1972 by Leicestershire County Council. Barkby and Barkby Thorpe Conservation Area was designated in May 1976.

A Conservation Area Character Appraisal is intended to be an objective statement and factual description of the local distinctiveness of the conservation area. It justifies the historical and architectural reasons for designating the area and describes the particular qualities of buildings, spaces and landscape that together create a distinctive street scene or other part of the public realm. It describes the strengths and weaknesses of the area and identifies opportunities for enhancement. The appraisal should establish a sound basis for the guidance of planning and development control decisions, which can ultimately be defended at appeal.

Consultation on the two draft character appraisals has taken place. Public meetings were held in Barkby on 12th January 2011 and in Queniborough on 15th January 2011. The draft documents were made available on the Council’s website and as hard copy by request. A late representation regarding the Barkby & Barkby Thorpe Appraisal was received from Hawksmoor Property Services Limited, acting for Commercial Estates Group who are promoting the proposed Sustainable Urban Extension to the East of Thurmaston. Consequently, the two appraisals were delayed. A letter from Hawksmoor containing comments was received on 28th April 2011. These comments were used to revise the the Barkby & Barkby Thorpe document which was then issued for a further period of consultation to Hawksmoor, Barkby Parish Council, Barkby History Group and the Barkby and Barkby Thorpe Action Group, BABTAG.

Final versions of the documents, which take account of all the comments and responses received at the public meetings and the two periods of consultation, are given in Appendices 1 & 3 and are submitted to Cabinet for adoption. Summaries of the comments and responses are set out in Appendices 2 & 4. The Character Appraisals have been used to set out management proposals for the conservation areas using further guidance from English Heritage, “Preserving the Special Character of Conservation Areas: Management Proposals”. The Management Plans are included in the documents in Appendices 1 & 3.

Financial Implications

None

Risk Management

Risk Identified Likelihood Impact Risk Management Actions Planned

Appraisals not adopted results Low Low Adopt appraisals incorporating in failure on local indicator in revisions the Team Plan

52 Risk Identified Likelihood Impact Risk Management Actions Planned

Management Plans not adopted Low Low Adopt Management Plans results in failure on local incorporating revisions indicator in Team Plan

Key Decision: No

Background Papers: Charnwood Borough Council Corporate Plan 2009-2012.

Planning Policy Statement 5 “Planning for the Historic Environment” published by Department of Communities and Local Government

‘Guidance on Conservation Area Appraisals’ and ‘Guidance on the Management of Conservation Areas’ published in 2006 by English Heritage

Officers to Contact: Mark Fennell 01509 634748 [email protected] Anthony Gimpel 01509 634971 [email protected]

APPENDIX 1

Queniborough Conservation Area Character Appraisal

INTRODUCTION 2 Planning policy context

ASSESSMENT OF SPECIAL INTEREST 4 LOCATION AND SETTING

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT 4 Origins and development, Archaeological interest, Population

SPATIAL ANALYSIS 6 Plan form, Inter-relationship of spaces, Villagescape, Key views and vistas, Landmarks

CHARACTER ANALYSIS 8 Building types, layouts and uses, Key listed buildings and structures Key unlisted buildings, Coherent groups, Building materials and architectural details Parks, gardens and trees, Biodiversity

DEFINITION OF SPECIAL INTEREST 12 Strengths and Weaknesses

MANAGEMENT PLAN 13 General principles, Enforcement Strategy, Article 4 Direction, General condition Possible buildings for spot-listing, Possible boundary changes of the Conservation Area Enhancement opportunities, Economic development and regeneration strategy for the Area Strategy for the management and protection of important trees, greenery and green spaces Monitoring change, Consideration of resources, Summary of issues and proposed actions Developing management proposals, Community involvement, Advice and guidance

BIBLIOGRAPHY 17 LISTED BUILDINGS IN QUENIBOROUGH 17

QUENIBOROUGH CONSERVATION AREA CHARACTER APPRAISAL

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey with the permission of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright. Licence No 100023558

Current map of Queniborough showing the Conservation Area and the Listed Buildings

Introduction Queniborough Conservation Area was designated by Leicestershire County Council in December 1972. It covers an area of 12.8 Hectares.

The document sets out the planning policy context and how this appraisal relates to national, regional and local planning policies.

The main part of the report focuses on the assessment of the special interest of the Conservation Area: • Location and setting describes how the Area relates to the historic village and surrounding area; • Historic development and archaeology sets out how architecture and archaeology are related to the social and economic growth of the village; • Spatial analysis describes the historic plan form of the village and how this has changed, the interrelationship of streets and spaces, and identifies key views and landmarks; • Character analysis identifies the uses, types and layouts of buildings, key listed and unlisted buildings, coherent groups of buildings, distinctive building materials and architectural details, significant green spaces and trees and biodiversity.

These elements are brought together in a summary of the special interest of the Conservation Area. The document is intended as a guide to people considering development which may affect the Conservation Area. It will be used by Development Control in their assessment of proposals. It may, of course, be used by Queniborough Parish Council and residents of the Conservation Area.

Planning Policy Context The Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 defines a conservation area as ‘an area of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’. Local planning authorities have a duty to review the overall extent of designation in their areas regularly and if appropriate, to designate additional areas. The Act sets out the general duties of local planning authorities relating to designated conservation areas:

• From time to time, to draw up and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of conservation areas in their districts and to consult the local community about these proposals; • In exercising their planning powers, to pay special attention to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of conservation areas.

Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment (PPS 5), published by the Department of Communities and Local Government, states the Government’s objectives for heritage assets and puts forward policies to balance the need to ensure the viability or usability of an asset against doing no harm to its architectural, historic, cultural or artistic values. The PPS advises that “local planning authorities should ensure that they have evidence about the historic environment and heritage assets in their area and that this is publicly documented” (Policy HE2.1). Conservation areas are ‘designated heritage assets’.

A conservation area contains a number and variety of elements which combine together to create the significance of the heritage asset overall. This appraisal describes those elements but it does not attempt to be exhaustive and the policies in PPS 5 lay the duty on all concerned, including residents and prospective developers, to understand the significance of any element.

The Regional Spatial Strategy for the East Midlands (RSS), published in March 2009, advises local authorities that the historic environment should be understood, conserved and enhanced, in recognition of its own intrinsic value (Policy 27: Regional Priorities for the Historic Environment). The RSS is due to be withdrawn but remains in place until the enactment of the ‘Localism Bill’ by Parliament, which is expected in 2012.

Charnwood Borough Council Local Plan Saved Policy EV/1- Design, seeks to ensure a high standard of design for all new development and that the design should be compatible with the locality and utilise materials appropriate to the locality.

The Council’s adopted Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) ‘Leading in Design’ reinforces the need to understand the setting and context when proposing development in a sensitive location such as a conservation area. It encourages developers to use local guidance such as Conservation Area Character Appraisals when considering their designs. 1 Other guidance adopted by the Council • Backland & Tandem Development Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) • House Extensions SPG • Shopfronts & Signs SPD

ASSESSMENT OF SPECIAL INTEREST Location and Setting Queniborough is a village at the edge of the Wreake Valley. It is a gateway to the area of relatively undeveloped landscape known as High Leicestershire. The village is about 11Km north east of Leicester, lying away from the main road that joins Leicester to Melton Mowbray.

The village lies on a gravel terrace beside the south bank of Queniborough Brook which flows down from the hills to the Wreake. The immediate landscape is quite flat with the hills rising gently around on three sides. In 1801 John Nichols described the village being “in a fine plain continued about half a mile from the Melton Turnpike.” He noted “the village is finely embosomed amidst lofty trees.”

The Conservation Area incorporates the whole of the village as it was from Mediaeval times until the end of the 19th Century before the major developments of the 20th Century took place at the Barkby crossroads and along Melton Road.

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT Origins and Development It is known that there was human settlement in the Wreake valley from before the Romans. However, Queniborough as it is seen today probably has its origins as an Anglo-Saxon settlement. The early Mediaeval village was a parish of open fields with the cottages and farmsteads at its centre. The open field system was devised to take advantage of the heavy plough which used a team of eight oxen and was thus too expensive for any one farmer. The Domesday survey recorded the wealth of Cuinburg as eight ploughs, indicating the amount of tillable land, along with 40 acres of meadow and a mill. Beyond the arable fields it is likely that sheep were grazed during the summer in the wooded hills.

The imposing church of St Mary took its present form towards the end of the 13th Century. And it appears that there was a major replanning of the settlement around the same time. A market place was laid out and burgage plots for homesteads and farmsteads established on a regular pattern of strips each 1 rod (5½ yards) wide with some farmsteads consisting of more than 1 strip.

By the 18th century agricultural surplus had increased and there was pressure to change the economic system. For centuries farmers had been allocated strips in each of the open fields but this meant moving from one side of the village to the other. Several attempts were made to inclose the fields to allow farmers to bring their allocated land together. Eventually the Inclosure Act of Parliament for Queniborough was passed in 1793. Landowners took ownership of 2200 acres, “after proper provisions for public and private roads, and for a convenient sheepwash at some commodious part of one of the brooks running through the parish.” Nevertheless, many poorer people found themselves at a great disadvantage.

Following inclosure a few farms were built beyond the village so as to be closer to their fields but the general shape of the village stayed the same. In 1801, Nichols described the village having: “90 dwellings, most of them in a wide and long street formed, as it appears, on a grand plan for a large town.”

Maps of the early 19th Century show Queniborough and neighbouring Syston to be more or less similar in size. However, it seems that Queniborough was bypassed by all the major advances in transport: the half mile from the Melton Turnpike, the canalisation of the Wreake, and when the railway opened in 1846 there was no local station for Queniborough. Syston became the town and Queniborough stayed as a village.

As is common in almost all the villages of Leicestershire people would have engaged in framework knitting but there appears to be no obvious evidence remaining in Queniborough. In mid Victorian times the homeworking came to an end as factories opened in Leicester, Syston and Sileby so that Queniborough remained as an agricultural village well into the second half of the 20th Century.

In 1847 a National School was built for all the children in the village. However, even at the end of the 19th Century, Queniborough was an isolated village. The Barkby crossroads was more or less in the countryside: a few cottages were being built beside the Barkby Road and the map of 1903 shows New Zealand Lane described as New Queniborough with the beginnings of development, a few houses, shown along the strip. The great changes occurred in the 20th Century. Beginning after World War I housing was built between the original settlement and the Melton Road, together with many facilities such as the Primary School, Village Hall, post office, shops and industry.

The original core which is now the Conservation Area was left almost untouched, although a low level of house building has continued throughout the Area up to the present day, filling in plots, such as Tudor Terrace which was built on the site of some old stables, and lately on land behind the main frontage, such as in the grounds of Queniborough New Hall.

Archaeological Interest There has been human settlement in the whole area of Queniborough and its setting at the edge of the Wreake valley by the hills of High Leicestershire from at least Neolithic times. Finds include artefacts from the Bronze Age, Roman, Anglo Saxon and Mediaeval periods.

Within the Conservation Area there have been finds of Anglo-Saxon pottery where the old barn of Willow Farm now stands. Also in that vicinity a Mediaeval hearth and a Mediaeval carved stone have been found.

At the churchyard and the land around New Hall bones, possibly human, have been found, suggesting that the churchyard may have extended north from its present position. Also in the grounds of New Hall have been found post-Mediaeval wells and a cellar.

Timbers within some of the houses have been dated to 1435, which may be further evidence that the village was replanned in Mediaeval times.

The whole of the Conservation Area has potential for archaeological discovery, with the general area of interest extending northwards to Queniborough Brook. There are three known sites in the village. For identification, one is at the old barn behind No 33 Main Street; the second is at land occupied by Nos 82-86 Main Street; and the third is the churchyard extending northwards to include Queniborough Hall.

Population Until the end of World War I, the village of Queniborough was more or less contained within its Mediaeval shape. Actual population figures are not easy to understand because of the variety of what was and is counted. In 1564 there were 48 families, in 1722 there were 15 freeholders, in 1800 there were 90 dwellings. In the mid 19th Century the population was 530. Today, the Conservation Area encompasses about 150 postal addresses, though the parish as a whole has a much larger number, with a population of about 2250 in 960 households.

SPATIAL ANALYSIS Plan Form Queniborough appears as a linear settlement consisting of a single main street. When the street is seen as the space between the houses, rather than that between the roadside kerbs it is clear that the width varies considerably along the whole length.

The plan established in Mediaeval times is still the plan of the village. The marketplace was a long triangle tapering from its broadest at The Horse and Groom and Britannia Inn to a pinch point by the thatched cottage, No 86 Main Street. There is another broad space, called The Green locally, at the junction with Peggs Lane.

Until recent times there was probably a back lane along the south side - now it is just the short spur of Mere Lane - and there are several footpaths and bridleways leading from the village into the fields and connecting the village with its neighbours, Syston, Barkby, South Croxton, Barsby and Gaddesby. The path to Syston was originally the Leicester Way.

Villagescape Many of the houses still occupy the burgage plots laid out in Mediaeval times. Ruperts Cottage and No 82 Main Street are good examples of houses on plots which are 1 rod wide. Others occupy more than a single plot. Originally houses may have been built along the length of the plot showing the gable at the front and leaving an opening in the frontage to provide access to the rear: an example is No 86 Main Street. Over time, the houses have been built across the whole width of the amalgamated plots right up to the edge of the street. Thus the characteristic present appearance consists of a string of houses at the edge of the street with occasional narrow openings in the frontage, archways, paths and drives giving access to a variety of outhouses, workshops and garages.

There are exceptions to this pattern, notably houses which mark their importance by standing back from the street with a front garden bounded by a garden wall, such as No 20 Main Street. And in the 20th century houses without importance have also been built away from the street edge. More recently, a few closes and culs-de-sac have been built to give access to houses at the rear of the plots. These later developments have introduced a suburban element and lost some of the essence of the Mediaeval plan. Thus, although there is little opportunity, any new proposals for development along Main Street should adhere to the Mediaeval building line and not create front gardens.

Within the conservation areas in the Borough of Charnwood, unique to Queniborough are strips of cobble in front of many of the houses along Main Street. These strips appear to delineate a more private area in relation to the street. None of these houses have any fencing or hedging, nor what may be called a front garden, though the cobble strips are often augmented with pot plants and small shrubs.

Interrelationship of Spaces Open space within the village is almost completely provided by the broad nature of the street which reflects and is a continuation of the broad open plain in which the village sits. The space has been enhanced by the recent traffic management scheme in which the road carriageway has been made as narrow as reasonable for the quantities of traffic, leaving delightful, and very well kept, broad grass verges for the whole length.

There are two openings: one at Little Green and the other, more significant, at the Horse and Groom and Britannia, where once the Elm Tree used to stand, and in Mediaeval times was conceived as the focus of the market place. Opening out from this space is a wide access of rough

hard standing which leads to the School and up to the surrounding ridge. There is another opening at The Banks, which leads to the footpath to Syston.

At the east end of the village the churchyard offers a more peaceful secluded space. And at the back of the village both the Old Hall and Queniborough Hall are set in large private acreages of open space, though much of this has been sold and developed for new housing.

Key Views and Vistas The most important view is the broad open aspect of the village itself, which sits in and is influenced by the fine plain as described by Nicholls. The view changes subtly as one progresses in either direction along the street.

The entry from the Melton Road and the Barkby Crossroads is marked by the bend at Pegg’s Lane where the view is terminated by the delightful cottage, Nos 12 & 14 Main Street, partly covered in Virginia creeper and peeping from behind the rowan trees on the green. Rising behind is the very fine needle spire of St Marys church, 162 feet high, said to be the second highest in the county.

Coming from High Leicestershire is a sharp double bend at the church. Passing the mock gate, the road is first shrouded by laurel bushes and sycamore trees but as one turns into Main Street one enters the vista of the street broadening to its climax at The Horse and Groom. And going in the opposite direction, leaving the village, No 93 Main Street is superbly placed to terminate the view.

The most fascinating view is to be had, if one is lucky, by climbing to the top of the church tower, where, from the base of the spire there is a 360˚ panorama of the surrounding countryside stretching for miles. Correspondingly, the spire itself is a landmark from a vast area of countryside.

From within the village there are occasional glimpses of the Ridgemere to the south-east, but everywhere there are glimpses into the rear of the plots, through the archways and into the drives, which add significantly to the fascination of the village.

From Ridgemere Lane the village is seen set down within the valley of the brook. The spire is very visible but in general the houses are almost surrounded with trees.

Landmarks The beautiful spire of St Mary’s church is an obvious landmark for a huge area surrounding the village. From within the village the spire is more often seen standing in the distance behind the houses.

CHARACTER ANALYSIS Building Types, Layouts and Uses Almost all the buildings in the village are related to the farming activity of previous centuries. They are vernacular farmsteads with labourers’ cottages. In general, the farmsteads have become domestic and barns have been converted. Amongst the farmsteads there are later terraces of housing, such as Long Row, and Tudor Row, and polite buildings such as The Grange, No 25 Main Street, and the former vicarage, No 81 Main Street. For most of its life the village was self sustaining providing its residents with their daily needs. Some of these facilities remain. There are two public houses, the National School, St Marys Church, the Methodist Chapel at the other end, three shops and some workshops.

Houses are of 1½ or 2 storeys with the exception of the 3 storey Grange, the one bay wide 3 storey No 82 Main Street and the 3 storey No 75 Main Street. The houses are generally of simple rectangular form with a single ridge parallel to the street. At the rear there are ranges of outbuildings which extend into the plot creating yards and enclosed spaces.

Key Listed Buildings and Structures The Conservation Area is notable for the number of listed buildings within it. Those which have a stronger influence on the character of the Area are: Church of St Mary - Grade I The Grange No 12-14 Main Street, at the junction with Peggs Lane No 38 & 40 Main Street Note that the Old Hall (Grade II*) is not within the designated area and neither is the dovecote, which became delisted after it was re-sited to preserve it and allow for development within the grounds of the New Hall.

Key Unlisted Buildings Tudor Terrace, Nos 64 to 74 Main Street is a remarkable 20th Century development. The Tudorbethan style, the gables fronting the road, its setting slightly back from the street edge all contribute. It is unfortunate that the windows have been replaced with uPVC.

The Standings, No 93 Main Street is an example of a new material, Watchcrete, invented by Harry Watchorn after World War I.

Coherent groups Part of the essential character of Queniborough are the rows of individual buildings which bound both sides of Main Street and sit together in pleasing rhythms.

By way of example, note the group composed of No 80 with Nos 82 - 86 Main Street and the group from the low forge building No 69a to Ruperts Cottage No 79 with the Vicarage No 81 Main Street. Another group consists of The Grange, No 25 Main Street with the butchers shop to its left and the high brick wall of its garden and the stable housing to its right. The tall overhanging lime trees are a component of this group.

Besides the strings of houses there is the focus of the two public houses at the market place, namely the Britannia Inn and The Horse and Groom standing at right angles to each other.

Building Materials and Architectural Details Walls The predominant building material is a soft red brick. Although historically most of the houses would have been of timber frame construction, there are only a few surviving visible examples such as No 7 and No 79 Main Street. Elsewhere, the timber frames are no longer apparent on the exterior. They have been replaced with brick, though the framing may be evident internally. However, the old style is still visible where the brick walls rest on a low plinth of river cobbles, to be seen in several houses. Occasionally the plinth has been rendered or includes field stone and pieces of ironstone.

The brickwork is generally laid in Flemish bond, and occasionally the pattern of the bond is picked out in contrasting headers and stretchers. In many houses the walls are either painted in white or cream or rendered and painted. The effect is to give a strong sense of variety throughout the Area.

There are a few houses which stand out as exceptions. No 93 Main Street is built of the locally invented Watchcrete in an embattled style with quoins and No 20 Main Street is highly decorated with white painted quoins, door and window surrounds and painted carved panels over the windows. Also unusual is No 49 Main Street in a style more reminiscent of the Lake District.

The mud wall of the old pinfold, now occupied by No 2 Main Street, was very carefully rebuilt in the 1990s. As a historic feature of the village it is easy to miss. There are other remnants of mud wall in rear gardens.

Roofs The predominant roofing material throughout the Area is Welsh Slate. There is some remaining thatch, noteably at No 38-40 Main Street, No 80 and Nos 84-86 Main Street and Ruperts Cottage, No 79 Main Street. A few houses are roofed with Swithland Slate, such as Oak Cottage, No 8 Main Street, and the row of cottages at The Banks beside the footpath to Syston. There are a few exceptions with traditional materials such as the notable sweeping roof of Tudor Terrace in plain clay tile. There are also a few houses which are roofed with concrete tile, which is generally out of character in the Area.

Many of the older houses have dormer windows. An interesting, flat roofed dormer has been added to the stable block of The Grange. It has traditional proportions and the cheeks are glazed to admit more light.

Doors and Windows There is a very good survival of traditional timber windows in the Conservation Area. In general the ordinary windows are a mixture of simple casements and Yorkshire sliding sash with vertical sash windows in the more polite houses.

Besides these traditional windows there are some special windows, notably in the end gable of the National School, and the delicately moulded metal frames in the row of cottages Nos 22 to 28 Main Street. The restoration of the shop front of the Butchers at No 29 Main Street has been very well done, adding to its sense of place and history.

There is a tradition of doorcases and canopies in the village. They range from the relatively simple to the highly detailed and elaborate such as at The Grange, No 25 Main Street, where there is also a delicate pair of curved railings to the front steps. Jennaway Farmhouse, No 9 Main Street, has similar curved railings.

There seems to be a tradition growing of adding shutters to the ground floor windows. Those at The Grange No 25 Main Street probably have a reasonable history but the others are simply stuck- on additions.

Details There are some fascinating little details to be seen, insurance marks, straw sculptures on the ridges of the thatch, an old lamp-post in the front garden of No 83 Main Street, memories of previous awards, such as the best village shop in 1987 at No 59-61 Main Street.

Parks, Gardens and Trees The principal green spaces in the Conservation Area are the grass verges all along Main Street on both sides of the road. There is a fine row of pine trees behind the restored mud wall of the old Pinfold, with a willow hiding The Oaks, No 4 Main Street. There are some delicate rowan trees on Little Green at Peggs Lane and a number of rowans have been planted elsewhere along the verges as part of the highway management scheme. Some of these are still very slender and may not survive.

The double curve from Peggs Lane past the Grange is arched with a maple on one side and a row of four lime trees which tower over the brick garden wall of The Grange. A laurel is growing against the front of No 16 Main Street. There are two fine yew trees at No 20 Main Street.

The elm tree which once stood in the square by the Horse and Groom and Britannia Inns has been replaced by a lime tree and a hornbeam in the grass just beyond.

The churchyard has a variety of pine trees, chestnuts and sycamores. There is a magnificent cedar in the parkland of Queniborough Hall. Opposite the church in the broad grass verge there is a sentinel conifer tree.

From within the village one can see several tall trees in the rear gardens and seen from Ridgemere Lane the village still appears to be “embosomed amidst lofty trees”.

Highway The treatment of the highway is a superb example of how traffic and parking can be managed in a Conservation Area. The road is busy at all times of the day, especially at rush hour, taking traffic to and from Leicester and the valley and High Leicestershire. There is space to park in the village and the traffic is well behaved. The whole has been achieved with an almost complete absence of signs and yellow lines. It is a credit to the village and an enhancement of the Conservation Area. The carriageway is narrower than may be desired for the volume of traffic and the details, such as granite kerbs, green painted lamp standards, concrete setts to mark where parking is allowed and oak timber posts to mark changes in the kerb line all add to the calm and dignity of the historic village.

Biodiversity The Conservation Area is never far away from the more open countryside and the predominantly rural landscape of High Leicestershire. The neighbouring land is mostly arable fields and pasture and species associated with rural habitats, such as the skylark Alauda arvensis and badger Meles meles, have been recorded next to the Area.

The proximity of Queniborough Brook influences the character of the Area: species allied with the aquatic environment, such as the grass snake Natrix natrix, have been recorded in gardens. The grass snake lays eggs in piles of vegetation and manure heaps where the heat of the decomposition process

incubates the eggs. This is the largest species of snakes found in Britain and it is totally harmless. It is one of the species of principal importance which receives legal protection.

The tree-lined brook forms a green corridor parallel to the north of the Area and links up with other linear habitats, such as hedgerows and tree lines, leading from within the Area to the adjacent fields. The land around St Mary’s Church and Queniborough Hall has several mature trees and the Primary School and Old Hall both have a number of mature trees which form part of the local biodiversity network.

Within the Conservation Area, bat species have been found at St Mary’s Church and several bat roosts have also been recorded at dwellings along Main Street. The pipistrelle bat Pipistrellus pipistrellus and the brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus are, like all other British species, strictly insectivorous. Bats make use of tree lines and other linear habitats for foraging and as routes to commute and disperse.

Just beyond the Conservation Area to the south of the village, Mere Lane Field is a Local Wildlife Site which has been notified for its flowering plant assemblage. Species such as lady’s bedstraw Galium verum, bulbous buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus, red clover Trifolium pratense, field woodrush Luzula campestris and sweet vernal-grass Anthoxantum odoratum are typical remnants of hay meadows which were once more widespread in the countryside.

DEFINITION OF SPECIAL INTEREST The main contributions to the special character of Queniborough Conservation Area are: • St Mary’s Grade I listed church with its very tall slender spire, a prominent landmark for miles around; • The still existing Mediaeval plan of the village with its marketplace; • The historic core of the settlement still obvious within its historic landscape and largely unaffected by 20th Century development; • Occasional narrow openings along the length of the street giving access to the rear of the plots; • The broad open aspect of the village, influenced by the fine plain in which it sits; • The simple rectangular shape of the buildings, with the roof ridge parallel to the street; at the edge of the street; • The variety of buildings unified by a limited palette of slate and brick, which may be painted or rendered; • The good survival of traditional timber windows; • The tradition of doorcases and canopies; • The calm and dignified treatment of the highway; • The cobble strips in front of many of the houses.

Weaknesses In general the Conservation Area is in a good state.

The broad opening at the Horse and Groom and Britannia Inn would benefit from some attention. The hard standing and paving, the area around the lime tree, and the opening to the School appear rather rough in contrast to the attention which has been given to the highway. The opening from Main Street into The Banks is also of a poor quality. It would benefit from restraining the gravel to a more distinct driveway.

The fashion for adding fake window shutters is of dubious worth.

MANAGEMENT PLAN General Principles The appraisal above should be used to inform and guide development decisions.

Any proposed changes should be carried out in a sensitive manner, taking into account the established character. New development must respond to its immediate environment i.e. its context, in terms of scale, form, materials and detailing. Otherwise, alterations will have a detrimental effect on the historic and locally distinctive form of the Area.

Within the Area the Council will insist on good quality schemes which respond positively to their historic setting. This extends to small buildings such as garages and even boundary walls and fences. Minor alterations need to be carefully considered as incremental change can have a significant detrimental effect on the character of an area over a period of time.

Central government guidance contained in PPS 1 and PPS 5, the Borough of Charnwood Local Plan, Leading in Design and other SPD will be used to assess the quality of proposal for new development.

The character of the Conservation Area identified in the appraisal above is such that the following general principles should be noted when considering any development in all parts of the Conservation Area: o The Conservation Area has a distinct “grain” or pattern of built form and spaces which are part of its historic development. This gives the Area great individuality, characterised by the pattern of historic buildings, ancient footpaths and highways and clearly defined boundaries. This “grain” is an important part of the character of the Conservation Area and will be protected. o An important element of the character is the building line of the Mediaeval street and market place. New development should adhere to this line and not create front gardens. o The emphasis for new proposals will be on high quality of design. There may be opportunity for innovative modern design. However, a dramatic contemporary statement is unlikely to be appropriate. o Scale is the combination of a building’s height and bulk when related to its surroundings. Proposed new development must take into account the scale of the existing buildings, and must not dominate or overwhelm them. o Alterations and extensions must respect the form of the original building and its locality. The use of high quality materials and detailing, whether modern or traditional is essential. Roof lines, roof shape, eaves details, verge details and the creation of new chimneys are important considerations. o Windows and doors of a traditional design respect the historic nature of the buildings to which they belong and make a very important contribution to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area. The use of upvc and standardised high speed joinery techniques nearly always leads to unsuitably detailed windows which will be generally unacceptable in the Conservation Area. In most cases the building regulation requirements can be met without the need to use clumsy and awkwardly detailed windows. o The appraisal has identified the types of materials that characterise the Conservation Area and where possible they should be used to help alterations respect the established character. o Applicants for planning permission must provide a meaningful “Design and Access Statement”, to explain the design decisions that have been made and to show how proposed alterations relate to their context. A detailed analysis of the locality should demonstrate that there is a full appreciation of the local streetscape and how it has developed, including prevailing building forms, materials and plot ratios. o Safeguarding of protected species must be taken on board when considering planning proposals such as conversion, tree felling, housing development and other changes which may affect wildlife and their roosting places, commuting routes and feeding areas.

Enforcement strategy Effective enforcement is vital to make sure there is public confidence in the planning system to protect the special character of the Area. Unauthorised development can often be damaging to that character.

Taking proactive action can improve the appearance and character of the Area, making it more attractive and in some instances increasing the potential for investment. Effective monitoring of building work to make sure it is carried out in accordance with the approved details and with planning conditions ensures new development makes the positive contribution envisaged when permission was granted.

In order to protect the character of the Conservation Area the Borough Council will seek to: • use enforcement powers in cases where unauthorised development unacceptably affects the character of the Conservation Area; • take proactive action to improve or enhance the appearance of the Area; • monitor development under way to make sure it fully complies with the terms of any planning permission or listed building consent.

Carrying out unauthorised work to a listed building or to protected trees and hedgerows and the unauthorised demolition of a building within a conservation area is an offence. In such cases, the Council will consider prosecution of anyone responsible and enforcement of any necessary remedial action.

The powers set out in Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 will be used where sites are identified as detracting from the character of the Conservation Area by being eyesores or untidy.

Article 4 Direction The quality of a conservation area is often threatened by the cumulative impact of numerous small changes to many buildings. Terraces that once displayed integrity of design through the use of matching features such as doors, window, chimneys and porches, have been unbalanced by various alterations and additions. On the whole such changes do not require planning permission.

In order to preserve and enhance the character of conservation areas, many planning authorities use Article 4 Directions to restrict permitted development rights on groups of buildings or areas. Restrictions normally relate to particular elements such as replacement windows and doors, or roofing.

It is not proposed to introduce any Article 4 Direction for Queniborough Conservation Area.

General condition The Conservation Area is in a good condition. A number of issues have been identified as weaknesses in the appraisal and described as opportunities for enhancement below.

Possible buildings for spot listing None of the buildings within the Conservation Area were identified for “spot listing”, i.e. considered for inclusion on the list of statutory listed buildings.

Possible Boundary Changes of the Conservation Area The area of meadow and parkland surrounding both the Old and the New Hall, up to and including the brook needs to be investigated for their significance to the Area. In particular, the field in which the re-sited dovecote sits to the east of Queniborough Hall should be incorporated into the Area in order to protect the dovecote which no longer has the benefit of being listed.

Enhancement opportunities Two of the public spaces in the Area would benefit from some attention. An improvement scheme sensitive to the rural nature of the space should be considered for the broad opening between the Horse and Groom and Britannia Inn, extending up to the National School and beyond, where the hard standing and paving are rather rough.

The opening from Main Street into The Banks is also of a poor quality. It would benefit from restraining the gravel to a more distinct driveway.

The young rowan trees that have been planted in the grass verges show some signs of poor growth. The Parish Council should keep the wellbeing of the trees under review.

Economic development and regeneration strategy for the Area Historic building repair grants are available from both Charnwood Borough Council and Leicestershire County Council. Repair and reinstatement works to historic buildings, that make a vital contribution to maintaining and improving the character of the Area are likely to be eligible for grant assistance.

Strategy for the management and protection of important trees, greenery and green spaces The Borough Council supports the priorities set out in the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Biodiversity Action Plan for the conservation of a variety of wildlife and their habitats within Charnwood. The Council will collaborate with its partners when the plan is reviewed and modified to ensure that the necessary actions are being taken by the appropriate agencies.

General management guidelines: • Retention and protection of mature trees. • Replacement planting to provide the next generation of trees. • Additional planting at key strategic points to reinforce habitat connectivity within the biodiversity network.

Monitoring change A photographic record of the Conservation Area has been made and will be used to help identify the need to review how changes within the Conservation Area are managed. A greater degree of protection will be accomplished if the local community help monitor any changes.

Consideration of resources This management plan sets out the commitment of the Borough Council to protecting the character and appearance of Charnwood’s conservation areas and how it will use its resources to achieve these aims. Pursuing all actions may be seen as desirable but continued monitoring and review will help focus the use of available resources in the most effective way.

Summary of issues and proposed actions

Conservation Area Issue Proposed Action Lead Other Partner Partners

Protection of the Dovecote Extend the CBC Conservation Area boundary

Opening at The Britannia Improvement scheme Queniborough CBC and Horse & Groom sensitive to the rural PC character

Opening at The Banks Improvement scheme to Queniborough CBC tidy the gravel roadway PC

Newly planted Rowan trees Monitor their growth Queniborough PC

Developing management proposals Various forces, historical, cultural and commercial, have shaped the development of the conservation area, creating a sense of place and individual identity. The character and appearance of the conservation area is vitally important, both in attracting investment in the area itself, and in the encouragement of initiatives to the benefit of the wider community.

Community involvement This document has been made available as a draft via the website for 4 weeks prior to submission to Cabinet for adoption. A public meeting was held in the Area so that local residents and businesses could contribute their ideas about the Area. All comments and responses have been considered and appropriate amendments made to the document before being submitted to Cabinet.

Advice and Guidance The Borough Council Development Department can advise on the need for Planning Permission or Listed Building Consent and can provide guidance on matters such as appropriate methods of maintenance/repairs, changes to shopfronts, alterations and extensions and suitable materials.

Contacts: Conservation and Landscape Team Tel. 01509 634748 [email protected]

Development Management Tel. 01509 634691 [email protected]

Planning Enforcement Tel. 01509 634722

Bibliography John Nichols, “History and Antiquities of the County of Leicestershire”, Vol 3, 1800 The Story of Queniborough, Rosemary Smith, 1995.

Acknowledgements The council is grateful to the assistance given by Alan Clark.

Statutory Listed Buildings in Queniborough All listed Grade II except the Church which is listed Grade I Church of St Mary 75-77 Main Street The New Hall The White House, 76 Main Street Barn & wall in the grounds of the New Hall 79 Main Street 7 Main Street 80 Main Street 12-14 Main Street 81 Main Street Pump at 14 Main Street 82 Main Street 22-28 Main Street 84 Main Street 25 Main Street 85 Main Street 38-40 Main Street 86-88 Main Street 71 Main Street Outbuilding at 86 Main Street 73 Main Street

The Old Hall, Coppice Lane, which is Listed Grade II* is outside the Conservation Area.

70 APPENDIX 2

Queniborough Conservation Area Comments received on the draft appraisal

Public Meeting at Queniborough Village Hall, Saturday 15 January 2011 48 people attended

Respondent Comment Response

1 Letter from Support extension of boundary and Noted. resident in favour ideas for enhancement.

2 From the public Can the Appraisal be used to stop No. The Appraisal can be used to meeting the wind turbine? inform the decision.

3 If the area is extended would the The meadows need to be boundary follow the centre line of investigated for their significance to the brook? the Area, together with the value of including or excluding the brook and its trees.

4 The church may now be at the Document amended. centre of the parish but not historically, since East Goscote was part of the parish.

5 Timbers in No 80 Main Street have Document amended. been dated to 1435.

6 Email from Difficulty in ascertaining ownership Noted. Queniborough of hard standings. Parish Council

71 APPENDIX 3

Barkby and Barkby Thorpe Conservation Area Character Appraisal

INTRODUCTION 2 Planning policy context

ASSESSMENT OF SPECIAL INTEREST 5 LOCATION AND SETTING

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT 6 Origins and development, Archaeological interest, Population

SPATIAL ANALYSIS 8 Plan form, Inter-relationship of spaces, Villagescape Key views and vistas, Landmarks

CHARACTER ANALYSIS 11 Building types, layouts and uses Key listed buildings and structures, Key unlisted buildings, Coherent groups Building materials and architectural details Parks, gardens and trees, Biodiversity

DEFINITION OF SPECIAL INTEREST 16 Threats and weaknesses

MANAGEMENT PLAN 17 General principles, Enforcement Strategy, Article 4 Direction, General condition Possible buildings for spot-listing, Boundary of the Conservation Area Enhancement opportunities, Economic development and regeneration strategy for the Area Strategy for the management and protection of important trees, greenery and green spaces Monitoring change, Consideration of resources, Summary of issues and proposed actions Developing management proposals, Community involvement, Advice and guidance

BIBLIOGRAPHY 21

LISTED BUILDINGS IN BARKBY 21

BARKBY AND BARKBY THORPE CONSERVATION AREA CHARACTER APPRAISAL

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey with the permission of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright. Licence No 100023558

Current map of Barkby and Barkby Thorpe showing the Conservation Area and the Listed Buildings

Introduction The Barkby and Barkby Thorpe Conservation Area was designated in May 1976. It covers an area of 46 Hectares, much of which is the large parkland belonging to the Pochin Estate of Barkby Hall.

The purpose of this appraisal is to examine the historic development of the Conservation Area and to describe its present appearance in order to assess its special architectural and historic interest. The document sets out the planning policy context and how this appraisal relates to national and local planning policies.

The main part of the report focuses on the assessment of the special interest of the Conservation Area: • Location and setting describes how the Area relates to the two historic settlements and the surrounding area; • Historic development and archaeology sets out how architecture and archaeology are related to the social and economic growth of the two settlements; • Spatial analysis describes the historic plan form of the settlements and how this has changed, the interrelationship of streets and spaces, and identifies key views and landmarks;

• Character analysis identifies the uses, types and layouts of buildings, key listed and unlisted buildings, coherent groups of buildings, distinctive building materials and architectural details, significant green spaces and trees, and biodiversity.

These elements are brought together in a summary of the special interest of the Conservation Area as a whole and of the two settlements in particular.

The document is intended to provide an understanding of what the Borough Council is seeking to conserve. It will help inform the adoption of planning policies and development management decisions and provide guidance to people considering development which may affect the Conservation Area. It may also, of course, be used by the Parish Council, residents of the Conservation Area and other bodies considering works within the area such as the Highway Authority.

• From time to time, to draw up and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of conservation areas in their districts and to consult the local community about these proposals;

• In exercising their planning powers, to pay special attention to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of conservation areas.

‘Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment’ (PPS 5), published by the Department of Communities and Local Government, states the Government’s objectives for heritage assets and puts forward policies to balance the need to ensure the viability or usability of an asset against doing no harm to its architectural, historic, cultural or artistic values. The PPS advises that “local planning authorities should ensure that they have evidence about the historic environment and heritage assets in their area and that this is publicly documented” (Policy HE2.1). Conservation areas are ‘designated heritage assets’.

The Council’s adopted Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) ‘Leading in Design’ reinforces the need to understand the setting and context when proposing development in a sensitive location such

as a conservation area. It encourages developers to use local guidance such as Conservation Area Character Appraisals when considering their designs.

Other guidance adopted by CBC • Backland & Tandem Development Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) • House Extensions SPG • Shopfronts & Signs SPD

ASSESSMENT OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Drawing by Nick Toms

Location and Setting Barkby lies in the valley of Barkby Brook, a tributary of the Wreake, at a crossing of two minor roads, from Syston and the Fosse Way up to High Leicestershire, and from Queniborough to Thurmaston and Hamilton and hence to Leicester. It is about 8 Km north-east of Leicester.

In the landform the settlement is at the base of the slope up to the plateau and hills of high Leicestershire to the south-east. To the north-west lies the broad valley of the Wreake and the Soar. The settlement sits on glacial deposits of marl, sand and gravel to the west and boulder clay to the east.

The Conservation Area encompasses almost the whole of the two settlements with the large area of parkland between them, set in an area of Grade 2 and Grade 3 agricultural land.

The village of Barkby is set in a landscape of agricultural fields, pasture, and woodland. Barkby Thorpe is a hamlet at the top of the hill on the road out to Hamilton and Leicester. It is set in an open, sometimes exposed, landscape of large agricultural fields and paddocks with occasional trees and spinneys. To the southwest below the fields is the urbanised valley of the Soar with the city of Leicester and Charnwood Forest in the distance.

The historic pattern of the two settlements, the parkland and the agricultural setting has remained fairly unaltered for two centuries.

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT Origins and Development From its name it is assumed that Barkby is a Viking settlement. However, there is evidence of human settlement from well before the Viking invasions and it is more likely that the village was taken over by them. It is recorded in the Domesday Survey of 1086 where its name was written Barcheberie, taken to mean the village by Birch trees. At the time of the survey it consisted of 18 carucates, had 16 ploughs and 16 acres of meadow. The name is also written as Barchebi which may refer to the separate settlement of Thorpe Barkby which at the survey had 2 ploughs and 5 acres of meadow.

The church of St Mary was built in the 13th and 14th centuries on the site of an older place of worship. The chancel of the church was probably built in 1225. Also in the 13th century Merton College, Oxford, began its long association with the village by purchasing Manor Farm in 1271. Their purchase included the Malt Shovel Inn from which it is presumed that part of that building is now 750 years old.

The association with the Pochin family also began in the Mediaeval period and their relationship with the village and the hamlet has formed and is still very much part of the character.

For centuries the settlement has been based on an agricultural economy, providing a mix of dairying with arable crops. Major changes took place in the 18th century as pressure grew to change the system of farming. Until then the open fields were used in which each farmer was allocated a variety of strips in different parts of the parish so that, in theory, each would have a mixture of the better and the poorer land. Farmers wanted to bring their holdings together and in 1779 an Act of Inclosure was passed. Many of the poorer people were dispossessed.

In common with all neighbouring villages many people engaged in framework knitting. There is a group of houses called the Frameworkers Cottages on Vicarage Lane. This home industry did not last long: with improvements to transport in the Soar and Wreake valleys it migrated to factories in the larger centres, such as Syston and Leicester, so that Barkby was left only with its agricultural economy.

In the 1830s Barkby Hall was rebuilt on the site of the previous Jacobean building. In the 19th Century and into the 20th the Pochin family built a school in 1869 and a number of houses for their tenants, mostly on the eastern side of the village. Gas was introduced in 1900, sewerage in 1910, piped water in 1921 and finally electricity arrived in 1935. The Village Hall was opened in 1929. Also in this period, throughout the village many of the thatched and timber framed houses were re- roofed in slate and the walls re-faced with brick.

In more recent years there has been remarkably little development. The stability of the village, the loyalty of the families, particularly the Pochin tenants, forms a great part of the character and appearance of the Conservation Area. Later into the 20th Century in the western part of the village a number of houses and bungalows have been built filling in plots on the brook side of Main Street and a group of council houses were built on land between Beeby and School Lanes.

Much of the information about the history of the village is taken from John Nichols’ monumental work about Leicestershire at the end of the 18th Century. He sent a list of over 70 queries to every parish in the county. The responses for Barkby provided by the vicar, Henry Woodcock in 1790, were so comprehensive that even John Nichols felt obliged to acknowledge his source and publish the answers as given.

The Inclosure map was drawn by John Seagrave in 1780. It refers to the Inclosure only of Barkby: Barkby Thorpe was a separate settlement. The map shows that there has been remarkably little change to the village over 230 years. The Hall and church are at the centre, dividing Main Street from Brookside; the street system is the same - except that the jitty from the Malt Shovel to the

brook remains today as a footpath, unused by vehicles; the tight enclosure of Main Street and the loose enclosure of Brookside look remarkably similar. Another change at the time of inclosure was the loss of the back lane, which originally gave access around the north side of the village. It continues today as Barkby Holt Lane, originally Croxton Road, and remnants of the sunken lane are still visible in places. Since Inclosure the greatest change has been the amalgamation of the strips that were allocated within the village. At Inclosure the villagers were provided with garden spaces for growing their vegetables and probably raising chickens or a pig. Some of these strips are still apparent but many have been joined together either as the farms have altered or as they have been made into larger fields especially at the end of Brookside.

Archaeological Interest 1 It is known that people have been in the vicinity since before Roman times. There have been finds of pottery and tools from neolithic and paleolithic times in the fields.

Within the Area there is evidence of Romano-British settlement. A Roman drain was unearthed underneath the Dairy Farm and there have been Anglo-Saxon finds in excavations at Barkby Hall.

Beyond the Area there is evidence of an Iron Age enclosure north east of Barkby Hall, evidence from Roman times of a villa at Hamilton, a farmhouse between Barkby and Beeby and a villa or temple on the hill at Barkby Thorpe and evidence of Mediaeval earthworks and a mill at Brookside, and more earthworks along Beeby Road. There used to be a water-mill at the west end of the village, on the south side of the brook, close to the bottom of the garden of No 49 Main Street.

There are several areas of archaeological interest at and in the vicinity of Barkby Thorpe. There is a windmill mound to the east of the hamlet. To the south there have been finds of Anglo-Saxon pottery, prehistoric crop marks, a Neolithic arrowhead and a Bronze Age scraper.

To the south of the hamlet is Abbots pond, a visible reminder of the ownership of much of the land by Leicester Abbey before the dissolution of the monasteries. In this same area a burial site was found during quarrying in the early 18th Century.

Within the hamlet there are 15 known wells. Within living memory a brick yard on the Barkby side of Barkby Thorpe Lane opposite the bridle road to Humberstone was reclaimed for agricultural use.

It is likely that, especially below ground, there is evidence of previous settlement anywhere within the Conservation Area and potentially in a wide area surrounding the two settlements.

Population Barkby and Barkby Thorpe are small villages. The actual figures for population are difficult to calculate because what is and has been counted is so variable. In 1670 55 householders were assessed for the hearth tax. In the 1801 Census a population of 389 was counted which had increased to 955 in the 1931 Census. However, these figures are unreliable because in 1935 the parish boundary was redrawn and up to half the people found themselves living in Thurmaston instead. According to Barker's Directory, in 1875 Barkby parish had a population of 440 with 107 inhabited houses. In 1973 the population was 360. Today there are about 175 addresses in the parish, of which 130 are in the Conservation Area.

1 Information taken from Leicestershire County Council’s Historic Environment Record and the fieldwalking exercises carried out by archaeology students at Leicester University.

SPATIAL ANALYSIS Plan Form Barkby village has a linear form which is bisected by the extensive parkland of Barkby Hall, so that it appears as two distinct and separate parts. At the centre are St Marys Church and the Hall. To the north-west is a linear development of farmsteads and houses along Main Street. On the further side of the park, to the south-east, are more farmsteads and a number of houses and cottages spread along each side of the brook. Unusually, most of these houses and cottages are only accessible by the footpaths which run along the brook connected by simple footbridges. This part of the village also contains a late 18th Century terrace of housing and the Pochin School beside the road to Beeby and a small group of 20th Century council housing. There are a number of private access drives across the fields from Beeby Road to some of the houses along the south side of the brook.

The approach to the Hall used to be a drive from Beeby Road; there is now a new drive from Queniborough Road. The Hall has its own gateway into the churchyard. The Hall itself and the parkland to the north are almost invisible from the rest of the village being surrounded by substantial trees and woodland and high brick or stone boundary walls. To the south the parkland is open and sweeps up the hillside bounded by simple iron railings. It contains the village cricket ground and several fine oak trees. There is a road leading through the park to Barkby Thorpe.

Barkby Thorpe itself is a small hamlet of three working farmsteads and a few cottages clustered around a series of open grass paddocks, centred on a junction of two minor roads, Queen Street and King Street.

Linking the village and the hamlet to their surrounding settlements is a web of roads and footpaths. Some of these footpaths are ancient rights of way, such as the broad path to Keyham, known as the “County Road”, and assumed to have been in existence since before the Romans. At a cross roads on this track is an old cast iron pole of a signpost whose finger signs have now gone. The footpath continues to the west as Barkby Thorpe Lane. Local people remember that this was formerly called Salters Gate. It is known that ancient salt routes crossed the country from the North Sea to the Midlands, and this may be one of them.

Villagescape The Conservation Area has several very different characters.

1. The western side of the village is a tightly enclosed long linear space in which the buildings are close to the edge of the pavement which itself disappears to almost nothing in places. Some of the buildings, such as No 22 Main Street or the front gable of Manor Farm, are taller than the average 2 storeys, which strengthens the sense of enclosure. Within the tightness there are some openings where the houses are set back from the road although most of these have a significant brick wall, sometimes with a hedge or small trees. The tight enclosure continues around the sharp bend by the church, past the barn, down to Jack’s Bridge over the brook. 2. To the south of the brook is an area of woodland, a spinney which was originally bounded by a semi-circular drive leading from Spinney Bridge at the western end of the village to the entrance to Barkby Hall. It was intended as a private drive to the Hall, bypassing the village. Part of it was built on Merton College land so it was never properly used and is now almost completely overgrown. Within the spinney are the Pinfold Cottage and Gamekeepers Cottage. 3. From Jack’s Bridge one enters into the parkland which at first is overhung with trees and soon opens out with a vista of the park sweeping up the hill, with the enclosure of the stone wall and trees behind bordering the private grounds of Barkby Hall. Many of the free-standing oak trees in the park are exceptionally well proportioned, tall and mature. The open railings along the roads bordering the park add significantly to the character and the feeling of spaciousness.

4. At the centre of the village is Barkby Hall, a substantial, three storey house of simple Regency style. The Hall itself is largely unseen from the public realm. Its impact on the Conservation Area is noticed through its mature landscaped grounds defined by many trees and the stone and brick boundary walls; 5. After the park there is a mixture of farmsteads, Council housing and private houses all set back from the road. This area is partly rural, partly suburban in character. 6. Along the brook is a distinctive setting of houses and cottages, some close to the road or footpaths, some set well back, all with gardens, allotments and green space between them going down to the banks of the brook. Most of the buildings are on a slight terrace in the valley side so that they are barely visible from the surrounding fields. The water in the brook is clear flowing. At intervals there are little concrete footbridges with post and tube railings which continue along the footpaths. The banks of the brook are well maintained, almost landscaped, interspersed with stretches of natural vegetation. The whole valley has an intimate character. At night the low level of lighting allows for good views of the stars when the skies are clear. There are a number of tracks from Beeby Road across the fields giving vehicle access to the houses on the south side of the brook. 7. School Lane is a street with a long terrace of housing against the pavement on one side and the Council housing set back on the other. At one end is the Pochin School, an early nineteenth century building, and at the other is the later Pochin’s End (No 32). Both buildings are slightly larger and more decorated than the intervening terraced housing. 8. After the road junction at the top of the hill, Barkby Thorpe is an open space of grass paddocks bordered by three large farmsteads with their associated farm buildings and a few cottages. The paddocks are surrounded by open railings and by a stone wall along Queen Street. Well maintained grass verges border Queen Street but there is only one short stretch with a footpath. King Street leads into a narrow and tightly enclosed short section before the road dips down to the valley and Hamilton.

Despite the differences of enclosure there is a uniformity derived from the restricted palette of building shapes and materials. Most of the cottages and houses are of simple rectangular form with a simple ridge parallel to the street. Amongst them the farmhouses and the Vicarage and Dower House, stand out. They are more complex in plan, some have hipped rooves and many have more complex shapes. Also more complex are the later Pochin Estate houses at Brookside, some built in Arts and Crafts style and some Victorian houses in Gothic style with steeper rooves, gables and dormers.

Interrelationship of Spaces Main Street is characterised by the feeling of tight enclosure. However, within this appearance there are many gaps in the enclosure where houses, especially the later bungalows, are set back from the road. This is particularly so at the western end where the feeling of enclosure is more relaxed. Beside the Malt Shovel is their car park. The sad loss of the brick boundary wall a few years ago left a wide opening off the street, which is now much improved with the newly refurbished railings. At the back of the car park the woodland surrounding the brook is seen. After the junction with Queniborough Road there is a broadening at the forge which, if it were not for the stream of traffic, would be a pleasant meeting place. This space is terminated quite abruptly by the old barn and the gate to the churchyard. From here and the sharp bend the road goes down to the bridge.

After the bridge, and a further sharp bend, from under the canopy of trees one approaches the principal space in the village of the parkland which divides the two parts of Barkby and rises up the hill.

At Brookside the roads, footpaths and footbridges form a pleasant web in which to wander as they follow the turns in the brook. The winding valley alternates between openings of gardens and allotments and areas of trees. On either side, occasionally visible, one notices the fields beyond the village.

Key Views and Vistas In the western part of the village, the arrival from Syston is marked by the bend in the road with the farm buildings of Merton Farm on the left and a backdrop of trees which surround the brook. Main Street winds gently creating a changing scene, eventually terminated by the Parish Church of St Mary, with its fine broach spire. In the other direction, going towards Syston, the countryside is unseen until after the double bend at the farm. The long brick wall to the garden and the front face of the farmhouse deflect the view.

Along Brookside there is a sequence of views which unfold as one moves through the valley of the brook with allotments and gardens and the variety of cottages at the edges. The scene is all the more attractive from the footpaths because one necessarily appreciates it at walking pace and free from the volume of traffic using the through roads of the village.

As one enters the village along Beeby Road there is a pleasant view alongside of the cottages at Brookside. There are fine vistas of the parkland from Beeby Road and especially from the junction at the top of the hill. The views are enhanced by the open railings.

From outside, the village appears surrounded by trees, in a landscape which otherwise has few trees. From inside, there are limited views into the countryside beyond but as one leaves the village, to the west Thurmaston and its bright red brick shopping centre is clearly seen on the hill as well as the settlements of Syston and Queniborough.

Barkby Thorpe is prominent and distinctive in its position on the hilltop as one arrives from Leicester. Looking out from the hamlet there are expansive views, ranging from the city centre in the south west to the hills of Charnwood Forest in the north west. South of the hamlet there is an intervening ridge from where, especially on the road to Hamilton, the distinct urban edge of the city becomes visible.

From the footpath to Keyham, the “County Road”, there are fine views northwards of the village laid out along the valley of the brook. The hall and the church are both clearly seen.

Landmarks The spire of St Mary’s church is visible from every approach to the village. Rising above the trees which surround the village, the spire is a quintessential reminder of the presence of the village. It is the focus for Main Street. The most noticeable building besides the church is White House Farm, No 22 Main Street, whose Georgian façade, with its unexpected semi-circular window, is set close to the road.

At Brookside the landmark is the brook itself, set within its sloping banks landscaped by the gardens and allotments.

The Pochin School which is still well-used has an important setting at the corner of School Lane and Beeby Road.

Barkby Thorpe is a landmark in itself when approached up the hill from both Thurmaston and Hamilton.

CHARACTER ANALYSIS Building Types, Layouts and Uses Barkby and Barkby Thorpe remain to this day farming communities in which the farmsteads and their associated activities within the village and hamlet comprise an important part of the character of the Conservation Area. There are four working farms in Barkby and three in Barkby Thorpe. Other farmsteads in the settlement are now domestic. The buildings that comprise the farmsteads have grown organically. The principal farmhouse sometimes stands separate; sometimes it is attached to barns and outbuildings. Many of the associated barns, stables and outhouses are built in traditional materials of brick with slate or clay tile roofs. Newer, are the parlours and silos, etc., which have a more industrial feel, being constructed of steel frames with corrugated iron, asbestos cement or other sheeting. Taken as a whole the buildings create a variety of shapes and textures within the fabric of the village. Two of the farmhouses are substantial three storey buildings but in the main the buildings are two storey.

The presence of so many working farms in Barkby and Barkby Thorpe is unique in the Borough of Charnwood. Although other villages have some working farms within them, only in this Conservation Area does agricultural activity form such a significant part of the character of the settlement.

Besides the farmsteads, St Marys church and Barkby Hall, there is a surprising variety of different buildings in the Area. There are the Old Vicarage, and its companion Dower House at Vicarage Lane, two pubs, the Pochin School, a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel at No 20 School Lane and a Primitive Methodist chapel at No 18 Brookside, both now converted as dwellings, the Village Hall and a row of one storey workshops, which include the forge. Most of the other buildings are houses of two storeys. They are of simple rectangular form, often in terraces, with simple ridged roofs parallel to the street. The Victorian houses, such as the Dairy Farm and Thorpe Farmhouse at Barkby Thorpe, and the later houses in Arts and Crafts style erected by the Pochin Estate are of more complex shape. The 20th Century developments include a number of bungalows.

Within the domestic houses there is evidence of previous commercial use, such as the post office only recently closed at No 11 Main Street and a shopfront at No 12 Main Street.

The character of Brookside is enhanced by the presence of the Brookside Inn which adds a degree of vitality to the scene.

Key Listed Buildings and Structures At the Main Street side: St Marys Church, which dates from the 13th Century and has a fine broach spire. It is interesting also for its interior. It is one of the few churches still to have features such as box pews and galleries for music and choir. It is known as a “prayer book” church from the changes introduced to allow the whole congregation to hear the prayers and readings from the Bible. Forge and workshops Whitehouse Farm, No 22 At Brookside: The Old Vicarage and its companion Dower House The Frameworkers Cottages on Vicarage Lane There are no listed buildings in Barkby Thorpe

Key Unlisted Buildings The Malt Shovel Inn, is vital to the village as much for its social significance as its history. It is not listed because it has been rather too much altered, especially internally, where previously much loved features such as the enormous copper for brewing have been removed.

At Barkby Thorpe, Manor Farm , rebuilt in 1915, is an imposing complex of buildings at the junction of Queen Street and King Street and Thorpe Farmhouse is a well built Victorian house, in flemish bond brickwork, with sash windows with stone lintels.

Coherent groups The core of the Conservation Area is one large coherent group constituted by all the buildings at the sharp bend of Main Street with the focus of the church, namely from No 1 to the Post Office, No 11, the terrace of Nos 13 to 21, No 25 and the Malt Shovel Inn on one side, Nos 2 to 6, including the barn, the row of buildings along the south side of the churchyard, the forge and its single storey workshops, the rows of outbuildings extending up Queniborough Road, Nos 10, 12 & 14, including the shop, and No 16 on the other side of the road. Together they form a villagescape remarkably largely unaltered for the last 100 years.

Each of the farmsteads comprises the farmhouse with a range of barns, outhouses, etc. Many of these outbuildings are constructed in traditional style of brick with a slate or tile roof and they form pleasing groups in the villagescape.

At Barkby Thorpe the terrace of Pochin houses and Hilltop Farm form a short tight enclosure at the entrance to the hamlet.

Building Materials and Architectural Details Walls Apart from St Marys church and Barkby Hall the buildings are now almost without exception1 built of brick. Until recently this was a soft red brick from local clay. Some of the brickwork is quite ancient as seen in the narrow coursing of the late 18th Century brickwork. In Victorian times the brickwork became more regular, laid in Flemish bond with contrasting headers and stretchers, occasionally decorated with buff or dark blue brick. In the 20th Century the use of cavity walling meant that brickwork became less decorative. Some walls are rendered or painted and some of the buildings have a plinth of cobbles and field stone. An example of new brickwork is in the latest extension to No 31 Main Street, where the new walls are in a mottled brick in order to approximate the new plain stretcher bond to the pattern of the older flemish bond immediately adjacent. The result is successful.

There is evidence externally in only a few places of the timber framing that would have been common. It is still visible at Manor Farm, No 24 Main Street, but elsewhere one must presume that the timber framing is interior and that the outer walls have all been rebuilt in brick. By contrast, the evidence of thatch is often visible where the low eaves have been raised to provide a better height to the first floor and the change in brickwork is obvious. Unfortunately, the timber framing at No 18 Vicarage Lane does not appear genuine.

Some houses and cottages have simple decorative dentils at the eaves, and often a simple brick band between ground and first floor. No 25 Main Street has much more elaborate egg and dart at the eaves and dentil coursing both at the eaves and as a band.

1 The exceptions are the modern agricultural barns and silos in corrugated sheet materials.

There are some more elaborate buildings, such as the Dower House which has stone quoins and stone surrounds to the windows, and the Arts and Crafts style house, No 52 Brookside, where the walls are rendered but the quoins and window surrounds are brick. The Council houses on Beeby Road and School Lane have either clay tile-hung gables or first floor weatherboarding, neither of which are truly Leicestershire.

These exceptions create part of the variety in the character, allowing such houses to stand out. Care should be taken not to copy these exceptions or unnecessarily to devise new exceptions which would diminish their difference and also diminish the general appearance of the Conservation Area which is formed of simple red brickwork.

Roofs The predominant roofing material is Welsh slate. There is evidence of previous thatch, for instance at No 25 Brookside, where the eaves line has been raised but only one building remains with a thatch roof at No 18 Vicarage Lane. Amongst the Welsh slate there is some Swithland slate and there are also roofs of plain clay tile. Some of the more modern barns and outhouses of the farms are roofed with corrugated asbestos or corrugated iron. In general the rooves have a simple ridge, but the more polite farmhouses have hipped roofs, such as No 16 Main Street.

Doors and Windows Throughout the Area, there is an excellent survival of traditional timber windows.

Architectural style and use of materials generally follows the period in which the building was erected. The oldest buildings are from the 18th Century. The larger buildings such as the farmhouses have sash windows, the cottages have Yorkshire sliding sashes. Later Victorian houses have well made timber mullion and transom windows, while the cottages have simple casements. In the Victorian buildings there are often bay windows and small gables, which in the early 20th Century Arts and Crafts styles become rather more elaborate.

Some of the more modest cottages display a particular detail where the window head on the first floor may be taken up to the eave, interrupting the line of the corbel or dentil course of brickwork.

The White House farmhouse, No 22 Main Street has a large semi-circular sash window to the staircase in the front façade. No 16 Main Street has rubbed brick arches to the sash windows.

Some of the buildings have simple doorcases. Examples are at No 38 Main Street, No 22 Main Street and No 27 Brookside.

Details A treasured detail is the use of dark green paint for the doors of the Pochin Estate houses. For a short period at the turn of the 19th Century William Pochin placed a date stone on the walls with his initials and date, eg, “WAP 1887”.

Parks, Gardens and Trees The parkland of Barkby Hall is a very important feature of the village and the Conservation Area. It is bounded by simple iron railings which makes it a distinctive and attractive open feature for all who pass by. It contains the village cricket ground and several fine oak trees. It divides rather than unites the two parts of the village, Main Street and Brookside.

Main Street has its own green space in the quiet and reflective churchyard, while Brookside has the particularly attractive space of the gardens and allotments and scattered trees on the banks of the brook. The footpaths on either side are bounded by concrete post and tube railings, which replace, except for a short stretch, the older iron hooped railings.

To the south of Main Street, the brook flows behind the houses in a valley secluded with trees. The general landscape around the village has been cleared of trees to create the arable farmland leaving a few patches of woodland but from outside, the village appears quite surrounded by trees.

Within the village, along Main Street, there are few trees. Mainly the yews in the churchyard, the beech trees in the front garden of Merton Farm, No 32, and the trees lining the path from the Malt Shovel down to the brook. This makes the little birch tree at No 24 rather important. By contrast Barkby Hall is surrounded by numerous fine and mature trees.

The grass paddocks at Barkby Thorpe are bounded mostly by simple iron railings, with a stone wall along Queen Street. The northern paddock has a row of lime trees, the southern has an ancient horse chestnut and a younger beech tree. The hamlet is framed at the back by the oak trees at the top of the parkland.

The OS Map of 1894 shows that there were many orchards around both Barkby and Barkby Thorpe. Most of these have disappeared.

Biodiversity Although the villages of Barkby and Barkby Thorpe are located within the High Leicestershire Landscape Character Area, most of the Conservation Area has a distinctive landscape more akin to lowland wood pasture and parkland.

The tree cover is substantial. There are deep woodland belts along field boundaries and around the grounds of Barkby Hall, trees lining the banks of Barkby Brook, and isolated mature trees within the parkland.

The Area includes cattle grazed pastures on ridge and furrow – conjuring up a pastoral, tranquil landscape – and, although the more intensively managed cricket pitch has been integrated within this area, mature trees close by have been retained and the planting of new trees is a positive measure which should ensure the long-term continuity of the mature tree habitat, on which many other species are dependent.

Barkby Brook gently meandering is the main wildlife corridor and it provides a key link with the surrounding countryside. Together with the woodland belts and the mature trees, and the cattle- grazed pastures, the brook represents a cohesive ecosystem network. The habitats support a rich diversity of invertebrates, mammals and birds and provide excellent connectivity between the Conservation Area and the network of habitats, such as hedgerows, copses and small spinneys, found in the countryside further afield.

Several bat roosts have been recorded within the Conservation Area, including those of the common pipistrelle Pi pistrellus pipistrellus. Bats in Britain are exclusively insectivorous. They rely on good-quality foraging grounds close to their roosts and on uninterrupted ecological networks to commute and disperse.

In summer, the Area is graced by the aerial displays of house martins Delichon urbicum catching insect preys in flight. This

sociable species nests in close colonies often near human habitation and there are several colonies in Barkby. Rows of enclosed mud nests, with an entrance hole at the top, can be seen cupped under the eaves of dwellings and farm buildings. Another characteristic summer visitor is the swallow Hirundo rustica which swoops low over the insect-rich pastures. Besides a wide range of typical garden bird species, resident birds such as the green woodpecker Picus viridis, great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major, jay Garrulus glandarius, kingfisher Alcedo atthis and song thrush Turdus philomenos have been recorded in the Area.

With several farms operating from within the Conservation Area, the surrounding rural landscape always feels in close proximity. The great crested newt Triturus cristatus is known to be closely associated with the field ponds of the surrounding countryside.

Several species of principal importance, such as the skylark Alauda arvensis, a ground nesting bird species well known for its sustained melodious song whilst ascending and hovering high up above fields, and the brown hare Lepus europaeus, have been recorded in the fields adjoining Barkby Thorpe.

DEFINITION OF SPECIAL INTEREST The main contributions to the special character of Barkby and Barkby Thorpe Conservation Area are: • The seven working farmsteads with their associated activities; • The fine open parkland, with many mature oak trees and the village cricket ground; • The impact of the trees and boundary walls of the mature and well defined landscaped grounds of Barkby Hall which itself is largely hidden from view; • The attractive scene at Brookside created by the collection of houses and cottages within the landscape of gardens and allotments along either side of the brook, the sense of which is enhanced by being largely accessible only on foot; • The continuity provided by the Pochin Estate’s centuries long interest in the village; • The coherent collection of buildings which enclose Main Street from No 1 to the Malt Shovel, and No 2 to No 16 with the focus of the church; • The plan of the settlement which is almost unaltered for 230 years; • The landmark of Barkby Thorpe at the top of the hill;

Threats and Weaknesses The roads from Queniborough and Syston to the fringes of north Leicester have become extremely popular as rat runs with steady streams of traffic throughout the day but especially with commuters and even heavy goods vehicles trying to avoid the main trunk roads. The effect of the traffic is particularly pronounced at the sharp bend by the church. In Barkby Thorpe it has a major impact on the two narrow streets of the hamlet: it is not a place to feel comfortable as a pedestrian. Traffic management measures have been adopted just outside the Area at the bottom of the hill to the south of Barkby Thorpe and on Queniborough Road. These measures have included a proliferation of signs, road markings and street lighting which have been designed with little sympathy for the heritage asset and rural context.

Land between Barkby Thorpe and the urban edge of Leicester and Thurmaston is being considered as an option for a Sustainable Urban Extension. To the south of the hamlet, the current urban edge of the city has a dramatic impact on the landscape of the open fields. Although the urban edge is not visible from the Conservation Area, some of the fields, paddocks and spinneys that surround the hamlet are visible. The relationship of the hamlet and the village to their rural setting is an important part of the character of the Area.

Any future development proposals which affect this relationship will need to be carefully assessed in the context of the duty in the 1990 Act to pay special attention to the desirability to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area. PPS 5 clarifies that Local Planning Authorities should treat favourably applications that preserve those elements of the setting that make a positive contribution to, or better reveal the significance of the asset. When considering applications that do not do this, Local Planning Authorities should weigh any such harm against the wider benefits of the application.

Traditional farm buildings, which as noted in the appraisal form a significant part of the character of the Area, are among the most ubiquitous of historic building types in the countryside. They are not only fundamental to its sense of place and local distinctiveness but also represent a major economic asset in terms of their capacity to accommodate new uses. The restructuring of farming and other economic and demographic changes in the countryside provide both threats and opportunities in terms of retaining the historic interest of this building stock and its contribution to the wider landscape.

MANAGEMENT PLAN General Principles The appraisal above should be used to inform and guide development decisions.

Within the Area the Council will insist on good quality schemes which respond positively to their historic setting, this extends to small buildings such as garages and even boundary walls and fences. Minor alterations need to be carefully considered as incremental change can have a significant detrimental effect on the character of an area over a period of time.

Central government guidance contained in PPS 1 and PPS 5, the Borough of Charnwood Local Plan, Leading in Design and other SPD will be used to assess the quality of proposal for new development.

• The conservation area has a number of distinct “grains” or patterns of built form and spaces which are part of its historic development. These give the area great individuality, characterised by the pattern of historic buildings, ancient footpaths and highways and clearly defined boundaries. These “grains” are an important part of the character of the conservation area and will be protected. • The emphasis for new proposals will be on high quality of design. There may be opportunity for innovative modern design. However, a dramatic contemporary statement is unlikely to be appropriate. As noted in the appraisal, there are several buildings which stand out as individual buildings. Care should be taken not to copy these, nor to create further individual buildings which would dilute the general character of the buildings in the Area. • Scale is the combination of a building’s height and bulk when related to its surroundings. Proposed new development must take into account the scale of the existing buildings, and must not dominate or overwhelm them. • Alterations and extensions must respect the form of the original building and its locality. The use of high quality materials and detailing, whether modern or traditional is essential. Roof lines, roof shape, eaves details, verge details and the creation of new chimneys are important considerations. • Windows and doors of a traditional design respect the historic nature of the buildings to which they belong and make a very important contribution to the character and appearance of the conservation area. The use of upvc and standardised high speed joinery techniques nearly always leads to unsuitably detailed windows which will be generally unacceptable in the conservation area. In most cases the building regulation requirements can be met without the need to use clumsy and awkwardly detailed windows. • The appraisal has identified the types of materials that characterise the conservation area and where possible this should be used to help alterations respect that established character. • Applicants for planning permission must provide a meaningful “Design and Access Statement”, to explain the design decisions that have been made and to show how proposed alterations relate to their context. A detailed analysis of the locality should demonstrate that there is a full appreciation of the local streetscape and how it has developed, including prevailing building forms, materials and plot ratios.

• Safeguarding of protected species must be taken on board when considering planning proposals such as conversion, tree felling, housing development and other changes which may affect their roosting places, commuting routes and feeding areas.

In order to protect the character of the Conservation Area the Borough Council will seek to: • use enforcement powers in cases where unauthorised development unacceptably affects the character of the conservation area. • take proactive action to improve or enhance the appearance of the area. • monitor development under way to make sure it fully complies with the terms of any planning permission or listed building consent.

Carrying out unauthorised work to a listed building or to protected trees and hedgerows and the unauthorised demolition a building within a conservation area is an offence. In such cases, the Council will consider prosecution of anyone responsible and enforcement of any necessary remedial action.

The powers set out in Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 can be used where the condition of land or property is considered to be seriously damaging to the amenity of the locality.

Article 4 Direction proposals The quality of the Conservation Area is often threatened by the cumulative impact of numerous small changes to many buildings. Terraces that once displayed integrity of design through the use of matching features such as doors, window, chimneys and porches, have been unbalanced by various alterations and additions. On the whole such changes do not require planning permission.

It is not proposed to introduce any Article 4 Direction for Barkby and Barkby Thorpe Conservation Area.

General condition The Conservation Area is in a very good condition. There is a good survival of traditional details such as windows and doors. No particular part has been noted as needing attention.

Boundary of the Conservation Area The current boundary is drawn arbitrarily at the rear of Merton Farm and at Hill Top Farm where the lines go through some of the current outbuildings. These anomalies should be clarified.

Where the boundary crosses the private grounds of Barkby Hall it appears to follow the line of the old back lane, where Barkby Holt Lane connected to Syston. The back lane was diverted on the building of the new hall. It is suggested that the whole of the grounds of Barkby Hall be included in the area.

Possible buildings for spot listing None of the buildings within the Conservation Area were identified for “spot listing”, i.e. considered for inclusion on the list of statutory listed buildings.

Enhancement opportunities The impact of through traffic has been identified in the appraisal above as a significant issue. Traffic calming measures to reduce speed have been introduced on the edges of the Area at Queniborough Road and below Barkby Thorpe. Any additional measures should respect the special character and appearance of the Area.

There is little need for environmental enhancement of the streets. The broadening of Main Street at the Forge has been noted as having the potential to be a more pleasant space within the village.

Opportunities for the maintenance of the buildings, their historic fabric and features, may be assisted by historic building repair grants, which are available from both Charnwood Borough Council and Leicestershire County Council.

The management and protection of important trees, greenery and green spaces The Borough Council supports the priorities set out in the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Biodiversity Action Plan for the conservation of a variety of wildlife and their habitats within Charnwood. The Council will collaborate with its partners when the plan is reviewed and modified to ensure that the necessary actions are being taken by the appropriate agencies.

General management guidelines encourage: • Retention and protection of mature trees. • Replacement planting to provide the next generation of trees. • Additional planting at key strategic points to reinforce habitat connectivity within the biodiversity network.

Monitoring change arrangements A photographic record of the Conservation Area has been made and will be used to help identify the need to review how changes within the Conservation Area are managed. A greater degree of protection will be accomplished if the local community help monitor any changes.

Consideration of resources This management plan sets out the commitment of the Borough Council to protecting the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and how it will use its resources to achieve these aims. Pursuing all actions may be seen as desirable but continued monitoring and review will help focus the use of available resources in the most effective way.

Summary of issues and proposed actions

Conservation Area Issue Proposed Action Lead Other Partner Partners

Impact of through traffic. Encourage more appropriate Leics CC CBC design of any future traffic Barkby PC management measures; Improvement of the broad space at Main Street by the Forge.

Conservation Area Boundary. Clarify the boundary. CBC Barkby PC

Community involvement A public meeting was held in Barkby so that local residents and businesses could contribute their ideas about the Conservation Area, its character and appearance. The document was made available as a draft via the website. As a result of representations received the draft appraisal was further amended and a limited re-consultation was held prior to the final report. All comments and responses received were considered and appropriate amendments were made to the document before submission to Cabinet for approval.

Contacts: Conservation and Landscape Team Tel. 01509 634748 [email protected]

Development Management Tel. 01509 634691 [email protected]

Planning Enforcement Tel. 01509 634722

Bibliography John Nichols, “History and Antiquities of the County of Leicestershire”, Vol 3, 1800. Mary Toms, A History of Barkby Village, 1974 Barkby Village May Festival of Rural Life and History, 1980 The History of the Church of St Mary, Barkby Nick Toms, The Millennium Album, 2000 Copy of Barkby Enclosure Map, 1780 by John Seagrave, The Record Office, Wigston Historic Environment Record, Leicestershire County Council. English Heritage, ‘Guidance on Conservation Area Appraisals’, 2006 English Heritage, ‘Guidance on the Management of Conservation Areas’, 2006 English Heritage, ‘Living buildings in a living landscape: finding a future for traditional farm buildings’, 2006 English Heritage, ‘The Conversion of Traditional Farm Buildings: A guide to good practice’, 2006 English Heritage, ‘The setting of heritage assets’, (consultation draft) 2010

Internet http://www.peoplemakingplaces.org.uk/places/charnwood_history/overview1.htm (Accessed 01 November 2010) http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LEI/Barkby/index.html (Accessed 08 November 2010) http://www.leicestershirevillages.com/barkbyandbarkbythorpe/ (Accessed 19 November 2010)

Acknowledgements The Council is grateful for the help and assistance from Keith Randon and to Nick Toms for permission to include his map of the village.

Statutory Listed Buildings in Barkby All listed Grade II except the church which is listed Grade I

Church of St Mary 27 Brookside Churchyard wall and Gateway to Barkby Hall Barn, 2-6 Main Street Barkby Hall The Forge, Main Street The Old Vicarage, Vicarage Lane 10 Main Street The Dower House, Vicarage Lane 12 Main Street Coach House at the Old Vicarage 13-19 Main Street Rose Cottage, 4 Vicarage Lane 16 Main Street 6 Vicarage Lane 21 Main Street 8-14 Vicarage Lane The White House Farm, 22 Main Street The Pochin School 24 Main Street 6-10 School Lane 32 Main Street 12-16 School Lane Barn at 32 Main Street 20-30 School Lane K6 Telephone Kiosk, Main Street 25 Brookside

Barkby and Barkby Thorpe Conservation Area Comments received on the draft appraisal

A Public Meeting was held at Barkby Village Hall on Wednesday 12th January 2011 37 people attended. The appraisal was made available for consultation for four weeks. As a result of a late representation the document was revisited and issued for a second consultation of two weeks. Below are two tables with the comments from the two consultations and the changes made as a result.

Table of Comments received on the Initial Consultation

Respondent Comment Response

1 From the public The fact you can see the night sky in Brookside is valued. Noted and text amended. meeting

2 Why is the Conservation Area drawn so tightly to the built area? See response below this table.

3 Can the setting be made more important? See response below this table.

4 Is the Grade II* Listed Barkby Grange Farmhouse not significant This farmhouse is too separated from the main built area. to the area?

5 A Roman drain was unearthed under the Dairy Farm. Document amended.

6 If the working farms are significant then we should protect the See response below this table. fields on which the farms work!

7 Abbots pond (south of Barkby Thorpe) is a significant reminder of Document amended. the ownership by Leicester Abbey

8 There have been many archaeological finds in the fields around Document amended. the village.

9 Letter from Hinterland of productive farmland is integral to the character of See response below this table. BABTAG the village;

Abbots Pond and the Roman temple site should be incorporated See response below this table. into the boundary;

Village congestion zone to deter rat-running; Such a zone to relieve the village of through traffic is, unfortunately, not within the scope of the Management of a Conservation Area.

No mention of proposed Thurmaston SUE; See response below this table.

Wider publicity for the Appraisal. If the Appraisal is approved it will become a public document. Local residents may use it as they wish.

10 Document from The setting of Barkby and Barkby Thorpe in the rural and See response below this table. Nick Toms. agricultural landscape is vital to the character. A ring of fields around the village should be included within the Conservation Area.

A group of Victorian houses at Woodgate and Barkby Lodge Barkby Lodge could be considered as part of a future should also be designated as Conservation Area. review of Conservation Areas.

Imposition of automated tolls to reduce rat-running through the The suggestion to create a toll zone to relieve the village of village, without penalising those living, visiting or servicing or through traffic is not within the scope of the Management shopping in the zone. of a Conservation Area.

Street furniture associated with traffic management is Document amended. unsympathetic to the heritage asset.

In general, there needs to be a broader approach (more holistic) PPS 5 has addressed this. to encompass the settings of conservation areas and their English Heritage will soon issue guidance on the “Setting of surrounding landscape where that reflects or is integral to the Heritage Assets”, currently in draft consultation form. character, even the viability of the conservation area.

11 Meeting with Significance of Abbots pond, network of footpaths, views of Document amended but see also the response below this Owen Bentley, Barkby from the ridge, importance of agricultural fields to the table. Pam Green, village and hamlet.

Angela Barnett Alleviation from traffic. The damage from heavy through traffic is unfortunately outside the scope of the Management of the Conservation Area - it is an issue which should be addressed by Leicestershire CC Highways Department.

12 Email from Jill No large scale building in the vicinity. See response below this table. Bentley Alleviation from traffic Document amended as an enhancement of the Area. By “cobbling” Main Street by the Forge Or Closing the “pinch” is outside the scope of the Management By closing the “pinch” of the Area.

13 Email from Angela Outbuilding to the Old Vicarage, called “Barn” by English Document amended. Barnett Heritage was actually the Coach House.

14 Letter from David Additional info about wildlife at Brookside. Document amended. Leavesley

15 Letter from Mary Several items in need of protection: See response below this table. Toms Victorian houses, WWII POW Camp and Sheep Wash on Barkby Lane; Grange Farm on Beeby Road; At Barkby Thorpe, Salters Way now Barkby Thorpe Lane, former Brick yard, site of Windmill,

Abbots Pond and 15 wells

Items of interest in Main Street: Document amended. No 32 Merton Farmhouse, Site of Water Mill at No 49, Pynfold Cottage in the spinney.

16 Meeting with Maps of the village pre-Inclosure. Document amended. Mary Toms

17 Letter from Loss of agricultural land, and hence food production The loss of agricultural land is a national issue.

Barkby PC Conversion of farm buildings See response below this table.

Traffic congestion - congestion charge or pedestrianisation Traffic congestion in general is an issue for Leics CC Highways Dept, Enhancement of Main Street has been included in the Management Plan.

18 Letter from Other items of interest in Barkby: Regarding the isolated buildings see the response below. A Barkby Local Woodgate, WWII POW camp, original back lane, sheepwash, paragraph about the Kennels Spinney has been added. History Group water mill, Kennels Spinney and Pinfold, site of old vicarage, remains of sunken road.

Other items of interest in Barkby: The Archaeology section has been augmented. County road, site of windmill, Abbots pond, site of Roman temple.

19 Letter from Suggestion for liaison in preparing the Appraisal. Comments have been used to revise the document. Hawksmoor Comments in letter provided by CgMs Consulting:

1. Assessment of Special Interest There is some imprecision here that needs further justification. Statement about fertility of land deleted. The second paragraph under 'Location and Setting' states 'the land is very fertile, believed by the Parish to be some of the best in the country'. We believe it is important to justify this statement in terms of its actual designation and agricultural land classification. According to the Agriculture Land Classification maps for the area, the land is designated as grade 3 in terms of its quality (grades 1 and 2 are considered to be the best and most versatile land).

2. Archaeological Interest This section has been compiled from information in the Any archaeological interest should be dealt with under Planning County Council Historic Environment Record and results Policy Statement 5. from fieldwalking exercises by the Archaeology Dept of Leicester University. Text amended to clarify this attribution.

3. Spatial Analysis A. Plan Form - the attribution of 'County Road' to the Romans and Salters Gate to pre-history is considered to be speculation. B. Character Views - these appear to be very brief in their Noted but this is not intended to be comprehensive. description. C. Key Views and Vistas- it is considered that this section is Text reviewed and amended to be more descriptive; particularly emotive in the wording that is used and this is emotive wording removed as far as possible. demonstrated by the following: 'Along Brookside, there is a wonderful changing scene of the brook within its banks with allotments and gardens in the cottages at the edges' - whilst this may be acceptable, it is not agreed that 'there are magnificent vistas of the parkland both from Beeby Road...' and it is not agreed that 'there are expansive views of Barkby Thorpe on the top of the hill as one arrives from Leicester and Hamilton'. In addition, the meaning of fragility is questioned in 'looking out from the hamlet across to the edge of the City the fragility of its position is obvious'. 'From the footpath to Keyham, the County road, there are magnificent Text amended. views of the village laid out along the valley of the brook'. Again, the wording, in particular reference to 'magnificent', is open to question. D. Under Landmarks, similar language is used in respect of the Text amended. architecture referred to in number 22 Main Street, which is described as having 'an astonishing semi circular window'. In short, we believe the wording in Key Views and Vistas needs toning down and should be less emotive.

4. Character Analysis Again, emotive wording is used such as the word 'unique' that is Wording retained and statement qualified. used to describe the agricultural community. It is believed that this should be seen in the context of the surrounding fields which are described as the 'life blood of the agricultural economy'. As Phrase deleted. we have indicated before, we believe that further justification needs to be provided as to the assessment of the agricultural

land.

5. Threats and Weaknesses The section on Traffic is considered to be problematic, on the Traffic issues qualified and text amended. one hand there is too much and it is too heavy, and on the other, the controls that have been put in place are unsympathetic. In the second half of this section, the SUE is effectively juxtaposed Assumptions about effect of future change removed - text with the current hard urban edge, and assumed to be the amended to more clearly describe the characteristics of the harbinger of a similar but closer urban edge. landscape. Secondly, the SUE is portrayed as being THE threat to farming in See above. the village. This should be balanced, on the basis that there are considered to be other issues that could cause the decline or change in agriculture.

6. Procedures to Ensure Consistent Decision Making Section removed. There appears to be no indication of the traditional approaches to consistency, design standards, bench marking etc.

Under Enhancement Opportunities, the question is raised as to Schemes and opportunities are identified through the why traffic only is to be addressed through LCC Highways? This Appraisal - subsequent action points are restricted to the begs the question as to whether this excludes other design Conservation Area. options?

7. The assessment in the ‘Response (below this table) to the many Assessment used to inform rewording of the section on suggestions that the boundary of the Conservation Area be extended’ Threats and Weaknesses. appears to be more balanced and we would suggest that these comments should be integrated into the main body of the assessment, for example, compare the treatment of fields at the end of paragraph 2 which states '...do not in themselves constitute an essential space relationship to the built part of the village even though there may be an important economic relationship', compared to the treatment and description of the fields under Key Views and Vistas as identified previously.

Response to the many suggestions that the boundary of the Conservation Area be extended to incorporate the fields, isolated houses and other features around the village.

These comments relate to a potential threat. Land between Barkby Thorpe and the urban edge of Leicester and Thurmaston has been considered as one option for a Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE), known locally as the “5000 Houses”. The argument in the comments received is understandable from the viewpoint of local residents and the Appraisal has been prioritised so that it may provide evidence in the consideration of the SUE and its effects. However, the appraisal must maintain its integrity as an honest and objective description of the Conservation Area.

The appraisal has been amended to recognise the relationship of the agricultural fields to the character which, within the Borough, is unique to this particular Conservation Area. The working farms in Barkby and Barkby Thorpe are of special interest in contributing to the character of the Area. Nevertheless, officers consider that the inclusion of the fields into the Conservation Area itself is not justified. The fields do not in themselves constitute an essential spatial relationship to the built part of the village even though there may be an important economic relationship.

Likewise, it is recognised that there are significant areas of archaeological interest over a wide area surrounding the village. These include the Abbots pond. The knowledge of this archaeology adds considerably to the understanding of the history of the settlement, its value and its development but the locations themselves cannot justifiably be incorporated when they are remote from the conglomeration of the built part of the village and hamlet.

This argument also applies to the isolated farmhouses and other buildings. There may be a case for added protection to the areas of archaeological interest and to the isolated buildings and features but this protection generally falls outside the scope of designation for this Conservation Area.

Table of Comments received on the Second Limited Consultation

Respondent Comment Response

20 Email from Nick Slight revisions suggested. Text amended where appropriate. Toms

21 Email from Further comments on the character appraisal: BABTAG and The Barkby and Barkby Thorpe Conservation Area Character Parish Council Appraisal is a fine piece of work. The most recent revisions, nonetheless, still either omit or only partially address a number of concerns shared by the parish council and BABTAG. They are reiterated and expanded on below.

Concerns raised in previous comments

The importance of the working farms The importance of working farms to the character of the Text in section on ‘Threats and weaknesses’ amended to villages is acknowledged in the Appraisal and also the include statement from English Heritage “Living buildings in a surrounding fields without which the farmsteads cannot exist. living landscape”. This should be underlined by the restoration to the text of the phrase describing the fields as the “lifeblood of the agricultural economy”. The quality of the farmland should also be noted now that reference to the fertility of the area has been taken out. It can be restored quite neutrally by adding at the end of paragraph 2 of Location and Setting “This is grade 2 and 3 good Text amended agricultural land.” The fact that farming-related activities are common within the villages as well as on the surrounding fields is a character distinction which could be emphasised more strongly in the Character Analysis.

The Conservation Area Boundary Whilst the Appraisal partially addresses the wish to see the Conservation Area designation gives essentially controls over boundary extended by including all the Barkby Hall parkland (p demolition; strengthened controls over minor development; 21) it does not recommend any consideration of enlarging the and the protection of trees- designation is not likely to be

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Conservation Area to include farmland and woodland to the appropriate as a means of protecting landscape features west of Barkby and the south and east of Barkby Thorpe. Could except where they form an integral part of the historic built not the Appraisal concede that there is a case for doing this in environment. the Summary of Issues and Proposed Actions on p 21?

The “fragility” of Barkby Thorpe and the threat of the SUE It is right that the SUE is now mentioned in the Appraisal but The wording in the section Threats and Weaknesses has been “the fragility of the position of Barkby Thorpe so close to the changed. The significance of the landscape of agricultural fields seemingly ever-expanding suburbs of the city” has been deleted. surrounding Barkby and Barkby Thorpe is identified by BABTAG believes that this fragility is real and threatened by the additional text in the section “Location and Setting”. SUE. The text should reflect the vulnerability of this part of the conservation area.

There is also a point to be clarified: the urban edge of the city is The Conservation Area is taken to be what is visible from the visible from first floor windows so the text is only accurate if public realm. “from ground level” is inserted into “it is not visible from the Conservation Area”.

The traffic issue The latest draft rather downplays the problem that through Text amended to recognise the flow of traffic from both traffic is causing. Villagers fear for the structural stability of their Queniborough and Syston and the impact of traffic on the houses and despair at the level of traffic. It is a key issue for all hamlet. residents and the parish council is circulating a petition that it confidently expects all residents to sign in an effort to get some alleviation. In the latest Appraisal draft only the Queniborough Road is mentioned on the through traffic issue when similar volumes of traffic are using all three roads into the villages from Thurmaston and Syston, namely Barkby Thorpe Lane, Barkby Lane and Barkby Road (and from King and Queen St. through Barkby Thorpe). The Beeby Road too is very busy. The Appraisal should be amended to highlight the problem of through traffic from all directions.

The problem that traffic is causing in Barkby Thorpe surely should be acknowledged as it is on Main Street by the forge where the report uses the phrase “were it not for the stream of

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traffic”. The Appraisal's description of Barkby Thorpe as “not a Text restored. place to feel comfortable as a pedestrian” should be restored to the text. By way of contrast the tranquillity of the traffic-free scene along the Brookside could be emphasised by adding to the ending of the second paragraph on Key Views and Vistas “The scene is more attractive from the footpaths because one Text amended. necessarily appreciates it at walking pace free from the all pervasive traffic that blights the through roads of the village”

The Appraisal’s recommendation in the Summary of Issues and Proposed Action on the impact of through traffic should be strengthened by asking the highways authority not merely to “encourage more appropriate design of any future traffic management measures” but “to actively consider more radical These suggestions are outside the scope of a Conservation measures to reduce traffic such as a village congestion zone, a one- Area Management Plan. way system, a shared space treatment of Main St. from the forge to the church and the closure of Barkby Thorpe road south of Queen St.”

Comments not raised earlier

The Pochin School Whilst the village school is mentioned in the number of listed Text amended buildings its role in the character of the village merits a mention in the main appraisal. The fact that there is still a school here puts Barkby in a different league to the Leicestershire villages that have lost theirs.

The Brookside public house The Appraisal captures well the delights of the landscape of the Presence and vitality of the Inn added to the text. Brookside. For many what makes it even more attractive is the unpretentious pub which marks the end of the road alongside the brook and fits harmoniously into the scene. If you were to consider it no longer a pub you realise how important it is now to the character of the village.

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Enforcement Strategy This paragraph p 19 lacks the bite of the earlier draft. We This comment refers to a section “Procedures to ensure question why the original text which is crystal clear that “The consistent decision-making” which has been deleted. The purpose of the character appraisal is to inform and guide sentence is now included as the introduction to “General development proposals” has been changed to a much blander Principles”. paragraph beginning.

22 Letter from Further comments CEG's consultants. Hawksmoor Whilst much of the 'emotive' wording has been removed from Text amended where considered appropriate. the text, the word 'remarkably' appears on numerous occasions on pages 6,7 and 8 of the document and we would question whether this is appropriate or indeed relevant in these particular sections. We would therefore suggest that the word 'remarkably' is removed in this context.

In the last paragraph under 'Archaeological Interest' on page 7, Text amended to clarify the potential. reference is made to the likelihood of previous settlements being found in the 'wider area surrounding two settlements'. This appears to be a bold statement without sufficient evidence Understanding the setting of the Conservation Area is a at this stage, and whilst the wider area may hold interest in relevant part of the appraisal. terms of archaeology, this is as far as the statement should go, particularly as the wider area falls outside of the conservation area.

Page 10 refers to the wider views from Barkby Thorpe to Overall, this is an accurate description of the location of the Leicester. This reads as if the whole of the hamlet of Barkby hamlet. Thorpe is in a prominent position on top of the hill. We do not agree that this is the case, as much of the hamlet is hidden from view. Reference to the intervening ridge and views of the City The intervening ridge is an important part of the setting. Text in the same paragraph is also not relevant on the basis that this amended to clarify the significance of the urban edge of the ridge falls outside of the conservation area. city on the setting of the Conservation Area.

Under 'Threats and Weaknesses', on page 16, the second Text amended to clarify the relevance. Understanding the paragraph, second sentence, states 'To the south of the hamlet, setting of the Conservation Area is a relevant part of the the current urban edge of the City has a dramatic impact on appraisal.

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the landscape of the open fields although it is not visible from the conservation area'. This line should be deleted as this is not relevant as the description is not about the conservation area.

The last sentence on page 16 should start with 'Some of the Text amended to clarify the description. farm land . . . . . ', as quite clearly not all of the farm land can be seen. The following sentence should start with 'The setting .....' rather than 'The relationship....'.

The last sentence of the paragraph on page 17 under 'Threats Paragraph added. and Weaknesses' should be replaced with advice from PPS5 (Policy HE10) - 'Local Planning Authorities should treat favourably applications that preserve those elements of the setting that make a positive contribution to, or better reveal the significance of the asset. When considering applications that do not do this, Local Planning Authorities should weigh any such harm against the wider benefits of the application'.

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