Brompton Cemetery Conservation Area Appraisal Draft September 2017 Adopted: XXXXXXXXX Note: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this document but due to the complexity of conservation areas, it would be impossible to include every facet contributing to the area’s special interest. Therefore, the omission of any feature does not necessarily convey a lack of significance. The Council will continue to assess each development proposal on its own merits. As part of this process a more detailed and up to date assessment of a particular site and its context is undertaken. This may reveal additional considerations relating to character or appearance which may be of relevance to a particular case. BROMPTON CEMETERY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL | 3 Contents 1. INTRODUCTION 5 4. MONUMENTS 42 Summary of Character 6 Mausoleums 42 Location and Setting 7 Canopy Monument 43 Columns, Obelisks, Crosses 43 2. CHARACTER ANALYSIS 8 Ledger 44 Pedestal 44 Layout 8 Sarcophagus 44 Boundaries 10 Chest-Tomb 45 Ceremonial Axis 13 Headstone 45 Eastern Burial Zone 15 Family Tomb 45 Western Burial Zone 17 Railings/Surround/Kerbing 45 Topography 19 Geology 19 Ecology 20 5. NEGATIVE ELEMENTS AND Trees and Planting 22 OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCEMENT 47 Materials and Finishes 24 Cemetery Furniture 26 APPENDIX 1 50 Pathways/Avenues 29 History Views 31 APPENDIX 2 Listed Buildings, Tombs and Monuments 56 3. BUILDINGS 37 APPENDIX 3 Historic England Guidance 58 The Northern Frontage and Main Entrance 37 The Western Catacombs 38 APPENDIX 4 Relevant Local Plan Policies 59 The Chapel and Great Circle 39 South Lodge 41 4 | BROMPTON CEMETERY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL This page has been intentionally left blank BROMPTON CEMETERY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL | 5 1 Introduction What does a conservation area PPhhiillbbeeaacchh designation mean? CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn AArreeaa 1.1 The statutory definition of a conservation area is an “area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance”. The power TThhee BBoollttoonnss to designate conservation areas is given to CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn AArreeaa councils through the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservations Areas) Act, 1990 (Sections 69 to 78). Once designated, proposals within a conservation area become subject to local BBrroommppttoonn CCeemmeetteerryy conservation policies set out in Chapter 34 of CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn AArreeaa the Council’s Local Plan and national policies 1985 outlined in part 12 of the National Planning Policy Date of designation Framework (NPPF). Our overarching duty which is set out in the Act is to preserve or enhance the Boundary of historic or architectural character or appearance Conservation Area of the conservation area. Adjoining 1.2 A conservation area appraisal aims to conservation area SSllooaannee//SSttaannlleeyy describe the special historic and architectural CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn AArreeaa character of an area. A conservation area’s Royal Borough of Kensington and TThhee CCoolllleeggee ooff SStt MMaarrkk && SStt JJoohhnn character is defined by a combination of CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn AArreeaa elements such as architecture, uses, materials Chelsea boundary TThhee BBiilllliinnggss and detailing as well as the relationship CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn AArreeaa between buildings and their settings. Many Fig 1.1: Conservation area boundary map © Crown copyright and database rights 2016 Ordnance Survey 100021668 other elements contribute to character and appearance such as the placement of buildings material consideration when assessing planning will assist applicants in making successful within their plots; views and vistas; the applications. planning applications and decision makers relationship between the street and the buildings in assessing planning applications and the presence of trees and green space. Purpose of this document • raise public interest and awareness of 1.3 This document has been produced using the special character of their area the guidance set out by Historic England in their 1.4 The aims of this appraisal are to: • identify the positive features which document, Conservation Area Designation, should be conserved, as well as Appraisal and Management: Historic England • describe the historic and architectural negative features which indicate Advice Note 1 (2016). This appraisal will be a character and appearance of the area which scope for future enhancements 6 | BROMPTON CEMETERY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL Summary of Character Eastern Burial Zone Rear side of East Colonnade 1.5 Brompton Cemetery is a tranquil green 1.6 The cemetery is a Registered Historic Brompton Road (grade II*) and the cemetery open space located on the boundary with Park and Garden (grade I) and is of special ironwork gates, piers, gates and screen to Hammersmith and Fulham between Old historic interest being one of the earliest (1839- Fulham Road (grade II). Brompton and Fulham Roads. The cemetery not 42) of London’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ cemeteries only has a practical purpose for the burial and that were laid out beyond the city edges in the 1.8 Between the paths that traverse the area remembrance of the dead but also acts as an 1830s and early 1840s. The cemetery is laid out are an important collection of 28 listed, tombs, amenity space for local residents and visitors. to an outstanding and innovative monumental monuments and mausoleums, one of which is It is rectangular in shape with the boundaries and formal design by a nationally renowned grade II*. clearly defined by high brick walls or brick walls architect, Benjamin Baud and survives 1.9 The cemetery is a Site of Borough with railings. The cemetery is almost entirely flat remarkably intact. Importance for Nature Conservation (grade I). with the exception of an elevated path with lime It has a unique character and atmosphere with trees along the eastern boundary. The carriage 1.7 The cemetery contains a significant group of associated structures that include the Church scrub and wooded areas, meadows, untended ways and footpaths are laid out in a largely overgrown areas and lawns that create an symmetrical design and lined with trees many of of England Chapel (grade II*), the four arcade quarters that form the circle to the avenue important wildlife habitat for invertebrates, which have survived from the cemetery’s original wild flowers, birds and a notable diversity of planting scheme. (grade II*), entrance gates and screen to Old BROMPTON CEMETERY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL | 7 butterflies. Within this landscape sit many CCoouurrttffiieelldd monuments and buildings that are slowly EEaarrll''ss CCoouurrtt SSqquuaarreeCCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn AArreeaa decaying. Although this romantic decay adds CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn AArreeaa Thurloe/Smith's Charity to the character of the area some monuments Thurloe/Smith's Charity Conservation Area and buildings are now at serious risk of being Conservation Area damaged or becoming lost to future generations. PPhhiillbbeeaacchh As a consequence, some have now been CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn AArreeaa included on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register. TThhee BBoollttoonnss CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn AArreeaa Location and Setting CChheellsseeaa PPaarrkk//CCaarrllyyllee 1.10 The Brompton Cemetery Conservation Conservation Area Area covers a total of 39 acres and is situated BBrroommppttoonn CCeemmeetteerryy Conservation Area along the western edge of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in Redcliffe Ward. CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn AArreeaa The boundaries of Brompton Cemetery are in the most part clearly defined with brick boundary walls and railings to the north and London brick boundary walls to the south, east and CChheeyynnee Borough of western sides. The main entrance is located at CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn AArreeaa North Lodge on Old Brompton Road. There is Hammersmith another entrance at South Lodge, located on the and Fulham SSllooaannee//SSttaannlleeyy Conservation Area Fulham Road near the junction with Hortensia Conservation Area Road. Brompton Cemetery sits adjacent to other TThhee BBiilllliinnggss conservation areas with Philbeach Conservation CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn AArreeaa Area to the north; The Boltons Conservation TThhee CCoolllleeggee ooff SStt MMaarrkk && SStt JJoohhnn Area to the east; The Billings and The College CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn AArreeaa of St. Mark and St. John Conservation Areas to Fig 1.2: Conservation area context map © Crown copyright and database rights 2016 OrdnanceLLoottss SurveyVViill l100021668laaggee the south and The Billings & Brompton Cutting CC© oCoronnwnssceoepryrrivgvhataanttdiidooatannbasAeArirgrheets a2a017 OS 100021668 (in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham) to Victorian terraced houses and shops to the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. the west. south with larger detached buildings of the More recent developments over the borough College of St, Mark and St. John beyond. The boundary include blocks of flats, an hotel, 1.11 Beyond the boundaries of the western side of the cemetery is bordered by the Stamford Bridge Stadium (Chelsea Football conservation area are well mannered Victorian West London Line and West Brompton Station Club) and offices which are further west. terraced houses to the north and east, and which forms the borough boundary with the 8 | BROMPTON CEMETERY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL 2 Character Analysis 2.1 Generally, the overall impression of the Cemetery is one of a well-managed place of burial, tinged with romantic