Heritage Statement Originally Composed by Turnbull Tweedale

Land to the Rear of The Black Bull , Church Street,

On behalf of

Don Parkinson

Also 3 St. Giles

Business Park STATEMENT HERITAGE Pool Road Newtown, Powys SY16 3AJ

Tel: 01686 627 039 Fax: 01686 610 121

With ammendedHeritage scheme Statement information by- IWA Architects, Waterloo Mill, Waterloo Road, 0 Clitheroe, 08/11Lancashire20/HS ( Heritage Statement originally composed by Turnbull Tweedale. The Black Bull Heritage Statement

1. A description of the significance of the heritage assets(s)

The Black Bull Public House is situated within the Conservation area of Ribchester, a historic village with bronze age beginnings and the site of a Roman Fort. In the 18th Century Handloom weaving became dominant and many of the older cottages in the village particularly Church Street were built for this purpose. The area is therefore defined as ‘one of special architectural and historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’. 1

The Roman fort at Ribchester, called 'Bremetennacum veteranorum', was established during the late first century AD. A thriving civilian settlement, or 'vicus', quickly developed outside the fort. The fort was important strategically and located to ensure that the River Ribble and the main Roman roads passing through Ribchester were carefully guarded. Early Archaeological work in Ribchester concentrated around the fort and later on the civilian settlement beyond the fort walls was explored more thoroughly. The site is situated outside the fort but archaeological work in the vicinity of the site in the past has indicated the potential for archaeological deposits and features dating from this period. 2

There are a number of Listed buildings in the general locality. 48 Church Street is adjacent to the public house on the opposite side of the pedestrian access into the site. It is registered as a Grade 2 listed building, under English Heritage – Listing NGR:SD6497735315. The house dates back to 1680 and has a sandstone and render finish.3 There are two listed buildings on the opposite side of the road, 28 and 29 Church Street – Listing NGR:SD6497935279.4 These date back to 1745 and are brick with sandstone dressings. Further down the road is a row of terraced houses which are also listed - ref NGR:SD6501535266.5 These were built for Handloom weaving in the late 18th century. They have a squared sandstone finish with stone surrounds to the windows.

The Black Bull was built around 1700 using dressed sandstone with dressed sandstone architectural details. It is not know whether it was built an an Inn, or it may have been converted from a farmhouse. It was an Inn in 1824-5 when Daniel Thwaites brewery bought it. The public house was largely remodelled in the 19th century - the roof, chimney stack and the pedestal supporting the stone bull all date from this rebuilding.6

The Black Bull and the majority of the buildings along Blackburn Road, Church Street and Water Street are classed as buildings of ‘Townscape Merit’. This includes all of the buildings within Thwaites ownership. (See Map 1) Buildings of ‘Townscape Merit’ are those which have been judged as making a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.

Heritage Statement 1 08/1120/HS

2. An explanation of the design concept

The application site covers approximately 0.26 ha of land between Church Street and Blackburn Road. This land is currently a car park to the public house. The site is fenced to the eastern boundary. To the southern boundary is a garden and play area currently used by the public house. To the western boundary is a bunkhouse and two terraced dwellings owned by the Brewery.

The proposed design seeks to utilise the land as outlined in red on drawing no. 2022 PO1. The proposal will create 7 new dwellings, including a pair of semi-detached and a terrace of 5 houses.

A new access road off Blackburn Road will serve the new dwellings and the public house. It will utilise the existing entrance to the car park but will provide an improved and defined access point. Spaces will be allocated for new dwellings and existing dwellings on Blackburn Road. 16no spaces will remain for the sole use of the Public House.

The proposals will make greater use of the space which is currently out of place with street scene. The Local Plan states that ‘the open area to the rear of the Black Bull is Unkempt and out of keeping with the historic character of the conservation area’. In our view the proposals can only have a positive impact on the character and appearance of the street scene and conservation area as a whole.

3. An assessment of the impact of the proposal on the significance

Under PPS 5, the following points outline the context of the proposal. They define our approached to the site and ensure that the heritage assets around the site remain untouched interims of setting or built form.

HE10.1 When considering applications for development that affect the setting of a heritage asset, 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. The greater the negative impact on the significance of the heritage asset, the greater the benefits that will be needed to justify approval.

HE10.2 Local planning authorities should identify opportunities for changes in the setting to enhance or better reveal the significance of a heritage asset. Taking such opportunities should be seen as a public benefit and part of the process of placeshaping.

Heritage Statement 2 08/1120/HS Statement source: PPS5 7

The proposed site development will change the existing site layout as stated in point 2. This layout offers better traffic management, clearly defined parking spaces for the residents and the public house and improved visibility splay lines, which will create a safer and more attractive access off Blackburn Road. The pedestrian right of way currently exists across the car park from Blackburn Road to Church Street will be retained.

The appearance of the dwellings will be in keeping with the surrounding area, as stated in the Design and Access Statement. They will take into consideration the precedence’s set by the Black Bull Public House and the existing buildings in the street scene including the listed buildings as mentioned in section 1. The new dwellings will therefore be constructed using coursed stone to match the public house and surrounding dwellings with render to the rear and gable ends. The proposals will also incorporate traditional detailing such as stone heads and sills and corbelling to the eaves to match the Handloom Weavers cottages and other dwellings in the street scene. The built form of the Black Bull and surrounding dwellings will remain unaffected by the proposal.

The existing stone wall at the entrance to the car park form Blackburn Road will be demolished and rebuilt to suit the revised site access. The proposed wall will therefore be in a similar style, height and material. The layout enhances the look of the area while maintaining visual clarity.

An Architectural Evaluation for the site was undertaken by ‘North Pennines Archaeology’. The excavation indicated some evidence for Roman activity on the site but not of any significance to be a barrier to development. Doug Moir of Lancashire County Council recommended that a watching brief would appear to be an appropriate means of dealing with anything of interest that might be encountered during development.

Douglas Moir also recommended on 6/3/14 that if the excavations are limited to 350mm and 750mm at recommended points as shown on drawing (2022 P08) then there would be no need for further investigations.

Heritage Statement 3 08/1120/HS

Note: For all referenced material, please see Appendices. Images

1. Black Bull Public House

2. Listed Building - 48 Church Street

Heritage Statement 4 08/1120/HS

3. Listed Building - 28 Church Street

4. Listed Buildings - Handloom Weavers Cottages, 50 – 58 Church Street

Heritage Statement 5 08/1120/HS

4. The Black Bull Car park from Blackburn Road

Image Source: Google Maps

5. Buildings of Townscape Merit - 49 and 50 Blackburn Road

Heritage Statement 6 08/1120/HS

6. Buildings of Townscape Merit – Blackburn Road

Maps

1. Extract from Conservation Area Map

Heritage Statement 7 08/1120/HS

Appendices

Heritage Statement 9 08/1120/HS

References

1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribchester

2 Black Bull, Ribchester, Evaluation Report – North Pennines Archaeology

3 www.Britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en183027-48-ribchester

4 www.Britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-183026-28 and 29-ribchester

5 www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-183028-50-58-ribchester

6 Lancashire Historic Town Survey Programme Ribchester – Historic Town Assessment Report Feb 2006

Ribchester Listed Buildings

• No. 8 Blackburn Road • Stone House, Blackburn Road • Church of St. Wilfred, Church Street • Sundial in Churchyard, Church Street • No. 8 - 15 (consec) Church Street • No. 16 - 22 (consec), Church Street • No. 23 and 24 Church Street • No. 25 and 26 Church Street • No. 28 and 29 Church Street • No. 48 Church Street • No 50 - 58 (consec) Church Street • No. 61 and 62 Church Street • Knoll Hall (Cottam Hall) Clay Hill Lane, Knowle Green • No. 9 and 10 and barn adjoining SW, Clay Hill Lane, Knowle Green • Yew Tree Farmhouse, Preston Road • Old Buckley Hall, 350m NE of Buckley Hall Farmhouse, Off Preston Road • Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Stydd • Stydd Lodge, presbytery to church of St Peter and St Paul's and attached outbuilding, Stydd • No 1 - 4 (Almshouses) Stydd • Wellhead in garden east of Almshouses, Stydd • Bridge at southern end of the lane, 40m north of junction with Blackburn Road • White Bull Hotel and former stables adjoining, Water Street • Mounting block infront of the White Bull, Water Street • Moor House

Heritage Statement 10 08/1120/HS