Tellisford Conservation Area Appraisal

Conservation Area Appraisal Tellisford

February 2012

www.mendip.gov.uk CustomerCustomer Services Services 01749 648999 01749 648999 This appraisal aims to identify the essential elements that give an area its character. It is, therefore, a snapshot in time.

Elements and details of an area may be important even if they are not specifically referred to in the text.

Any comments, observations or suggestions relating to this document should be sent to:

Customer Services Mendip District Council Cannards Grave Road Shepton Mallet Somerset BA4 5BT

Tel: 01749 648999 Fax: 01749 344050 Email: [email protected] www.mendip.gov.uk

February 2012

Tellisford’s Millennium Book - a published compendium by the villagers, edited by Anthony Battersby and Rachel Feilden - was the primary source of historical research for parts of this appraisal.

2 www.mendip.gov.uk Contents

1. Introduction...... 4

2. Location and Landscape Setting ...... 6

3. History and Development...... 8

4. Spatial Analysis ...... 15

5. Character Analysis ...... 19

6. Local Building Patterns...... 27

7. Synthesis of Appraisal...... 41

Summary of Key Characteristics...... 43

Customer Services 01749 648999 3 1. Introduction

1.1 The Tellisford Conservation Area 1.4 The purpose of this appraisal is to was first designated in 1997 by define the qualities of the area that Mendip District Council and West make it worthy of conservation area Wiltshire District Council. (That part of status. A clear, comprehensive the conservation area east of the River appraisal of the character of a Frome lies within Wiltshire and is now conservation area provides a sound controlled by the unitary authority of basis for development control Wiltshire Council.) decisions and for developing initiatives to improve the area. It will also enable 1.2 Section 69 of the Planning (Listed the development of a robust policy Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act framework for the future management 1990 imposes a duty on Local of the area, on which applications can Planning Authorities to determine from be considered. time to time which parts of their area are ‘areas of special architectural or 1.5 This appraisal has been produced historic interest, the character or in accordance with the English appearance of which it is desirable to Heritage publication: ‘Guidance on preserve or enhance’ and to designate Conservation Area Appraisals’ (August these areas as conservation areas. 2005).

1.3 Planning authorities also have a 1.6 This appraisal was endorsed by duty to protect these areas from the council on 8th February 2012 as a development which would harm their material planning consideration, and special historic or architectural will be taken into account when character and this is reflected in the assessing local planning applications. policies contained in Mendip District Council’s Adopted Local Plan.

The Tellisford crossroads

Key Conservation Area Boundary Wiltshire/Somerset Boundary

Ordnance Survey Map showing Tellisford Conservation Area and County Boundaries

Customer Services 01749 648999 5 2. Location and Landscape Setting

2.1 The hamlet of Tellisford is located on the opposite bank. Almost mirroring approximately 10 miles south of Bath this arrangement, Manor Farm sits on and 6 miles north of Frome at the slightly higher land to the north of the north-east edge of the Mendip district, lane on the western side of the river straddling the Somerset-Wiltshire bank. The conservation area does not county boundary mostly to the east of enclose the whole village. There are the A36. Tellisford is equidistant from seven outlying houses outside the Frome, Trowbridge and Bradford-on- conservation area and a portion of the Avon. village lies to the west of the A36.

2.2 The heart of the hamlet in the 2.3 The village is surrounded by conservation area is situated east of farmland and meadows, likely to have the A36 on the west side of the valley been enclosed in the 18th and 19th of the River Frome, along a narrow centuries, and there are areas of ridge which projects into the river woodland - across the valley to the valley. The lane which forms the spine east lie High Wood and Tipney Wood; of the village, referred to as Tellisford to the north lies Farleigh Wood. Street in late-19th-century censuses, Across the fields to the south the falls gently as it runs from west to distinctive twin stepped spires of east, from the crossroads with the Christchurch House (formerly Christ Rode-Farleigh Hungerford lane. The Church, designed by Goodridge), land then falls away to the south-east indicate the northern boundary of the down to the river, the conservation adjacent village of Rode. area taking in Vagg’s Hill Farmhouse

View south-east towards Rode: the twin spires of Christchurch House just visible, centre-left of the photograph

6 www.mendip.gov.uk 2. Location and Landscape Setting © GeoPerspectives.com 2001-2007 www.geostore.com www.geostore.com 2001-2007 GeoPerspectives.com ©

Key Conservation Area Boundary Wiltshire/Somerset Boundary

Aerial Photograph showing Tellisford Conservation Area and County Boundaries

Customer Services 01749 648999 7 3. History and Development

3.1 Tellisford was known as Tefleford owned by absentee landlords who did in 1001 and Tablesford in 1086 not maintain tenanted properties. As meaning “Theabul's ford” or “ford at a their condition deteriorated the number flat place”. of inhabited dwellings fell and the population diminished. The census of 3.2 The origins of the village can be 1821 shows a population of 167, traced back to the days before the dropping to under 100 by 1881, and by Domesday Book of 1086 with physical 1891 only 62 people were recorded to evidence demonstrating that there was be living in the village in only 14 a settlement here in Neolithic times. dwellings, eight of which were in Tellisford was part of the estates of the various stages of decay. Hungerford family when the eastern end of the village nearest the river was 3.5 During the early 20th century known as Tellisford Le Chantry as the Reverend Baker bought many of the tithes collected funded the chantry village properties and sold most after chapel at Farleigh Hungerford. improving them, thus saving a large part of the remaining housing stock. 3.3 The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) records 3.6 In 1932 the Boundary Commission Tellisford: formed the Parish of Tellisford, amalgamating Tellisford with “TELLISFORD, a parish in the Woolverton. This was a rare case of hundred of Wellow, county Somerset, naming the parish after the smaller of 6 miles N.E. of Frome, its post town, the merging settlements. and 6 S.W. of Freshford railway station. The village is situated at the 3.7 Church Farm and Glebe Farm bridge over the river Frome, which were combined in the late 1960s and here separates this county from that of some thirty years later the two Wiltshire. About a third part of the remaining farmers in the main part of village was burnt in 1785. The soil the hamlet retired. consists of clay and loam. In the vicinity is a fulling mill. The living is a 3.8 Under the Benefices Act of 1968 rectory* in the diocese of Bath and the churches of Farleigh Hungerford, Wells, value £173. The church, Tellisford, Woolverton and Rode dedicated to All Saints, is an ancient merged into one ecclesiastical parish, structure with a tower containing three Rode Major, which was granted Royal bells, and has recently been restored. Assent in 1973. The parochial charities produce about £4 per annum. There is a school with 3.9 In 1984 many of the houses in a small endowment." Tellisford were listed along with some walls and Tellisford Bridge, and in 3.4 The largest change to the housing 1997 a conservation area was first provision in Tellisford came in 1785 designated by Mendip and West when a number of houses were Wiltshire District Councils. destroyed by fire and not replaced. By 1891 almost all the houses were

8 www.mendip.gov.uk 3. History and Development

Map Progression

3.10 Very little has changed in 3.12 Although not easily discernable Tellisford since the tithe map of c1840. from the maps, between 1976 and The first significant change occurs 1998 there were a number of farm between the Ordnance Survey maps building conversions, including of c1900 and c1969 (plotting sheet) Tellisford Barn, The Granary, The Old which show the loss of the large Stables and Glebe Barn. orchards either side of the village lane. 3.13 The last annotation on Ordnance 3.11 The only new-build development Survey mapping for Tellisford Mill is on that Tellisford has seen in over one that from c1900, the mill closing in hundred years is Westerley House, 1912. In 2007 the mill was brought built during the 1970s on former back into use as a hydroelectric plant orchard land to the west of Crabb and its name may reappear on the House. This new house is, therefore, next map series. apparent only on the current Ordnance Survey map.

The River Frome and verdant river valley

Customer Services 01749 648999 9 3. History and Development

c1842 Tithe Map of Tellisford

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Customer Services 01749 648999 11 3. History and Development

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Customer Services 01749 648999 13 3. History and Development

3.14 The conservation area contains 3.15 Many of the buildings in Tellisford 18 entries on the Statutory List of are listed and mainly lie either side of Buildings of Special Architectural or the lane through the hamlet except for Historic Interest, including four the Church of All Saints with its monuments in the churchyard. All churchyard monuments (which is set these “listed buildings” are listed at back at the end of a long path called Grade II. Church Lane), Manor Farm and Vagg’s Hill Farmhouse.

Ordnance Survey Map showing Listed Buildings in Tellisford

14 www.mendip.gov.uk 4. Spatial Analysis

4.1 The village of Tellisford lies in a rural setting between the villages of Farleigh Hungerford and Rode at the north-eastern boundary of the Mendip district of Somerset. The conservation area includes part of the eastern river bank which lies within Wiltshire. The main part of the settlement which forms the conservation area comprises a no- through road and is surrounded by fields and pastureland.

Approaching Tellisford from the north 4.2 Approaching the conservation area from the north down the lane from Farleigh Hungerford a glimpse of All Saints Church tower gives the first indication of a settlement. There is a sense of enclosure provided here by high hedgerows either side of the country lane, with occasional glimpses of countryside afforded by gaps and field gates. At the crossroads a traditional fingerpost indicates “No Through Road” to the left (but gives no indication that the main part of Tellisford lies in that direction). The lane to the right leads towards Norton St Philip and straight ahead leads to Woolverton, which is also part of the civil parish of Approaching Tellisford from the south Tellisford, and also to Rode.

4.3 From the south, approaching from Rode, Tellisford House (built by the Rector in the early 19th century) is prominent, but neither it nor The Lodge at the junction to Woolverton Lane are in the conservation area. Some of the rear roofslopes of the properties on the south side of village lane can be glimpsed across the fields although this is infrequent due to the narrow, rising lane and high hedgerows and trees. The church, a key indicator of a historic settlement, cannot be seen on this approach, being set back to the north of Approaching Tellisford from the west the lane.

Customer Services 01749 648999 15 4. Spatial Analysis

4.4 Conversely, when approaching from the west from the A36/Norton St Philip direction, the land falls gradually and the church tower can be seen beyond the crossroads from some distance away.

4.5 The lane through the hamlet follows the topography of the land along a ridge projecting into the river valley. This no- through road falls increasingly steeply from The Old Rectory with farm houses, View east down the village lane barns and cottages on either side until the fork at Crabb House. The left-hand fork runs past Mount Pleasant where it again forks; the left fork becoming the private drive to Manor Farm and the right fork becoming Crooks Lane which in turn ends at the corner in the private drive to Riverside Cottage and Tellisford Mill.

4.6 The right fork continues as an unclassified road down a steep hill beside the Packhorse Steps, past Tellisford Mill, to the Packhorse Bridge across the river to Vagg’s Hill Farm.

4.7 The most comprehensive view of Village lane gently sloping downwards the eastern part of Tellisford is from the east at the top of Vagg’s Hill. The group of houses seen in this view consists of those buildings that comprised Tellisford Le Chantry, the tithe from which went to build the chantry chapel at Farleigh Hungerford.

4.8 There is no “historic core” as such to Tellisford. The number of farms and the Mill denote that the settlement was founded on agriculture and milling. The hamlet had strong links to Farleigh Hungerford and Rode. Of the existing sites, the Mill is the earliest and is recorded in the Domesday Book. Parts of the Church of All Saints date back to Fork at Crabb House

16 www.mendip.gov.uk 4. Spatial Analysis the 12th century, although The Old 4.11 While there are largely no street Rectory, adjacent, is much later, lights along the village lane, some light having been built around the mid 18th pollution permeates from the larger century. settlements of Trowbridge and Frome.

4.9 Views up and down the lane within the village can be restricted due to it being narrow and not completely straight. At intervals, narrow views of buildings further along the lane can be seen. Most of the lane has strong boundary treatments with either hedging, in places on raised banks, or some dry-stone walling. In between the buildings wider views across fields are afforded mainly towards the south up the river valley.

4.10 Although Tellisford is a small, rural hamlet, some traffic noise from View west along the lane towards Church Farm the nearby A36, A361 and B3109 can be heard.

View of the eastern part of Tellisford (formerly Tellisford Le Chantry) from the east

Customer Services 01749 648999 17 4. Spatial Analysis

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Key Conservation Area Boundary Wiltshire/Somerset Boundary 8 Unlisted positive building 2 Landmark building Focused view Wide view Area of landscape value Grade II Listed Buildings

Ordnance Survey Map showing spatial analysis

18 www.mendip.gov.uk 5. Character Analysis

The Tellisford Conservation Area can be loosely divided into three character areas:

Western area

5.1 On approaching Tellisford from the north, the single-track country lane has a rural character, bounded by hedgerows and intermittent trees either side. The B3109 (Frome Road) to the east, the A361 to the south and the A36 to the west take the through traffic. (The narrow lane from Farleigh Hungerford to Rode Bridge is used as a rat run by 2008 100019309 reserved All rights copyright. Crown © commuters, gravel lorries and now by traffic to Bath Rugby, recently relocated to Farleigh House. Residents report that at weekends the village lane can become congested with parked cars as visitors come to swim in the weir.) 5.3 Turning left into the hamlet The Old 5.2 As the lane from Farleigh Rectory presents a rather formal Hungerford passes into the appearance, set back some distance conservation area the tower of the behind low stone rubble walls, Church of All Saints can be seen across decorated with “hit and miss” stone-on- the field to the left and the roofline of edge capping (a neater variant of “cock- The Old Rectory can be discerned. and-hen”) and formalised with square piers, surmounted with stone acorns (a symbol of luck and prosperity), flanking a pedestrian gate.

The north approach from Farleigh Hungerford The Old Rectory behind “hit and miss” coped walls

Customer Services 01749 648999 19 5. Character Analysis

5.4 The Old Rectory wall then sweeps right of the path, are individually Grade- north and runs along the left side of II listed, three of which are dedicated to Church Lane to the Church of All Saints members of the Crabb family. In the while, on the right, the higher walls of eastern boundary of the churchyard The Old Stables and The Granary there is a traditional slab stone stile (formerly farm buildings of Church taking the footpath from the churchyard Farm) provide a tight sense of across the fields back to the lane. enclosure as the path leads directly to the church’s south porch.

5.5 The Church of All Saints is, unusually, sited to the western boundary of the churchyard, bounded by low stone-rubble walling. The church is of Doulting rubble stone with a stone tiled roof, coped gables with stone cross finials. It has medieval origins, a tower dating from 1490 and was restored in 1854.

5.6 Other than the path to the south porch, the churchyard has a rather informal character, especially towards its eastern periphery, furthest from the church. The slightly undulating ground is laid to grass with headstones, The path (Church Lane), leading to footstones and chest tombs marking the Church of All Saints graves to the south, north and east of the church. The four prominent chest tombs to the south of the church, to the

Listed chest tombs in the churchyard Church of All Saints

20 www.mendip.gov.uk 5. Character Analysis

5.7 The Old Stables and The Granary to the left (north) side of the lane are separated from the road by a grassed verge while opposite, there are views across fields between the rural hedgerows and field gates. A public footpath runs diagonally across the field to the south-west, emerging opposite the village pond further down the lane towards Rode and Woolverton.

5.8 A little further down the lane on the The Granary and the Old Stables right lies the group of detached houses comprising Meadow View, Vine Cottage and Church Farm, all of which are set back a little behind a grassed verge, almost mirroring the arrangement further back along the lane. Views across fields to the north are bound by low dry-stone walling and hedgerows.

5.9 The lane begins to fall and narrow as it passes under overhanging trees (of Jubilee Plantation, 1977). The hedgerow on the right on a raised and banked verge and, on the left, the dry- stone wall add to the sense of enclosure with dappled light falling across the lane. This short stretch of the Distant views to the south-east include the Westbury White Horse lane creates a separation between the western and central areas of the village.

Dappled light falling over rural village lane Meadow View, Vine Cottage and Church Farm

Customer Services 01749 648999 21 5. Character Analysis

Central area

5.10 Emerging from the more enclosed part of the lane, views south and east across the fields open out in sharp contrast, emphasising the rural Views across fields to the east landscape setting of the village.

5.11 The first building encountered, other than a couple of very small farm buildings (the Pound), is Top Farm, set back and raised up a little from the level of the lane. The long frontage and setting of this building gives it some prominence, although the dormers over the main house and the eaves dormer in the east extension, added in the 1970s, are somewhat out of proportion, detracting from the character of the original house. Behind the house an array of farm buildings can be seen including the converted Tellisford Barn. Top Farm

22 www.mendip.gov.uk 5. Character Analysis

5.12 Continuing down the lane clay-tile roofs can be seen either side, denoting traditional buildings. Higher land on both sides is retained by dry-stone walling with post-and-rail fencing above on the north side.

5.13 A short drive beside Glebe Farm (now Glebe House) leads to Glebe Barn. Glebe House and Lilac Cottage are large buildings, both extended from their original size, lie opposite each Hedgerows, dry stone walling and other; each is substantially set back post and rail fencing from the lane behind walls and hedging.

5.14 Up to this point the buildings all reflect the agricultural character of the settlement. East of Lilac Cottage is Westerley House, the only property built in the last 100 years in Tellisford. It generally fits in with the local vernacular style but unfortunately some of the materials are not traditional: the mullions are in reconstituted stone, the window frames are in upvc and the roof tiles are of concrete.

5.15 East of Westerley House the character changes to reflect the buildings’ associations with the mill on Glebe Farmhouse the valley floor. The lane continues with views only to the east until it reaches the fork at Crabb House.

Westerley House Lilac Cottage

Customer Services 01749 648999 23 5. Character Analysis

Eastern area

Mount Pleasant

5.16 Heading further east along the lane, the character of the area appears more private. The lane forks at Crabb House with a triangular grassed area between the paths, although only the left fork is passable to vehicles and leads to Mount Pleasant on the right and then terminates at the private access tracks to Manor Farm to the north and Riverside Cottage in the valley to the south.

Track to Manor Farm

24 www.mendip.gov.uk 5. Character Analysis

5.17 The right path passes the front of Crabb House, where views open out across the river valley, and then drops into a drung with Crabb Cottage clinging to the hillside on the right, and thence to the Packhorse Steps. (The buldings from Crabb House to the mill are the remnants of the industrial buildings lost in the fire of 1896.) Riverside Cottage sits on the west bank of the tailrace taking water away from Tellisford Mill which was brought back into use in Crabb House 2007 as a hydroelectric plant, which last year, generated enough electricity into the Grid to match the hamlet’s consumption. (Tellisford is proactively addressing energy conservation and has made efforts to reduce its carbon footprint by organising a consolidated oil-purchase scheme, cutting tanker journeys to the village by some 80 per cent.)

5.18 The Packhorse Bridge over the River Frome dates from the 17th century. (In the 1990s the superstructure was replaced and the pavement raised and re-laid so that the crossing timbers instead of standing The Packhorse Steps down the river valley proud of the pavement were laid flush. As a result the elegance and lightness of the bridge was lost and the crossing timbers in less than 15 years have begun to rot.) This traditional random rubble stone bridge with three segmental-headed arches, separated by two large stone cutwaters, is an attractive feature, adding to the rural charm of the river valley.

5.19 Over the river, and over the border of Somerset into Wiltshire, lies Vagg’s Hill Farmhouse, set a little up the valley slope, surrounded by grassy fields.

The Packhorse Bridge

Customer Services 01749 648999 25 5. Character Analysis

5.20 To the south lies the stepped weir of Saxon origin. Adjacent to the weir is a FW3/24 pillbox, with its nearest fellow up the steep hillside on the eastern boundary of the conservation area, south of Vagg’s Hill Farmhouse. With the dragon’s teeth still visible from the Packhorse Bridge, these defences, built in 1940, formed part of the Salisbury West Stop Line.

5.21 On the far opposite side of the View from the Packhorse Bridge to valley, slightly to the north of the Vagg’s Hill Farmhouse hamlet, lies Manor Farm which denotes the extent of the conservation area. Manor Farm and Vagg’s Hill Farmhouse are the only two outlying dwellings within the conservation area.

Manor Farm from the eastern river valley slope The weir

26 www.mendip.gov.uk 6. Local Building Patterns

6.1 Most of the dwelling houses in the conservation area are of two storeys, (Manor Farm with three storeys is the exception), with the occasional lit gable or rooflight indicating inhabited attic floors. These floors in the past were used as weaving sheds for making cloth which was carried out as a cottage industry. The few converted farm buildings conform to this pattern, having had floors inserted. All the buildings are detached; many set within their own Lit gable at Crabb House gardens or separated from the lane by a grassy verge.

6.2 Only one new house has been built in the conservation area during the last 100 years. Westerley House was built in 1976 on orchard land to the west of Crabb House.

Walls

6.3 The majority of buildings within Tellisford are built of Doulting stone, used in the form of coursed or random Coursed rubble walling rubble. The notable exception to this is Crabb House where alternating course thicknesses of squared and faced Doulting stone have been used to give a more polite, almost ashlar appearance, indicating its higher status.

6.4 There is no evidence of the use of render in the conservation area, except for the east return of Crabb House. There is evidence that some of the farm buildings and cottages were previously limewashed.

6.5 Stone quoins are used on the higher status buildings, such as the Church of All Saints, Crabb House and Glebe House, and also at Glebe Barn. Ashlar-style walling and stone quoins at Crabb House

Customer Services 01749 648999 27 6. Local Building Patterns

Windows & Doors

6.6 There is a variety of window styles in the village. Almost all are of timber, with only Westerley House having non- traditional upvc within reconstituted stone surrounds. The dormer and extension windows at Top Farm, while in timber, are in a non-traditional, modern, storm-casement style with top- hung vents.

Flush timber casement at Meadow View 6.7 The pre-18th-century vernacular properties contain casement windows; most with stone mullions. Generally the casements are of timber, divided by horizontal glazing bars, e.g. Vine Cottage and Manor Farm, with only Mount Pleasant having a combination of opening metal-framed casements and glazing directly set into the stone. Meadow View, Riverside Cottage and Vagg’s Hill Farmhouse are three examples were timber mullions have been used.

6.8 Lilac Cottage has, perhaps, the Gothick-style casements at Lilac Cottage most unique windows at ground floor, having casements with margin glazing and a Gothick tracery pattern to the top.

6.9 Sash windows are also commonly used. On the higher status 18th-century properties there are examples of small- pane sashes with concealed boxes: The Old Rectory has eight-over-eight sashes while Crabb House has a six- over-six arrangement. The windows at Church Farm have clearly been replaced, now having Victorian horned sashes divided by a single vertical glazing bar. Glebe House displays a mixture of window joinery set into stone surrounds with mullions, having sliding sashes at ground floor and casements above. Casements and sashes at Glebe House

28 www.mendip.gov.uk 6. Local Building Patterns

6.10 Window surrounds are generally in plain stone or with a simple bead moulding. Drip moulds are evident at Mount Pleasant and Vagg’s Hill Farmhouse.

6.11 Front doors in the conservation area are of solid timber, some panelled design (occasionally with glazing, e.g. at Top Farm), others of vertical planks. Panelled doors can be seen at Church Farm and Crabb House, denoting a Drip mould at Mount Pleasant more polite architecture, while the more vernacular vertical plank doors are used at Meadow View, Glebe House, Mount Pleasant, Riverside Cottage and Vagg’s Hill Farmhouse. At Riverside Cottage there is a striking formal late-medieval, south-facing doorway with a four- centred arch.

6.12 Crabb House is the only building whose door is formalised under a broken pediment. Some of the other houses have had later porches added, such as Meadow View, Glebe House, Lilac Cottage and The Old Rectory.

Plank door at Mount Pleasant

Rebuilt porch at Glebe House Panelled timber door at Crabb House

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Roofs

6.13 The majority of roofs in the conservation area have a fairly steep pitch, possibly indicating that some of them were originally thatched.

6.14 Roofs are gabled, often with coped verges (e.g. Church Farm and Vine Cottage). Occasionally verges are oversailing with bargeboards and through-purlins (e.g. The Old Rectory Stone-coped gable at Glebe Farm and Crabb House); other verges display a minimal tile overhang at the gable.

6.15 The most common roof covering in the conservation area is double-Roman clay tiles; however other traditional materials are also evident. Stone tiles cover the main front range of The Old Rectory, Vagg’s Hill Farmhouse, Riverside Cottage and the left bay of Top Farm; slate is used at The Granary, Crabb House, and Tellisford Mill; and clay pantiles can be seen at Lilac Cottage and Crabb Cottage.

6.16 The only example of concrete tiles Oversailing verge and visible purlins is at Westerley House which have a at Crabb House double Roman profile but are rather dark in comparison to their clay equivalents.

Slate roof at Crabb House Stone tiles and double Roman clay tiles at Top Farm

30 www.mendip.gov.uk 6. Local Building Patterns

Chimneys

6.17 The majority of houses in the conservation area have chimney stacks. Most are on the gable ends and are of various materials. At the western end of the village stacks tend to be of ashlar stone at the base, extended with red brick. (E.g. The Old Rectory, Vine Cottage and Church Farm.) Completely stone stacks are popular elsewhere with that at Mount Pleasant being of stone Rubble stack with ashlar quoins and rubble; the rubble stack at Glebe House red-brick stack, all with light clay pots has a more formal appearance with ashlar quoins, and the gable stacks at Crabb House, Vagg’s Hill Farmhouse, Riverside Cottage and Crabb Cottage are made of only ashlar. Examples of entirely brick stacks are seen at Lilac Cottage and Riverside Cottage.

6.18 Although generally considered best practice for converted farm buildings, the metal flues at The Old Stables and The Granary are very prominent, detracting from the character of the original buildings and the appearance of the conservation area. Ashlar-based stack extended in red brick

Tall ashlar stack at Crabb Cottage Metal flue at The Granary

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Rainwater goods

6.19 Rainwater goods in the conservation area tend to be of cast iron, painted black, white, or, in the case of Lilac Cottage, painted beige to blend in with the stone elevation. The majority are held on gutter spikes, set within the mortar at the eaves, while others are attached onto eaves fascia boards. Unusually at Riverside Cottage, the gutters are triangular, following the Cast iron guttering held on adjustable spikes style of the contemporaneous Priest’s House at Farleigh Castle, and are attached to the stonework by wrought iron brackets.

6.20 The extension to Top Farm has uncharacteristically deep fascias and boxed-in eaves, a detail repeated around the gable end and the dormers as bargeboards. The guttering at the extension is fixed to the fascias while it is attached on traditional spikes through the remainder of the house.

Other features

6.21 Two properties - Vine Cottage and Painted rainwater goods to match the stone Vagg’s Hill Farmhouse - display the classic North Somerset feature of an external staircase. That at Vagg’s Hill Farmhouse is very prominent, being semi-circular with a conical roof.

Boundaries

6.22 On the periphery of the village, along the approach lanes, the boundaries are formed from mature hedgerows, occasionally punctuated by trees and field gates.

Semi-circular stair tower at Vagg’s Hill Farmhouse

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6.23 To the north of the junction with the village lane the boundary hedging becomes neater, denoting the garden of The Old Rectory, followed by some low limestone rubble walling with a formal variant of “cock and hen” capping around this corner plot. Simple gate piers topped with acorn finials flank the central pedestrian gate.

6.24 Along the parts of the lane which give onto fields the boundaries are Formal front wall and gate piers to generally in the form of natural The Old Rectory hedgerows, with some short runs of random rubble walling, some of dry stone wall construction, often softened by vegetation growth.

6.25 Many of the houses are set at the back of a grass verge but those which enjoy a front garden tend to be bound by stone rubble walling, often topped with hedging.

6.26 Apart from the more decorative capping on the walls of The Old Rectory and some slightly rounded coping stones opposite Crabb House, the other walling along the lane has a simple Dry stone walling mortar capping.

Post and rail fencing over retaining Rubble walling topped with hedging dry stone wall and other vegetation

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6.27 Some post and rail fencing sits above a retaining wall just to the east of Top Farm which, although not commonly used in the conservation area as a lane boundary, accords with the rural character. Unfortunately some modern timber-panel fencing has recently been erected around the garden to the east of Glebe House, appearing anathema in the conservation area.

Modern timber-panel fencing Trees, green spaces and watercourses

6.28 The Tellisford Conservation Area is a rural settlement where trees and green spaces are intrinsic to its character, making a significant positive contribution to its setting and appearance.

6.29 The lane is bounded by hedgerows and modest sized trees which, in places, overhang the lane, adding to the rural charm. The river bank is lined with trees either side and field boundaries are denoted by trees, hedgerows, barbed wire, and sheep wire and electric fencing. Where the county Overhanging trees add rural charm boundary diverts from the river it is marked by a shallow ditch and three ancient ash trees.

6.30 Unusually there are no trees protected by Tree Preservation Orders within the village; however, as a result of conservation area designation, prior notice of most types of work to trees must be given to the district council.

6.31 Tellisford is surrounded by open green space; a testament to its agricultural history and its ability to resist sprawling development into the countryside due to its status as a Designated Hamlet and its position The river valley, lined with trees and hedgerows

34 www.mendip.gov.uk 6. Local Building Patterns within the Green Belt. The majority of dwellings enjoy views over open fields due to the general pattern of development being on alternating sides of the lane, although the view across fields to the south, opposite Top Farm, is blighted by a growing Leylandii hedge which is incongruous in this rural conservation area. It is difficult to select specific areas as being more important than others; however the large field (called West Wells) to the south, Field boundaries denoted by trees opposite The Old Rectory, and that to and hedgerows the north (called Bollands), opposite Church Farm denote the strong rural character of the conservation area when entering the village lane from the west. The river valley along with the area around the mill is also an important swathe of green at the eastern end of the conservation area, marred in places by the litter left behind by swimmers and picnickers in the summer.

6.32 Much smaller green areas are also valuable within the conservation area, such as the narrow grassy verges separating some of the buildings from the lane and the small triangular area at View across field opposite The Old Rectory the fork by Crabb House.

6.33 The River Frome was vital to the settlement of Tellisford, powering the mill and providing water for some of the farms. (For farms without access to the river, availability of water has always been and continues to be a problem. Some dwellings still use a private water supply: from springs along the spring line along the west of the river valley, and from wells further up the hamlet.) The historic ford point provided a natural location for the settlement. The river runs between high banks from south to north, cutting through the conservation area near its eastern The green triangle at the fork

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boundary. It is not until descending the steep river valley, via the Packhorse Steps from the lane, that the river and its wide valley come into view. Its power is once again being harnessed, not in turning a mill wheel but a modern turbine to generate electricity. The sound of the flowing river and the cobbled Packhorse Bridge leading to a single farmhouse on the eastern side of the valley contribute to the rural charm of this area. Steeply sloping river valley

6.34 Tellisford is crossed by a number of public footpaths, including part of the Macmillan Way alongside the river, which allow attractive, rural views over the conservation area and beyond.

Surfaces

6.35 One of the key characteristics of Tellisford is the absence of pavements other than the path which runs behind the grass verge in front of The Old Rectory. As a no-through-road the village lane is an almost car-free environment where the pedestrian, Grass verge with no pavement horse-rider and cyclist seem to have priority.

6.36 The roads are of simple black-grey tarmac, running right up to the plot boundaries or hedgerows, often with narrow informal grassy verges between.

6.37 Driveways are generally of tarmac or loose gravel with some houses having paved pedestrian paths across their grassed front gardens leading to their front doors.

6.38 One of the only traditional surfaces within Tellisford are the cobbles which run as a gutter either side of the unclassified road; these gutters end in a The cobbled Packhorse Steps

36 www.mendip.gov.uk 6. Local Building Patterns

drain which carried run-off down to the river. In 1997 the cobbled steps were repaired under grant aid from Mendip District Council, Somerset County Council and Tellisford Parish Meeting, and the hand rail and posts were replaced. The pavement across the bridge is also cobbled and was extensively repaired by Somerset County Council and Wiltshire County Council in 1994.

The Old Stables and The Granary Contribution of unlisted buildings

6.39 The majority of buildings within the conservation area are statutorily listed while the remainder add some variety or sit reasonably well within the conservation area.

6.40 The Old Stables and The Granary, Tellisford Barn and Glebe Barn, now converted into dwellings, are attractive buildings which denote the agricultural origins of the settlement. The fact that these are now converted to residential use is perhaps an indication of the redundancy of these types of building in Top Farm sits prominently on raised ground modern farming. The four small farms in the hamlet are now let to tenants and worked with the help of contractors.

6.41 Top Farm, halfway along the north side of the lane is now a large house, clearly extended at least twice. It is a prominent building on raised ground, retained from the lane by a stone wall, and is generally an attractive building with its lower, older roof to the west covered in stone tiles which adds variety to the palette of materials within the conservation area.

6.42 Westerley House, the only new dwelling built in the conservation area Riverside Cottage from the Packhorse Steps for over a hundred years, is generally in

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the local vernacular style although some of its materials are not traditional.

6.43 Riverside Cottage on the west bank of the River Frome is, surprisingly, not listed, despite having origins from the 14th century. It has undergone many alterations since then and was restored between 1995 and 1998 to its appearance in 1860, retaining its vernacular character, and contributes positively to the rural setting. Tellisford Mill from the Packhorse Steps

6.44 Tellisford Mill, opposite Riverside Cottage, was reinstated in 2007. The building is of a contemporary design which received mixed views within the village; however, conservation area designation is not a bar on modern architecture for new-build or extensions and, in this instance, this approach has been successful in this part of the conservation area.

Extent of intrusion or damage

6.45 The Tellisford Conservation Area is essentially unspoilt; however there Upvc windows at Westerley House are a few modern additions which have a damaging effect on its character:

6.46 Fortunately there have been few instances of upvc replacement windows and doors in the conservation area; however Westerley has windows of white upvc which appears incongruous on this property built in a traditional vernacular.

6.47 One of the most damaging practises in the conservation area is that of inappropriately repointing walls with cement mortar, often applied in a “snail trail” manner. Not only is this “Snail trail” cement pointing

38 www.mendip.gov.uk 6. Local Building Patterns visually intrusive, it is also damaging to the wall as it will set harder than the stone and eventually cause it to become quite friable and delaminate.

6.48 As in many villages, the wirescape is a modern intrusion. The conservation area is blighted by the visual clutter of poles and wires, spoiling views within and around the village.

6.49 The timber fencing to the east of Detracting wirescape Glebe House is the only modern boundary treatment evident and the elevated ground adds to its prominence.

6.50 The metal flues and modern “clutter”, such as CCTV cameras, security lighting and associated cabling, around the entrance to Church Lane detract from this historic area.

6.51 While not a built structure, the large Leylandii hedge in the field opposite Top Farm is inappropriately suburban in this rural setting and is harmful to views to the south. Modern timber-panel fencing

Leylandii hedge in field opposite Top Farm Modern “clutter” on The Old Stables

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Existence of neutral areas

6.52 Neutral areas are defined as areas or buildings that neither enhance nor detract from the character or appearance of the conservation area but where there might be potential for enhancement.

6.53 The wide modern gabled dormers at Top Farm with modern “storm casement” profiles and top-hung vents Modern casements at Top Farm detract somewhat from the character and appearance of the conservation area; however the building as a whole is considered to have a neutral effect.

Condition of built fabric

6.54 The properties in Tellisford are generally in good condition and are well maintained.

6.55 Some private driveways and paths in the conservation area would benefit from some maintenance, and the replacement of modern asphalt with a more traditional material (such as gravel) would enhance the conservation Vegetation growing through dry stone wall area.

6.56 Lengths of stone rubble and dry stone walling has considerable amounts of vegetation growing through it. Although this natural appearance contributes to the charm of the rural setting, it should be checked that it is not causing damage and any thick stems should be cut and carefully removed. Stone rubble walling should be appropriately repointed in a lime mortar.

6.57 Some slated roofs include a number of tingles to hold the slates so it is likely that these will need overhauling Slate roof with tingles in the near future.

40 www.mendip.gov.uk 7. Synthesis of Appraisal

7.1 Tellisford is generally an unspoilt 7.4 There is a strong sense of place rural village and, since the lane through with good views out to surrounding the village centre is a no-through road, open countryside. it retains a tranquil, peaceful character. When surveyed, few vehicles were 7.5 The vast majority of buildings in encountered through the village and Tellisford are in good condition; there was a sense that the pedestrian however the potential cumulative impact and horse-rider have priority over the of incremental permitted development motor car. Residents, however, report on unlisted buildings, such as that on hot days in summer the lane unsympathetic upvc replacement can become congested with the windows and doors, would be vehicles of visitors, some parked detrimental to the character of the inappropriately. conservation area.

7.2 Tellisford is essentially a linear 7.6 No changes are proposed to the settlement with the River Frome not Tellisford Conservation Area boundary. readily apparent until passing down the Packhorse Steps. 7.7 This conservation area appraisal is to be read in conjunction with the local 7.3 There are largely no pavements and planning policies and Planning Policy street lighting is absent throughout the Statement 5: Planning for the Historic village (except for Church Lane and the Environment. decorative lamp by Crabb House), contributing to the rural idyll feel, although there is some light pollution from the wirescape and associated poles detracts from this a little.

The rural charm of Tellisford

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42 www.mendip.gov.uk Summary of Key Characteristics

• Quiet and tranquil rural character enhanced by the narrow village lane with no through traffic, with pavements and street lighting largely absent, although some light and noise pollution from nearby larger settlements and roads

• Boundary treatments mainly of hedgerows or stone rubble or dry stone walling, softened with vegetation

• Buildings mainly detached and of two storeys

• Windows are traditional painted timber casements, some set within stone-mullioned surrounds, or sliding timber sashes

• Doors are predominantly painted timber of traditional panelled or plank design, with an occasional stone hood or later porch

• Roofs are quite steeply pitched and gabled, some with coped verges or oversailing with bargeboards and visible purlin ends, with the majority covered in double Roman clay tiles and others in stone tiles, slates and, rarely, pantiles

• Most properties have chimney stacks, mainly set at the gables and of a variety of materials such as ashlar often extended with red brick; or stone rubble, and topped with clay pots

• Walling material is generally of Doulting limestone rubble, coursed or random, with ashlar rarely used, and stone quoins reserved for the higher status buildings

• Trees are important in the conservation area, making a positive contribution to its rural character, excepting the Leylandii hedge

• Open green spaces around the village are important, intrinsic to the rural character and setting

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