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WELWYNWELWYN GARDEN GARDEN CITYCITY CONSERVATIONMANAGEMENT AREA SCHEME APPRAISAL

SEPTEMBERJULY 2007 2007

00972/P.Policy/June08

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors of this Study are:

Conservation Architecture & Planning

Jack Warshaw RIBA, MRTPI, IHBC, FRSA Project Director

Oliver Bradbury BA MLit Historian

Liz Cartell BA (HONS) HIDIP ADMIN Coordinator/Production

The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions and assistance of the following individuals and organisations:

The residents and businesses of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Members and Officers of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Members and Officers of Hertfordshire County Council Mr Russ Craig, Beams Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust Grant Shapps MP Welwyn Garden City Society Welwyn Garden City Chamber of Commerce Welwyn Hatfield Alliance: Environment Forum Handside Women’s Institute Welwyn Garden City & District Scout Welwyn Hatfield Access Group Welwyn Hatfield National Trust Association Welwyn Hatfield Environmental Network Longcroft Allotment Association Welwyn Archaeological Society Mid-Herts. Footpath Society Burycroft Residents Association Mid-Valley Residents Association Longcroft Residents Association

This Study is Copyright 2006 by Conservation Architecture & Planning Ltd. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and its authorised Partners are hereby licensed to copy and disseminate the study in whole or part in connection with the purpose for which it was prepared. No other intellectual property rights are granted to any other individual or body.

FOREWORD

Following public consultation the main text of this Conservation Area Appraisal was presented to Welwyn Hatfield Council’s Cabinet Planning and Transportation Panel on 23 August 2007.

The Panel recommended to the Council’s Cabinet that the suggested boundary changes detailed in section 9.0 of this document be approved. Consultation with the owners of properties affected by the boundary changes had been concluded in July 2007.

The areas to be added to the Welwyn Garden City Conservation Area were then formally designated at the Cabinet meeting on 4 September 2007 in accordance with Section 69 of the Town and Country Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. The designation was subsequently advertised in the London Gazette and the Welwyn Hatfield Times on 14 November 2007, and all households affected by the designation were notified by letter, under the provisions of Section 70(8) of the Act.

CONTENTS

page

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1

2.0 PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK 2

3.0 CONSERVATION AREA DESIGNATION 3

3.1 Boundaries 3

4.0 ASSESSING SPECIAL INTEREST 4

4.1 Location and setting 4 4.2 Landscape setting, topography and geology 4

5.0 HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT AND ARCHAEOLOGY 4

5.1 Origins of local place names 5 5.2 Map regression and morphology 5 5.3 Origins, development and historic significance 7 5.4 The Development Corporation 11 5.5 Historic significance 12 5.6 The archaeological significance and potential of the area 12 5.7 Architectural and historic qualities of buildings 13 5.8 Louis de Soissons 16

6.0 SPATIAL ANALYSIS 17

6.1 Character and interrelationship of spaces 17 6.2 Key views and vistas 19

page

7.0 CHARACTER ANALYSIS 20

7.1 Characterisation 20

Town Centre 21 Howardsgate 21 Fretherne Road 24 Longcroft Lane 24 Wigmores North 25 Sir Theodore’s Way 26 Parkway 27 Churches on Parkway 28 Church Road 28 The Campus/College Way 30 Residential Areas 31

7.2 Local Distinctiveness 32

The Orchard 32 The Vineyard 33 Coneydale 33 Reddings 34 Woodland Rise 34 Sherrards Park Road 34 Brockswood Lane 35 High Oaks Road 36 Dognell Green 36 Brockett Close 36 Valley Road 37 Attimore Road 37 Handside Lane 38 Applecroft Road 38 Barleycroft Green 39 Meadow Green Daily Mail model village 40 The Old Drive 41 Bridge Road 41 Youngs Rise 42 Guessens Road 42 Guessens Court 43 Longcroft Lane Area 43

page

7.3 Activity 44 7.4 Architectural and historic qualities of buildings 44 7.5 The contribution made by key unlisted buildings 45 7.6 Local details, building materials and the public realm 48 7.7 The contribution made by greenery and green spaces 50 7.8 Negative factors – The extent of loss intrusion or damage 51 7.9 The existence of any neutral areas 53 7.10 General condition of the area and built fabric 53 7.11 Problems, pressures and the capacity for change 53

8.0 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 55

8.1 Phase 1 Consultation 55 8.2 Phase 2 Consultation 57

9.0 SUGGESTED BOUNDARY CHANGES 58

Templewood, Pentley Park, Pentley Close, Nut Grove, …….Great Dell, Pitsfield, The Vineyard area 58 Knightsfield, Digswell Road, Harwood Hill 58 Heather Road 59 Marsden Road, Springfields, Downfields, …… Stacklands and Lemsford Lane 59

10.0 LOCAL GENERIC GUIDANCE 59

10.1 English Heritage Criteria 60

11.0 SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATION 61

11.1 Useful Contacts 61 11.2 Bibliography 62

APPENDICES

Appendix 1 Conservation Area Appraisal map Appendix 2 Views and vistas map

WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

Above, aerial view of Welwyn Garden City: built up area, red outline- existing built up area; green tone- existing “Town Centre” conservation area; orange tone- proposed extensions; green outline- Beehive CA.

CHARACTER APPRAISAL

1.0 INTRODUCTION 2 Welwyn Garden City became world- 1 A conservation area is, by law, an famous almost from the time of its area of special architectural and foundation by Ebenezer Howard and historic interest. The purpose of this the presentation of its Master Plan by appraisal is to help us understand Louis de Soissons, both in 1920. why Welwyn Garden City is special Statutory conservation area and provide a framework for keeping designation, of that part of Welwyn it that way. Its character, or Garden City then considered to be of specialness, needs to be defined. special interest, did not take effect until What is happening to it needs to be October 1968, simply because there documented and analysed. What had been no such legislation until the should happen in the future needs to Civic Amenities Act, requiring local be celebrated, guided and well planning authorities to identify areas of managed. special architectural or historic interest,

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in 1967. Welwyn Garden City was Appraisal should be taken into clearly an early and outstanding account when considering, applying example. Successor legislation for or determining planning or listed continues to place a duty on local building applications within the planning authorities to identify, conservation area. designate and develop measures to preserve or enhance conservation 6 The underlying objective of the areas. relevant legislation and guidance is the preservation or enhancement of character or appearance of conservation areas. Any proposed 2.0 PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK development which conflicts with that objective should normally expect to 3 A brief summary of the principal be refused. PPG 15 and local policy legislation and policy guidance also support a presumption in favour applicable to the Welwyn Garden City of preservation of any building or Conservation Area is set out below: object which is considered to make a positive contribution to the character 4 The Planning (Listed Buildings and of a conservation area. At the same Conservation Areas) Act 1990 sets time, the need to accommodate out the process of assessment, change which respects or reinforces definition or revision of boundaries the character of the area in order to and formulation of proposals for maintain its vitality is recognised. conservation areas as well as the identification and protection of listed 7 Many local planning policies, not just buildings. Authorities are required to design and conservation, can affect pay special attention to the what happens in a conservation area. desirability of preserving or For example, policies on sustainable enhancing the character or development, meeting housing appearance of a conservation area, needs, affordable housing, or in case of listed buildings, to have landscape, biodiversity, energy special regard for their preservation efficiency, transport, people with in the exercise of their powers under disabilities, employment, town the Planning Acts. centres and many others can all influence development and the 5 Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) quality of the environment in Note, 15, for local and other public conservation areas. However, authorities, property owners, policies concerned with design quality developers, amenity bodies and the and character generally take on public, sets out Government policies greater importance in conservation for the identification and protection of areas. The adopted Welwyn Hatfield historic buildings, conservation areas District Plan contains a chapter on and other elements of the historic design matters. Policy D2 is a key environment. The Welwyn Hatfield policy and states: District Plan includes the Council’s statutory policies for implementing the Acts and applying the PPG. This

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8 The Council will require all new 3.1 Boundaries development to respect and relate to the character and context of the area 12 The eastern boundary of the in which it is proposed. Development proposals should as a minimum conservation area is defined by the maintain, and where possible, “hard edge” of the East Coast should enhance or improve the Mainline railway line. The western character of the existing area. boundary of the conservation area largely coincides with the Green Belt 9 The Council’s policies also extend to boundary. The northern edge of the Supplementary Design Guidance, conservation area runs through a adopted in February 2005. The main predominantly residential area, topics covered by this guidance are: cutting across rear garden

boundaries in many places. To the • DESIGN PRINCIPLES south, the boundary meanders • GENERAL DESIGN through residential areas before GUIDANCE taking in a large, linear, area of open • SUSTAINABILITY CHECKLIST space running along the south- • RESIDENTIAL DESIGN GUIDANCE eastern boundary with Stanborough • ADVERTISEMENTS Lane. • SHOPFRONTS • DESIGN STATEMENTS 13 Within the conservation area, lies the • DEVELOPMENT BRIEFS town centre, which is described in the adopted District Plan as the main 10 Other policies of the adopted District shopping and service centre for the Plan deal specifically with the district, acting as a minor sub- District’s conservation areas and regional centre for Hertfordshire, development affecting listed providing a range of important civic, buildings. Policies R22 to R27 are cultural, leisure and community relevant. facilities and drawing customers from a wide catchment area. The northern boundary of the town centre area 3.0 CONSERVATION AREA DESIGNATION follows the curve of the dismantled railway line between the Campus 11 The original designation appears to West car park and the Campus East have been the work of Hertfordshire car parks. The eastern boundary County Council. Although another, follows the route of Osborn Way and isolated conservation area has been the East Coast Main Line railway designated east of the railway line, before veering west at the southern the present Welwyn Garden City end of the Osborn Way car park. The Conservation Area embraces the pre- southern boundary follows the line of War Garden City, west of the line. It the car park up to Church Road, includes the Town Centre, Parkway where it continues behind the Doctors and adjoining residential areas and Tonic Public House (formerly the was intended to preserve the Cottage Hospital) and the Free architectural unity of the town. Church. From there the boundary

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extends northwards along the River Lea valley. The residential western edge of Parkway, moving areas of the conservation area have behind the properties fronting generally become a desirable area to Parkway before it merges with the live in, with significantly higher northern boundary at Campus West property prices reported by residents. car park.

4.0 ASSESSING SPECIAL INTEREST 4.2 Landscape setting, topography and geology 4.1 Location and setting 16 The land on which Welwyn Garden 14 Welwyn Garden City is the largest City stands is bound on the north by settlement in the district of Welwyn the Mimram river, on the south by the Hatfield and is located approximately Lea. From heights of just over 400 twenty miles from the northern edge feet in the wooded north-west, the of London. It is one of an almost land slopes gently south-east. The continuous ribbon of settlements base rock of these acres is chalk with between Brookmans Park and chalk and clay subsoils. The ice age Stevenage, along the A1(M) corridor deposited gravels, sands and clays; and East Coast Main Line (ECML). thousands of years of weathering To the north, east and west of the shifted, changed and exposed them, town, however, lies well wooded so that the acres are a complex open countryside of great natural mixture of soils with different beauty, interspersed with attractive capabilities. Much of the land is well- small villages. drained and medium to coarse textured. Along the river valleys the glacial gravels have remained. Other 15 Whilst the historic plan of the Garden areas drain only moderately, others City straddled both the railway line consist of poorly drained pebbly clay. and, what is today, the A1(M), the Each soil type was covered in the present conservation area covers days before mankind’s occupation only part of the Garden City, being with forest, scrub, fen and marsh located between these two major according to its soil propensities. transport corridors. Beyond the Most of the areas were heavily railway line, to the east, lies the forested with oak, hornbeam, ash and town’s main employment area and birch, hazel and holly. beyond this lie large areas of, predominantly post-second world war, residential development. 5.0 HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT AND Residential areas to the north and ARCHAEOLOGY south-west, lie outside the conservation area boundary. 17 Stone Age and Bronze Age peoples Between the southwest sector and lived in the river valleys and sought the town of Hatfield, a short distance their food in the woods. Scant to the south of the conservation area, evidence of their presence has been lies the Green Belt corridor of the found in the area – a stone axe in

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Sherrards Wood, a flint arrowhead in 5.1 Origins of local place names Valley Road. Early Iron Age cultivators worked the light chalk soils 21 The Saxons established themselves to the north about 450 BC, no doubt close to the old Roman settlement moving from site to site as fertility and gave the place their name of was exhausted. Welga, Welewe, Willen, Wellinge and many variations, meaning ‘at the willows’. Dicen’s well with fresh 18 Around 150 BC, the Belgae, Celts water from stream and spring, is with Germanic roots, built a fortress probably old English, written down town at Wheathampstead, fortified a the centuries variously as Dixwell, Mimram river crossing at Welwyn, Dicheleswell and Digneswelle. The and cultivated land on the present Saxon settlement, where Digswell site of Welwyn Garden City. Their Water is today has also given farmsteads, fortified with ditches and Digswell Road its name. Handside palisades, have been found at has an unclear first element, possibly Brickwall Hill, Stanborough School in a man’s name, but the ‘hide’ was a Lemsford Lane, near the Free Church Saxon measure of land hall and other places. Burial sites approximately 100 acres. have been discovered in Attimore Road and the Crookhams, with a particularly important one at Grub’s 5.2 Map regression and morphology Barn. Other Belgic sites have been recorded in the area. 22 One of the earliest maps to show the site of the future Welwyn Garden City 19 Roman legions confronted and is John Warburton’s map (reproduced defeated the Belgae in 54 AD and in Welwyn Garden City: A Town imposed their rule. It seems that the Designed for Healthy Living, 1988, M. farmers where Welwyn Garden City de Soissons) of the Welwyn Garden stands today were left alone, as there City area, taken from a survey dated is little sign of any Roman 1720-23, and showing Digswell House occupation, although sites may have (the original manor house), Sherwood been abandoned early in the Roman (Sherrards Wood), Brick Wall House, era as the Romans brought the Handside and Ludwick Hide. However, Belgic settlers into their towns. it would be another two centuries before this area, quite separate from 20 When the Romans left Britain in 510 Welwyn village, would be developed AD, their major settlements were into Welwyn Garden City. linked by good roads. Such a road linked Verulamium (St. Albans) with 23 On 11 June 1920 Louis de Soissons, Colchester, almost certainly via architect and town planner for Welwyn Welwyn and along the Mimram Garden City from 1920 until 1962, Valley. A minor road may have produced the first Master Plan of existed from Lemsford across the Welwyn Garden City. The formal civic bottom of Valley Road and Handside and business centre with Parkway and Lane to Hatfield Hyde. Howardsgate contrasted with the informal residential sectors. The

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agricultural belt was relatively small Sherrards Wood and south of and the company, Welwyn Garden Brockswood Lane was given over to City Ltd., was anxious to buy more housing than was eventually used. land in order to secure an open countryside setting as well as to 25 An Ordnance Survey contour map realise Howard’s vision of the from the 1920s shows the road layout symbiotic relationship between town of Welwyn Garden City but few and productive farmland near at hand. buildings. In 1947 de Soissons prepared a new master plan which included more house building in Sherrards Wood and neighbouring units on the Lockleys and Tewin Water lands north of the Mimram, recently bought by the Company. However, Lockley and Tewin Water were never designated as part of the New Town and today are separated from WGC by the Green Belt.

26 Under the New Town Act of 1946 Welwyn Garden City was designated in May 1948. De Soissons published his New Town Master Plan in 1949. Over the next forty years such areas as the Town Centre were gradually filled in, as can be seen by comparing the plan of 1949 to one of the same area in 1988 (M de Soissons op cit, pp 120 and 216). Louis de Soissions’ First Master Plan of Welwyn Garden City, 1920 27 The 1959 Welwyn Garden City U.D.C. map shows an expanding 24 From the 1920 plan it can be seen though still relatively sparsely how the then proposed road systems developed Welwyn Garden City. from east to west could have had Since then there has been further another access point at the bottom of infill and building density. A Howardsgate. Flexibility was built into particularly useful map is the one the plan. At this time the allocations of entitled ‘Construction dates of land for various functions were residential areas’, which is undated approximate. The original 2,378 acres but shows the dates of development (963 ha) was divided as follows: area by area; for instance the residential including small open Guessens Court area was first laid spaces, 1,298 (526 ha); industrial, 170 out in 1922 but redeveloped in 1974. (69 ha); central civic and commercial, 80 (32 ha); schools, 150 (61 ha); railway land, 72 (29 ha); and rural belt, 608 (246 ha). Far more land in

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Master Plan of Welwyn Garden City, 1949

5.3 Origins, development and historic 29 Howard saw the rapid growth of significance population and migration to industrial cities in England and 28 The real origin of Welwyn Garden observed: City dates from 1898 when Mr. (later Sir) Ebenezer Howard wrote and ‘It is deeply to be deplored that published a book called Tomorrow: a people should continue to stream peaceful path to real reform. This was to the already overcrowded cities, reissued in 1902 under the title and should thus further deplete known world-wide, Garden Cities of the country districts.’ Tomorrow.

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30 Howard analysed the incentives and communications; and unified site failures of both city and country, ownership coupled with likening them to magnets, and then leaseholds, reconciling public suggested a third magnet which interests with freedom of choice would combine the advantages of and enterprise.’ (From the preface human society and the beauty of by F. J. Osborn to the 1946 nature. ‘Town and country must be edition of Garden Cities of married,’ he wrote. Howard then Tomorrow). described, in considerable detail, a strategy for city growth; there would 31 His imaginary working model showed be a network of: how a new settlement would be started once the first had reached its planned size. Quietly persuasive, Howard lectured all over the country, influencing with his ideas a number of influential people, who together in 1899 formed the ‘Garden Cities Association’, thus attracting even wider interest.

32 Determined to put these ideas to the test, the group formed a Pioneer Company and eventually bought 3,818 acres in north Hertfordshire, which became the site of Letchworth, the first garden city. The story is told in detail in C. B. Purdom’s book The Building of Satellite Towns (Dent, Ebenezer Howard’s “Three Magnets” diagram, 1898 1925 and 1949). Progress was made, and industry attracted, before ‘moderate-sized industrial and the outbreak of the First World War. trading towns in close contact with a surrounding agricultural 33 As World War One came to an end in countryside, each a healthy, well- 1918, there was great pressure for equipped and coherent speedy and much improved housing. community; zoning of areas within In December 1918, The Home I each town for ready access Want, an influential book by a between homes, workplaces, housing expert, Richard L. Reiss, shops and cultural centres; was published. At the same time, limitation of density to safeguard Howard, Purdom and F J (later Sir light, gardens and recreation Frederic) Osborn, author of New space, but not exaggerated to the Towns After the War were vigorously pitch of urban diffusion; civic promoting a national initiative for design aiming at harmony rather garden cities. than standardization; planned internal and external

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35 The infant Company faced an immense task and an uncertain future. There were surveys to be carried out, negotiations including starting a brickworks, and a nursery garden, and most importantly, appointment of an Architect/Planner. Louis de Soissons was appointed on 26 April 1920. He got to work at once, presenting his plan on 11 June 1920. This ‘master plan’ is internationally known and has been illustrated in numerous books and pamphlets.

36 As Osborn said: Ebenezer Howard ‘…planning is teamwork, and a first-class design of a town, as of a building, requires a good client 34 In 1919, Reiss was appointed as well as a good architect. The chairman of the ‘Garden Cities and WGC directors were clear-minded Town Planning Association’. Then about their aims, they wanted a came the startling news that Howard beautiful town as well as an had purchased at auction, several industrially efficient one, and farms in mid-Herts, on either side of socially acceptable to all classes. the main Great Northern railway line, De Soissons was extraordinarily and close to the Great North Road, quick in the uptake, grasping the having obtained financial help from complex requirements, and giving friends and well-wishers, for the them expression in a brilliant second garden city. Support from the combination of harmonious Garden Cities Association followed. buildings and delightful grouping In 1920, Welwyn Garden City Limited and landscaping.’ was formally established as the owner and developer of the 2,378 37 In A Town Designed for Healthy acres estate as a garden city for 40- Living Maurice de Soissons 50,000 inhabitants. The site, explains how his father: beautiful as it was, may have been ‘…took as the main architectural insufficient for the required style…the red-brick Hertfordshire population, but was a start. Osborn’s Georgian that abounded in Genesis of Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn, Hatfield, St. Albans and 1970, describes the events at the Hertford. The bricks produced in birth of Welwyn Garden City and the the company’s brickworks…were personalities involved. sand-faced…strong red, with some containing a slight purplish hue.’

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Left, early houses by CM Crickmer in Handside Lane; Right, houses in the same group today

38 Houses with these bricks may be such pleasant backwaters in which seen in many of the earlier streets, to live.’ but a shortage of materials just after World War 1 necessitated some 40 Examples in the south-west sector usage of concrete blocks. Those are Valley Road, Attimore Road, buildings, in roads such as Guessens Russellcroft Road and part of Road, the cul-de-sac off Broadwater Guessens Road, together with the Road, Longcroft Lane and Longcroft closes off these roads. Virtuosity in Green have since been demolished. applying these principles may also be seen among the schemes of rented 39 The external design of all buildings housing in the south-east sector was subject to de Soissons’ approval outside the conservation area – the and the directors were firmly in Peartree neighbourhood – with culs- support. In the town centre, de-sac off these streets free of development of the main commercial through traffic. Digswell Nurseries and shopping area would be Limited (a subsidiary of the main undertaken by the Company, with company) was established to provide buildings designed by their architect. planting material for the town’s Maurice de Soissons continues: landscaping, to carry out the work ‘In the first streets to be built, all in and to maintain it. the south-west sector, de Soissons began to develop his street designs. ‘If you walk in the town there are He set blocks of houses back from many small surprises – of tree the roadways, kept front gardens planting, of vistas, of houses and open to the road, planned roads in groups of buildings contrived to relation to oaks and elms and the make a visual impact’ – architect enclosure hedgerows, that had Kirkland Robertson, quoted by been kept until and if they could be Maurice de Soissons. incorporated into streetscapes. He began to experiment with the 41 Welwyn Garden City is invariably wonderfully contrived variety of linked with Letchworth, the first culs-de-sac designs which became garden city, and Hampstead Garden Suburb, and sometimes compared

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with them. But although Letchworth comprehensive town and country was inspired by Howard, Hampstead planning system. was the project of social philanthropist Dame Henrietta Barnet, who with her husband had also been 5.4 The Development Corporation responsible for such projects as the Whitechapel Art Gallery and Toynbee 44 The New Town designation of 1948 Hall. Where Howard was the placed responsibility for completing common founder of Letchworth and the development of WGC, whose Welwyn Garden Cities, the link population was then about 18,200, on between Letchworth and Hampstead the Development Corporation. The was Arts and Crafts architect designated area was 4,317 acres Raymond (later Sir Raymond) Unwin, (1,747 hectares) and the plan was to who, with Barry Parker planned both accommodate 36,500 people overall. communities and designed some of Later the plan was revised to allow the buildings. for 45-50,000 persons. De Soissons, and other key personnel transferred 42 Perhaps the outstanding hallmark of to the new Development Corporation Welwyn Garden City is the were to continue to implement the spectacular layout of the town centre established plan. with the spacious Parkway and Howardsgate – the latter almost Continental in feeling - and the vista from the White Bridge.

1938 aerial photo of Town Centre-Parkway is at bottom left. Vista along Parkway towards the White Bridge

45 Over the next thirty-four years, de 43 The population of Welwyn Garden Soissons and Partners were City had reached 14,000 when the responsible for many building war of 1939-45 interrupted the schemes, as well as the overall plans progress of building. The Garden and control of design. Around the Cities Association, now renamed the town, the work of some twenty or Town and Country Planning more architects may be found. ‘Their Association, continued to press for sensibilities in producing plans which new towns and urged a accorded, although individual to

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themselves, with the general brick social, cultural and economic ideals built, evolving Georgian style of the of their period, drawn together by the Garden City, were much to be Garden City’s founders, management commended,’ wrote Maurice de and professionals. In planning terms Soissons. the level of significance is global, attracting study and visits from many 46 By 1978 the population was about countries. Its success led directly to 41,000 in about 15,000 homes. At the the creation, in the UK and abroad, of same time, the Commission for the other new towns such as Harlow, New Towns, which had continued the Stevenage, Radburn, New Jersey work of the Development and Greenbelt, Maryland. It is often Corporation, considered its functions held up as the apogee of civilised, to be finished and handed over the sustainable new settlements and a reins to the Welwyn Hatfield District model for others to follow. Council, which took over all the rented housing, local shopping and open spaces and the leasehold 5.6 The archaeological significance function for other housing though not and potential of the area for central shopping property and industrial areas. 49 The conservation area does have some areas of archaeological note. 47 Outside the conservation area, To the south of Church Road there is considerable new housing evidence of late Iron Age occupation. development and replacement of old During the digging of a sewer trench industrial premises has been in Church Road, a ditch, pottery and progressing in recent years. By 1987 animal bone were found and it is the population of Welwyn Garden likely that there is some further City was just under 42,000 and by archaeological potential. The south 1989 there were around 17,300 western corner of the conservation homes, the increase being largely area is also within an Area of due to the continuing demand for Archaeological Significance. smaller homes. The 2001 census Excavations that were carried out on puts the population at about 43,000, the site of the A1(M) revealed with some 22,000 homes, continuing evidence of late Iron Age and the national upward trend towards Romano-British occupation, and it is smaller households. likely that this occupation extends beyond the excavated area. Four late Iron age cremation burials are 5.5 Historic significance also known from Attimore Road. The southern most tip of the conservation 48 All sources of evidence and area is also within an Area of commentary seem to agree that, Archaeological Significance, delightful though its architecture, in excavation work at Stanborough ensemble is, the principal historic School has revealed evidence of an significance of WGC lies in its Iron Age/Roman-British settlement planning- possibly the highest and burials and again it is likely that expression of the visionary physical,

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the area of settlement extends • LUDWICK HALL, HALL GROVE beyond the excavated area. (not in conservation area) . • ROCHE PRODUCTS FACTORY, 50 There is evidence of Norman open BROADWATER ROAD (not in fields near the site of the Queen conservation area) Elizabeth II hospital and over in • 1-4 DIGSWELL PARK ROAD (not Handside. Numbers of charcoal in conservation area) hearths have been found in the • BAILIFF’S COTTAGE, Handside area, while such names as DIGSWELL PARK ROAD (not in Cole Green, Cole Meadow and Cole conservation area) Heath indicate charcoal-burning • DIGSWELL PARK LODGE, places. DIGSWELL PARK ROAD (not in conservation area) • THE BACKHOUSE ROOM, 5.7 Architectural and historic qualities HANDSIDE LANE of buildings and their contribution • DIGSWELL HOUSE, MONKS to special interest RISE (not in conservation area)

• THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST 51 The following buildings of Welwyn JOHN, MONKS RISE (not in Garden City are included in the conservation area) statutory list of buildings of • ATTIMORE HALL, RIDGEWAY architectural and historic interest and (not in conservation area) illustrated in Appendix 1: • GRANARY AND BARN TO

ATTIMORE HALL, RIDGEWAY • HAND SIDE FARMHOUSE, (not in conservation area) BARN CLOSE

• THE BARN THEATRE, BARN 52 Sir Nikolaus Pevsner observes in his CLOSE ‘Buildings of England’ series that • LUDWICK CORNER, 16 Welwyn Garden City, was: BEEHIVE GREEN (in Beehive …founded in 1920… a later conservation area) creation than Letchworth and the • THE BEEHIVE PUBLIC HOUSE, Hampstead Garden Suburb and BEEHIVE LANE (in Beehive differs in characteristic ways from conservation area) both. It is not a pioneer work like • THE OLD COTTAGE, 39 BRIDGE Parker & Unwin’s, but the ROAD architects of Welwyn, Louis de • THE NABISCO FACTORY, Soissons and A. W. Kenyon, BRIDGE ROAD (not in evidently learnt from the mistakes conservation area) of the pioneers…a garden city as • DIGSWELL LODGE, DIGSWELL against a garden suburb must RISE possess enough industry to • 82-125 KNIGHTSFIELD (not in ensure it an independent life. To current conservation area) the W of the station is the civic • TEMPLEWOOD SCHOOL, area, with shops and public PENTLEY PARK (not in current buildings. These lie on the edge of conservation area) the SW quarter, the first housing neighbourhood to be built. The SE 13 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

quarter followed (at first mainly which is described within the lower-income housing). Both following context thus: areas expanded after the war. ‘Immediately after the war, The NW quarter was developed Hertfordshire was faced by an from c. 1950, the NE was begun acute immediate shortage of in the mid 1960s.’ school places and by the need to prepare for the building of the new 53 A History of English Architecture towns and the growth of (1979) sets WGC in a broader population in outer London, at a context: moment when traditional building ‘At Letchworth, laid out by Barry materials and craftsmen were in Parker and Sir Raymond Unwin short supply. To meet this from 1903, the houses are mainly situation the county architects roughcast, and deliberately evolved a new type of flexible simple; at Welwyn…they are prefabrication.’ mostly of neo-Georgian brick. But the importance of these garden 55 Templewood School (recommended cities and garden suburbs lies for inclusion in the conservation area) less in their architecture, than in was designed C. H. Aslin of the their triumphant vindication of the County Architect’s Department in planning vision of Ebenezer 1948 and has been described by Howard’s Tomorrow (1898). Pevsner as ‘one of the best of the Howard gave the Victorian county’s early post-war schools.’ experiments in model industrial settlements – like Saltaire (1853), 56 Pevsner’s description of the Town Port Sunlight (1888), and the Centre still seems appropriate: garden suburbs - something of the ‘The civic area of the town also communal idealism which had has a feeling of confidence, inspired attempts at cooperative although the style of the buildings communities, and through this he is in no way revolutionary. The created the twentieth-century earlier public buildings, including concept of the new town, the Station, [since demolished] depending on its own industry, are of brick, with stone dressings surrounded by open country, and and some classical detail. This socially self-sufficient. Howard’s urban-looking area is something new town ideal was to be adopted that the Hampstead Garden as one of the cornerstones of Suburb lacks and that Letchworth planning in the reconstruction received only slowly and never after 1945.’ adequately, owing to its arrested growth.’ 54 As if to show that Welwyn Garden City is not just full of neo-Georgian 57 The housing areas are also well architecture, A History of English observed: Architecture illustrates the Modernist ‘The residential layout is clearly Primary School (also known as derived from the Unwin ideas and Templewood School) at Pentley Park, patterns. Old trees are meticulously kept, straight roads

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are rare, and closes everywhere and German modernist styles. In determine the pattern. The the older areas of nearby Welwyn, predominant style of the Old Hatfield, St Albans and houses…is now a quiet Hertford are many fine examples comfortable neo-Georgian, no of Georgian buildings constructed longer olde-worldly. The brickwork from Hertfordshire red-brick and is mostly exposed. The best de Soissons continued in this examples are in the SW quarter.’ theme, the materials of the early Welwyn Garden City buildings reflecting the local tradition. The materials included red sand-faced bricks produced at the company’s brickworks, imported clay pan roofing tiles, large, white painted timber sash windows, and simple, white painted timber fascia boards and shopfronts. Mansard rooves [sic] and dormer windows featured strongly, while decorative elements occurred in the form of AThen example HSBC building of de Soissons and former’ civic estate neo- Georgiandepartment of Welwyn Garden City Ltd - an example of de Soisson’s pilasters and pediments to civic neo-Georgian building entrances, together with occasional stucco detailing. Later 58 Indeed, there is nothing ‘twee’ or additions to the town centre varied overly quaint about Welwyn Garden according to materials available, City’s neo-Georgian architecture – it but generally the pattern of red- is undeniably twentieth century. A brick, pan tile roofs and sash particularly good example is the windows continued into the current HSBC bank on Howardsgate. 1960s.’ The description in the Beams (Built Environment Advisory and 59 Although Pevsner’s writings suggest Management Service) Welwyn that he did not consider de Soissons Garden City Town Centre a particularly innovative or exciting Conservation Area: A Conservation architect, he fits into a very English, Area Appraisal and Character Study and safe approach to twentieth can also be applied to the century architecture. Yet, at the conservation area generally: summit of Digswell Road at ‘The architecture of Welwyn Knightsfield, he abandoned his usual Garden City is based on the modesty in the design of six grand Georgian tradition, designed to neo-Regency villas- actually flats, reflect classical proportions and with elaborate tented balconies, and principles while accommodating linked by wings, which are now listed modern living requirements – a Grade II. (This area is recommended logical conclusion, de Soissons for inclusion in the conservation area. believed, to the great Georgian Refer to map in Appendix 1). architectural tradition cut off prematurely by Victorian gothic

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‘Moderne’ at No. 34 Coneydale; 60 However, de Soissons showed that neo-early Georgian on Dognell he could work in a Modernist idiom. Green; charming neo-Flemish at No. 59 Attimore Road; Expressionism at the Church of St. Francis on Church Road. Expressionism, showing the Scandinavian influence on early twentieth century British architecture, as well as neo-Norman and neo-Byzantine, tended to be reserved for ecclesiastical architecture; whereas neo-Georgian and late Arts and Crafts tended to Part of the 1950s Oaklands College complex be employed for domestic and commercial buildings.

This can be seen in the factory and 5.8 Louis de Soissons silos of 1925, on a seven acre site, for the American Shredded Wheat Company, now listed Grade II. It became a landmark and is still closely identified with Welwyn Garden City. Another example of de Soissons working in what could be described as homely Modernism is Oaklands College (formerly known as Mid-Herts College and then De Havilland College), Digswell Road, which was opened on 28 November 1960, having been designed in c. de Soissons’ bust graces Howardsgate building 1958. Originally a college of further education and a library, a £400,000 extension to the College followed in 62 Born in Montreal, Canada, but 1968. The Modernist style of this brought to England as a small boy, complex is perhaps best explained by de Soissons had trained at the the fact that de Soissons was by this Royal Academy Schools and the time working within an expanded Ecole des Beaux Arts at Paris. practice: Louis de Soissons, This, and the year spent before the Peacock, Hodges and Robertson. 1914-18 war as a scholar at the British School of Rome, helps to 61 As well as neo-Georgian, one can account for his attachment to the find other styles such as restrained classical tradition. The war began Arts and Crafts (i.e. The Orchard, shortly after he qualified, and with off Blakemere Road, and two-storey four years as a soldier behind him, houses on Brockswood Lane); he had had little time to temper a

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fine academic record with practical 6.0 SPATIAL ANALYSIS experience. From April 1920 to 1962, he worked as architect and 6.1 Character and interrelationship town planner for Welwyn Garden of spaces City. 63 More than most towns, generous 63 Frederic Osborn wrote that the open spaces - and the associated company was clear in its aims of spatial interrelationships - are at the wanting a beautiful and industrially heart of Welwyn Garden City’s efficient town, socially acceptable to planned layout. For this reason it all, and knew how to achieve it. De was most fortunate in having been Soissons was quick to grasp the developed on almost virgin land, complex requirements, and Osborn containing only a few existing later claimed that the plan which buildings, and recognising the resulted from this good teamwork is importance of the few existing now ‘internationally renowned as a structural features- the rail and road masterpiece’. Indeed, students lines, in the 1920s. The major open from as far as Japan come to study spaces are: Welwyn Garden City as a pioneering and still inspiring achievement.

The open space of Parkway

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• Parkway Parkway, and the large block west • The Campus of Parkway, both fronting Bridge • Howardsgate Road, completing the enclosure. • Stanborough Green Unfortunately, the space can be • Anniversary Garden, difficult for pedestrians to access on • Sir Theodore’s Way the surface, on account of the rate • Playing fields and volume of traffic although three surface level, pedestrian controlled, crossings have been installed to improve access to and from this open space. The dismal pedestrian subways, do not provide access to the open space of The Campus.

67 Howardsgate is the formal space running perpendicular, eastwards from Parkway, at the heart of the commercial sector. The concept can probably be traced back to the principles of a Roman Forum, a focus of community interaction, View from Parkway lined in this incarnation with shops, offices and cafes, filled with 64 The importance of open space is planting, seating and distinctive particularly apparent in the centre of poster stanchions, assisted by a town: The Campus, Parkway and traffic calming road layout and Howardsgate are generously laid management scheme. out on a pan-European scale, not that common in the UK. The layout and relationships of these broad, open spaces are most evident when seen in aerial photographs of central Welwyn Garden City.

66 By contrast, The Campus is a geometrically formal semi-circular space, bordered by an informal layout of civic, and educational building, comprising the 1970s Central green of Howardsgate. Note original modernist Campus West; the guard rails. modern, yet restrained contextualism of the 1950s 68 Stanborough Green forming part of Oaklands College; the 1930s neo- the attractive southern approach to Georgian Council Offices, extended WGC, is a more open, less formal, in the late 1970s/early 1980s; the partly wooded, linear space, whose unremarkable 1950s Police Station; eastern edge lies on the with the John Lewis Store, east of conservation area boundary. The

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western edge is enclosed by Wood, which can be seen on the modestly scaled blocks of flats. 18th century map of the area. Like Eric Lyons’ post-WWII SPAN 69 Anniversary Garden occupies the housing situated elsewhere in the “Project D” site originally intended south of England, the divisions for building. The mainly grassed between public and private are and planted space is provided with broken down; property boundaries benches and a diagonal path that seem sometimes blurred. serves as a through route from Sir Theodores Way to John Lewis and Bridge Road. Notwithstanding the 6.2 Key views and vistas presence of a short parade of commercial properties to the east, 73 The major open spaces also create with a traffic roundabout to the many of the conservation area’s north, the multi storey car park and most important vistas. The its exit to the northeast and the following key views and vistas are John Lewis car park to the west, shown on the appended map (see Anniversary Gardens lacks the Appendix 1). sense of peaceful, civic enclosure offered by the Co-op store to the 1 From the White Bridge and The south. Campus along Parkway. 2 Views in all directions from The 70 Two other major spaces, the Campus. Welwyn Rugby Ground and 3 Vistas along Parkway from Applecroft Road playing field, are either end. important. In addition to the 4 View from Parkway along obvious value of their uses, their Russellcroft Road. openness contributes to the 5 View from Parkway east along character of the conservation area. Howardsgate. 6 View from Parkway along 71 Finally, many private and semi- Church Road, both directions. private open spaces form the 7 View from Howard Centre settings of building groups, or are towards Parkway. communal play spaces, 8 View northwards from Fretherne neighbourhood greens and Road towards the original concealed open spaces at the rear Cherry Tree (now Waitrose) of houses. These spaces are building. important visual and functional 9 In a southerly direction from amenities which should be Fretherne Road along Longcroft maintained and preserved from any Lane. erosion. 10 Views to/from Knightsfield, at the junction with Digswell Road, 72 In many of the residential areas the in all directions. emphasis is more about seclusion, 11 Views along Stanborough intimacy and privacy. In some Green, north and south. areas, homes are enveloped by 12 Views from Russellcroft Road in pre-existing woods; e. g. Sherrards both directions.

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13 Views along Valley Road from landmark. The nearest one gets to Applecroft Road to the A1(M) landmark events is with such (contribution to the setting of the distinctive features as the cupola of conservation area). the Council Offices, or the tower of 14 Views from Stanborough Road St Bonaventure’s Roman Catholic to Parkway (contribution to the Church on Parkway. setting of the conservation area). 7.0 CHARACTER ANALYSIS 74 The roads to the west of Parkway, which undulate gently, present a 76 Maurice de Soissons said of his wide variety of interesting, often father Louis - and his work at picturesque views, typically where a Welwyn Garden City - that ‘his green and leafy foreground and strength lay in the character of the houses, singly, in groups or in street scene, his sense of scale and terraces, combine. order, and his technique of securing variety with few variables’. While the character of a place must inevitably emerge from the inter- relationship of all its parts, we consider that de Soissons’ ability to see the broader picture and control its execution in large measure accounts for the overarching significance of WGC, beyond individual architectural achievements.

St Bonaventure’s Roman Catholic Church 77 Although de Soissons’ town plan straddles the main N-S railway line and is bounded on the west by a 75 There are few buildings which can golf course, followed by the “hard” be described as landmarks in the edge of the Great North usual sense that they are larger, Road/A1(M), the conservation area taller, architecturally distinguished, covers only land to the west of the or having spires or other special line. Between the imperial formality features, placed on important axes of Parkway and the railway, the or terminating key vistas. Rather, pattern, which includes the Town the larger buildings tend to Centre, is quite rectilinear. West of emphasise key points such as Parkway, the residential corner sites, or frame larger open neighbourhood roads curve gently, spaces, whilst maintaining the self- creating ever changing effacing neo-Georgian language. perspectives. These forms, at once The John Lewis building, for deliberate, yet accommodating pre- example, forms a large and existing roads such as Handside prominent backdrop to the central Lane, demonstrate de Soissons’ space of The Campus, but is not a mastery of picturesque layout. With

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The Campus forming an interface of Howardsgate civic scaled buildings and character, between the broad divisions of 79 After Parkway, Howardsgate is the Town Centre and adjoining second principal axis, forming the residential sectors, individual centre of the commercial shopping character areas can be recognised area. It is a formally landscaped as follows: boulevard, with paved and planted open spaces, metalwork such as railings and balconies, public 7.1 Characterisation seating, distinctive advertising stanchions (dating from the 1950s) Town Centre and street lights originally designed

View towards Howardsgate from Parkway The former Welwyn Stores (now John Lewis)

for the garden city. Two of the 78 Within the town centre the earliest commercial buildings in architectural emphasis is generally Welwyn Garden City provide an on horizontality of form, impressive architectural frame at homogeneity and low urban density. the entrance to Howardsgate. Both Old street patterns did not have to the former Barclays bank (now “the be followed, and buildings rarely Cork” ) and the HSBC branch to the rise above four storeys. The neo- south, were designed by Louis de Georgian idiom helps to stress this Soissons in 1929. They are similar horizontality. The approach in scale, but feature subtle throughout is low-key, subtle differences in detailing. variation within the formal framework, strongly characterised 80 The HSBC building originally by its materials and the rhythmic housed the estate department of patterns of Georgian style sash Welwyn Garden City Ltd and Louis windows. This helps even such de Soissons’ architectural practice. large buildings as the Welwyn This building is constructed from Stores (now John Lewis) to traditional Hertfordshire brick, and harmonise in terms of scale. The on the ground floor features large following paragraphs characterise sash windows adjacent to a neo- sections of the Town Centre. Georgian Portland stone doorway with pediment. Note, however, the

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Inappropriate modern signage detracts from the View across Howardsgate towards the former portico bust commemorating Louis de Soissons Barclays Bank (now ‘The Cork’) inappropriate modern sign (“DBC 81 Behind their principal corner blocks, Food Service for a New Century”) both “the Cork” and HSBC next to the Portland stone doorway buildings step down in height to two with pediment, which stories plus a Mansard roof, and commemorates de Soissons (1890- continue in a uniform frontage along 1962). In contrast, the former Howardsgate as far as Wigmores Barclays building derives its North and South – note the good character from a series of round detailing above the shop fronts, arched windows and simply which are well scaled. The theme of designed doorways, set within a a strong and uniform frontage to the ground floor of rusticated Portland south side of Howardsgate is further stone. The impact of the two bank extended from Wigmores South to buildings is somewhat diminished the portico of the Howard Centre. by the unsympathetic fenestration of the later building situated on the northern corner of Parkway and Howardsgate.

The elegance of the former Barclays bank (right of Well scaled detailing above shopfront level in Howrdsgate is picture) is diminished by the unsympathetic detailing of compromised by overly dominant facias. the neighbouring building

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82 On the north side of Howardsgate, at each corner. As a result, the adjacent to “the Cork”, is a building north side of Howardsgate is less with classically treated round arch visually satisfactory than the south windows in rusticated Portland side, which retains its early Garden stone. It once housed Welwyn City buildings, most notably the Garden City’s first Post Office and continuous row between Wigmores is now used as a Job Centre. The South and Fretherne Road. 1970s ‘new’ Post Office at the corner of Howardsgate and 84 The 1929 three storey brick range is Wigmores North is a bland subtly detailed with classical institutional building, without the elements such as decorative character of its predecessor, but it architraves, projecting brick quoins does maintain the rigid composition vertically dividing the shop-fronts and proportions of the Howardsgate and ornamental first floor railings. frontage.

Later architectural additions to the north of The Howard Centre and the immediate public realm. Use Howardsgate show scant regard for the original of better quality materials and street furniture would buildings enhance this area.

83 Continuing along the north side of However, the overall character of Howardsgate, the structure the buildings is marred by the between the building on the corner replacement of original timber sash of Wigmores North and that on the windows with UPVC units, which corner of Stonehills was originally are visually harsh and have already single storey, but during the 1970s, weathered poorly. Also, the area in a lightweight two storey addition front of the Howard Centre is not an was built on top of the original inspiring introduction to Welwyn structure. The appearance of the Garden City, with its patchy lawn, later building is characterised by unvarnished wooden benches and panels of red mock brickwork concrete paving. between aluminium windows and is generally rather unsympathetic to the classical Garden City buildings

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Looking across Church Road towards Fretherne Road, Longcroft Lane streetscape: Projecting end properties the unregulated clutter of signage creates visual discord. add visual interest to the uniformity of the group.

Fretherne Road Longcroft Lane

85 Fretherne Road was extended 86 At the junction of Longcroft around the same time as Wigmores Lane/Fretherne Road and Church South, but in a different style. Road there is an unregulated clutter Behind Louis de Soissons’ 1929 of signs. The housing typically Fretherne Chambers building, a row consists of low-lying neo-Georgian of two storey Garden City-style terraces with steep pan-tiled roofs buildings extends along the west and through-passages – note how side of the street. They were end properties are brought forward. designed in 1962 by de Soissons Original front doors, a crucial and partners and continue the feature, have unfortunate modern theme of projecting concrete replacements. There is an canopies seen in Wigmores South. inconsistency between the Towards the southern end, the taller employment of UPVC window buildings to the east side of the glazing and the extant original street were completed in the 1970s wooden sash windows. Longcroft and rather lack the character of Lane features wide verges with classical Garden City architecture. plenty of room for parking, which is Both sides of the street have active unsightly in places. The verges can shop fronts at ground floor level, reveal too much concrete paving. some of which mar the appearance of the street scene.

Discordant 1970’s architecture, poor shopfronts Erosion of grass verges with poor quality paving is guardrailing and painted lines mar original style. exacerbated by parked cars. 24 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

The Anniversary Garden functions as a public space and provides a pedestrian link between Stonehills and John Lewis.

Wigmores North

87 Wigmores North retains a strong car park generally lack definition. frontage and sense of enclosure Note, next to the subway, the traditional ground-floor treatment of along the western side, through a John Lewis with its currently range of red-brick buildings painted-in window awnings. constructed either during or before the 1960s but with later shop-fronts added during the 1970s/80s in the Garden City style. The roofline of these buildings, however, is somewhat marred by a clutter of antennae, receivers and access ladders. The original Welwyn Stores building (de Soissons, 1938), a John Lewis store since 1983, provides a good visual stop to Wigmores North, although the north-western end of the street and Obscured ground floor windows of John Lewis (left of photo) and uninviting pedestrian subway.

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88 According to the Masterplan, the Peacock, Hodges and Robertson project D site to the east of the car and features stripped red-brick park was intended for development. frontages and large sash windows, Until July 1962, the site was above a continuous row of occupied by the former Police shopfronts. The block was Station, which provided visual completed in 1959 and continues enclosure for the adjacent open around the north eastern corner to space. The Anniversary Garden face the south side of the car park. now existing on the project D site functions as a sitting out space in good weather and provides a useful pedestrian link between Stonehills and John Lewis, but lacks the sense of formal enclosure or focus of activity needed to make it a meaningful public space. The well preserved 1950s Garden City-style former Co-op building fronts the south side of the Anniversary

Gardens and would provide a Sir Theodore’s Way with views across to Stonehills. strong reference for any future buildings on the project D site.

Original 1950’s pattern paving in front of the former Co-op building (left) has been replaced by concrete slabs (right). Note however the original ironwork of the ramped walk that still remains.

90 The 1930s corner building on the Sir Theodore’s Way east side of Wigmores North, formerly the Gas Board showrooms, 91 Sir Theodore’s Way, originally is now used as commercial envisaged as a shopping street in premises at ground floor level. The Louis de Soissons masterplan for row of shops and offices which the Garden City, is now a paved extends along the east side of the pedestrian thoroughfare, linking street was designed in classical Wigmores North and Stonehills. Garden City style by de Soissons, However, the original, specially

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designed 1950s paving pattern has fountain forming a distant focal been replaced by standard concrete point in a spacious and landscaped slabs. Note, too, the original setting. From the southern end of ironwork on the ramped walk. The Parkway, the view up the hill pedestrian way continues on the towards The Campus and Digswell east side of Stonehills and forms a Road demonstrates an essential small public space in front of the principle of Garden City design, north-western entrance to the while the mature trees in the Howard Centre. The open space is distance provide a harmonious harsh and unappealing and offers background to the more formal unsightly views of adjacent back landscaping of the central green entrances and rubbish skips. spaces of the boulevard.

93 Parkway has neo-Georgian houses Parkway on the west side from Church Road to Bridge Road. They are well 92 Parkway provides a dramatic maintained, blend in well with approach to the town centre from associated foliage, and were both the north and south. From an designed by Louis de Soissons in elevated position at the northern 1924. Although the houses, from end, the vista south along Parkway the junction with Russellcroft Road, is superb, with the Coronation have now all been converted to

The dramatic vista of Parkway

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either offices or surgeries, they Churches on Parkway retain their essential domestic form and architecture to the primary 95 Several of the conservation area’s frontage, reflecting their origin, places of worship are located on the although some have been Parkway and Church Road areas. extended. These houses, together The planned concentration and with those lining Russellcroft Road variety in the design of these and Guessens Road, are among buildings creates a distinctive the earliest domestic buildings in architectural and townscape the Garden City. statement close to the Town Centre

Christchurch (above) and the Church of St Francis Neo-Georgian houses on Parkway of Assissi (below) are key buildings in the CA.

94 The Coronation fountain, situated at the junction of Parkway and Howardsgate, was designed by Peacock and Ayres in 1953. The movement of water in this central position creates a significant focal point within and to the area, being clearly visible from all directions.

as well as enhanced potential for interaction between faiths.

Church Road

96 Church Road forms a transition zone between the commercial core of Welwyn Garden City and the residential areas to the south. The older part of the road, between Parkway and Fretherne Road, is spacious and leafy along the south The Coronation fountain with Howardsgate in background side. Here, departures from the

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neo-Georgian style seem to have 97 The Church Road car park, lacking been adopted. The large former any attempt to mitigate the impact Cottage Hospital (now the Doctors of hardware, harsh lighting and poor Tonic Public House), in a free Tudor paving, renders this stretch more manor house style, is set well back visually alienating. Whilst the north from the road. The Free Church, side of the car park is bordered by a designed in 1929 by Louis de row of good 1960s Garden City Soissons in a Dutch/Expressionist buildings with ground floor shops, the west is enclosed by the undistinguished 1982 Sainsbury’s building. The overall sense of unity to the area is lost in the sprawl of the car park. The western end of the car park supports an unappealing clutter of railings, signboards, poles, bollards etc around a small open seating area which lacks a sense of comfort and identity, while the eastern end of the The Free Church suffers from discordant signage area is marred by recycling bins and rubbish skips.

stepped gable style, fronts the road Treatment of the Church Road car park degrades the setting of well proportioned buildings. with only a small strip of green behind the pavement. This building has some discordant, poor quality 98 In the residential section of Church modern signage and a view of it is Road is the Church of St Francis of somewhat marred by the void and Assisi. The Anglican church, by de railings of the subway opposite, Soissons, opened in 1935, was leading to Sainsbury’s underground intended to have a tower at its car park. Both buildings sit western end, but this was never comfortably within spacious plots built. Pevsner thought it dull. among mature trees.

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Today though, it seems to be more derivative of Scandinavian neo- Expressionism. In this way the conservation area is further distinguished in displaying de Soissons’ apparently deliberate change of reference where ecclesiastical architecture was concerned, with the neo-Georgian and Arts & Crafts styles continuing to dominate commercial and The White Bridge provides a commanding viewpoint domestic buildings respectively. from the north of the Garden City

on down the length of Parkway is superb and valued locally.

101 The institutional and civic buildings around the north side of The Campus display a variety of styles, ranging from the Modernist Campus West building (1973-5), to the 1935 neo-Georgian Garden City style of the Council Offices building located Red brick simplicity extends to the Garden City’s at the south east corner. Between ecclesiastical architecture, as the Church of St the two buildings lie the c. 1958 Francis of Assissi shows. Oaklands College campus and the Police Station of c. 1965. Although The Campus/College Way the architectural styles vary, the use of materials sympathetic to the 99 The Campus is situated towards the theme of traditional Garden City northern end of the conservation architecture, together with the well area and borders an informal green treed and spacious settings of the open space featuring mature trees buildings, integrates well with the and winding pathways. The surroundings. Their role as interface formality of the rigid town structure between the commercial is retained only in the design of the architecture of the town centre and pedestrian walkway which cuts the residential areas to the north, is through the centre of the open well conceived and generally space and links The Campus to effective. Parkway.

100 The northern end of The Campus 102 Pevsner was more critical, open space is elevated and the observing: ‘the Campus…was view from the White Bridge on intended to have important public Digswell Park Road, across the buildings. They have been built at sloping green of The Campus and different dates, and the result is somewhat lopsided.’

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The Modernist Campus West building (left) contrasts with the Neo-Georgian Council Offices (right)

Residential Areas are more likely to retain their full cultural significance where no part 103 Houses in the residential areas vary of their architectural language is in size, type (detached, semi- arbitrarily altered. Where detached, terraced), style and appropriate, properly handled detail, from the predominant red extensions are part of the standard brick neo-Georgian, through brick or conservation toolkit. Small but stucco faced Arts and Crafts, to unthinking alterations however, can experimental groups such as the irreversibly degrade an otherwise Daily Mail Model Village, with the interesting “original” house, or a occasional modern or quirky design whole group of houses. Painting, interspersed. Few groups or blocks rendering or cladding of one house of flats lie within the conservation in a uniform terrace is an obvious area. In general however, houses example. The process has often and areas have more features in been compared to, say, altering a common than factors which divide Rembrandt painting in an abstract them: suburban character, grassed manner. and planted road verges, front gardens or communal greens, 105 The preservation of a conservation consistency of layout, building area’s buildings depends upon forms, materials and details, often being able to make correct with carefully orchestrated judgements about their capacity to variations. From house to house, accommodate change. The group to group, or street to street, residential areas of Welwyn Garden distinctiveness is the rule. Defining City are heavily dependent for their character areas may therefore integrity on consistency of style, in sometimes seem artificial. groups, or within individual houses. Their external appearance 104 Buildings of any period, particularly invariably expresses the period in (but not exclusively) those which which they were created, and the have been designed as a whole, design intentions of their authors.

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An Arts and Crafts language defines the architecture of The Orchard. Note however the inappropriate replacement glazing materials that can erode the group’s integrity.

This authenticity can easily be 7.2 Local Distinctiveness eroded and eventually destroyed incrementally. The Orchard

106 Capacity for change is not however 107 The Orchard is a most attractive confined to buildings. The and peaceful enclave on account of character and openness of spaces the layout, form and proportions of between them, the layout of an its two-storey terrace housing, with area, the landscape quality and the steep, tiled roofs. Note how the end impact of vehicles, traffic, services of the terrace houses are brought and street furniture require similar forward of the rest. The style of this judgements to be made. Local ensemble can described as being in distinctiveness, area by area, is a sub-Arts & Crafts manner. Some described below. inappropriate window pattern material and glazing alterations which detract from the original unity of the group can be seen here. This area also contains the Tennis Club, a unique feature due to its location and access.

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Poor imitations: inappropriate materials and inconsistent window patterns detract from the unity of the overall group

The Vineyard

108 At the Vineyard, only the Barn, Coneydale and Pentley Park by formerly part of Digswell Lodge Mauger and Kent. Of particular Farm buildings is included in the interest is No. 34 Coneydale; a conservation area on account of its ‘Moderne’ design by Paul Mauger, age, associations and surviving dating from the 1930s. However, representation of development the original façade has been which predates, like the 1876 house somewhat compromised by the on Bridge Road, the rest of the addition of stylistically inappropriate Garden City. neo-Georgian columns, which support the entrance of the later garage extension. The replacement Coneydale window glazing is also inconsistent with the original design. 108 Coneydale is a leafy, pleasant road, with street trees, front garden planting and mature hedging providing the attractive setting. Here, three flat-roofed yellow-brick 1930s houses were built in 33 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

Woodland Rise

111 This area is notable for containing some unaltered houses of a later period, adhering less rigidly to the neo-Georgian, where fenestration used was small paned Crittal steel casement windows in place of the timber Georgian type sashes. There are also 1960s bungalows in an authentic condition. The green No. 34 Coneydale, an example of 1930’s ‘Moderne’ design by Paul Mauger. setting is comparable to that at Coneydale.

Reddings

110 Typical houses along the Reddings are brick built, with variations in colour, apparently dating from the 1950s through the 1970s, some with later extensions. Architecturally, they tend to be very plain. However, this austerity is relieved and complimented by the Authenticity is evident in Woodland Rise. generously leafy surroundings which are comparable to Sherrards Park Road Coneydale. 112 In Sherrards Park Wood the land rises to 400 feet above mean sea level. Sherrards Park Road typically consists of detached two storey red- brick housing dating from the 1950s onwards. Some properties do retain original features such as Crittal windows and oak front doors (i.e. No. 5). Note the unusual green roof tiling at No. 10 Sherrards Park Road. The green setting is comparable to that at Coneydale. Later, post de Soissons approach at The Reddings, with houses set in leafy surroundings.

34 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

No.5 (left) and No. 10 Sherrards Park Road. Note original fenestration and departure from Neo-Georgian.

Brockswood Lane The landscape treatment remains a special feature. The power of trees 113 Even before the town plan had and shrubs to mellow newly- been made, construction of the first constructed buildings and create houses had begun and these streetscapes is shown by the included some in Brockswood Lane, ‘before and after’ photographs on p. the earliest of which, on the north 153, taken from the same spots in side, can be identified from 1927 and 1955. Brockswood Lane photographs on p.153 of Maurice features a range of two storey white de Soissons’ book (op cit). These stuccoed semi-detached houses, were designed by C. M. Hennell which reveal some Arts & Crafts and C. H. James for a ‘public utility influence and whose group value society’ under the 1919 Housing becomes especially attractive when Acts, known as Labour Saving viewed looking from either end Houses. They are outstanding along the road. Houses in a similar examples of small houses, style at the western end of the road, designed for easy running. together with a single diagonally placed house, mark the edge of the conservation area.

Some of the earliest houses in Brockswood Lane mark the 24 High Oaks Road demonstrates the introduction of edge of the conservation area boundary. individually designed homes in the Garden City.

35 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

High Oaks Road alone creating a very pleasant residential backwater, undisturbed 114 Individuals built their own houses in by through traffic. There are this road, lying along the western fastigiate hornbeams trees. Here, edge of the conservation area, in the neo-early Georgian house is which the plots were sold off. This one of the grandest private houses accounts for the wider variety of in Welwyn Garden City. On a styles compared with other roads in landlocked triangular site behind Welwyn Garden City. Whilst this group lies a small tennis club, maintaining consistent scale and accessible only on foot and valued house size, the release of this as a convenient recreational facility individuality produced some as well as for its openness. distinctive results. These include No. 24, a very horizontal residence, with its original timber windows. Within Welwyn Garden City’s residential stock, this is an unusual design. Other notable houses in the road include the Arts & Crafts treatment of a corner/road junction house, with its steep, tiled roof and broad chimney breast.

Dognell Green is home to several of the Garden City’s grandest private houses.

Brockett Close

116 Brockett Close is like an expanded version of The Orchard. Two storey red-brick terrace housing with end properties brought forward. Note that many of the original windows

Arts and Crafts approach to the corner treatment of this survive and that there are passage group at High Oaks Road and Brockswood Lane. ways through the depth of the buildings, as well as neo-Georgian Dognell Green architraves, well-designed fenestration, and note also the 115 Named after the name of the hamlet linking far side corner entrances. that stood close by, it was fully built The ambience throughout is very up by the mid-1920s. Originally communal. planned as a through road, it became a cul-de-sac, this change

36 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

The communal setting of Brockett Close is enhanced by it’s sense of enclosure. Unfortunately, incremental uPVC window replacement is eroding coherence of the group.

Valley Road must be acknowledged as important and distinctive contributions to the 117 This is a major artery linking Bridge character of the conservation area. Road/Brockswood Lane with the A1(M) junction and access ramp. Attimore Road With the exception of a small group of terraced properties the southern 119 Sweeping round part of the western end, most of the houses in Valley edge of the conservation area, Road are semi detached or Attimore Road is on the site of Bull detached, linked by garages and Raffing Common, originally outbuildings to create a sense of common land prior to the enclosure continuity. The spaces between the of 1750. A Belgic burial site has buildings at first floor level are been discovered there. The road important to the rhythm of was prepared for housing from July development. At the junction with 1926. A number of houses on Russellcroft Road, Valley Green, Attimore Road are of interest. Note framed by a symmetrical house the neo-Flemish No. 59, which is layout of houses terminates the very pretty. Note, too, its attractive vista and provides a picturesque fenestration and empathic Northern “village green” scene. European-style gable.

118 De Soissons’s plan, included a number of culs-de-sac, or closes, located off Valley Road, Handside Lane and other roads in the conservation area. Carefully composed groups of houses are ranged round the open spaces, creating a sense of calm and repose, away from busy main roads, that be even more highly valued today. Collectively, these Neo-Flemish gable detail at 59 Attimore Road.

37 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

Handside Lane, in existence prior to the establishment of the Garden City, retains its rural ambience.

Handside Lane local workers parking. Particularly fine are the pair of houses Nos. 102 120 This was a rural road, predating the & 104, in a high Georgian rectory establishment of Welwyn Garden style. They are built in 2” bricks, but City. Even before the town plan one of the pair has been poorly re- had been completed, construction pointed. Handside Lane also gives of the first houses, designed by C M access to several closes, including Crickmer, had begun in Handside the Daily Mail Model Village, Barn Lane, with the town’s first residents Close and the Barn Theatre, the moving into No 39. Friends Meeting House and a Synagogue. 121 Handside Lane, which has retained a rural ambience with its sinuous course, many original hedgerows, Applecroft Road wide verges, and varied building styles, may well have been a 122 The Applecroft name was chosen primary source for de Soissons’ from among the names of the fields, planning, which simply incorporated commons, and cottages and farm it. A long road, close to the town groups that had existed since the centre, Handside Lane can suffer enclosures before 1750. In 1921 it from commuters and was intended that fifty council

38 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

No’s. 102 & 104 Handside Lane, a handsome and well presented pair in Georgian rectory style, with the exception of the inferior repointing to the left hand building.

houses should be built in Elm Gardens and Applecroft Road. This Barleycroft Green was the first local authority scheme for Welwyn Rural District Council 123 Located off Barleycroft Road, and the houses were designed by Barleycroft Green was built in 1932 Louis de Soissons. Eventually, a and designed by A.W. Kenyon. The total of 44 three- and four- rhythms created by the gable ended bedroomed houses of red stock orientation of the houses onto the bricks and clay pantiles were built, generous open space, together with at a density of 10.95 dwellings per mature planting, make this scene net acre, higher than those in the particularly distinctive, yet southern part of nearby Elmwood consistent with others, such as The and Attimore Road. The linear form Orchard, off Blakemere Road, and of development is cleverly relieved Brockett Close. by its articulation, with alternating groups of two and four houses and variable house designs. Here, at the junction with Barleycroft Road, there is some attractive two storey Arts & Crafts housing, with steep, tiled roofs. Applecroft School was the first to be built in Welwyn Garden City. Its individual architectural language, historical and cultural/educational importance to the community mark it for inclusion as a key building in the Arts & Crafts housing on the junction of Barleycroft and conservation area. Applecroft Road.

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124 The two storey red-brick cottages have steeply-pitched roofs, covered in warm terracotta-coloured clay pantiles. The cottages were originally detached but are now pretty much linked-up by garage extensions. The layout and built forms however have allowed the low extensions to fit in whilst maintaining the important gaps above. Where front hedging has The Daily Mail Model Village. Experimental housing been maintained it helps to conceal promoted the Garden City movement. parked cars in the foreground.

Houses in Barley Croft Green have been extended with Meadow Green is unusual in the Garden City with single storey garages. Rhythm, form and views have its flat roof and horizontal emphasis. been maintained, preserving overall character.

Meadow Green Daily Mail model 126 Maurice de Soissons described the village Village as having ‘some architectural features and a 125 The Meadow Green Daily Mail character of its own, [while] the model village was sponsored by architectural control that was Lord Harmsworth’s Associated exercised succeeded in bringing Newspapers. Employing various them [the houses] into harmony construction methods and with the rest of the town’. Although materials, the village was intended the scheme was not completed, 43 as a practical housing exhibition. It houses were built, and the ‘village’ was meant to be an example of how was opened by Earl Haig in March the huge post-WWI housing 1922. problem might be solved, and to fight public indifference to the 127 As its title implies, the Model Village Garden City movement. was intended to give both the Daily Mail and the sponsoring house

40 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

builders good publicity for their The Old Drive products, as well as provide new houses consistent with the Welwyn 129 Here de Soissons laid out triangular Garden City ethos. The beds of roses and shrubs the distinguishing quality of the junction with Handside Lane, in ensemble is of course its conjunction with great field and experimental approach, with hedgerow trees. Opposite The Old considerable variation in form, Drive, on Handside Lane, there is a construction and language. series of steep roofed gabled houses, some of which are turned 128 Here there is a terrace which is to face the road, the variations distinctively different from its increasing their rhythmic effect and neighbours, or any other group in group interest. Low garage infills the Village or Welwyn Garden City - do not unduly disturb the scene. a white, low-lying, flat roofed block of horizontal emphasis in its proportions and fenestration. Note, Bridge Road too, the broad lawn in front of the Village which provides, as in 130 Two houses on Bridge Road (west) several other places in Welwyn which predate Welwyn Garden City Garden City, an open, ‘village are considered to be key buildings green’ setting. The Welwyn Garden on account of their historic interest: City Society’s leaflet, in which the original 1922 descriptions of the a. No 39, an ancient house and Model Village houses are the oldest survival in Welwyn reproduced, adds considerably to Garden City; understanding and appreciating this unique development.

Steeply roofed gabled houses in The Old Drive. Garage extensions are later additions.

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b. A house of 1876 with double pair of unusual houses, faced in gable. The bulk, height and apparently artificial stone blocks, density of the large blocks of with a brick tiled string course. The flats (Woodside House) siting in relation to the road junction nearby are discordant with and unaltered exterior create both the prevailing, small scale interest and a sense of authenticity. character of the residential areas.

Above: Built as Victorian estate workers cottages in “Stone” clad houses at the junction of Handside 1876, No.’s 52 & 54 Bridge Road pre-date the Lane and Youngs Rise contribute to the visual interest of the area Garden City. Below: The former Cherry Tree.

131 Notable also is the original Cherry Guessens Road Tree building, now part of a supermarket. 133 Guessens Road was one of the first to be laid out. It adjoins the town centre and therefore can suffer from Youngs Rise commuter and office workers parking there. In 1923 Welwyn 132 At the junction of Youngs Rise and Rural District Council was well into Handside Lane is no. 1 Youngs the construction of its second Rise and no. 100 Handside Lane, a scheme, 93 houses in Guessens

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Road, swiftly erected without cavity Guessens Court walls, which appear to survive at the southern end of the road. 135 Designed by the architect H. Clapham Lander for the New Town 134 If Welwyn Garden City had a Trust Ltd, this ‘set piece’ is in the meritocratic aristocracy, they form of a quadrangle, framed by certainly all chose to reside in two storey ranges of service flats, Guessens Road, as is evident from with a restaurant block. The the listings, below, for this road. attractive central lawn, acts as Typical housing consists of semi- urban lung as well as a fine setting. detached red-brick houses with The unity of the simple sub- steep, tiled roofs and emphatic, classical symmetry, with raised angled chimney stacks. Houses on stuccowork, is entirely intact. Note the east side tend to be detached. too, the engineering brick plinths The following houses are of and the attractive handling of the particular interest: arched entrance ways.

1 No. 5 Guessens Road was the home of Sir Ebenezer Howard during the early development of the town.

2 No. 9 Guessens Road, featuring mature oaks, was formerly the home of Sir Theodore Chambers, then subsequently the Public Library, education offices Guessens Court. and currently occupied by a children’s day nursery.

3 Sir Frederic Osborn lived at No. 16 Guessens Road from 1927-78.

4 Louis de Soissons lived at No. 17 from 1925-37. This is surprisingly modest – a two storey red-brick box with a steep tiled roof, but not the only house he occupied. Longcroft Lane Area Note the unusual façade fenestration – the return 136 This is the principal road running elevation’s fenestration being south from the Town Centre, and more conventional, with its one of the few straight residential four sash windows. roads in the CA. Development

43 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

along this road is consequently of the railway line, appear to have quite linear in character, with two been geared to lower income storey cottage style houses groups. Conversely, property to the grouped into terraces. To west, where the conservation area compensate, their building lines is drawn, has both generated and often break forward and back to reflected higher prices and create a more varied streetscape. incomes.

137 The absence of original provision 140 In terms of usage, the conservation for car parking has resulted in area can be divided into three additional hardstandings being categories: created to accommodate vehicles, some of which are being resurfaced • Commercial/retail in the Town in ad-hoc, uncoordinated materials. Centre. Removal of front hedging, another • Civic area around The consequence of the parking Campus. situation, further reduces the more • Residential areas to the north, intimate scale and setting. west and south of the Town Centre. 138 To the east of Longcroft Lane lies a recently developed estate, 141 Although a carefully planned comprising a series of cul-de-sacs. network of roads links all areas in Although still immature, density the conservation area, they were here appears greater and houses not designed for the traffic and tend to have simplified detailing parking pressure they now have to compared with those on Longcroft accommodate. Issues arising from Lane itself. The absence of these conditions are discussed chimneys from their rooflines also further below. The railway line to diminishes interest. the east and the A1(M) to the west also restrict E-W movement to a few crossing points. 7.3 Activity

139 The emphasis throughout Welwyn 7.4 Architectural and Historic Garden City was based on Qualities of Buildings egalitarian principles; therefore even the ‘grandest’ homes (i.e. 142 Architecturally, although much of homes in Parkway, Guessens Road Welwyn Garden City is neo- or the neo-early Georgian house at Georgian, it is a very simple neo- Dognell Green) are relatively Georgian, pared-down, free of too modest. Such an emphasis many features and therefore was reflected the visionary aims of Sir eminently suitable for the C20th. Ebenezer Howard and the founding Although neo-Georgian revival was fathers of Welwyn Garden City. also not uncommon elsewhere That is not to say there is no during the 1920s and 30s, the hierarchy at all; smaller properties, planned, singularly controlled developed to higher densities east concentration here is unique. On

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the whole, while individual buildings c. Architectural Significance - of all styles, public and private, are Buildings or structures of apparently not considered at this local architectural point in time to be of such significance for aesthetic exceptional merit as to be eligible merit or craftsmanship of any for listing, the collection is of the period; principal works of highest significance, defining the principal architects or character of the Garden City and designers of local vital to its integrity. Architectural importance; exemplars of significance can therefore be seen key building types. as local or regional. Key unlisted d. Local technological buildings are set out below. significance or innovation. e. Historic Significance – 143 The few listed buildings present Buildings/structures contribute because their age and illustrating or associated with character provide a link with the local pre-history of the Garden City. With architectural/social/cultural the exception of a small number of history or events, locally or negative buildings (identified on the nationally well known people. map) the historic significance of the f. Townscape Significance - collection, which is inseparable from Individual buildings, objects the City’s concept and planning, is or groups of exceptional of national and international quality in their context - for significance. However, by way of example, landmark buildings, example, the rather dated notable buildings marking or Postmodernism of the Howard creating interesting places, Centre (1989) does not fit entirely vistas, or interesting skylines. comfortably with the earlier, more reticent, architecture. 145 The buildings below are recommended as key buildings and illustrated on the map in Appendix 7.5 Contribution made by key 1. These should be considered for unlisted buildings inclusion on a local list. The importance of a local list is twofold: 144 Key unlisted buildings are those to acknowledge and raise which fall within one or more of the awareness of buildings of higher following criteria: than average importance and to establish potential candidates for a. Age – the earliest buildings statutory listing, particularly where in WGC should merit greater their significance may be attention towards diminished or through alteration or preservation. lost entirely through demolition. b. Authenticity - Buildings or Those marked * are recommended structures should be as potentially suitable for substantially unaltered and consideration by English Heritage should retain the majority of for statutory listing. their original features.

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• The Council Offices (original • Former Post Office building, building), The Campus No. 15 Howardsgate • Original Cherry Tree building, (de Soissons, 1929) Bridge Road • Original Gas Board building • Welwyn Stores building (de • Lloyds Bank building Soissons, 1938) • Nos. 31-33 Howardsgate & • *Detached houses, Nos. 8-22 No. 49 Howardsgate Parkway (Marshall Sissons, 1930) (de Soissons, 1924, individual • Nos. 51-63 & 52-68 architectural quality and group Howardsgate value) • Nos. 41-53 & 36-42 Wigmores • HSBC Bank building, No. 14 North Howardsgate (de Soissons, Peacock, (de Soissons, 1929, Hodges and Robertson, 1959) architectural quality) • Nos. 4-16 & 7-17 Wigmores • Nos. 12-24 & 30-50 South Howardsgate • Nos. 26-40 & 7-35 Stonehills (de Soissons, 1929, • Nos. 2-6, 32-44 & 37-43 architectural quality) Fretherne Road • Original Barclays Bank • *Original School/Cottage building, No. 13 Howardsgate Hospital building, Church (de Soissons, 1929) Road (architectural quality)

The Lloyds Bank building.

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Unity Church, Parkway.

• * The Free Church, Church • No 21 High Oaks Road, at the Road (architectural quality) junction with Dognell Green • *No 5 Guessens Road – (occupied by Louis de residence of Ebenezer Howard Soissons) (association with historically • *102-104 Handside Lane, important persons) Queen Anne Style, designed • *No 9 Guessens Road – by Theodore Lake, erected by residence of Sir Theodore disabled ex-servicemen as Chambers part of the Daily Mail (association with historically Model Village important persons) (architectural quality and social • *No 16 Guessens Road – significance) residence of Sir Frederic • *Handside Close, designed by Osborne Louis de Soissons (association with historically (architectural group value) important persons) • *Applecroft School, Applecroft • *No 17 Guessens Road – Road residence of Louis de (architectural and historic Soissons importance) (association with historically • *Unity Church, 69 Parkway important persons) (architectural quality) • Original advertising • *Catholic Church, 81 Parkway stanchions, Town Centre (architectural quality) • 50 Church Road 47 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

• *Houses by CM Crickmer in 7.6 Local detail, prevalent local and Handside Lane 29-51 odd and traditional building materials and 42-60 even (architectural the public realm group and historic importance as first houses) 147 In the most numerous, neo- • *The White Bridge, by Louis Georgian buildings, the de Soissons (architectural predominant local facing materials quality) are red brick walling, white painted • Coronation Fountain, Parkway softwood sash windows and red • Ebenezer Howard Memorial, clay tiled roofs. Doors and door Parkway at Howardsgate cases are painted timber. The • The Vineyard Barn, Digswell architecture intentionally reflects Rise authentic Georgian buildings in • The Friends Meeting House, Welwyn, Old Hatfield and St Albans 109 Handside Lane nearby. In the earlier houses, • Pair of Victorian estate mansard roofs and dormer windows workers’ cottages, 52-54 featured strongly. Later building Bridge Road, predating WCG tended towards steeply pitched roofs. Stone dressings and details • The pair of white cottages, 48- appear occasionally, particularly on 50 Bridge Road public or commercial buildings, • *St Francis of Assisi, Church Decorative elements include Road pilasters and pediments to building • Christ Church 110 Parkway entrances, and occasional stucco • Daily Mail Model Village detailing.

148 Arts & Crafts forms and details

made their appearance early as

well. The first houses, by Crickmer

in Handside Lane, were faced in

stucco, with painted timber

casement windows and hipped tiled

roofs. Later houses, sometimes in

groups or terraces often took

gabled forms and were fitted with

metal casement windows. Doors Despite UPVC door and window replacements, 5 and door cases were painted Guessens Road, the former home of Ebenezer Howard, is recommended for statutory listing. timber. Some additions to the town centre and residential areas, particularly in the early post war 146 With further potential for applying period vary according to materials the above criteria, it is then available, but generally the recommended that proposed pattern of red-brick, pan tile roofs additions to the above list are and sash windows continued into evaluated for inclusion as they arise the 1960s. and that the list is reviewed at least

once every five years.

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149 The public realm comprises all 151 Street lighting in the town centre, elements within public highways or The Campus and some residential open spaces. It is what connects streets is distinctive Welwyn buildings with one another, creates Garden City lanterns on steel a positive or negative setting or columns. Elsewhere, standard experience and forms the space pattern lanterns are used. In some within which people interact. In residential streets standard Welwyn Garden City the public fluorescent fittings have been realm includes generous introduced. landscaped spaces as well as highway floorscapes, lighting, 152 Engineering works in the highway engineering works, street furniture, are the pedestrian underpasses, sculptures and monuments. introduced for pedestrian safety to cope with the increasing volume of traffic around Bridge Road. As with many such works throughout the UK, their necessity degrades an otherwise pleasant and safe pedestrian environment.

Example of random floorscape treatment in the public realm. Note original guard rails in background.

150 Floorscapes include footways, verges, kerbs and roadways. Footways are generally concrete paving slabs. Kerbs are concrete sections, dropped and studded at pedestrian crossings in the town centre. In residential areas footways and paths are concrete paving slabs or tarmac. Verges, Distinctive original lighting survives in Howardsgate. where present, are grassed, typically with mature tree planting. 153 Street furniture such as benches, Roadways are tarmac, except litter bins, bollards and guard rails is where traffic calming tables have of a common proprietary nature and been installed. In Sir Theodore’s are often uncoordinated. Notable Way, a distinctive 1950s pedestrian exceptions, distinctive to Welwyn paving pattern, visible in a period Garden City include the town centre photograph, is no longer present. poster stanchions, low guard rails in Floorscape materials are often Howardsgate and railings in Sir varied in an uncoordinated manner. Theodore’s Way.

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154 Other distinctive public realm and Howardsgate and provide a features include numerous statues complimentary setting for the rigid and monuments throughout the formation of the buildings in the town, and the special metal canopy town centre. Along the length of marking an entrance to Anniversary Howardsgate, the composition of Garden. The many greens and geometrically placed hedges, rows squares in residential areas also of perimeter lime trees, paved form part of the public realm. walkways and open spaces achieves a spacious and distinctive urban character, which is further 7.7 The contribution made by enhanced by specially designed de greenery and green spaces Soissons street lights and advertising kiosks. 155 The quantity, layout and design of landscape and green space in all its 156 Parkway, by contrast, is less forms are inseparable from the enclosed and derives its character vision, planning and execution of from its spacious, park-like layout the Garden City. Hedging is the and the long north-south vistas it main form of enclosure for both provides. The Campus, which forms public and private open space. the head of Parkway, is partly Lime, Horse Chestnut, Lombardy wooded with mature trees and Poplar and Hornbeam trees, rose provides a sustainable transition and shrub beds are set formally from the formality of the dense town within the open spaces of Parkway centre to the spaciousness of the residential areas to the north.

Formal geometry of the generous open space in Howardsgate.

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Parkway and The Campus are measures or redevelopment. They included on the list of Unregistered include: Historic Parks and Gardens in • The multi-storey car park at Appendix 2 of the Welwyn Hatfield Bridge Road District Plan 2005. • Health Centre, Birdcroft Road

• Multi-storey car park, Osborne 157 In residential areas, verges and Way (rear of Howard Centre) street trees define the spaces between roadway and footway, • College Way car park typically edged in turn by the hedged boundaries of private gardens. Where these elements are missing or eroded, the local character is degraded. The role of some spaces such as Parkway in creating or terminating vistas has been noted above.

158 Landscaping, therefore, is a foremost feature in the character of the conservation area and was Negative impact of multi-storey car park in Bridge Road. originally designed to provide the public with a continuous park-like environment throughout residential, 161 Negative extensions are those educational and commercial areas which detract significantly from the of the city. original form or appearance of a building or group.

7.8 Negative factors - The extent of 162 Incremental alteration is the most loss, intrusion or damage seriously degrading threat to the character of the conservation area. 159 Negative factors can be categorised Most of these occur as “permitted as follows: development” to individual houses. They can affect whole groups of • Buildings houses which were intended to be • Extensions part of a single composition. • Alterations Common alterations include: • Shopfronts • Replacement windows of Landscape • different patterns and • Public realm elements materials to the originals • Traffic engineering measures • Replacement doors of different patterns and materials to 160 Negative buildings (marked on the originals appended map) are those which • Poor siting of rooflights detract from the character of the • Poor siting of solar panels conservation area and would • Obtrusive external plumbing, benefit from major enhancement meter boxes,

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• Poorly sited or designed change against impact on signage character. The problem is often not whether change per se can be 163 Many shopfronts originally designed accommodated, but managing it as an integral part of the building through good design and co- have been altered. Oversized ordination, and preventing fascias or sub-fascias, reflective or discordant, ad-hoc measures. strongly coloured materials, oversized or poorly designed 165 Public realm elements also need to lettering, internal illuminated signs, be better co-ordinated. Seemingly excessive lighting and obtrusive arbitrary variation in street furniture security measures all detract from and fittings, from distinctive Welwyn the intended harmony and unity. Garden City models to standard utilitarian types suggests the need for a detailed inventory in which design, date installed and quality are recorded as part of the overall enhancement strategy. Occasional uncoordinated signage, creating unnecessary clutter, would benefit from rationalisation.

166 Traffic engineering measures, especially in the town centre, have

Replacement shopfronts in Welwyn Garden City increasingly favoured vehicles at

detract from the original form and intended unity of the expense of pedestrians. the parent building.

164 The quality of soft landscape and

planting generally epitomise the

garden city concept. The chief

threat to it is erosion. In the public

realm this has taken the form of

increasing traffic and parking

capacity at the expense of

landscape. In residential streets

and closes, parking space has been

created with a variety of lay-bys,

grasscrete and hard standings, Subway at Bridge Road testifies to difficult pedestrian

sometimes accompanied by circulation in this area.

removal of front boundary hedging. Examples include: Balancing the need or demand for road and parking space with • The subways that channel environmental quality, sustainability pedestrians across the and energy saving objectives is a gyratory system to or from national problem. The issues for buildings around The Campus. the conservation area are therefore

to correctly weigh capacity for

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• Fretherne Road and the • The Police Station eastern end of Church Road • Campus West • The car park behind Wigmores • Woodside House, Bridge Road South • Old Parkway School • The subway/car park entrance at Church Road (east) near Parkway.

Subway and guardrails at Church Road Height and form of Campus West is questioned

7.9 The existence of any neutral 7.10 General condition of the area and areas built fabric

167 Neutral buildings and areas are 168 On the whole this is good but there marked on the map. They include: are areas, especially in the town centre, which appear poorly • The Sainsbury’s building maintained or eroded, as described (1982) on Parkway and and exemplified above. Private Church Road, with its ‘blind’ housing, throughout, seems to be bays onto Parkway and over well-maintained. scaled service entrance.

7.11 Problems, pressures and the capacity for change

169 The Town Centre plots of the masterplan have been gradually developed to the pattern so strongly set by de Soissons, though the detailed design of more recent buildings sometimes fails to live up to that of the best earlier work. An example is The Howard Centre, Unfriendly “blind” façade of Parkway supermarket where lack of interest in the upper storey and crude Post-modern

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entrance monumentality seem summarised together with issues misplaced. The few places now identified by stakeholders, as set remaining however offer fresh out below. opportunities for reinterpreting the established idiom as high quality, 173 Issues, identified by stakeholders contextual yet contemporary from the initial questionnaire architecture. consultation include:

• a large number of uPVC 170 The residential areas have window and door generally maintained their replacements character. The original • removal of front hedge neighbourhood layouts were, boundaries perhaps unknowingly, designed • extensive areas of hard with sufficient loose-fit to allow for standings in front gardens modest extensions, garaging and parking where car ownership was • some bulky extensions previously almost non-existent. • poor quality and uncoordinated Although some erosion of setting shopfronts has taken place, as described • some loss of views through above, due to parking and traffic gaps between buildings pressure, the primary threat lies in • increased street clutter the potential for uncontrolled, • inferior/uncoordinated street divergent alteration and the furniture cumulative impact of poor • uncoordinated or inferior maintenance, e.g. bad pointing. repaving • erosion of verges to roads to 171 As highlighted above, the accommodate parking conservation area covers only the • erosion of integrity of western part of the original Master relationship between buildings Plan area, the railway line acting as and local open spaces the great divide. Pressure for • lack of traffic and speed change in the eastern sector, restraint including recent higher density, • poorly designed car parks, housing is degrading the global some inconvenient pedestrian historic significance of the planned crossings community and the garden city • unpleasant pedestrian ideal. The increasing disparity subways between east and west Welwyn • inferior design/increased Garden City strongly supports a density of recent housing further conservation area review of developments the eastern sector. 174 Calls for further, pro-active 172 Long term erosion of a number of guidance have been received from important features and stakeholders, whose comments are characteristics, has been identified summarised below. The evidence throughout this report and can be presented through this appraisal

54 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

suggests that, where alteration to Council on how the consultations individual properties is concerned, have been taken into account in erosion of character can be resisted redrafting the appraisal and either through rigorous and consistent feedback provided. application of the Management Plan, by imposing an Article 4 Direction, or both. Enhancement can be promoted 8.1 Phase 1 Consultation primarily through commissioning and adoption of good design guidance or 177 The questionnaire was sent to 27 codes both for potential applicants and groups and individuals as advised in the public realm. by the Client. These included Council Members, specialist advisors, residents associations, 8.0 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT amenity, business and other groups and individuals who had responded 175 In accordance with English Heritage to local plan consultations on best practice advice, the Council’s conservation matters. Of these, 9 brief included a requirement to responses (33.3%) were received. involve named key stakeholders in The most significant positive the appraisal process. These themes expressed were: included Councillors and officers as well as community and special • Low density, human scale, interest organisations. The two well ordered, generally principal means to do this were pleasant place to live. agreed as: • Consciousness and pride in • A questionnaire, the content of Welwyn Garden City’s historic which was agreed with the importance. Client, requiring careful • Overall architectural consideration and in some coherence, with studied instances detailed responses, variation enhancing and, attractiveness. • Generous open spaces and • A workshop session with gardens, excellent landscape stakeholders which would qualities, mature trees. follow circulation of the draft • Many excellent views and appraisal. vistas, both dramatic (Parkway from the bridge) and intimate 176 The brief required an analysis and (hidden communal report of questionnaire responses. gardens/play areas). Hence, careful regard to the questionnaire responses has been 178 Negative themes in questionnaires paid in the draft text, which could returned are set out, with our then self evidently form a body of responses, in the following table: feedback for review at the workshop. Following the workshop, the team would again report to the

55 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

Issue Response

1 Inferior new development, alteration and Agree, as noted in text. extension.

2 Overdevelopment. We are not convinced from observation that overdevelopment is a significant problem.

3 uPVC window and door replacements. Agree, we consider this problem to be rampant and seriously degrading.

4 Failure to enforce management scheme, See our comments under leading to bad permitted development. Management Scheme below.

5 Low quality shopfronts/lack of guidance. Agree, SPD and strict control is recommended.

6 Howard Centre disappointing. Agree, see comment in text.

7 Abandonment of specially designed Agree, see comment in text. street furniture and floorscape.

8 Removal of front hedges/ boundaries for Agree, see comment in text. hardstanding.

9 Erosion of open space and setting of Partly agree – there may be a need buildings through parking, garaging, new for design guidance and co-ordinated development. public realm design.

10 Felling of mature trees. Recognise that management of aged trees is necessary, lack evidence to support contention of unnecessary felling.

11 Failure to list key buildings of interest. Agree. See list in text.

12 Central retail and leisure areas should Ideally. Could be highly attractive be car-free. and sustainable, but would require major re-planning to accommodate vehicles at edges of central area.

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8.2 Phase 2 Consultation 181 The Council’s questionnaire was directed at gauging public support for the key issues and 179 Following an informal consultation recommendations of the draft in by questionnaire and an in formal terms of: meeting with resident representatives, the resulting draft • Proposed extensions Appraisal was then subject to • Public ream improvements extensive public consultation by the following measures: • Need for design guidance

a) Two workshop sessions held • Need for additional planning on 20 September 2006, notes control of which are appended. These comprised a presentation of • Identification of key buildings, the content of the draft views and vistas Appraisal, followed by a structured discussion based • Character analysis, local details, on issues identified by open space descriptions delegates, and suggested amendments emerging at the • Identification of negative and end. neutral factors/areas b) Summary leaflet, • Issues identified by stakeholders questionnaire and equal at pre-draft stage opportunities monitoring form sent to 4000 residential and commercial premises, 182 In general, overwhelming support including those potentially was expressed by workshop affected by proposed delegates and respondents to all extensions. questions included in the questionnaire. Many individual c) Full draft, questionnaire, leaflet comments were also received. and equal opportunities form These can be broadly grouped into posted on the Council’s the following categories: website. a) factual and technical accuracy d) Paper copies of all documents b) suggestions for consideration as available to view or buy at various locations. proposed boundary changes c) comment on powers, process or e) Poster and map display. implementation 180 The Council’s full report on consultations can be obtained by d) arguments concerning merit of contacting the Planning Policy Unit buildings or elements at Welwyn Hatfield Council. Contact details can be found at the end of this document. 183 Wherever possible the text has been revised to take account of comments relating to a) and b) 57 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

above. Comments relating to c- and d- are generally beyond the

scope of an appraisal to reconcile,

for example, buildings suggested for local or statutory listing must await the Council’s and/or English Heritage formal consideration. Likewise, issues such as commissioning detailed guidance need to be considered in relation to the future Management Plan stage. Sections which have been Templewood has sensitive scale and detailing, but amended are referenced below. uPVC window replacements undermine authenticity.

9.0 SUGGESTED BOUNDARY Knightsfield, Digswell Road and CHANGES Harwood Hill (part)

184 No areas are recommended for 186 At Knightsfield, de Soissons marked deletion. The map indicates areas the importance of the summit with which are considered to warrant these impressive three-storey extension of the conservation area boundary. The following areas buildings, now listed. Pevsner (shown on the map in Appendix 1) described the ‘houses here, still are recommended for inclusion, for with muted neo-Georgian allusions, reasons set out in the following text: are by L. de Soissons, Peacock, Hodges & Robertson and date from the early 1960s’. These and the Templewood, Pentley Park, other Knightsfield buildings have Pentley Close, Nut Grove, Great considerable presence and relate Dell, Pitsfield, The Vineyard area well to the road layout, where Digswell Road forms a main route 185 These roads mainly comprise later, more simplified neo-Georgian housing, generally two storeys in height. The scale is sensitive, consistent with the Masterplan and works well on the incline. Note such details as the balconies and ‘porthole’ lunettes on certain properties. However, many of the properties have inappropriate modern uPVC window glazing. The area includes the listed Templewood School. The excellent 1950s Templewood School

58 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

De Soissons’ buildings Knightsfield are elegant and 1950’s houses adjoining Knightsfield with original detailing urbane at this gateway to the conservation area.

to the town centre from the north. Lane display similar characteristics- Nos. 2-18 Harwood Hill adjoining well composed groups of houses, Knightsfield are included as part of often with cross-winged gables at a relatively intact group of 1950’s their ends, clad in red brick . The date on both sides of Knightsfield part of Marsden Road between east of Digswell Road. Stanborough Green and the start of the modern bungalows is contiguous and consistent with Heather Road groups within the conservation area and should therefore be included. 188 The houses on the east side of the road form a coherent group which, though later, is consistent with the character of the conservation area and should therefore be included.

Marsden Road (north side), Springfields, Downfields, Stacklands and Lemsford Lane (part) Balcony access flats at Stanborough Green 189 Marsden Road, which connects Handside Lane and Stanborough Green, contains groups of houses 10.0 LOCAL GENERIC GUIDANCE which are consistent with groups in the conservation area. They also 190 Threats to the character of the back onto the large playing field, conservation area have been noted above. The most numerous are within the conservation area and uncontrolled householder therefore form its southern alterations. A Householders Guide backdrop. Springfields, Stacklands, providing topic-based detailed Downfields and part of Lemsford advice on process, acceptable and

59 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

unacceptable design and other Council services to that end should relevant matters should therefore be included. be considered as a priority. This could include reference to the scope of the Management Scheme 10.1 English Heritage criteria (from and details of any Article 4 their publication Conservation Directions, as they may arise. area appraisals) used for assessing the contribution of 191 The main problems and pressures unlisted buildings to a identified in the analyses of the conservation area. character areas, as identified above should be addressed in this guide. 194 Topics could include: • Is the building the work of a particular architect of regional or • Description of principal design local note? features

• Extensions • Has it qualities of age, style, • Building materials and details materials or any other • Roof conversions and dormers characteristics that reflect • Rain and foul water systems those of at least a substantial • Chimneys number of the buildings in the • Porches conservation area? • Windows and doors • Garages and parking spaces • Does it relate by age, materials • Garden buildings or in any other historically • Fences, walls and hedges significant way to adjacent listed • Trees and landscape buildings, and contribute positively • Communication aerials to their setting? • How to make an application • Does it, individually or as part of 192 The Council has already included a group, serve as a reminder of the shopfront guidance in its gradual development of the Supplementary Design Guide settlement in which it stands, or of document. This could be an earlier phase of growth? augmented by a further leaflet detailing acceptable and • Does it have a significant unacceptable approaches and historic association with the Master examples of shopfront installations. Plan or established features such as the road layout, a park, or landscape? 193 Issues concerning works within the public realm, which are within the • Does the building have control of the Council, should be landmark quality, or contribute to grouped together for inclusion in a the quality of recognisable policy document for implementation spaces? by the Council or County Councils, as appropriate. Specific guidance • Does it reflect the traditional on the importance of co-ordinated functional character of, or former design of objects, installations and uses within, the area? surfaces within the conservation area, and of collaboration between

60 WELWYN GARDEN CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL

The Letchworth Heritage • Has it significant historic Foundation associations with local people or http://www.lgchf.com/ past events? The Spirella Building 195 A positive answer to one or more of Letchworth Garden City the above questions is likely to Hertfordshire indicate that the building makes a SG6 4ET positive contribution to the Tel: 01462 476000 character of the conservation area.

English Heritage http://www.english-heritage.org.uk 11.0 SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATION English Heritage PO Box 569 Swindon 11.1 Useful Contacts: SN2 2YP Tel: 0870 333 1181 Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council http://www.welhat.gov.uk/ The Twentieth Century Society http://www.c20society.org.uk Planning Policy Unit, The Campus 70 Cowcross Street Welwyn Garden City London Hertfordshire AL8 6AE EC1M 6EJ Tel: 01707 357000 Tel: 020 7250 3857

Hertfordshire County Council The Town & Country Planning http://www.hertsdirect.org Association http://www.tcpa.org.uk Hertfordshire County Council County Hall 17 Carlton House Terrace Pegs Lane London Hertford SG13 8DQ SW1Y 5AS Tel: 01923 471555 Tel: 020 7930 8903

The Hampstead Garden Suburb The Civic Trust Trust http://www.civictrust.org.uk http://www.hgs.org.uk/hgstrust/inde x.html Essex Hall 1-6 Essex Street 862 Finchley Road, London London WC2R 3HU NW11 6AB Tel: 020 7539 7900 Contact: Jane Blackburn Tel: (020) 8455 1066 or (020) 8458 8085 61 WELWELWYNWYN GAR GARDENDEN CITY CITYCON CONSERVATIONSERVATION ARE AAREAAPP RAPPRAISALAISAL

11.2 Bibliography

The following reference works were used in the preparation of this appraisal:

Management Scheme for Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn Hatfield DC, 1976

Supplementary Design Guidance, Welwyn Hatfield DC, 2005

Maurice de Soissons, Welwyn Garden City: A Town Designed for Healthy Living (Publication for Companies, 1988).

Peter Kidson, Peter Murray and Paul Thompson, A History of English Architecture (Penguin Books, 1979).

Welwyn Garden City Official Handbook (1962).

Welwyn Garden City Official Guide (1967).

Nikolaus Pevsner & Bridget Cherry, The Buildings of England Hertfordshire (1977).

Welwyn Garden City Society, Welwyn Garden City Heritage Map 101 Features Selected by Welwyn Garden City Society (March 1991).

CONSERVATION ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING

SeptemJulyber 20072007

62 APPENDIX 1

ANALYSIS MAP ORIGINAL CA BOUNDARY

EXTENSIONS TO CA APPENDIX 2

VIEWS & VISTAS MAP Appendix 2

Key views & vistas

The following key views and vistas are shown on the appended map:

1 From the White Bridge and The Campus along Parkway.

2 Views in all directions from The Campus.

3 Vistas along Parkway from either end.

4 View from Parkway a long Russellcroft Road.

5 View from Parkway east along Howardsgate.

6 View from Parkway along Church Road, both directions.

7 View from Howard Centre towards Parkway.

8 View northwards from Fretherne Road towards the original Cherry Tree (now Waitrose) building.

9 In a southerly direction from Fretherne Road along Longcroft Lane.

10 Views to/from Knightsfield, at the junction with Digswell Road, in all directions.

11 Views along Stanborough Green, north and south.

12 Views from Russellcroft Road in both directions.

13 Views along Valley Road from Applecroft Road to the A1(M) (contribution to the setting of the CA).

14 Views from Stanborough Road to Parkway (contribution to the setting of the CA). ORIGINAL CA BOUNDARY KEY AREAS OF URBAN OPEN LAND

EXTENSIONS TO CA