Proctor Ebbsfleet & Matthews Built Form Character Study Architects

Proctor Ebbsfleet & Matthews Built Form Character Study Architects Progress Mtg 01 - 23.02.18

1 Scope of the Report: areas of influence

Key

Key opportunity to influence

Limited opportunity to influence

No opportunity to influence

SWANSCOMBE PENINSULA

Croxton Garry Craylands Lane NORTHFLEET RIVERSIDE Northfleet West

Station Quarter Northfleet North East

EBBSFLEET CENTRAL

Northfleet Rise EASTERN QUARRY Castle Hill East Western Cross Alkerden Castle Hill Central Station Quarter South Ebbsfleet Green Castle Hill South Springhead

2 Aerial view: with red line of proposed new neighbourhoods

SWANSCOMBE PENINSULA

Greenhithe

Croxton Garry Craylands Lane NORTHFLEET RIVERSIDE Swanscombe Northfleet West

Station Quarter Northfleet North East

EBBSFLEET CENTRAL Gravesend

Northfleet Rise EASTERN QUARRY Castle Hill East Western Cross Alkerden Castle Hill Central Station Quarter South Ebbsfleet Green Castle Hill South Springhead

3 Nolli Plan: current urban form & public realm

4 Key Narrative: Topography

PLACE NAMES & THE LANDSCAPE PALIMPSEST GEOLOGY LANDSCAPE FEATURES TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE DESIGN RIVER TO MARSH TO CHALK ESCARPMENTS

5 Key Narrative Topography: place names & the landscape palimpsest

The River Thames and its estuary has throughout history been a vital corridor for trade, travel and industry. This landscape now contains a complex ‘palimpsest’ of features dating from the prehistoric periods through to the modern day. The present landscape is a mosaic of dense urban development, commerce and industry, interspersed with tracts of rural countryside and marshland.

The present aspect of the lower Thames Valley is very different from what it was a thousand years ago. Instead of being confined within the regular banks, the river must have spread its sluggish waters over a broad lagoon, which was dotted with marshy islands. Ebbsfleet which is now half a mile from the shore, was a port in the twelfth century, and its name indicates the former existence of a tidal channel at the spot. Even the map to the right demonstrates a very different topography to the landscape today.

Local place names can be seen to have been derived from this natural landscape and kentish names could be used to define areas of new housing typologies and associated new landscape:

HITHE a landing place or small port for ships or boats

FLEET derived from the Norse fliot which means a small river or channel

COMBE a large hollow on the side of a hill

MARSH a low-lying tract of land

PENT slope, inclination Kent PINCH short, steep hill Kent

TOLL row of trees Kent PETT clump of trees Kent ROUGHET small wood of hazel or ash with undergrowth Kent Above: Mudge map of Kent 1807 (crop) POLDER derived from Old Dutch polra, ultimately from - part of land, elevated above its surroundings - reclaimed land defined by a dyke LE STCHEZ place at the edge of a marsh which dries up in summer

6 Key Narrative Topography: geology

The geological strata also represents the changing landscape as layer upon layer has been created. Prehistoric Ebbsfleet was open grass lands, with the previous river to the Thames flowing around 30 meters higher than today through a broad flood plain with shallow wooded valleys. Thurrock 1. Superficial deposits: Tidal river deposits - clay and silt Marsh

2. Bedrock geology: Lewes Nodular Chalk Formation, Seaford Chalk Formation And Newhaven Chalk Formation Tilbury (undifferentiated) - Chalk. or ‘Coombe Rock’ Marsh Sedimentary Bedrock formed approximately 72 to 94 million years ago in the Cretaceous Period. Local environment previously dominated by warm chalk seas. 1 These sedimentary rocks are shallow-marine in origin. They Swanscombe are biogenic and detrital, generally comprising carbonate Greenhithe Marsh material (coccoliths), forming distinctive beds of chalk.

3. Bedrock geology: London clay formation - clay and silt 2 4. Bedrock geology: Thanet Formation - Sand Swanscombe Northfleet Sedimentary Bedrock formed approximately 56 to 59 million years ago in the Palaeogene Period. Local environment previously dominated by shallow seas. 3 Ebbsfleet / These sedimentary rocks are shallow-marine in origin. Fleet They are detrital, ranging from coarse- to fine-grained 4 River valley (locally with some carbonate content) forming interbedded 5 sequences.

5. Bedrock geology: Lambeth Group - Sand, Silt And Clay Sedimentary Bedrock formed approximately 48 to 59 million years ago in the Palaeogene Period. Local environment previously dominated by swamps, estuaries and deltas.

These sedimentary rocks are fluvial, palustrine and shallow-marine in origin. They are detrital, forming deposits reflecting the channels, floodplains and deltas of a river in a coastal setting (with periodic inundation from the sea).

7 Key Narrative Topography: landscape - distinct features to be considered at design stage

chalk escarpments

lake

lake chalk escarpment COOMBE

scarp

FLEET

MARSH

HYTHE

8 Topography: river to marsh to chalk escarpments

9 Key Narrative Topography: figure ground

10 Key Narrative Topography: aerial views

EASTERN QUARRY

11 Key Narrative Topography: aerial views

NORTHFLEET

Church Path Pit Blue Lake

12 Key Narrative Topography: aerial views

GREENHITHE

Craylands Gorge

SWANSCOMBE PENINSULA

Black Duck Marsh

13 Narrative: Coombe

CLIFFE VISUAL STUDY FARMINGHAM VISUAL STUDY SIMPLIFIED MATERIALS / FOCUS ON FORM HOP FARMS / FARMSTEADS CHALK QUARRIES SILHOUETTE BUILDINGS

14 1890s

1890s

COOMBE - Contextual Analysis to Create a Narrative: low chalk escarpment settlement - Cliffe

Cliffe is a village on the Hoo Peninsula. It is of interest as it is an example of a settlement upon a low chalk escarpment overlooking the Thames marshes.

In the late Middle Ages the village of Cliffe supported a port, which thrived until a disastrous fire in 1520 stifled its growth, marking a period of decline, accentuated by the silting of the marshes of the Thames Estuary.

Like Northfleet it supported cement works, that were situated as can be seen on the map top the right on Cliffe marsh, to the west of the village where the chalk cliffs came almost to within a mile of the River Thames. The area also proved a useful source of clay. The riverside location provided ease of transport and wharves were duly built at the mouth of Cliffe creek.

What is of interest on walking around Cliffe is that the high street follows the topography down the hill with secondary streets running in alignment to the chalk escarpment. There are numerous buildings of townscape and visual interest. There are also a number of historic farmsteads, dotted Key around Cliffe, as can be seen highlighted on the map. During the 14th Century Cliffe was the site of a farm owned primary street by the monks of Christ’s Church, Canterbury.

secondary street A row of unnamed children’s graves in the churchyard spurred Charles Dickens to use it as the setting for village centre at off- the beginning of Great Expectations (1860–61), where set in High Street Magwitch jumps out at Pip ‘among the graves by the side of the church porch’. farmstead with long facade looking out over the landscape

Projection: British National Grid

Projection: British National Grid COOMBE - Contextual Analysis to Create a Narrative: chalk quarries

It can be seen from comparing historic maps that the Eastern Quarries were developed between the 1940s and 1960s (map shown to the right).

In 1868 Swanscombe was still a predominantly rural community with many acres under hops and several oast houses in the Swanscombe Street and Milton Street areas. However, Swanscombe Manor, which consisted of most of the land south of Swanscombe Street including the woods, with much land to the east and north of the villages, was sold to Thomas Bevan, one of the cement magnates. This sale signalled the future of much of the arable and woodlands, which would, over the next century, be largely excavated for chalk and clay, thus surrounding Swanscombe with the huge chalk pits that exist today.

Eastern Quarries 1960

Marl Pit by Thomas Hennell (1903-1946) Juxtaposition industry and chalk quarries Northfleet born in Ridley Kent

21 COOMBE - Contextual Analysis to Create a Narrative: gravel works, cement plants and river industry

Shoreham cement works

Gravel grader and batching plant machinery

22 COOMBE SCARP - Historical Analysis to Create a Narrative: watchtowers, beacons and windmills - ridge silhouette buildings

There are numerous examples of a ridge typology as a building forming a distinct outline on the ridge.

As can be seen in the map of 1588 of the Thames defences, windmill hill in Gravesend and Northfleet hill can be seen with buildings of strategic orientation; possibly used as defensive look-outs.

Windmill Hill was formerly the site of a beacon in 1377, which was instituted by King Richard II, and still in use 200 years later at the time of the Spanish Armada. The hill offers extensive views across the Thames and was a popular spot for Victorian visitors to the town because of the camera obscura installed.

Elsewhere villas create a distinct outline on top of the chalk ridges.

1588 map of Thames defenses - extract

Rosherville Gardens Mill Hill Gravesend Greenhithe tower Villas - site of Rosherville Pleasure gardens

23 Narrative: Fleet

NORTHFLEET: WHARVES & WAREHOUSES SOUTHFLEET VISUAL STUDY GREENHITHE VISUAL STUDY GRAVESEND VISUAL STUDY ROMAN SETTLEMENTS

33 FLEET - Historical Analysis to Create a Narrative: trade & industry: wharves, warehouses & kilns

The River Thames historically was a communications corridor and this was accompanied by the development of historic wharves. In Roman times Northfleet was the trading connection on the Thames when the Fleet river was used to link Watling Street to the Thames. When in 1796, James Parker set up kilns on Northfleet creek to make his Roman cement, it was the beginning of a large complex of cement works along this stretch of the river.

‘... we comes to Gravesend, the whole shore being low, and spread with marshes and unhealthy grounds, except with small intervals, where the land bends onwards as at Erith, Greenwich, North-Fleet, etc in which places the chalk hills come close to the river, and from thence to the city of London, and adjacent countries, and even Holland and Flanders, are supplied with lime, for their building, or chalk to make lime, and for other uses..’ Daniel Defoe A Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain - 1724-6

Perhaps some of these industrial forms could be re-worked Bottle kiln - scheduled ancient monument Extent of industry at Northfleet 1939 - showing the creek to the right in a contemporary manner. the oldest cement kiln in the world

Northfleet cement factory circa 1920 - curved roof forms The Creek Northfleet - saw tooth roof forms

34 Narrative: Marsh

POLDERS DEFINED / DEFENSIVE GEOMETRICAL FORMS IN THE MARSH CONSISTENT FACADES ONTO OPEN LAND

39 MARSH - Contextual Analysis to Create a Narrative: polders

‘... The dark flat wilderness beyond the churchyard, intersected with dykes and mounds and gates, with scattered cattle feeding on it, was the marshes; and that the low leaden line beyond was the river; and that the distant savage lair from which the wind was rushing, was the sea...’

The vivid description of the Thames Marshes in Dickens’ Great Expectations is an image that has characterised this area for Centuries. This site although now reclaimed, was up until the early 20th Century a water logged marsh typical to the East Coast, vast areas of which are now protected as vital wetland habitat.

Reclaimed marshland tends to have a very specific landscape structure and boundary conditions. One has only to look at the ‘Polders’ of Holland to see how a combination of natural and man-made landscape combine to create a very interesting hydrology, as well as unique environment for settlements, with defined edges, cultivated tables, drainage and particular housing typologies.

Polders If you look at aerial images of Cliffe Marshes you can see numerous farms located on islands in the marshes. ‘There was a reasonably good path now, mostly on the edge of the river, with a divergence here and there where a dyke came with a miniature windmill on it and a muddy sluice-gate.’ Great Expectations

Perhaps any possible buildings upon Swanscombe Marsh; could be developed from this typology.

Great Expectations - David Lean Cliffe Marshes - polder

40 MARSH - Historical Analysis to Create a Narrative: defensive / defined geometrical forms in the marsh

This area is part of a strong defensive line of forts. Tilbury is one of the finest surviving 17th Century forts in England. The earliest version of the fort, comprising a small blockhouse with artillery covering the river, was constructed by King Henry VIII to protect London against attack from France. Similarly there is a block-house opposite in Gravesend. King Charles II’s Chief Engineer, a Dutchman called Sir Bernard de Gomme, to develop Tilbury Fort’s defences further. The result was a large, five-sided, star-shaped fort with four angular bastions, revetted in brick, with an outer curtain of defences, including two moats and a redoubt; two new gatehouses defended the entrance from the north. The interior of the fort was raised up above the level of the marshes to prevent flooding, and barracks and other buildings were constructed inside.

Diagram of Thames and Medway defenses

West Tilbury Blockhouse strong form / walled Tilbury Fort - 5 sided geometric form and a series of dykes and land forms Coalhouse Fort - blockhouse with dyke

41 MARSH - Contextual Analysis to Create a Narrative: defensive / defined geometrical forms in the marsh

Aigues-Mortes is located in the Petite Camargue some 90 km (56 miles) northwest of Marseille. The mediaeval commune is composed of a portion of the wet plains and lakes of the Petite Camargue. The name comes from the Aigues-Mortes marshes and ponds that stretch around the village and also the fact that there has never been potable water at Aigues-Mortes. The settlement is contained and defined.

Aigues-Mortes - contained settlement in the marsh walled and made up of regular blocks Aigues-Mortes - contained & defined settlement in the marsh

42 MARSH - Contextual Analysis to Create a Narrative: strong elegant and consistent facades onto open land

At Huggins College the building presents a strong geometrical terraced facade, defined by repetitive gables and chimneys facing out onto the landscape.

Tilbury barracks is an elegant terrace facing onto the parade ground.

Tilbury Fort Barracks - flat fronted long regular terrace onto the parade Farmstead - Mixture of roof forms to break down scale and multi-frontage

Huggins College - regular terraces of gable roof and chimney features Huggins College - regular terraces of gable roof and chimney features

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