HERITAGE ASSESSMENT Baughurst House, Wolverton Townsend, Baughurst Hants, RG26 5SS
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HERITAGE ASSESSMENT Baughurst House, Wolverton Townsend, Baughurst Hants, RG26 5SS Proposed Alterations to Main House February 2017 PREPARED BY: PRO VISION PLANNING & DESIGN FOR AND ON BEHALF OF: Mr & Mrs S Hall HERITAGE ASSESSMENT BAUGHURST HOUSE, WOLVERTON TOWNSEND, BAUGHURST, HANTS RG26 5SS PROJECT NO. 2179/HOUSE PREPARED BY: ANDREW PATRICK DiplArch(Portsmouth) DipTP RegdArcht CONSULTANT CHECKED BY: JAMES CLEARY DIRECTOR DATE: FEBRUARY 2017 PRO VISION PLANNING AND DESIGN GROSVENOR COURT WINCHESTER ROAD AMPFIELD WINCHESTER HAMPSHIRE SO51 9BD COPYRIGHT: The contents of this document must not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written consent of PV Projects. CONTENTS Page 1.0 Introduction & Summary 1 2.0 Overview 3 3.0 Description of House as Existing 8 k 4.0 Description of Proposed Changes 12 5.0 Heritage Impact Assessment 14 Appendices Appendix A: Location Plan; Site Plan; Annotated Floor Plans, Architect’s Drawing of 1847 (HCC) Appendix B: Floor Plans and Elevations of House as Existing Appendix C: Floor Plans and Elevations of House as Proposed Appendix D: Photographic Survey 1 1.0 Introduction & Summary 1.1 Pro Vision Planning & Design are instructed by Mr & Mrs S Hall to assess the potential heritage impact of the proposed alterations to the house at Baughurst House, Wolverton Townsend, Baughurst, Hants. Wolverton Townsend is the name of the lane from Pound Green to Townsend and Wolverton. 1.2 This Heritage Statement therefore:- a) Outlines relevant information on the overall complex of buildings and grounds at Baughurst House, as the context for the assessment; b) Describes the existing house, focussing on those elements proposed to be altered; c) Describes the proposed alterations; and d) Assesses the proposed alterations in light of the listed status of the house and their relationship to its special architectural and historic interest and its setting. 1.3 This Heritage Statement has been prepared on the advice of Andrew Patrick DiplArch (Portsmouth) DipTP Rgd, Archt., a one-time Conservation Officer in the South of England. Professionally trained in the south, he has developed a particular focus on the traditional and historic architecture, pattern of development and traditional materials of the region over several decades. He inspected Baughurst House and carried out a photographic survey on Monday 17 October 2016 when the weather was clear with a mix of sunshine and showers. 1.4 Baughurst House stands in open countryside 500m west south-west of Baughurst Parish Church. Approached from Pound Green (to the east) along a lane known as Wolverton Townsend, there is first a drive at an acute angle leading to the stables and former farmyard, then a house (comprising two dwellings). This is followed by a gated drive at right angles to Wolverton Townsend. The main house follows, with its front elevation facing south towards the public highway, but partly screened by heavy hedging and trees. 1.5 The main house comprises: a) The square front portion of 1847; b) The long east elevation extended northwards of circa 1880; c) A billiard room of single storey with flat roof, built to the north-west of the house during the Edwardian era; and d) Miscellaneous flat-roofed extensions joining c) to a) and b). 1.6 Behind the main house, to the north, stand the substantial stables, and beyond them a number of farm buildings of different dates and construction. 1.7 The proposed alterations can be summarised as follows: a) Main Front (south) elevation – no change, but repair and maintenance of existing window units; Heritage Assessment 1 PRO Vision Planning & Design 2179 House February 2017 1 b) East Elevation – remove sky lights from roof and add two dormers; remove unsightly extension and add four new windows to match existing and change others to match existing; add porch to existing door, and remove non-original bay window; c) North Elevation – remove single storey extensions and build new extension on a smaller footprint but partly two storey; d) West Elevation – as North elevation, plus, in addition, change square bay window to semi-circular bay; e) Ground Floor – convert former kitchen to entrance hall; alter toilet next to main stairs; insert opening between two reception rooms; demolish billiard room and existing kitchen and replace by two storey extension; remove walls in c1880 wing to create new dining room; f) First Floor – alter internal stud walls in c1880 wing to create ensuites and bedroom; remove ensuites and partitions to restore central bedroom to south elevation; new two storey rear extension; open up one side of main staircase; various new doorways etc. 1.8 It is concluded that the proposed alterations would be acceptable because: a) Although listed the special interest of the house is not such as to prohibit carefully considered alterations b) The house is mostly of vaguely classical style and all the alterations would be of carefully considered classical design; c) The front elevation, 1847, the main entrance hall and main staircase would all remain unchanged d) The bedroom central to the front elevation on the first floor would be restored; e) The new windows to the c1880 wing would be largely identical with the existing ones and would replace non-original extensions. f) The main stairs, a key feature of the interior, would be enhanced by removal of an intrusive modern half landing; g) The flat-roofed extension (incorporating the Billiard Room) is out of keeping with the rest of the house, with its flat roof, ugly north and west elevations, and up and over garage door, and would be removed and replaced by something much more in keeping; h) There would be no impact at all on any special historic interest the property may possess; i) The special architectural interest of the property would not be diminished, and could be enhanced by d), e) f) and g) above. Heritage Assessment 2 PRO Vision Planning & Design 2179 House February 2017 2 2.0 Overview 2.1 Historically, the focus of most villages in the rolling claylands between the Hampshire Downs and Thames Valley tended to comprise just a church, a glebe or manor farm, and only a few cottages. The rest of the population of each parish lived in a wide spread of small farms, manor houses, and small country houses, scattered along a network of straggling oak-lined lanes. Prior to extensive 20thCentury development, Baughurst was typical of this pattern, and that part of the Parish around the Church and Baughurst House still is. 2.2 Baughurst House stands in open countryside 500m west-south-west of Baughurst Parish Church (St Stephen’s). It is approached from the Parish Church along a winding lane called Wolverton Townsend. At one bend, the lane veers to the left, but a long drive leads straight ahead towards the stables and other buildings at the rear of Baughurst House. It is assumed this drive was primarily to serve the Home Farm. 2.3 In the long narrow acute angle formed by this drive and Wolverton Townsend stands a Victorian house of red and blue brick, architecturally closely related to the main house. It may have been the farm manager’s house, but was converted to two dwellings many years ago. It is marked “L” on the OS extract, now being known as The Lodges. 2.4 Continuing westward is a small clump of trees, followed by a second drive, once the main drive to the House itself. Unlike the first drive, this is at right angles to the public highway, and is gated. 2.5 Further westward still is substantial hedging behind which the main south elevation of the House can be seen to some extent. This elevation is of red brick with blue salt- glazed headers. It has two main gables either side and a central subsidiary gable, with narrow recessed bays between the gables. Although there are some classical details eg dentil courses, the south and east facing windows of the original house are of the large casement type typical of a country rectory of the mid-Victorian era. The rear has a large round-arched window to the main staircase. 2.6 It would appear that the house was built in 1847 to replace an earlier one. The long east elevation results from a north-running wing being added c 1880. Unlike the 1847 house it has multiple-paned sash windows in the classical style. Such windows are now also a feature of the west elevation. The dates in the main gables are 1698 and 1847. It is thus assumed to be an 1847 house replacing one of 1698. 2.7 Projecting from the north west corner is a single-storey Edwardian extension forming a Billiard Room. Although the south elevation was designed to be seen, the west and north elevations are utilitarian and without windows. The north elevation is particularly ugly, and the deep red (Fareham?) brick is not in keeping with the 1847 or c1880 parts of the house. 2.8 It has a flat roof with plastic domed skylights. It is thought to have been built in free- standing form. However, over the years it has been joined to the main house with a hodge-podge of single storey extensions, also flat roofed, or roofed in translucent corrugated plastic. They incorporate an integral garage complete with up and over door. 2.9 North of the main house stands the former farm yard. From south to north this comprises: Heritage Assessment 3 PRO Vision Planning & Design 2179 House February 2017 2 Stable Block “S” L-shaped, of red brick under a slate roof, this is a pleasant agricultural-style building, although in itself of no special architectural or historic interest.