Frampton Cotterell & Coalpit Heath VVILLAGEILLAGE DDESIGNESIGN SSTATEMENTTATEMENT Frampton Cotterell Contacts Frampton Cotterell Parish Clerk & Coalpit 01454 865569 Heath www.framptoncott.co.uk Westerleigh Parish Clerk 01454 864433

Acknowledgements

Frampton Cotterell & Westerleigh Parish VILLAGEVILLAGE Councils The Countryside DESIGN Commission DESIGN Village Design Statement (VDS) Facilitator STATEMENT Dave Dickson STATEMENT Di Western - Drawings

All the local people and school children who contributed through the Village Conference, Roadshows and other VDS activities

The VDS Team

South Gloucestershire Council for assistance in publishing the VDS.

Photographs

Cover: Main view towards Frampton Cotterell from Frampton Court

Top: Manor Hall

Middle: Brockeridge Centre

Bottom: Woodend Road

Sketch left: St. Saviour’s Church

Design by South Gloucestershire Council, Graphics & Mapping Unit, Kingswood 01454 86 3763 Frampton Cotterell & Coalpit Heath Village Design Statement

ContentsContents

1 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS PAGE 3

INTRODUCTION PAGE 4

2 LANDSCAPE & WILDLIFE PAGE 7

3 BUILT ENVIRONMENT & HERITAGE PAGE 11

4 SHOPS & SERVICES PAGE 25

5 TRANSPORT, HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS PAGE 28

INDEX PAGE 32

MAPS

MAP 1 1880 HISTORIC MAP PAGE 14

MAP 2 VILLAGE DESIGN AREA PAGE 15

MAP 3 BUILT AREA PAGE 16

MAP 4 GEOLOGY PAGE 18

2 Landscape & Wildlife

The present Green Belt should be maintained intact. Protection of existing green space on the village margins is a high priority. Developers should protect and create wildlife corridors and habitats. Water quality in the River Frome needs to be improved. Trees which form part of the villages’ character need to be safeguarded. Traditional hedge laying and maintenance is to be encouraged. More sites should be considered for the local nature conservation plan.

Built environment & heritage

Residential development should not be permitted outside the settlement boundary. Existing period buildings should be preserved. New dwellings should be of simple, unfussy design and proportions. Standard designs and urban street plans should be avoided. Alterations, conversions, extensions and new building projects should take design cues from existing buildings in the vicinity. Red-brown clay tiles are the commonest material in older buildings, and this colour is to be preferred in new developments. Stone boundary walls ought to be retained and repaired. shops & services

Shop fronts should be appropriate to a village location. It is desirable to retain and develop local employment opportunities. The use of small local shops should be encouraged The arrival of a large shopping facility would be undesirable. transport, highways & byways

Additions to the road system should take into consideration the attractive, sinuous quality of the narrow lanes within the villages. Walking and cycling should be encouraged. Safer routes to schools, shops and key locations could be established.

Street Furniture needs to be appropriate to the village setting. of recommendations summary Unnecessary signs should be avoided.

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IntroductionIntroduction

Recommendations 1.1 Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit 1.4 It has two themes running are summarised Heath, once separate entities, through it: have, in recent years, merged to on page 3 form a compact settlement with A character statement which no visible boundary. describes what is individual Consequently, although in many and distinctive about the two respects they still operate as villages, separate communities with their own identities, local people from both communities decided to A series of recommendations create a Village Design Statement relating to future development on a joint basis.(Map 3) which will help to preserve and enhance their characteristics. 1.2 The two villages have changed and developed over centuries. Change will continue. However, WHO IS THE STATEMENT FOR? the residents want those changes to respect the existing character 1.5 Residents, to provide guidance of the villages and to follow the to ensure that alterations and traditions that have shaped the extensions are in sympathy with present community. This village character. Recent development showing document identifies the special use of materials as desired by character of Frampton Cotterell 1.6 Developers, to help them local community, and Coalpit Heath and explains understand what the local Park Row. some of the steps that should be community wants to see in the taken to ensure that new design of new and re-developed developments will harmonise with buildings. what already exists. 1.7 Local Planning Authority, it will be a material consideration in WHAT IS A VILLAGE DESIGN determining planning applications. It will also provide STATEMENT? guidance on transportation issues and be used by the Parish Redeveloped barn, Perrinpit Road. 1.3 The Design Statement has been Councils in commenting on written and developed through planning applications. consultation with a cross-section of local people, a village conference, exhibitions, questionnaires, and dialogue with a wide range of community groups. The steering group has the support of Frampton Cotterell and Westerleigh Parish Councils.

Extension built in sympathy with existing cottage, Henfield Road.

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How is the statement to 1.13 Driving through the two villages This document along the main roads gives little aims to ensure be used? indication of their special character. In order to experience that future 1.8 The design statement should be development used in formulating designs for the richness of buildings, new development within the landscapes and history, it is enhances, rather villages, regardless of scale. It is necessary to get out of the car than destroys and explore the higgledy-piggledy intended to encourage and the things stimulate the following design lanes, byways and rural processes:- footpaths. local people care about • a survey of the relationship between the site and its GEOLOGY surroundings, working with, and 1.14 The geology of the area, (Map 4) respecting, what is already there. has had an important influence on • the identification of design the development of the villages opportunities presented by and their appearance. The dark existing views, landscaping, built red Pennant Sandstone, which form, materials and details. underlies much of Frampton Cotterell, was the major building • the demonstration, in plan form, material in the past and is evident that this design process has been in the older buildings and observed. boundary walls. These have such a strong influence on the 1.9 The statement is not intended to character of the two villages. The be prescriptive or to provide rich red soil to the west of the design solutions, but illustrates village is Grade I agricultural land. some distinctive features of the Coal bearing strata underlie villages which should be borne in Pennant Sandstone Coalpit Heath. is characteristic of mind when designing. There is the buildings and scope for new and innovative walls of the area. design solutions, especially ‘environmentally friendly’ design.

1.10 It will be essential that developers demonstrate in their proposals consideration of this design process.

LOCATION

1.11 The villages are located along the northern end of the Frome Valley, some 8 miles from Bristol. The majority of the built- up part of the area is bounded by the B4058 Bristol Road to the west and the A432 Badminton Road to the east. These busy roads provide access to motorways, the rail network, Bristol, Bath and the surrounding region.

1.12 The villages lie among open fields and farmlands, almost completely surrounded by the Green Belt.

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HISTORICAL BUILDING HISTORY 1.21 Farming has been and remains an important activity in the 1.15 Frampton Cotterell is mentioned community and both villages in the Domesday Survey. Coalpit contain many attractive Heath developed later as a result farmhouses, barns and of the increasing demand for outbuildings. There are some 20 farmsteads within the district, coal. Mining, hat making, and although not all now primarily supporting trades developed involved with farming. Many fine alongside farming to create a examples of late 16th Century thriving and expanding industrial and early 17th Century community in a rural setting. farmhouses and ancillary Hat factory, Park Lane. buildings exist. It is the farming Hatting was once a thriving 1.16 The earliest records of coal industry. which maintains the green space mining in this area go back to the around the villages. 1880 Historic 14th Century. The 18th Century Map page 14. brought the introduction of steam engines enabling coal to be 1.22 Signs of our industrial heritage SYMPATHETIC MODERN mined at greater depth. This include: DEVELOPMENT resulted in expansion of the • The windmill tower, boiler house and chimney in Ryecroft Road. industry. To improve coal • The hat factories and manager’s transportation, a horse drawn cottage on Park Lane. dramway was constructed in • The site of the iron mines and 1832 between Ram Hill and the railway. River Avon. In 1881, there were 5 • The corn mill weir on the River active mines in the Coalpit Heath Frome. area. The last, Frog Lane Pit, • The Horse Whimsy alongside closed in 1949 bringing to an end Christmas Cottage at Ram Hill 600 years of coal mining. and the Dramway, all at Coalpit Heath. 1.17 From 1862 - 1874, iron ore was • The Great Western Railway extracted from mines, Viaduct crossing the Badminton approximately 200 metres east Road and Henfield Road. Woodend Road opposite of St. Peter’s Church. Zion Church. THE VILLAGES TODAY 1.18 The West Gloucestershire Waterworks Co. supplied the 1.23 The villages developed gradually area with water pumped from the until the 1960s, when a rapid abandoned iron mines from 1884 expansion of housing took place. to 1972. This resulted in the demolition of older cottages and the in-filling of 1.19 The hatting industry developed in open spaces previously occupied the region from the middle of the by farms and orchards. The once 16th Century. Initially a cottage separate villages and hamlets industry, it became centralised in became one compact residential the early 19th Century when area. The new housing does not Coalpit Heath Surgery. reflect traditional styles in either Messrs Christie and Co. of design or layout. Development and London constructed two hat in-filling continues today so fewer factories in Park Lane, producing open spaces remain. Frampton felt hats for about 46 years before Cotterell and Coalpit Heath are closure in 1864. now dormitory communities in a rural setting, served by a range 1.20 Three water mills existed on the of shops and services. The River Frome in the parish of majority of residents work outside Frampton Cotterell. Windmills the villages. were also once a common feature of the village.

6 Frampton Cotterell & Coalpit Heath Village Design Statement landscapelandscape && wildlifewildlife Key Features from the Village Conference 2.1 The two villages have distinctive in its wooded setting. distant views to the Cotswold Nightingale’s Bridge is an escarpment and to the hills of attractive historical structure on Wales and the Forest of Dean. the River Frome. The Frome Valley

2.2 Field boundaries consist OPEN SPACES WITHIN THE Surrounding open principally of Hawthorn/Blackthorn VILLAGES countryside and hedges both key wildlife habitats open spaces within the and some low dry stone walls. 2.6 Coalpit Heath Glebe, Frampton villages There is a scattering of mature Cotterell Glebe, Beesmoor Oak and Ash hedgerow trees and Playing Field, The Park, Mature Oak and Ash small areas of species-rich Centenary Field, Ridings Road hedgerow trees ancient hedging, for example at play area and Park Farm pond Hover’s Lane and Broad Lane. and play areas provide valuable Views to the Cotswold green spaces, sports facilities and Hills THE FROME VALLEY wildlife habitats. ‘Humpty-Dumpty or 2.3 The Frome Valley forms an VIEWPOINTS important wildlife corridor and ‘Tumpy’ fields-are the provides habitats for birds, 2.7 Good view points of the villages remains of old mine mammals, insects, invertebrates are seen from Zion Church car workings and and aquatic creatures. The Frome park and from the top of Woodend dramway Valley Walkway is a valuable and Road Ram Hill, Frampton End much used recreational amenity. Road, the top of Rockwell Wood Ancient woodlands and and Ivory Hill. hedges OPEN COUNTRYSIDE STONE STILES AND GATE POSTS Pennant sandstone 2.4 The open countryside which walls, stiles and gate surrounds the compact area of 2.8 Stone gate posts and stiles can posts the settlement is one of the most be found and enhance the significant characteristics of the landscape. area, and provides the inhabitants with space for quiet recreation. In many areas, mature gardens make a gentle transition between the built up area and the countryside.

BUILDINGS IN THE LANDSCAPE

2.5 The churches of St Peter’s, St. Saviour’s and Zion United are prominent landmarks. Outside the built up area, farms and agricultural buildings give character and colour to the landscape. To the east, the group of buildings around Mays Hill Farm contributes to the rural view. Northwoods House is impressive Traditional hedgelaying Centenary Field

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WILDLIFE eatate and that between Church Road and Frampton End Road 2.9 Linear features such as are important. watercourses, hedges, the railway line and the old dramway 2,14 Open views in and around the create corridors for wildlife. The villages to be safeguarded. area to the North of Frampton Cotterell is flat, giving rise to 2.15 Ridge lines in the villages to be winter and spring ‘ ponding ‘. protected from development, Newts, frogs, grass snakes and especially adjacent to the Frome slow worms are relatively Valley. Development should be common. The River frome is also planned to minimise visual home to the indigenous white- intrusion. clawed crayfish, which is known to be under threat by the non- 2.16 Developers should include in their native signal fish schemes protection and creation of wildlife corridors, habitats, 2.10 There is also evidence of short hedgerows and trees. Hedging New Pond, tailed voles, shrews and badgers. is an attractive alternative to Park Farm Estate. Botanically there is an abundance fencing for property boundaries. of varieties, including orchids, supporting butterfly and insect 2.17 Water quality in the River Frome life. Among the numerous bird needs to be improved, together species seen in the area are with sympathetic maintenance of Kestrels, Barn Owls, Little Owls, the banks, footpaths and trees. Dippers, Sky Larks, Herons, Also measures need to be taken Kingfishers and Green to prevent the signal crayfish from Woodpeckers. reaching the Frampton Cotterell / Coalpit Heath areas. 2.11 Extensive tree planting of native species, has taken place in 2.18 Ponds and open water areas are Centenary Field as part of the a valuable wildlife resource and development of the Forest of so would benefit from Avon. The new village pond at sympathetic management and Park Farm should prove an asset creation. Pond, Frampton Court. in encouraging wildlife to return to that area. 2.19 Landowners and householders should be made aware of the RECOMMENDATIONS particular value of hedgerows. The new Environmental Stewardship Scheme encourages 2.12 The present Green Belt to be wildlife friendly management of maintained intact. The community hedges. places the highest value on this space, especially the parts which 2.20 Trees which form part of the separate the two villages from villages’ character ( Yews, Oaks, neighbouring settlements. Pines etc) need to be Safeguarding it, in its entirety, is a safeguarded with Tree top priority. Tree Planting Preservation Orders. Mature Centenary Field. 2.13 Protection from development of trees and hedges should be existing green space on the retained in new developments. village margins is a high priority. Tree Tagging may be appropriate The area adjacent to Park Farm, for ancient trees.

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2.21 Native species prevalent in the 2.27 Consideration to be given to local area should be planted roadside planting of trees and in gardens bordering open hedges to reduce visual and countryside, as a soft transition noise pollution and to encourage between the built up area and the safe flight paths for owls. green belt and to provide wildlife habitats. 2.28 More sites to be considered for designation as sites of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) under the South Gloucestershire Local Plan including Old Withy Beds, Northwoods, Shepherd’s Wood, Centenary Field, Idover Wood, Ivory Hill, Burn Wood, New Plantation, Railway near Waterworks and The Glebe.

2.29 The value of the area surrounding the villages to the aspirations of the Forest of Avon should be recognised.

Tawny Owl Bee 2.30 More information is also available Orchid in the South Gloucestershire 2.22 The planting of non-native planning and design guide SPG; hedgerows species, such as ‘Biodiversity and the Planning Leylandii, to be discouraged and Process’ adopted November existing specimens should, where 2005 possible, be removed.

2.23 Orchards were once common in this area. Those remaining are worth safeguarding and managing. The establishment of new orchards to be encouraged.

2.24 The Frampton Plum (Magnum) to be safeguarded and increased using grafting methods.

2.25 Traditional hedge laying and maintenance to be encouraged.

2.26 Land owners should be made aware of grant aid available to support the maintenance and enhancement of wildlife habitats.

Wood Anemones abound in Spring, Rockwell Wood (Ancient Woodland)

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Nightingale’s Bridge

Wildlife Corridor along River Frome

ENHANCEMENTS

2.31 Acquisition of land to create 2.34 Opportunities to create and open spaces, would help manage new ponds are to be protect the Green Belt. encouraged. The monitoring of water quality throughout the 2.32 Another access point to the area should be maintained Frome Valley Walkway from Park Lane is desirable beside 2.35 The setting up of a protected Rockwell Wood. A view point habitat should be considered and picnic area could be for endangered species eg. created. bats, birds and bluebells.

2.33 Improving access of Frome 2.36 Wildlife corridors such as the Valley Walkway for people with River Frome, Bradley Brook, restricted mobility. Ladden Brook and Folly Brook would benefit from management to enhance the biodiversity visual impact and recreation.

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BuiltBuilt Environmentenvironment Key Features from the Village && HeritageHeritage Conference Pennant Sandstone THE PATTERN OF DEVELOPMENT Dressed stone walls 3.1 The villages began as separate 3.3 Coalpit Heath developed later small settlements. (Map 1) astride the present Badminton Distinctive yellow brick Road, as a result of coal mining in quoins 3.2 In Frampton Cotterell the principal the vicinity. Ram Hill, Henfield and settlement was Brockridge, Frog Lane comprised the Steep pitched roofs together with Harris Barton, industrial area. The ecclesiastical Frampton End, North Corner parish of Coalpit Heath, with St Sash windows and Adams Land. Saviour’s church and vicarage St Peter’s Church, apart from the ( designed by William Butterfield, Individual porches medieval tower, was rebuilt in the an emminent victorian architect) 19th Century on the site of an was established by Order in Rows of cottages earlier church. Harris Barton and Council in 1845. at right angles Ram Hill retain the feel of the to the roads original character of the early 3.4 There are 400 surviving settlements. individual properties that were Historic industrial built prior to 1920. The majority of buildings these were constructed in the 18th and 19th Centuries. Dressed stone gate posts

Stone kerbs St Peter’s Church and stiles

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3.5 The older buildings which remain Many 18th and 19th Century are built of locally quarried Pennant stone cottages remain in Pennant stone. Some have been Ryecroft Road, Brockridge Lane, rendered. There is a great variety Gladstone Lane, Hillside Lane, of building styles, which is an Upper and Lower Stone Close, important distinguishing feature of Woodend Road, Upper Chapel the villages. Lane and Footes Lane. Victorian stone built properties, with yellow 3.6 Some recent developments have brick quoins, are also prominent used building design and in this area. Subsequent materials which are not in keeping development of Brockridge with the character of the villages. includes the construction of The styles employed are in individual houses on small plots of danger of changing the visual land, making an interesting and character of the villages from a varied environment. There are rural to an urban one. numerous secret, private houses and cottages producing diversity 3.7 Modern development has of housing. The Windmill Tower, diluted, but not yet destroyed, the the “Rising Sun” Inn, Zion Church Zion United Church Woodend Road visual character of the and Brockeridge School (built villages. 1846) are significant landmarks in the area.

VILLAGE FORM Harris Barton 3.9 This small hamlet straddles an Brockridge originally pitched stone bridle-way 3.8 This is Frampton Cotterell’s heart linking Frampton Cotterell with and historic core which developed Winterbourne via Nightingale’s on the high ground above the Bridge and the Hilly Fields. The river. It is set along and amongst narrowness of the bridge trees and the ancient road and suggests use by pack horses and lane patterns, a development of pedestrians only. Terraced the old bridle ways and footpaths. cottages of red Pennant Sandstone, some dating back to the 18th Century, are seen here. Significant landmark, There is also a variety of old The Windmill Tower outbuildings along the lane. The housing style, narrow winding lane and stone walls are typical of Frampton Cotterell.

Cottages alongside bridleway at Harris Barton

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Frampton End Many older cottages still exist 3.10 This old road leads from along Church Road, together with Frampton Cotterell to Iron Acton more modern buildings. On the and to Latteridge across the ford south west edge of the via Hover’s Lane. The older village boundary is sited dwellings comprise former hatters’ Frampton Court. This is one of cottages and farm-houses, such the most historically important as Frampton End Farm and The houses in South Gloucestershire, Ridge. Bungalows and detached being a former residence of past houses on individual plots are Lords of the Manor. 418 Church more recent. This road is mostly Road is an excellent example of without pavements and retains a modern design blending rural character. sympathetically with 18th and 19th Century buildings. The old Perrinpit Road Church of England School, built Cottage, The Land 3.11 Perrinpit Road consists mainly of 1842, in School Road is now the 17th Century farmhouses and premises of The Community associated buildings and 19th Association. School Road Century cottages, built of local contains examples of dwellings of Pennant Sandstone and render. diverse style and period Other individual properties have ranging from 18th Century been constructed since the cottages to 20th Century 1950s. Challacombe House, built houses. Mill Lane contains a in 1995, is one example of number of splendid 18th Century modern sympathetic design. “The buildings, one being the former Western Coach House”, built of “New Inn”. “The Globe Inn” still local rubble stone, has dominated stands to the west of St. Peter’s. the corner of Perrinpit and Bristol Beaufort Road, Winchcombe Road for over 150 years. Road and Brookside Drive, predominantly bungalows, were Open fields between Northwoods constructed between Church River Frome and 3.12 Set in 40 acres, the Listed Road and Rectory Road. Robel Frampton Court. building, Northwoods House with Avenue and Western Avenue are its fountain, to the North of Old also modern developments. Gloucester Road, is the most impressive building in the area. Good recent use of Built in 1832 as a private Pennant Sandstone, asylum, it has now been Church Road converted to residential apartments. Together with the Grange Hotel and other 19th Century buildings, the area is architecturally and historically important.

West of the River Frome 3.13 This area was characterised by small cottage encroachments along the toll road to Bristol. Much of this land remains open fields but large areas have been developed within recent years.

13 Map 1 1880 Historic map – orchards galore!

n scale 1: 7500

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