WHAT THE LAW SAYS

The legislation controlling Conservation Areas is found in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation LOWER Areas) Act 1990.

The important points to remember are: New development must accord with the area’s special ALMONDSBURY identity and visual qualities.

A high standard of design for new development or extensions to existing buildings is expected, in regard to matters such as scale, proportion, CONSERVATION materials and colour.

The demolition, in whole or part, of unlisted AREA buildings in Conservation Areas, requires special consent.

Special care should be taken to ensure that views into and out of the Conservation Area remain unspoilt.

Advertisement displays are subject to strict control.

Anyone wishing to fell top, lop, etc. a tree within a Conservation Area must give the Local Planning Authority six weeks advance notice in writing.

GRANTS In certain approved cases, grants for enhancement or repairs in the Conservation Area may be available through the District Council or other sources.

For further information please contact: Senior Conservation Officer South Gloucestershire Council Department of Planning, Transportation & Environmental Services, Civic Centre, High Street, Kingswood, South Gloucestershire BD15 2TR Tel: 01454 868686 11/96 LOWER ALMONDSBURY CONSERVATION AREA POLICY OBJECTIVES FOR North ENHANCEMENT

The following objectives are set out in the Rural Areas Local Plan:-

To preserve individual buildings, groups of buildings, walls, open areas, natural features and trees and to retain the essential interrelationships upon which the character of the Conservation Area depends.

Development should preserve or enhance the existing character of Conservation Areas.

Large scale or comprehensive development schemes will not normally be permitted. The emphasis will be on the selective renewal of individual buildings.

Conservation Area

Designated 30th.July 1975

Listed Buildings

Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey map with the permission of the Leaflet produced by South Gloucestershire Council Controller H.M.Stationery Office. Crown Copyright Reserved. South Gloucestershire Council Licence No. 100023410/05 Printed on Environment friendly Paper CHARACTER SETTING

The village of Lower Almondsbury nestles below The village of Almondsbury is situated 7 miles the steep wooded Almondsbury Hill which shelters north of Bristol, near the M4/M5 Almondsbury and largely obscures the village from above.This Interchange, the first four-level motorway crossing landscape feature provides an attractive backcloth in Britain. Almondsbury lies within the Bristol & Bath to the village and contributes significantly to Green Belt. The village falls into two distinct parts Almondsbury’s character. The woodland is divided by the A38, with modern ribbon protected by a Tree Preservation Order. The top of development to the east and the old nucleus of this hill provides a superb vantage point with views Lower Almondsbury clustering beneath the steep across the Severn where both bridges are clearly and wooded Almondsbury Hill. visible.

If one enters the village via Sundays Hill or Hollow Road the steep and wooded descent is attractive and enclosed, gradually opening up by The Forge. St Marys Church dominates the village from its position at the foot of the escarpment and its splendid spire rises up revealing its position from the ridge.The small but picturesque village green with pump in the foreground of the church St Mary’s and beyond provides a typical village scene, enhanced by cottages of local stone nearby.Almondsbury Spectacular views across the Severn Estuary are village is rich in variety and style, with stone walls afforded on the descent from new to old lining the narrow roads which are especially Almondsbury. attractive in the spring and summer being covered in overhanging vegetation and blooms. The original manor house was at Court Farm (grade II listed) in Almondsbury village but Chester HISTORY chose the splendid hilltop position half a mile to the south with a magnificent view over the Bristol Almondsbury was originally, as its name implies, Channel for construction. A 15th century the ‘Bury’ or camp of Alomond, a Saxon chieftain. octagonal tower on this site was retained and The steep limestone scarp would have provided incorporated into the house. Unfortunately, all that an excellent defensive site and signs of remains of the original house is the tower, reduced entrenchment can still be seen. Almondsbury Hill in size and incorporated into a modern dwelling. is a vantage point affording superb views across the Severn Valley to the Welsh Hills beyond.

Old Pound

Over Court, an Elizabethan Manor house 2 miles Court Farm south west of Almondsbury, built about the same time as Knole Park on the site of a 14th century Medieval Almondsbury lay on the main route house has also sadly been demolished, again to between Bristol and Gloucester and a market was be replaced by new housing development. established in 1285. For centuries, Almondsbury was a close-knit agricultural community under the The church of St Mary (grade I listed) is said to patronage of its great manor houses of Knole have been consecrated by four bishops in 1148. In Park, Over Court and Gaunts Earthcott. The the mid-13th century there was considerable Manor of Almondsbury belonged to St Augustine’s rebuilding when the chancel, crossing and Abbey in Bristol until the dissolution and was transept were reconstructed. The church was granted to Sir Arthur d’Arcy in 1553. It was sold to heavily restored in the 19th century and the most Thomas Chester in 1569 and his heir, William notable features are its Norman north porch and Chester built Knole Park as a family seat. font and its elegant, distinctive diagonally patterned lead spire, one of only three in the country