Bath and North East Somerset Planning Services Hinton Blewett Conservation Area Appraisal
July 2014 Contents
Introduction 3 Summary of Special Interest 3 Assessment of Special Interest 4 Conservation Area Map 8 Character Analysis 11 Recommended Management Proposals 12 Community Involvemen 15 Planning Policy Context 15 Community Involvement 15 Further Reading 16 Glossary 16 Contact Details 16 Introduction
Hinton Blewett was identified as The appraisal identifies features being of special architectural and which contribute toward the historic interest and designated as character of the area and those that a Conservation Area (hereafter ‘CA’) detract from it. This enables local in 1993. residents to participate in identifying features which are important to the The Council has a duty to preserve special character of their area, and and enhance the character and provides a base upon which to appearance of CAs in exercising its develop proposals for preservation planning powers and to conduct and enhancement. periodic re-appraisal of boundaries. This provides a consistent and sound basis upon which to determine planning and other applications.
Summary of Special Interest
The exceptional landscape The medieval field patterns that setting overlooking the Chew provide a key part of the setting Valley. The village is situated on a of the CA. plateau affording it many fine views of the surrounding The traditional road layout and countryside. signage little affected by modern street furniture or highway The Barbury as a remnant of early development maintains the medieval settlement provides an character of the area. excellent focal point for the CA, functioning as a key part of the Widespread use of local building traditional appeal of the village. materials such as natural stone and timber, lime based mortars The characteristics of Hinton and renders. Blewett as a medieval planned village typical of other North Somerset settlements and critical to the setting of the CA.
Thick, well preserved hedgerows provide an organic sense of enclosure that permeates the village and contributes to its rural character.
3 Assessment of Special Interest
Location and Landscape Setting
Hinton Blewett is a small historic The local network of rights of way is The character and significance of settlement occupying an elevated well used by visiting ramblers and the built environment is enhanced position 13 miles south of Bristol villagers alike. These paths provide by, and dependent upon, its and 13 miles west of Bath. The excellent views and reinforce the agricultural landscape setting and parish is large but sparsely importance of the outstanding its physical, visual and historic populated and includes the hamlet landscape setting. relationship with it. of South Widcombe. Hinton Blewett is surrounded by several larger The setting of Hinton Blewett is villages including Temple Cloud, characterised by rich agricultural Bishop Sutton and West Harptree. land consisting of irregular, ancient, small field patterns bounded by The village is on the south western well-established hedgerows. No edge of an undulating plateau significant woodland or extending from Newton St Loe in development obscures the open the north east and is within the vistas that accentuate the sense of Mendips Hills Area of Outstanding rural isolation. Natural Beauty. It is situated in high quality pastureland and its elevated position affords extensive views of the surrounding landscape.
The terrain map above shows the village on a land plateau.
4 Modern map showing conservation area
Historic Development
The earliest recorded human activity Abbots Barn was held by Keynsham This decrease coincided with a is evidenced by finds of worked Abbey, which also received an decline in the overall village flints in surrounding fields, annual income from the Rectory. population which fell by over half in suggesting occupation in the The present church dates back to the same 50 year period as workers Neolithic period. The fertile, well the late thirteenth-century and and their families migrated to towns. drained soils provided suitable several other buildings in the village Agricultural workers of the period conditions for agricultural have mid to late medieval origins as were generally housed in ‘tied’ settlement from the earliest period. evidenced by surviving internal roof cottages near the farm where they construction. were employed, and empty and The Domesday Book entry for redundant cottages fell into Hinton Blewett identifies the Hinton Blewett was largely disrepair together with several more settlement as ‘Hantone’, meaning unaffected by industrial activity significant farmhouses during the ‘high enclosure’ in Old English. The which brought significant period. By the twentieth-century reference is likely to relate to a development to neighbouring sixteen farmhouses shown on the Saxon enclosure, south of the settlements such as Pensford. 1836 parish map had disappeared. modern settlement. The settlement was subsequently remodelled as a Hinton Blewett was however The exodus of agricultural labourers medieval planned village, in keeping affected by the social impacts of the had a significant impact on the built with other villages in the area. Industrial Revolution. This period form and character of the village. Surviving ridge and furrow field resulted in significant rural Gaps where farmhouses and tied patterns from this period are depopulation, as employment cottages once stood are evident, evidence of an open field or strip substantially shifted from agriculture and the population density did not system. to urban based industry. The 1836 recover. The depopulation that tithe record shows the parish at occurred in the nineteenth-and 20th 1,079 acres, with land use at 14% centuries and the consequent lack for arable land, 7% orchard, 3% of development is particularly coppice/woodland and 76% evident in Hinton Blewett and a key pasture. Between 1841 and 1891 characteristic of the CA and its the number of farm labourers built form. dropped from 46 to 8.
5 Archaeological Significance
One official archaeological survey is recorded in the CA, a 2008 watching brief associated with sewer construction. Victorian glass and pottery was discovered but no finds from earlier periods were found.
Several field walks and amateur excavations have been undertaken with finds verified by Somerset Heritage Museum. The finds include Roman coins dated to 200AD from the Barbury and Church Cottage gardens and Neolithic flints in the surround fields and throughout the village.
The probable Saxon enclosure to the south of the village is outside the CA boundary but provides a significant link to early origins and would merit further archaeological investigation.
Given the above information it can be concluded that significant archaeological potential exists within the Hinton Blewett CA and environs.
Map of lost farmhouses
Barbury
6 Plan Form and Spatial Analysis
Hinton Blewett is a medieval planned settlement with a nucleated plan form. It bears close resemblance to the plan form of nearby East Harptree, and follows the form of the principal street, back lane (joined to the main street at both ends) with the church at one end.
Sixteenth-century and earlier ridge and furrow field patterns survive throughout the parish and follow present day field boundaries. This suggests that field boundaries and field patterns have altered little and can be regarded as an important survival and part of a significant historic landscape.
Building density in the CA is highest near the church with the majority of listed buildings found here. The CA extends down towards Hollowmarsh Lane with a regular but low density pattern of agricultural cottages and farm buildings.
The farmhouses and scattered agricultural labourers’ cottages throughout the wider village are divided by the open spaces of former orchards, pastureland and in some cases lost buildings. Linear development has taken place towards Greenway as ancillary agricultural buildings have developed away from the traditional settlement core. Upper Road and Lower Road remained free of development until the 1950’s which may be an indication of continuing worker exodus after the late nineteenth-century depopulation.
7 Hinton Blewett Conservation Area
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Listed Buildings
Undesignated Heritage Assets
Important Green Spaces
Important Views 6 Conservation Area Boundary
9 Key Views and Vistas
Map
View Point 1: The Barbury looking east, south and west (Panorama)
View Point 2: Right of Way looking west (views of Manor House and church)
View Point 3: Right of Way looking north and north-west (views of Manor House and Key View Point 1 church) The scattered farmhouses and historic built form and is discordant medieval village core sit comfortably with its character. Future View Point 4: View looking east in the landscape due to their development in and around the CA and south-east into the Barbury positioning, form, massing and the should thoughtfully and use of local, natural building sympathetically reflect the existing View Point 5: View into CA materials which provide a strong form including established building looking south on right boundary sense of place. More recent heights, massing and use of local wall of Manor House and left development is not regarded as traditional materials. Abbots Barn Farm consistent with the established
View Point 6: View from the west showing church and Manor House
The Barbury itself as the centre of the medieval planned village affords excellent views out over the surrounding pastureland to the south. From almost anywhere in the village views out over the countryside are characterised by rural scenes of grazing cattle and a verdant agricultural landscape.
Key View Point 2 Key View Point 3
Key View Point 4 Key View Point 5 Key View Point 6
10 Character Analysis
Architectural and Historic Qualities
The CA contains four buildings on The Old Rectory has a seventeenth- the statutory list of Buildings of century core with later alterations Special Architectural and Historic mostly from the eighteenth and interest. These are the Church of St early nineteenth-centuries, at the Margaret (formerly All Saints), the peak of local prosperity. There are Old Rectory, the Manor House and two unusually large 28 pane sash a red K6 telephone kiosk. The CA is windows which are noteworthy highly unusual in that the features. architectural record shows no new buildings completed since the late The Manor House is a large two nineteenth-century. The storey eighteenth-century building undesignated, modest vernacular with nineteenth-century alterations buildings are regarded as heritage bounded by a high stone wall all assets and their retention and constructed in local limestone. The preservation is important for the high status of this impressive house character of the settlement. alludes to the period of agricultural prosperity in Hinton Blewett The most significant building is the preceding the significant social Church of St Margaret, which is changes resulting from the impact Grade I listed. It is likely that this of the Industrial Revolution and was one of the very earliest subsequent migration to the towns. permanent structures in the village. The Church is the only significant There are some examples of historic break with the generally low rise street furniture which make a character of the built form, providing positive contribution including the an appropriate landmark building. In listed K6 telephone kiosk and an common with some other North increasingly rare Somerset County Somerset churches it contains a fine Council cast iron fingerpost and an Norman font. historic red post office letter box set into the stone wall outside Manor Cottage. Undesignated Heritage Assets
The most significant buildings in the Church Cottage is part of a earlier Abbots Barn Farm is a complex of CA are listed but undesignated row of two storey cottages just to eighteenth and nineteenth-century buildings in the CA comprise the south of the Church of St farm buildings constructed mainly attractive cottages, farmhouses and Margaret. The Ring of Bells public from squared and coursed local barns that are regarded as locally house and Manor Cottage extend limestone rubble. important heritage assets this row which occupies a constructed using local building prominent central location within the Several modest stone built materials and make a positive CA. They are constructed of local cottages, farm buildings and an old contribution to the character of the rubble limestone under clay roof schoolhouse, which appear to be CA. These undesignated buildings tiles and provide an attractive largely unaltered and well add to the coherency of the CA in backdrop to the Barbury – ‘Bury’ maintained, extend the village in a their form, massing and use of local having the same meaning as linear fashion down Greenway Lane materials and building techniques Barbury – a fortified place. The rear to the south of the main settlement. and contribute to the sense of elevations of these cottages remain place. A detailed survey of these largely unaltered and provide a buildings could help identify and fitting setting for the church. preserve their character.
Entrance to the Priory via the Barbury Abbots Barn Farm in foreground, a Entrance to Ring O’ Bells Free House locally important building, and the Manor House centre in the background
Hillside Cottage located just south Village Hall Greenway House of the Barbury
Greenway Cottage (Front) Greenway Cottage (Back)
12 Activity and former uses Trees and green spaces
The agricultural tradition of Hinton Tall, dense and well preserved The churchyard and paddock are Blewett that, from the archaeological hedgerows are a key and defining also important green spaces. The record, has ancient, pre-historic characteristic providing a sense of churchyard is still in use with many origins continues to the present day enclosure and contrasting with the burials of modern origin. The with several working farms within dry stone walls of the Cotswolds to paddock, located north of Upper the village. the north. The hedgerows also Road, helps retain the village’s green define the shapes of irregular field and open setting, and allows views patterns and divide the surrounding in and out of the village. landscape into a classic and attractive patchwork. This has The Barbury is a significant green remained largely unchanged since at area at the centre of the medieval least the 16th century evidenced by core of the village. It provides a their relationship and alignment with valuable link to the historic surviving remnants of mediaeval development of the village. The ridge and furrow. Hedgerows name suggests it may have had a provide vital wildlife corridors for defensive function. The area has local fauna such as dormice, bats survived unaltered in size and form. and birds. The hedgerows in and It is also part of the current amenity around the village make a significant and as such any development in or and positive contribution and their around this area is likely to have a preservation and maintenance is detrimental impact on the character important. of the CA.
Gardens and open spaces within the village provide important spaces for the setting of buildings and are an important aspect of the setting of the CA.
The Barbury
13 Opportunities for enhancement General condition 5. When works are carried out to The use of traditional building The condition of buildings is the highway or streetscape the materials is prevalent but generally good. There are no opportunity should be taken to unsympathetic changes to some derelict or empty buildings and the reinstate traditional signage and, details such as windows, doors and church benefits from regular use. where relevant, should be the use of modern render have There is evidence of high quality considered with reference to the negatively affected the appearance repair using appropriate materials Council’s adopted Streetscape of traditional buildings. Restoring such as lime mortar. There are some Manual. and reinstating traditional and examples of repair to historic 6. Hedgerows make a significant appropriately detailed windows and buildings using cement-based contribution to the special doors would enhance the character materials which have caused harm character. Particular attention of the buildings. The use of and should be avoided. should be paid to applications traditional building materials such made under hedgerow as timber, lime mortars and renders Summary of issues and regulations. as opposed to UPVC and cement recommended management 7. The use of underground cables based materials is important in proposals for services would help prevent preserving the traditional character 1. It is recommended that an Article the streetscape and wider and maintaining traditionally 4 Direction be considered to landscape being devalued and constructed buildings. control changes to doors and adversely affected by overhead windows, roof coverings, wires. Trees recently planted around the insertion of roof lights and the 8. Archaeological investigation in Barbury restrict views to the demolition of walls under 1m and around the location of the surrounding countryside. When high. This would help preserve probable Saxon enclosure is planting careful thought should be important traditional architectural highly recommended. This will given to the protection and detailing and prevent the provide a clear mandate for enhancement of key views. deterioration of the historic preservation and help more townscape. accurately identify the early There is a requirement for the Local 2. A CA extension is not origins of the settlement. Planning Authority to respond the recommended at this stage. An issues regarding climate change attempt to encompass the Community involvement and the emerging energy deficit. medieval plan form and probable Public support and involvement is There is in principle support for Saxon enclosure of the early essential to the successful renewable energy, but this must be settlement would necessitate management of CAs and as such weighed against the impact on the inclusion of several areas of the first draft of this appraisal was historic environment. Hinton Blewett modern housing and thus sent to Hinton Blewett Parish and its setting is regarded as being reduce the quality and character Council for comments and sensitive and the implementation of of the CA. consideration. A public meeting was micro generation such as solar 3. Particular attention should be held at Hinton Blewett village hall panels and wind farms need to paid to changes affecting the and the Council presented the consider the impact on the CA and setting of the CA. In particular appraisal to the community and this its setting. special consideration should be marked the beginning of the formal given to the medieval plan form, consultation period. Neutral areas probable Saxon enclosure to the There is some modern development west of the village and other Furthermore the preparation of the that has not responded to local heritage assets crucial to the appraisal was undertaken with the vernacular building styles, plot setting of the CA. kind and helpful assistance of widths or settlement plan form and 4. Enforcement action should be individual members of the Parish has resulted in suburbanisation. Any considered in cases of Council, local residents and new development is encouraged to unauthorised works expressly especially local historian Rosemary engage with the traditional, existing where works adversely affect the Walker and Parish Council Chair built form, reference detailing and character of the CA or listed Elizabeth Brimmell all of whom use local materials to enhance the buildings. provided invaluable assistance. conservation area.
14 Planning policy context Conservation Area appraisals are General Guidance and Policy Conservation Areas are designated considered by English Heritage to The National Planning Policy under the provisions of Section 69 be vital to the conservation of these Framework, DCLG 2012 of the Planning (Listed Buildings special areas. The content of this The National Planning Practice and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, statement is based on the Guidance, DCLG 2014 which places a statutory duty on suggested approach set out by Saved policies from the Bath & local planning authorities to English Heritage. North East Somerset Local Plan determine which parts of their area 2007 are areas of special architectural or Furthermore Hinton Blewett is Understanding Place: historic interest. situated within the Mendip Hills Conservation Area Designation, AONB where the significant controls Appraisal and Management, A conservation area is defined as: and policy designations of the English Heritage (2011) ‘…an area of special architectural or Mendip Hills AONB Management Conservation Principles: Policies historic interest, the character or Plan 2009-2014 apply to planning & Guidance, English Heritage appearance of which it is desirable control in the Conservation Area. 2008 to preserve or enhance’. Bath & North East Somerset, The National Planning Policy Living in a Conservation Area, The quality and interest of the area Framework (NPPF) sets out the 2003 as a whole, rather than individual Government’s policies for Bath & North East Somerset buildings, is the main consideration sustainable development, which Streetscape Manual, (Adopted when designating such areas. includes the conservation of the April 2005) historic environment. When Archaeology in Bath and North Designation introduces a general developments are proposed, the East Somerset: Supplementary control over the demolition of most Framework requires the significance Planning Guidance 2004 buildings and tree felling/surgery. of heritage assets – archaeology, Rural Landscapes of Bath and The scale of extensions that may be listed buildings and conservation North East Somerset: A added to existing dwellings as areas – to be defined and it stresses Landscape Character “permitted development“ is also that ‘as heritage assets are Assessment, Adopted as limited. irreplaceable, any harm or loss Supplementary Planning should require clear and convincing Guidance 2003 While there may be resource justification.’ Avon Historic Landscape implications from higher Characterisation Methodology, expectations for the maintenance of The NPPF is further explained in the Chapman, 1997 existing buildings and the quality of National Planning Practice Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding new works, for most owners these Guidance. Chapter 18 provides Natural Beauty Management Plan are outweighed by the cachet of answers to a series of questions (2009-2014) designation. about the way in which heritage The 1984 revision to the Statutory assets should be addressed through List of Buildings of Special Designation also provides the basis the planning system. Architectural or Historic Interest for policies designed to preserve or Bath & North East Somerset enhance all aspects of character or The Council’s policy for planning, Local Plan 2007 as revised appearance that define an area’s including the historic environment, Avon Historic Landscape special interest. is currently under review. Until the Characterisation (1995) Core Strategy and subsequent local Section 71 of the Act requires the planning policies are adopted, the local planning authority to publish current policies, saved from the proposals for the preservation and Bath and North East Somerset enhancement of conservation areas Local Plan, remain part of the and an appraisal provides the Development Plan. Further means for this. information on the current Development Plan for Bath & North Section 72 requires that, in East Somerset can be viewed on considering applications for the Council’s website by following development in a Conservation the link to the Planning Policy Area, special attention shall be paid homepage or by contacting the to the desirability of preserving or Planning Policy Team on 01225 enhancing the character of that 477548. area.
15 Further reading English Heritage, Understanding Contact Details Pevsner, N (1958) The Buildings of Place: Historic Area Assessments in Bath & North East Somerset Council England: North Somerset and a Planning and Development Planning & Transport Development Bristol Context (2010) PO Box 5006 Bath Pevsner, N (2011) The Buildings of English Heritage, Valuing Places: BA1 1JG England: Somerset North and Good Practice in Conservation Bristol Areas (2011) Telephone: (01225) 477000
Walker, R (2007) Puddings without Glossary Further contact details can be found Suet, Life in Hinton Blewett 1840’s Listed buildings: Buildings on the on B&NES Council’s website: – 1940’s: Fiducia Press London Statutory List of Buildings of Special www.bathnes.gov.uk Architectural or Historic Interest www.parish-council.com/ compiled by the Secretary of State Contact for advice regarding: HintonBlewettParishCouncil/ is the for Culture, Media and Sport under main site for the village with some the Planning (Listed Buildings and Listed Buildings and Listed brief historical notes and details of Conservation Areas) Act 1990 Building Consent the parish council. Archaeology Heritage asset: A designated or Conservation Areas Field Boundaries Project, BANES undesignated building, monument, Works to trees within (2006) archaeological site, place, area or Conservation Areas landscape identified as possessing Planning Permission Streetscape Manual, Bath & North local or national significance and Planning Policy East Somerset Council, Adopted heritage and cultural value meriting Urban Design April 2005 special consideration in planning decisions and the planning process. All the above teams are located in English Heritage, Understanding Planning & Transport Development Place: Conservation Area Conservation Area: Defined by based in Bath. Designation, Appraisal and English Heritage as ‘areas of special Management (2012) architectural or historic interest, the character of which it is desirable to English Heritage, Understanding preserve or enhance’. Some Place: an Introduction (2010) permitted development rights are removed for owners of buildings in a Conservation Area and special planning controls may apply.
Article 4 Direction: A direction under Article 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. Article 4 Directions remove specified permitted development rights and can be made to cover parts.
This document about the Hinton Blewett Conservation Area can be made available in a range of community languages, large print, Braille, on tape, electronic and accessible formats from Planning Services on 01225 394100 Prepared by Bath & North East Somerset Council Planning Services.