DRAFT Kingswear

DRAFT Kingswear Conservation Area Appraisal Conservation Areas are usually located in the older parts of our towns and villages. They are places whose surviving historic, architectural and locally distinctive features make them special. Conservation area designation highlights the need to preserve and reinforce these qualities. The policies followed by the District Council when assessing proposals affecting conservation areas are set out in the South Hams Local Plan and Local Development Framework, while the Supplementary Planning Document ‘New Work in Conservation Areas’ explains how to achieve compliance with them. This is essential because the Council has a statutory duty to approve proposals only if they “preserve or enhance the character or appearance” of the conservation area. The purpose of this appraisal is to set out what makes the Kingswear Conservation Area special, what needs to be conserved and what needs to be improved. Draft March 2012 Kingswear Kingswear Conservation Area: Summary of Special Interest. Kingswear is situated on a promontory on the east side of the Dart, across the water from Dartmouth. Although Kingswear is much smaller than its bigger neighbour, the two settlements complement each other neatly, each occupying the view across the water from the other. Like Dartmouth, Kingswear is built in layers of development up the hillside from the shore of the river with roads following the contours. The conservation area occupies the lower slopes and, owing to the curve of the shore has an orientation North side of the village. that ranges between north, through west to south. The estuary is therefore always in evidence and the atmosphere throughout the conservation area is light and airy. Owing to the orientation and benign microclimate, the southern part of the conservation area, especially, is characterised by lush vegetation, both indigenous and exotic, much of it grow- ing in the typically large gardens of the area. The buildings of the village underwent a transformation in the 19th century with the arrival of the Great Western Railway which is now one of its most prominent features. The village has also suffered from the gradual erosion of authentic architectural details, through the replacement of windows, doors, and changes to the exterior fi nishes. South side of the village. Whilst the purpose of Conservation Area designation is not to prohibit change, it is important that changes within them are in keeping with existing features and materials so as Holne not to loose the sense of character which justifi ed designa- Lower & Higher Dean Staverton Marldon Shaugh Prior Dean Prior BickleighB Lee Moor Dartington Littlehempston Woolwell Rattery rthy Wotter South Brent Berryy Pomeroy tion. Accordingly, there are additional policies and controls Cornwood Tigley Totnes Avonwick Harberton Dittisham SSparkwell Ashprington Bittaford Diptford Stoke Gabrielriel Lee Mill Harbertonford on certain alterations, demolition and new developments. Ugborough Cornworthyorthy Ivybridge Dittisham Halwell Ermington Brownston Brixton Moreleighh Modbury Yealmpton Kingswear The Appraisal is not to be seen as a defi nitive list of all the Down Thomas Blackawton Dartmouth Holbeton Wembury East Allington Stoke Fleming Heybrook Bay Newton Ferrers Kingston Loddiswell Kingswear Aveton Gifford Mothecombe Bigbury Noss Mayo Strete features of interest, and items omitted are not necessarily Ringmoree Churchstow Kingsbridge Slaptont B i g b u r y B a y Dartmouth Bigbury West Alvington Sherford on Sea Chillington Stokenham Thurlestone insignifi cant. Further information on the implications of the South West Frogmore Milton Charleton Torcross Hope Cove Stoke Fleming Malborough South Pool S t a r t B a y Bolt Tail Salcombe designation can be obtained from the Planning Service East Portlemouth East Prawle Start Point Bolt Head Group at South Hams District Council. Prawle Point Strete ThT e ApApprp aisasal haas beene preepared in the context of the SoS utu h HaH mss Looccall Plalan (1( 99996), the DeDevov n Structure Pllanan, annd NaN titiono alal Plalannning PPoolicy guiidance (PPG),) pap rtr icicularrlyl PPGG1515 (Arrchaea olo ogogy ana d Plannnin ng) and 161 (P(Pllannnnining annd thhe HiH ststorric Envnviri onnment). 2 KingwearKKiingngwewearar AAppraisalppppraraisisaall Location and Geology Kingswear is located on the South coast of Devon on the eastern side of the Dartmouth Harbour, near the mouth of the River Dart. The underlying geology includes alluvium deposits along the mouth of the creek, slates with grit along the northern edge of the village and Dartmouth slates to the south and east. Historically, the steep topography confi ned development to within the 100m. contour, spreading over the headland during the 19th and 20th centuries. Road access to the outskirts of the village is generally good, but within the village vehicular access is restricted by access to the ferry crossing and narrow streets. Sketch map, 1998, showing the infl uence of topography. Buildings are Population and Land Use currently spread over the headland Kingswear Station. The population of the parish of Kingswear was 1332 in 2001, an increase of nearly 350% in 190 years. Historically, Kingswear was known for its fi shing industry and associations with trade in the port of Dartmouth located opposite the river. Activity is now centred on tourism encouraged by the Great Western Railway train connection to Paignton, (above) and pleasure boating from the river moorings. Historic Development Commerce is minimal, centred upon a Post Offi ce, and Townscape (right) villa ge shop, pubs/ cafes and boat related busi- Kingswear formerly lay in the parish and manor of Brixham. nesses. The Chapel of Ease dedicated to St. Thomas was a daugh- The ferry connection to Dartmouth (below) remains ter church of Brixham, built as early as 1170. The history of an important link, the community benefi ting from the village is largely associated with the neighbouring port services provided by the town across the water. of Dartmouth, although in origin the settlement may well be part of Kingston. The village grew due to its position at the mouth of a creek where access could be gained from the ships at all states of the tide. Kingswear castle was built in 1491- 1502 as part of the defences of this important harbour. This fell into disuse after 1643, but it did have a role in the Civil War when a redoubt was built upon Mount Ridley. ‘In Elizabethan times, when the port of Dartmouth was a thriving base for scores of ships engaged in the Atlantic trade, the whole area south of Kingswear Church was a close built huddle of merchant houses, warehouses and wharves’. Today, little remains of the original settlement as the advent of the railway brought redevelopment and Dartmouth lower ferry expansion to the small village. Kingswear Appraisal 3 Extent of village based on the Effect upon village growth First Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1890 The fi gure ground plan opposite shows the density of King- swear as it would have appeared in the 1840s. The northern side of the village was more densely built upon, with buildings concentrated upon the western tip of the water frontage. To the south and east buildings are less frequent, dispersed amongst the valley slopes. The higher ground behind the buildings is divided into garden plots by a series of rubble stone walls. These garden plots were markedly larger along the southern and western sides of the valley than on the northern edge. The subsequent plans show the gradual loss of garden plots as with the increase in technology, land has been developed upon the steeper banks. The present ground plan shows a decrease in the density of building along the western waterfront, and an almost indiscriminate distribution Extent of village based on the of buildings that has occurred in the 19th and 20th centuries. Tithe Map of the 1840s Kingswear has grown from a small fi shing settlement with merchant houses clustering upon the western mouth of the Creek, to a largely residential village, its buildings dispersed over the headland. Its present character is derived from redevelopment following the arrival of the railway in 1864, bringing 19th and 20th century changes. Extent of village based on present Ordnance Survey Kittery Quay was the counterpart of Dartmouth’s old Quay, with trading and merchant houses once clus- tered along the shore line. Buildings in this part of the village were so densely crowded that The Square was arched over, with the entrance to higher ground via what is now known as Alma Steps (above). The ferry is thought to date to the 13th century as a regular crossing. In the late 16th century, Nicholas Shapleigh set sail from Kittery and established the earliest villageship in Maine, New England. From 1700, Kingswear ceased to be an active trading port and became a desirable location for the residences of wealthy families. Many of the older buildings were removed for the building of the Yacht Club house in 1881, Longford, Stone House and the Priory. The majority of the building stock dates from this time. 4 Kingwear Appraisal Building materials and fi nishes Many of the buildings within the village are of 19th and 20th century fabric, although some may be earlier in origins. This has led to the village having a visual commonality of building fi nishes. The front elevations of the majority of buildings are smooth rendered, some with ashlar lining. Some of the Building form most prominent of these in the north part of the village have One of the features of Kingswear is the way in which it has been painted in bright colours that give the village a lively, two distinctive characteristics: terraced buildings of three welcoming air when seen from across the river. Roughcast or four storeys, often fronting the road and having small is also found on less important elevations and less formal garden plots; detached ‘villas’ located in an individual plot buildings.

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