DRAFT conserved andwhatneeds tobeimproved. Conservation Area special, whatneedstobe The purposeofthisappraisal istosetoutwhatmakesthe the conservationarea. they “preserveorenhancethecharacterappearance” of Council hasastatutorydutytoapproveproposals onlyif compliance withthem. This isessentialbecausethe ‘New Work inConservation Areas’ explains howtoachieve Framework, whiletheSupplementaryPlanning Document out intheSouthHamsLocalPlanand Development assessing proposalsaffecting conservationareasareset The policiesfollowedbytheDistrictCouncilwhen reinforce thesequalities. area designationhighlightstheneedtopreserveand distinctive featuresmakethemspecial.Conservation whose survivinghistoric,architecturalandlocally parts ofourtownsandvillages.Theyareplaces Conservation Areas areusuallylocatedintheolder Conservation AreaAppraisal Kingswear 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 not to loose the sense of character which justifi ed designa- Lower & Higher Dean Staverton BBickleigh Lee Moor Woolwell rthy Wotter Berryy Pomeroy tion. Accordingly, there are additional policies and controls Tigley Avonwick SSparkwell Bittaford Stoke Gabrielriel

Lee Mill Harbertonford on certain alterations, demolition and new developments. Cornworthyorthy Dittisham Halwell Ermington Brownston Brixton Moreleighh Kingswear The Appraisal is not to be seen as a defi nitive list of all the Down Thomas Dartmouth Heybrook Bay Newton Ferrers Kingston Kingswear Mothecombe Noss Mayo Strete features of interest, and items omitted are not necessarily Ringmoree Slaptont B i g b u r y B a y Dartmouth Bigbury Sherford on Sea Chillington insignifi cant. Further information on the implications of the South West Frogmore Milton Torcross Hope Cove Stoke Fleming S t a r t B a y Bolt Tail designation can be obtained from the Planning Service East Prawle Start Point Bolt Head Group at 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 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 develop- ment 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 build- ings 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 dis- persed 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 .  From 1700, Kingswear ceased to be an active trad- ing 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, al- though 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. There are a few buildings in a distinctive red brick amongst lush vegetation. and terracotta of the 19th century and early 20th centuries and some good examples of slate hanging in the conser- Type one characteristics: vation area. Exposed stone rubble construction is often  terraced buildings associated with public use such as the church and alm- sharing a common shouses in the village centre and also with the ubiquitous building line and con- stone walls. The stone used typically is a mixture of grey sisting mainly of three limestone, the local shillet and Paignton red sandstone. or four storeys; One material common to nearly all the buildings is the slate roof. Chimneys are of brick or rendered with individual clay  exterior fi nish fre- pots. This element is important as the roofs are frequently quently a smooth on view due to the steep valley sides. render, giving a plain façade which is some- times broken by rendered bands at internal fl oor level and at window head level;  properties tend to be taller than they are wide;  openings are regularly proportioned, with less glass to wall area;  timber sashes are present in the best examples;  semi-circular arches above windows are common;  corbelled eaves on hipped roofs, or parapets are common;  quoins frequently expressed;  single attic dormers are frequently a later addition.

Kingswear Appraisal 5 Type two characteristics; Sharing similar stylistic features to type one, many of these villas dis- play the additional characteristics:  individual properties sited on often substantial plots;  two storeys are more common;  positioned on site to obtain a good view of the river;  garden defi ned by rubble- stone wall; Kingswear Station  gable and ridge decoration are common. Inverdart High Tides MLW

4.0m e SM The Listed Buildings South of the hotel, in The Square, lies SM a well-situated K6 telephone box that is MLW PH

Most of Kingswear’s listed buildings are concentrated listed and an unusual mile post located Slipway TH in the centre of the village. At the south western edge of on the ferry slipway with the distances to TCB

PO the conservation area lies Ashleigh House, a fairly plain various towns marked in miles furlongs Longford House 4 Longford

Shingle House PO 18th or early 19th century, slate hung townhouse. Further and poles. Kingswear Priory is unlisted but PRIORY down the Fore Street lies Kingswear Station of 1864. This there is a surviving, 16th century, sand- 5 to 1

Slipway The Cottage is especially well preserved with its weatherboarding, tall STREETSTRE stone gateway arch in the garden wall that Club chimneys and iron and timber canopy. The historic is listed. At the end of Priory Street, on e character of the station has been retained internally and the shore of the Dart lies Kittery Court. Al- ry Quay Slipway externally as it is now in use by the Paignton and Dart- though this house has suffered extensive Kittery Quay mouth Steam Railway. The neighbouring Italianate Royal alterations over the years, it does retain Dart Hotel complements the station perfectly and stands some vestiges of 16th century fabric and Slip on the shore immediately adjacent to the ferry slipway. is one of the few surviving structures of the period in the area. Up at a higher level, the Church of St Thomas was extensively N rebuilt by J. Hayward in 1847 but retains

its 14th century tower. The lychgate, WE also of 1847 and by the same architect, is listed in its own right. Finally Sarah S

Roope’s Almshouses, in plain slate rubble This map is reproduced from th and dating from 1840 are situated promi- with the permission of Ordnance Controller of Her Majesty’s Stat nently on the hillside. © Crown Copyright. Unauthoris infringes Crown copyright and m or civil proceedings. South Ham 100022628.2009

Royal Dart Hotel and Kingswear Station

K6 telephone box St Thomas Church Sarah Roopes Almshouses 6 Kingwear Appraisal

Montrose Ag 4

1 Cragside

1 Beachwood Hazel Bank 2

4.0m Marahau 8.5m 1 Crystal

7 3 Neathwood House Elm Cottage

Lamplit

KEY Frederick 1 to 9 to 1 Orchard Terrace

Car Park Little Elm Spittis Park 1 LB 12

RiversideWharf 6 Conservation Area Boundary

5 Woodfield 6 Wood Wiches Dragons 55

Garage Extension to ConservationReach Area Boundary Tanglewood 2 Summerland Terr Orchard Lodge

Overhill 1 1

1 School

2 Riverview Area3 of Archaeological Potential1 1 B 3205 1 King Woodbine House WOOD LANE

The Penthouse Chapel House

2 The Banjo The Old School House 1 Hawarden 3 Coombe View Listed Buildings Whitecraig TCBs Tresco Tce Woodbine Cottages

1 Skomer FB MS TCB MLW Highfield

3 Glenhurst El Sub Sta Positive Group Impact 16.8m The Old Smithy Killiney

Chelston

1 Long 2 North View Wood Lane Beechwood Important OpenReach Space characterised by View Cottage College View Moorings Kingsw MH & MLW lack of development within it

Dawn Heights

San bria 1

Dart 10 12 Walls with a positive impact on the Conservation Area Bollards Contour Car Park Cottage

10 Steps 98.5m Capstans 8

1to7 House 7 Steps Middle

4 Windy Marina Reach Ridge

8 View LB Historic street furniture Wingtor

Kingslee Darthaven TCB Hillside Terrace 5 Lodge SM

Mulonga

2 6 TPO - Tree Preservation Order(s) (general location) FORE STREET Kingswear

Carlton Crab

1 to 8 to 1 4 House Cott Ridley Mount Pleasent Park

Woodland Terrace 7

Inn Cott Trees

2 4 Kingsmount Court

1 Redoubt High

4 1 Windrush Distant Views REDOUBT HILL Top Deck Gables West Point El Horizon Hall The B 3205 HIGHER ST 63.1m Sub Sta Tower PH Elmwood House 5.2m ILL The HILL Databank The RIDLEY HILL Bay Tree Anchorage 1 Chart House THE Knocklayd House Higher

Southover SQUARE Church Contour 83.5m

3 CHURCH Cottage Wayford PC

1 Lych 15.8m Wayford Path Gate Baytrees Hillcrest Alma Inverdart

2 Steps Kingswear Cherry Lodge

Kingswear Priory 1 House Southover Trees

3

1

2 23.2m 2 Tennis Cou The Kingswear Park

3 High RIDLEY 50.0m Mount

4 Tides The Old The Ridley Ridley Gate Vicarage Chalet The Coach House HILL House

CHURCHCCH Mulberry House Bryndart HILL Inverdart Falaise Gate LB 44.8m El Sub Sta The Keep Kingswear

Lodge Rock Colonsay House Inverdart Dunheved Kittery CASTLE ROAD Court Glendene La Scala Nonsuch House Prospect House Fairwinds Cross Trees BEACONN 15.115.8m LANE

Mayflower Ravenswell Omega Waters BeaconBe Lodge Two House Rock Guns Riversea The Rock 12.5m Boat Cottage Beacon Oak Coastal Slope House Eastney 36.0m Shingle BEACON ROAD Inverdart Cottage

Slip Slip Toft Shingle e Ordnance Survey material Quay Farthings Shingle Yarrow Foxhole Light Slip Riversea e Survey on behalf of the Bank (fixed Rock ionery Offi ce white) Rock Rock Boat ed reproduction Landing Rock House Shingle Stage MLW Rock may lead to prosecution Boat Rock Little Ravenswell House ms District Council. Landing Stage Slipway Key Conservation Components Map - Kingswear

Kittery Court Kingswear Appraisal 7 Unlisted Buildings and Structures of Special Interest

In Kingswear a large percentage of buildings within the Conservation Area are unlisted. Many of these properties have qualities that contribute to the distinctive character of the village. The identifi cation of two building categories has established two broad groups into which many of the unlisted buildings fall, providing a basis for selection. In particular, those buildings that have retained their origi- nal features have been included, or those that despite alterations still contributed to the character of the village. There were also occasions where buildings were selected because they were unique, or part of the historic layout of the village. The photographs below show some of the buildings selected as making a positive contribution to the character of the Conservation Area. These buildings are shown on the Main Components Map.

Kingswear Hall

The old Vicarage

Inverdart 2

Royal Dart Yacht Club

Archaeology The Civil War defence fortifi cation on Redoubt Hill is also The archaeological interest centres on the former a site of archaeological interest, which lies outside the settlement of Kingswear as it stood when it was part of the Conservation Area as does the WWII torpedo battery built parish of Brixham. Kittery (located along the river frontage of concrete in imitation of thatch. Excavations may inform south of the Royal Dart Yacht Club) is known to have had our understanding of the historic development of the village. a manor house and there may well be medieval remains The map highlights the area that may be of particular under the gardens around Kittery and The Square. archaeological interest within the Conservation Area. 8 Kingwear Appraisal Character Areas

The conservation area falls into two distinct charac- ter areas. The mid and northern end of the con- servation area has an urban feel associated with a high density of buildings on small plots, associated with a former commercial/industrial use. The south end has a mature ‘polite rural’ character associated with stone rubble walls; large, detached residential buildings on large established gardens. The dotted line on the main components map denotes where the character changes. General Characteristics:  Roof materials and chimney pots are impor- tant throughout the village as they are strong Enclosed atmosphere Higher Street Coloured facades in Fore Street visual elements when seen from above.  Topography often necessitates level changes between streets, according to site conditions. Urban Characteristics  Building scale of three or four storeys retains the historical urban the character of The Square and Fore Street;  Higher Street has a much more, enclosed, intimate atmosphere, culminating in the Church tower.  buildings are terraced, stepping up with the topography, defi ning individual buildings though changes in roof level; Higher Street houses sitting on street edge

 Buildings sit along the street edge Polite-Rural characteristics  maintaining a consistent building line.  Large garden plots providing mature evergreen plant-  Several of these houses have been painted in bright ing from the Victorian period. colours which give the village a very distinctive character and stand out, especially when viewed  Private views and water frontage for properties with from Dartmouth. direct access to the waterfront  The majority of building plots have a small with to  Character determined by the architectural style of the depth ratio Victorian villas

View of southern side of Kingswear - Victorian Villas in large gardens Bright Colours with mature trees. Kingswear Appraisal 9 Landscape Characteristics

© Crown Copyright. Arches havve a historical All rights reserved. connnection withh the earlier South Hams District CoCouncil. Licence No. settlement,, prrovviding 100022628/2009 glimpses thhroouggh linking diffeerent paartss oof the village.ge.

Static points connected with waiting for the railway or car ferry

Urban feel associated with 3 and 4 storey Abssence of terraced buiildings buildings allows with a commmonality subbstantial views or proportion and over the river fenestrationn pattern.

Pedestrian route, part of the local domain linking the town vertically via Alma steps.

 narrow steps verti- cally link the village, and form part of the local domain;  fl oor surfaces are important, the slipway is lined with railway sleep- ers adding interest, colour and texture to the quay;

 intimate narrow  granite sets are a streets are formed feature of the south by buildings lining end of Priory Street; the street (north-  railway viaduct, ern end) or by 1862-4, is a strong rubble-stone walls landscape feature around gardens of the water front- (southern end) age, the series of creating intimate arches has a histori- spaces; cal connection with  street lighting is the former arches important, some over The Square; 19th century cast iron lamps remain;  ferry and the railway add visual interest to the water-  views of river are front through constant activity; restricted to the  large Victorian evergreen gardens are an important public, where they feature of the village when viewed from the water exist it is important frontage, particularly strong along the southern and to retain the view; eastern edge of the village;  sounds emitted from the landing of the ferry boats and the Kingswear steam train during the summer months are distinctive to the village.

10 Kingwear Appraisal Conservation Area Boundary Review

The conservation area was designated on the 3rd Oct. 1985. The existing boundary centres upon the historic settlement that grew around Kittery Quay and manor. The boundary physically spreads along the waterfront. The northern part of the boundary designation embraces areas associated with the former fi shing trade, warehous- es and railway. The boundary represents the extent to which development had extended in the late 19th century, and is characterised by the urban townscape in this part of the village. Although the approach to this part of the Retaining wall detail in Castle Road conservation area is attractive with terraced houses set up on the hillside behind stone rubble walls, the Creek to the north and splendid views across to Dartmouth, this area cannot really be said to be of special architectural or historic interest and therefore is not felt to warrant an ex- tension to the conservation area. The southern part of the conservation area has undergone considerable change as a result of the expansion of Kittery Court, but the pat- tern of land-use has remained unchanged since the mid 19th century. The western boundary is drawn around the former parish that represents the earlier manor settlement. Changes which have occurred here are within keeping with the former usage, scale and activities that would have prevailed. However, there is an area to the north of Beacon Road, currently outside the boundary, which is considered to contribute to and reinforce the character of the village, Attractive wall, gateway and railings in Ridley Hill especially when viewed from the water frontage. This is made up of a number of villas set in large gardens. Like much of the rest of the conservation area, Beacon Road, Castle Road and Ridley Hill are enclosed by stone Bibliography walls, lush gardens and ornamental features. The area is P Russell & G Yorke, Kingswear and Neighbourhood, bisected by a long fl ight of steps. It is proposed that the (Torquay: The Devonshire Association:) Report and boundary be extended east to include all of Beacon Road Transactions Vol. LXXXV, 1953, p.56-85 as far as Inverdart Cottage, and north to include Inver- dart itself. Castle Road and Ridley Hill will form the new W G Hoskins, Devon, (Newton Abbot: David and Charles), Northern boundary. As a result, Church Hill now lies in the 1954, 1972 edition. conservation area in its entirety. The new conservation area boundary is shown on the main components map.

KingswearKiKingngswsweaear AApAppraisalpprpraia sasal 1111 All our publications are available in alternative formats, such as large print or a language other than English. Please contact us on 01803 861234 or e-mail [email protected]. 12 Kingwear Appraisal