The Knot Inn, Rushton Spencer, Macclesfield Heritage Statement Humble Heritage Ltd May 2017 2 CONTENTS PAGE Executive Summary 3 1.0 Introduction and Methodology 4 2.0 Site Location and Planning Context 5 3.0 History and Description of the Site 6 4.0 Summary Statement of Significance 8 5.0 Heritage Impact of the Development 9 6.0 Sources Consulted 11 Appendix A ~ Listing Building Entry 12 3 The Knot Inn, Rushton Spencer, Macclesfield Heritage Statement EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Site Name: The Knot Inn Address: The Knot Inn, Station Lane, Rushton Spencer, SK11 0QU Local Planning Authority: Staffordshire Moorlands District Council County: Staffordshire Date of Property: Mid-19th century public house Conservation Area: N/A Listed Building: Grade II Scheduled Monument: N/A Report Production: Liz Humble Enquiries To: Liz Humble, Director Humble Heritage Ltd 14 Ashbourne Way York, YO24 2SW Tel: 01904 340591 Mobile: 07548 624722 Email: [email protected] Website: www.humbleheritage.co.uk Humble Heritage Ltd is a professional built heritage and archaeological consultancy operating in the specialised area of the historic environment. The practice has extensive experience of historical and archaeological research, assessing significance and heritage impact and preparing heritage impact assessments, archaeological desk-based assessments, statements of significance, conservation management plans and so forth. Humble Heritage Ltd provides heritage and archaeological advice on behalf of a wide variety of clients across much of England. Humble Heritage Ltd undertook this Heritage Statement during May 2017 on behalf of Punch Taverns Ltd and RA Dalton Ltd. This assessment is intended to inform and accompany the application for planning permission for the installation of a duplex grade sewage pumping station, pumping main, KEE NuDisc sewage treatment plant and associated drainage at the grounds to The Knot Inn, a Grade II listed building. The application site is located within part of the car park to the public house. This report assesses the potential for archaeological remains to survive in this area and their nature and significance and also the contribution that the application site makes to the significance of the Grade II listed public house and any other nearby listed buildings. The report concludes with an assessment of the impact of the development upon the significance of the designated heritage assets. This report finds that the Grade II listed Knot Inn has been designated as being of special interest on the basis of its architectural and/or historic interest. The application site is its setting but makes a negligible 4 contribution to the special interest or significance of The Knot Inn. The car park within which the proposed development will be located enables open views to the building and facilitates the sustainable use of the building by providing parking for patrons, which contributes to communal heritage values but no other contribution has been identified. The proposed development is considered to result in ‘less than substantial harm’ to the heritage significance of the Grade II listed Knot Inn. Indeed the impact is negligible and the proposals will support the ongoing sustainable use of the Grade II listed Knot Inn and is thus linked to a clear public benefit. INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY 1.01 This Heritage Statement has been prepared by Liz Humble (MA, MA, MCIfA, IHBC), Director, Humble Heritage Ltd, on behalf of RA Dalton Ltd. This report has been produced during May 2017 and considers land (part of a car park) where a septic tank is planned for installation to serve the nearby Grade II listed Knot Inn. 1.02 The aims of this report are to: . Inform the applicants and their specialist project team with respect to the significance of the site and the heritage implications of the development. To provide a tool to help the planning authority to understand the development of the site and the contribution, if any, that it makes to the significance of the designated heritage assets in this location. Assist those in the planning system advise and assess the change at the site and satisfy the requirement of paragraph 128 of the National Planning Policy Framework, which indicates that applicants should provide a description of the significance of any heritage assets affected by their proposals (including any contribution made by their setting). 1.03 This assessment has been informed by a site visit on 12 May 2017, analysis of historic Ordnance Survey maps of the area, listing descriptions, the Historic Environment record entry held at Staffordshire HER and desk based research. The archives at the Archaeology Data Search and Historic England were consulted but no futher information on The Knot Inn was found. 5 SITE LOCATION AND PLANNING CONTEXT Site Location 2.01 The application site forms part of the car park to the Knot Inn located in Rushton Spencer situated between the towns of Leek and Congleton (both about 3 miles away), and about 5 miles south of Macclesfield (figure 1). Rushton Spencer is a small village, close to the western edge of the Peak District National Park. The Knot Inn itself sits on a large plot on a quiet lane just off the main A523 route through the area. Figure 1: Site location (site shown within red spot) Heritage Planning Context 2.02 The application site falls within the curtilage of the Grade II Knot Inn, designated in 1987 and is located close to the Grade II listed former Rushton Spencer Railway Station (Grade II listed in 1987; now a private dwelling). 2.03 The purpose of this Heritage Statement is to satisfy paragraph 128 of the National Planning Policy Framework and it therefore assesses the significance of any heritage assets that may be affected by the proposals. Furthermore, section 66(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 indicates that special regard shall be given to the desirability of preserving a listed building or its setting. 2.04 Paragraph 132 of the National Planning Policy Framework advises that the significance of designated heritage assets can be harmed or lost through alterations or development within their setting. Such harm or loss to significance requires clear and convincing justification. Paragraphs 6 133 and 134 of the National Planning Policy Framework make a distinction between proposals that will lead to ‘…substantial harm to or total loss of significance…’ of a designated heritage asset (paragraph 133) and proposals that will have ‘…less than substantial harm…’ (paragraph 134). Planning History 2.05 A search of Staffordshire Moorland District Council’s online planning search has revealed the following application history at The Knot Inn. Application Date Proposal Decision reference SMD/2015/0095 2015 Advertisement consent for new signage scheme Advertisement consisting of 1 hanging sign, 3 sets of halo- Consent - Approved illuminated individual letters, wall board, 2 poster cases and 2 handwritten signs SMD/2015/0091 2015 Listed Building Consent for 13 floodlights, 3 lanterns, Listed Building 1 hanging sign, 3 sets of halo-illuminated individual Consent - Approved letters, wall board, 2 poster cases and 2 handwritten signs SMD/2014/0837 2015 Listed building consent for demolition of existing Listed Building lean-to and erection of a rear extension, new Consent – Approved SMD/2014/0836 entrance canopy to the side entrance, installation of an extraction flue and internal and external Planning Permission alterations - Approved HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE Origins and Historical Development 3.01 The Knot Inn was built in the mid-19th century close to the former railway line (removed some time ago) and a nearby former railway station (built 1844, now a private dwelling) (figure 2). The inn was situated to provide hospitality to the travelling public, business, families etc using the adjacent railway. 3.02 Reputedly, the public house was originally named ‘The Hope & Anchor’. The Railway Inn replaced the Hope and Anchor in 1853. It is now known as The Knot Inn – named after the Staffordshire Knot used on the rolling stock and uniforms of the NSR Co. (North Staffordshire Railway Company). Rushton railway station was a railway station that served the village of Rushton Spencer, Staffordshire. The station was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway in 1849 as part of the Churnet Valley line. It remained open until passenger services were withdrawn from the northern end of the Churnet valley line in 1960. Freight services lasted until 1964 when they were withdrawn and the track lifted. Today, the track bed forms part of the ‘Staffordshire Way’, which is now a local leisure route. 3.03 The Staffordshire Historic Environment Record (SHER) is one of the primary sources of information on the local historic environment. It includes information on archaeological sites, historic buildings, finds and the historic landscape within the modern county of Staffordshire. The Knot Inn is recorded in the HER as number 13587. The HER record states: ‘A listed mid 19th century (former railway) inn of red brick with patterned, blue tile roof and brick chimney stacks. Associated with the adjacent Churnet Valley Branch of the North Staffordshire Railway (PRN 50750)’. 7 Figure 2: Ordnance Survey map, 1879 Archaeological Potential 3.04 The site of the new septic tank has low archaeological potential. A search of the Archaeology Data Service has not revealed any previous archaeological interventions here, however, there is some potential for earlier phases of the building to survive within the car park as foundations/artefacts. Site Description: The Site Today 3.05 The Knot Inn is a Victorian brick-built public house that retains a traditional character and a number of traditional features externally and internally. Substantial investment in 2015 refurbished and altered the interior, demolition of existing lean-to and erection of a rear extension, new entrance canopy to the side entrance, installation of an extraction flue.