Oxenhope and Leeming Conservation Area Assessment
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Oxenhope ASSESSMENT OF CONSERVATION AREAS (Comprising four Conservation Areas: Leeming, Oxenhope Lower Town, Oxenhope Station Road and Oxenhope Upper Town) 1 Acknowledgements We would like to thank: Everyone who participated in the consultation during the preparation of this document by submitting their views and suggestions at either of the workshops held at Oxenhope Village Hall on 27 and 28th January 2004 or by returning comments sheets. Oxenhope Parish Council for supporting the document and providing helpful information and suggestions. Reg Hindley for providing historical and factual corrections to the draft of this document. His own (2004) publication ‘Oxenhope: The Making of A Pennine Community’ has been most useful in re-drafting this document and provides an unrivalled amount of well-researched information about the historical development of Oxenhope. West Yorkshire Archaeology Service (WYAS) for historical and architectural information relating to Lower Town, Station Road and Upper Town. 2 Content 1. Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 3 1.1. What does conservation area designation mean? …………….…………………….. 3 1.2. What is the purpose of conservation area assessments? ………………………….. 3 1.3. Conservation Areas in Oxenhope …………………..…… …………………………….. 4 2. Location and Population…………………………………………………………………………. 5 3. Origin and Historic Development………………………………………………….……………. 7 4. Topography and Setting………………………………………………………..……………….. 15 5. Traditional Building Materials…………………………………………………….…………….. 19 6. Architectural and Historic Qualities of the Buildings 6.1 Leeming ………………………………………………………………………………….. 23 6.2 Lower Town ………………………………………………………………………………. 35 6.3 Station Road …………………………………………………………………………….. 45 6.4 Upper Town……………………………………………………………………………….. 53 7. Open spaces and Natural Elements 7.1 Leeming………………………………………… ………………………………………… 67 7.2 Lower Town…………………………………. ……………………………………………. 71 7.3 Station Road……………………………… ………………………………………………. 75 7.4 Upper Town ………………………………………………………………………………. 79 8. Permeability and Streetscape 8.1 Leeming…………………………………………….. ……………………………………… 83 8.2 Lower Town…………………………………... ……………………………………………. 87 8.3 Station Road………………………………. ………………………………………………. 93 8.4 Upper Town ………………………………………………………………………………… 97 9. Activity………………………………………………………………………………………………. 101 10. Conclusion: Character Specification and Guidance………………………………………… 105 Characteristics Common to the Four Conservation Areas at Oxenhope………………... 106 Characteristics Specific to Leeming Conservation Area..………………………………… 108 Characteristics Specific to Lower Town Conservation Area……………………………… 111 Characteristics Specific to Station Road Conservation Area……………………………… 114 Characteristics Specific to Upper Town Conservation Area………………………………. 116 10. Preservation and Enhancement Proposals ………………………………………………… 119 10.1 Preservation of the Character and Appearance of the Conservation Areas at Oxenhope ……………….………………………………………………………………………. 119 10.2 Design Guidance: Additions, Alterations and New Build …………………………….. 120 10.3 Enhancement Proposals…………………………………………………………………. 121 10.4 Conservation Area Boundaries ………………………………………………………... 125 Glossary of Architectural Terms …………………………………………………………………….. 127 Further Reading ………………………………………………………………………………………. 131 Appendix 1: Maps of the Oxenhope Conservation Areas…………………………….………… 132 Appendix 2: List Descriptions of the Listed Buildings in the Conservation Areas at Oxenhope ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 134 Appendix 3: Legislation and Council Policies Relating to Conservation Areas ……………… 138 Contacts ……………………………………………………………………………………… Back Cover 1 The built up core of Lower Town, with Lower Town mill chimney featuring prominently, seen from the quiet and leafy Yate Lane. 2 1. Introduction 1.1 What does Conservation Area 1.2 What is the Purpose of Conservation Designation mean? Area Assessments? A conservation area is an ‘area of special The City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council architectural or historic interest the character or has prepared this assessment of the Conservation appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or Areas in Oxenhope in order to fulfil its statutory duty enhance’ (Section 69 of the Planning (Listed to review its conservation areas from time to time Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990). and formulate and publish proposals for their preservation and enhancement. It forms part of an They were first introduced into British legislation by ongoing programme of conservation area the Civic Amenities Act of 1967 and are an attempt assessment and review being undertaken by the to protect the wider historic environment. An area Conservation Team, which aims to: may warrant designation if, for example, it has an historic layout of streets, or exhibits the • Clearly define and record the special interest of characteristic materials, style and landscaping of all of the district’s conservation areas, to the region in which it is situated or of a certain ensure that there is a full understanding of period of history. They are cohesive areas in which what is worthy of preservation; the interaction of buildings and spaces create • Reassess current boundaries, to make certain unique environments that constitute irreplaceable that they accurately reflect what is now components of our local, regional and national perceived to be of special interest and that heritage. they are readable on the ground; Conservation areas are designated by the Council, • Increase public awareness of the aims and which has a statutory duty to review its historic objectives of conservation area designation districts from time to time, in order to ascertain and stimulate their involvement in the whether further conservation area designations are protection of the character of these unique deemed to be appropriate. Designation confers a places; and general control over the demolition of buildings, strengthens controls over minor development and • Assess the actions that are necessary to makes special provision for the protection of trees. safeguard the individual character of each More detail on legislative controls in conservation conservation area and put forward proposals areas can be found in Appendix 3 of this document. for their enhancement. In addition, in exercising its planning powers, the Council has a statutory duty to pay attention to the This document will provide a framework for the desirability of preserving and enhancing the controlled and positive management of change in character and appearance of conservation areas. Oxenhope’s Conservation Areas and form a basis The Bradford Unitary Development Plan contains a on which planning decisions in the area are made. number of policies that have been formulated to It may also provide the foundation on which the provide the mechanism for this objective to be Council can make bids for funding to assist property realised (see Appendix 3). These measures aim to owners with works to the fabric of their buildings, or ensure that the interest of designated areas is to restore derelict structures. It is, however, not retained for future generations, their environmental intended to be comprehensive in its content and quality is preserved or enhanced and local failure to mention any particular building, distinctiveness and sense of place is safeguarded. feature or space should not be assumed to imply that they are of no interest. A draft Conservation Area Assessment for Oxenhope was placed on deposit for consultation in January 2004. A summary of the draft document, 3 map of the proposed boundaries, comments sheet 1.3 Conservation Areas in Oxenhope and invitation to a public workshop were distributed to all addresses within and local to the conservation The diverse historic fabric of Oxenhope is covered area. This ‘final’ Conservation Area Assessment by four conservation areas which each reflect document has been produced following the analysis different periods of development and with it, of comments received about the draft document differences in the building types, settlement pattern and proposed conservation area boundaries either and types and number of open spaces. Leeming, by post or at the public workshops held at th th Lower Town and Upper Town Conservation Areas Oxenhope Village Hall on 27 and 28 January were designated in 1980, while Station Road 2004. The enhancement proposals of the draft Conservation Area was designated in 2000. document have been redrafted and reprioritised in light of public opinion and support. The proposed The area covered by the conservation areas was boundaries for the four conservation areas at originally a group interdependent clusters of Oxenhope have also been reassessed in order to agricultural settlement mostly scattered over higher properly consider changes suggested by the ground. With early industrialisation in the late 18th community. and early 19th century some of these clusters expanded to house textile workers and store or The assessment should be read in conjunction the manufacture cloth. Mills were located near the Bradford Unitary Development Plan and national main waterways, particularly Leeming Water. planning policy guidance, particularly Planning Continued industrial expansion saw Oxenhope grow Policy Guidance 15 (PPG15): Planning and the more between the mid-19th century and the early Historic Environment. These documents provide 20th century, but in fewer areas, most notably Lower more detailed information on local and national Town where the abundance of flat land was too wet policy relating to conservation