3 Historic Development Sequences
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 59 3. Historic Development Sequences
Chronology of Buildings and Features
1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000
Bewys cross Dates to 1300-1499 Early 19th century Penpole Dial c1634 Banqueting house & laundry 1600s Penpole Gate 1600s replaced c1725 Kings Weston House (Vanbrugh) 1710 Brewhouse c1715 Loggia 1720 The Echo 1722 Penpole Lodge c1725 demolished 1952 Vanbrugh Kitchen Range c1720 replaced c1847 Stables 1763 Kitchen gardens, lodges and pond c1768 Icehouse c1771 Shirehampton Lodge c1768 Home Lodge c1768 Wood Lodge c1768 Park Lodge c1768 Iron Bridge c1801 Hopper Kitchen Range c1847 demolished c1937 Henbury Lodge c1820 Balustrade Terrace c1840 War memorial 1921 Wartime remains 1939 School in the Grounds 1937 House in the Garden 1937 Formal restoration landscape Baroque landscape English landscape phase Picturesque phase Landscape reformalisation Philanthropy & Recreation Institutional landscape decline
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 60 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 3. Historic Development Sequences 1 2 3 1 1709 Kip Engraving 2 1720 Hallet Survey 4 5 6 3 1772 Taylor Survey
4 1900s (Epoch 2) Ordnance Survey
5 1949 Ordnance Survey
6 Aerial Photograph 2010 (©ASABlom2010) Historic Development: The Echo Walk
c1709 1720 1772
1900 1946 2010
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 61 1 A comparison of the formal garden layout from the 1720 Halett 3. Historic Map Sequences survey and the Kings Weston Book of Drawings 2 1 Garden section, Kings Weston Book of Drawings, Bristol Record Office
2 1720 Hallet Survey
Historic Development: The Echo Walk
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 62 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 3. Historic Map Sequences 1 2 4 1 1709 Kip Engraving 2 1720 Hallet Survey 3 5 3 1772 Taylor Survey
6 4 Opposite Page: 1880s Epoch 1 Ordnance Survey
5 Opposite Page: 2010 Ordnance Survey
6 Opposite Page: 2010 Aerial photograph ASABlom Historic Development Sequence: Penpole Wood
c1709 1720
1772
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 63 1880
2010
2010
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 64 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 3. Historic Map Sequences 1 2 3 1 Penpole Point, 1712 Kip Engraving 2 Samuel Hiernoymous Grimms 1788 drawing 4 5 3 Penpole Point 19C undated postcard
4 Open air church service at Penpole Point 1913
5 Aerial photograph ASABlom Penpole Point
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 65 1 2 3 4 5 1 Design for Penpole Lodge, Colen Campbell c1723 3. Historic Map Sequences (BRO 33746-037)
6 7 8 2 Vanbrugh’s alternative design for Penpole Lodge, V&A 3 Vanbrugh’s design for Penpole Lodge, V&A
4 c1760-68 extract of Sir John Soane’s Museum drawing (Drawer 69.1. 15) by courtesy of the Trustees of Sir John Soane’s Museum. Photo Ardon Bar-Hama
5 Penpole Lodge c1831, British School (Mb6265) Penpole Lodge Bristol Museum and Gallery
6 Penpole Lodge, Measured Drawing, J.W Tanner 1943
7 Penpole Lodge c1950 (NMR)
8 Site of Penpole Lodge, 2012 (KWAG)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 66 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 1 2 3 1 The Pillar at Weston Point, Samuel Grimm 1788 (British Library 3: Historic Map Sequences Ms15541)
2 Penpole Dial 2012 4 5 3 Late 18th century, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
4 Penpole Point and Dial, 2012
5 Lichens on Penpole Dial 2012 Penpole Dial
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 67 Blank page
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 68 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 4 Kings Weston Today
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 69 4. Kings Weston Today
Understanding the Site Today
The Kings Weston landscape has evolved over a long In general the components of the estate include: Kings Weston’s Historic Character Areas period of time as an expression of the status and 126 hectare grade II English Heritage registered Based on Kings Weston's history and existing site wealth of the estate owners, and the local geology, landscape of special historic interest features, twelve distinct historic character areas have topography, vegetation, farming, industry and 4 Grade I listed buildings been identified. This section provides a summary settlement patterns. The 1994 Historic Landscape 3 Grade II* listed buildings description and condition statement for the following Survey (NPA) provided the last comprehensive 13 Grade II listed buildings twelve historic character areas: assessment of the historic designed landscape, and a valuable public open space for formal and 1 House and Grounds the estate has since been subject to further changes, informal recreation for the local community and 2 Home Park in both the physical condition, management approach those in the wider city/ region 3 Echo Walk and legal ownership. sites of nature conservation interest 4 The Walk public rights of way This assessment seeks to review the estate's current 5 Penpole Wood ancient woodland physical condition, particularly within the context of 6 Penpole Point forms part of Kingsweston and Trym Valley changes and surveys carried out since the original 7 The Little Park Conservation Area 1994 report. Given the size and diversity of the historic 8 The Great Park estate this section can only provide a broad overview 9 Stable Block and Gardens of landscape character based on existing site surveys. 10 The House in the Garden (Kingsweston School) Additional details of historic features and fabric are 11 Napier Miles Park included within the Gazetteer (Appendix B). 12 Kings Weston Down
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 70 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 11
12
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9
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Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 71 4. Kings Weston Today
House and Grounds
The House and Grounds character area forms the A single step and an upturned, gadrooned stone immediate setting and surroundings of the Vanbrugh finial mark the end of the formal garden space. A designed Kings Weston house. It also includes the 2012 geophysical survey of this area (1) was not able Brewhouse, Loggia and Home Lodge. to establish clear evidence for the formal layout of the garden space for which further archaeological The principal elevation on the south west side investigation will be essential. overlooks the triangular Home Park lawn between large scale yew trees flanking Mylne’s main steps. A This walk is separated from the main Home Park lawn compacted gravel drive leads from the main car park by a belt of evergreen shrubs with a single notable on the north east side of the house, along the terrace Deodar Cedar in the south east corner. overlooking Lawrence Weston and Avonmouth, to the In the 1990s the Loggia was repaired and converted south west front. to a residential property in private ownership. Its Overlooking the housing at Mancroft Close, the 19th grounds are screened from the main car park by century terrace provides both general circulation and ornamental shrub planting. The original designed view outdoor space for the popular cafe business which of the Loggia front elevation along the terrace from operates from the basement of the house. A visually the main house is currently screened by the secondary intrusive and inappropriate fabric canopy structure woodland growth of sycamore below the main terrace. has been installed above the door to the cafe. The The Brewhouse has similarly been repaired and stone balustrade to the edge of the terrace is missing, converted to residential use. Boundary railings and although iron handrails to the steps remain. evergreen hedge planting serve to screen the property from the carpark and drive. The modern gate details, The former courtyard space between the main house, whilst ‘traditional’ in style have a domestic appearance the Loggia and the Brewhouse forms the main car out of character with the setting. A remnant gate pier park for visitors to the house. The surface is laid to within the grounds of the Brewhouse dating to 18th macadam with compacted gravel parking bays and century may relate to Sir Robert Southwell’s formal flush timber sleeper details giving a relatively informal courtyard layout in the 1720 Kip drawing. and untidy appearance at odds with the formal character of the architecture. Across the entrance drive from the Brewhouse, and in a poor state of repair, the Home Lodge marks the main At the north east corner of the car park a walk of vehicular entrance into the estate grounds from Kings Aerial view of the House and Grounds, © ASA Blom 2010 Robinia trees leads through to the first formal garden Weston Lane. Visually inappropriate signage, CCTV References: space along the Echo Walk. A 3.7m (12ft) wide gravel columns, automated vehicle access controls, boulders walk, centred on the steps of the east front of the 1 Wright P, University of Bristol (2012) and residential gates, fences and railings have been house, leads between two lawns towards the Echo installed around the House and Grounds. These have a 2 Nicholas Pearson Associates (1994) and Echo Wood. The standing remains of the partially significant adverse effect on the historic setting. constructed 1938 school building enclose and intrude 3 Penpole Wood and Quarry SNCI Audit, P Quinn (2006) on the first parterre space along its northern edge. Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 72 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 4. Kings Weston Today 1 2 3 4 1 Main steps and the south west front (2012) 2 The Loggia and site of Laundry and Banqueting House (2012) 5 6 7 8 9 3 The Brewhouse with remnant listed gate pier (2012)
4 The main car park on the site of the historic courtyard (2012)
5 The site of the first parterre garden and Echo Walk (2012)
6 Gadrooned stone finial and step at the end of the first parterre (2012)
House and Grounds 7 Fence stones resembling J Henley’s drawing (2012)
8 Standing remains of the 1938 QEH school development (2012)
9 Home Lodge, Kingsweston Lane (2012)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 73 4. Kings Weston Today 1 existing Avon crossing tall pylons
2 height of buildings and structures at Avonmouth Docks break the line of the Severn Estuary and Welsh coast and hills
3 line of the Severn Estuary and Welsh coast and hills is unbroken by lower height warehousing through this section of coastline
4 secondary woodland below the terrace edge requirs selective thinning to House and Grounds: view from the house terrace re-establish parkland, the principle view and the visual link between house and loggia, whilst potentially screening views of e.g. Sea Bank Power Station to the north west
4
1 2 3
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 74 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 1 height of buildings and structures at Avonmouth Docks break the line of 4. Kings Weston Today the Severn Estuary and Welsh coast and hills
2 line of the Severn Estuary and Welsh coast and hills is unbroken by lower height warehousing through this section of coastline
3 bramble below the terrace to be removed and maintained as parkland meadow pasture House and Grounds: view from the ground floor
3
1 2
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 75 4. Kings Weston Today
Home Park
The Home Park character area, a large triangular Kings Weston house dominates views across expanse of species-poor grassland, is enclosed by the the Home Park; providing a strong contrasting adjacent Echo Wood, The Walk and Penpole Wood landmark to the enclosing wall of woodland character areas. around the Home Park boundaries. The house is also a key element within the panoramic views Popular with local dog walkers, the Home Park forms from the Home Park towards the Severn Estuary the core recreation space of the Kings Weston estate. with the backdrop of the Welsh hills. Whilst the It has supported a small number of community 20th century industrialisation of the Avonmouth festivals and events within the last 20 years. area has substantially degraded the view the The grassland is mown 10-14 times each summer, panorama remains impressive and significant. however, the cutting regime at the woodland edges is The sound of the M5 motorway which crosses tending to a progressive encroachment of secondary the middle ground is notable from the areas woodland species including sycamore, blackthorn around the house. and bramble scrub. This has served to blur the spatial distinction and clarity between the historic character areas around the Home Park lawns, particularly the historic avenue character of The Walk. The 2012 geophysical survey (1), undertaken by the References: University of Bristol , identified tentative evidence for early eighteenth century structures within the area of 1 Wright P, University of Bristol (2012) the Great Court to the south west of the house. Within 2 Nicholas Pearson Associates (1994) the wider grassland a number of other archaeological features including low banks and ditches have 3 Penpole Wood and Quarry SNCI Audit, P Quinn (2006) previously been identified (2) and there is anecdotal evidence for survival of tree pits representing earlier double avenues across the parkland. In the north east corner a circular concrete pond is believed to be a possible fire pond from the World War Aerial view of the Home Park, © ASA Blom 2010 II encampment (2).
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 76 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 4. Kings Weston Today 1 2 3 4 1 South west front from the Home Park (2012) 2 Lime avenue at edge of Home Park and Penpole Wood (2012) 5 6 3 South west front from the Home Park (2012)
4 Fence stone and iron footings (2012)
5 View to the lime avenue and Penpole Wood from the second floor (2012)
6 South west front viewed across the Home Park from The Circle Home Park (KWAG 2012)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 77 4. Kings Weston Today
Echo Walk
The Echo Walk is an area of unmanaged semi-natural The 1946 RAF aerial photographs indicate an extensive woodland on rising ground between Kings Weston felling phase through this area and support the even House and the Echo. Originally an open walk through age appearance of the main forest layer. The 2005 parterre garden spaces, the direct view between the Penpole Wood and Quarry SNCI report identified two buildings has been obscured and overshaded by areas of Japanese Knotweed around the Echo which the closed tree canopies that bridge the 12ft wide have received treatment but should continue to be gravel path. This loss of intervisibility between Kings monitored and treated if necessary. Weston House and the Echo adversely affect their The gravel path rises sharply as it approaches the Echo visual relationship, and the way in which visitors and any finer gravel surface has been washed off to understand and appreciate the designed landscape. leave a rough stone sub grade below. The remains The woodland forest layer predominantly consists of of clay piped drainage system, the date of which is oak, ash and sycamore, with a cherry laurel dominated uncertain, are visible in places at the edges of the Echo shrub layer. Two broad vegetation types have been Walk path. identified within this structure (1): Firstly, open grown A serpentine path, shown as early as 1772, leads from trees (beech, Lebanon cedar, Bishops’s pine, horse the woodland car park to the Echo, closely following chestnut, yews, laurels and limes) lining the main walk the adjacent estate wall along Kings Weston Lane. though the wood and dating to between 1860 and Originally this was the main ‘path’ between the house 1890. Secondly, ornamental trees and shrubs around and the Echo, with the Echo Walk principally as a the Echo including Cryptomeria, Aucuba, Ailanthus and viewing axis. Norway Maple suggesting an early twentieth century planting phase and likely to be associated with the Behind the Echo, the landform rises sharply again contemporaneous and adjacent double pond feature. to the Terras structure and the Iron Bridge across Kingsweston Road. Recent management work by Kings Weston Action Group has thinned and cleared areas of bramble scrub to a more open and managed field storey.
Aerial view of Echo Walk, © ASA Blom 2010 References:
1 Nicholas Pearson Associates (1994)
2 Penpole Wood and Quarry SNCI Audit (2006)
3 Chambers, T (2008)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 78 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 1 2 4 6 1 The Echo interior showing the surviving plinth of the original 4. Kings Weston Today Echo statue
3 5 2 The Echo (2012)
3 Urn detail, The Echo (2012)
4 View along the Echo Walk towards the Echo
5 20th century concrete pond (2012) Echo Walk 6 View from the Echo towards Kings Weston House (2012)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 79 4. Kings Weston Today 1 2 1 Aerial view of The Walk character area, © ASA Blom 2010 2 Aerial view of The Walk character area, © ASA Blom 2010
The Walk
The Terras The Eastern Walk The Eastern Walk The Western Walk The Circle
The Walk character area is a wooded ridge-line running The Circle reduced this once open avenue to a linear woodland sycamore trees which are causing substantial damage between Echo Wood and Penpole Wood; separating belt; severing the spatial relationship between the to the stonework structure. The views to the south The Circle forms the junction of the Great Avenue from the Home Park from Shirehampton Park. A wide track Home Park and Shirehampton Park. The shrub storey and east have been significantly limited by boundary the house, the Western Walk and the Eastern Walk. Its runs the length of the ridge which gently falls then also blocks the intended sequential views of the main vegetation growing along the roadside boundary of historic function as a focal orientation space within the levels out towards the west. house against the back drop of the Severn Estuary and the Shirehampton Park golf course, and are now only Kings Weston landscape has been significantly affected Welsh Hills. It was in this view from The Walk that the glimpsed through tree canopies. The wall appears to The southern edge of the character is defined by by the 20C encroachment of secondary woodland and complex purity of Vanbrugh’s severe cubic block with be built in two distinct phases with a ramped section three distinct bulges in the low bank and ditch which bramble scrub. The historic drive from Shirehampton its ‘sensation of enormous repressed force’ (2) could and evidence of a ‘rockery’ feature at the western end. are consistent with a ha-ha or sunk fence (1) and Road curves through the Circle and leads towards the be appreciated and experienced. correspond with features on the Kip, Halett and Taylor house. The Circle is embanked along its southern edge surveys. consistent with a ha-ha feature or to simply provide a Lining the sides of the eastern walk the concrete bases level plane across the Circle space. of World War II military huts are clearly visible. The character area has four sub areas; the Western Walk, the Circle, the Eastern Walk and the Terras. The Eastern Walk The Terras References
The Western Walk Avenue tree planting of large leaved limes, sweet A retaining wall along the southern edge of The Walk 1 Nicholas Pearson Associates (1994) chestnuts, horse chestnuts, Lebanon and Atlas from the Iron bridge forms an elevated terrace. This West of The Circle a lime avenue (Tilia x europaea), 2 Gomme Jenner and Little (2011) cedars suggest a replanting of the original eighteenth ‘Terras’, marked on Taylor’s 1772 survey, provided replanted late 19C, continues along the edge of century avenue sometime between c 1860- 1890 to views east across Shirehampton Park towards the 3 Penpole Wood and Quarry SNCI Audit (2006) Penpole Wood terminating at the edge of the cricket replace ageing trees (1). Secondary woodland and River Avon and Failand. Today the wall has been ground is marked at both ends by a Deodar Cedar. 4 Chambers, T (2008) scrub growth in the 20th century has progressively significantly overgrown with multistem self seeded
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 80 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 4. Kings Weston Today 1 2 4 6 1 View of the Western Walk from The Circle (2012) 2 The Circle (2012) 3 5 7 3 The historic carriage drive entering the Circle (2012)
4 View towards Kings Weston House from The Circle (2012)
5 Shirehampton Road car park from The Circle (2012)
6 View along the Eastern Walk (2012) The Walk 7 The Terras (2012)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 81 4. Kings Weston Today 1 1 The main ride through Penpole Wood (2012) 2 The lower path through Penpole Wood (2012) 2
References
1 Penpole Wood and Quarry SNCI Audit 2006) Penpole Wood 2 Nicholas Pearson Associates (1994) 3 Chambers, T (2008)
Penpole Wood, a semi-natural broadleaved woodland Penpole Wood is structured and dissected by an Penpole Wood has a number of additional distinct with ornamental tree planting and expanding laurel intricate network of historic carriage rides and features suggesting this as a purposefully designed, thickets, occupies the summit and north face of the paths running through the woodland; bounding ornamental woodland. The northern path along the Kings Weston ridge; running between the Home Park the woodland compartments within. The main ride lower slopes of the wood passes a former quarry; a and Penpole Point character areas. runs the length of the wood along the ridge summit linear feature shown on the 1777 Taylor plan adapted between the Home Park avenue and Penpole Gate. with shrub planting and an intricate, informal path Generally, the woodland canopy is dominated by tall This ride splits within the woodland to follow two network. At the western end of the quarry a circle semi-mature and mature sycamore with some hybrid separate but parallel routes, reconverging at Penpole of mature limes trees stands on top of an earthwork lime, yew, sweet chestnut, hornbeam, ash and Scots Gate. The upper (southern) of these two paths is lined mound. The circle is 8m in diameter with space for pine present. The shrub layer varies significantly with frequent yew trees although, without further nine lime trees, although two of the trees have been through the woodland but there are extensive, dense survey, it is not clear if these relate to the designed lost through vandalism. The quarry is overgrown at thickets of mature cherry laurel and, elsewhere, path layout shown on the 1720 and 1777 historic the western end but originally the mound would have snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), Philadelphus mapping. A third path follows the lower (northern) offered views along its length. The mound is likely to and Forsythia. The presence of wood melick (Melica edge of the steep slopes just above the housing at date to the 18C although the size of the surviving trees uniflora), wood speedwell (Veronica montana) and Mancroft Avenue. The three main paths are linked suggest replacement planting in the early 20C. Whilst goldilocks buttercup Ranunculus( auricomus) within by a network of narrower routes running up and the feature is similar to the mound design in the Kings the woodland field layer indicates that Penpole is a down the steep ridge slopes. In places the legibility Weston book of drawings, the notes on the drawing long established woodland, part of which is registered of the historic path network is poor and many of the suggest that this location is unlikely to be the actual Ancient Woodland. designed routes are being progressively lost through site of Conger Hill. Ornamental shrubs, including Philadelphus and erosion, unmanaged vegetation growth and adoption An avenue of lime trees planted along parts of the Forsythia, within the understorey, and specimen of desire lines. lower path may date to the 18C with some subsequent trees suggests a later phase of ornamental woodland Wood Lodge on Penpole Lane, now a private replacement planting. The lower path continues west planting in the late 19C and early 20C. This is reflected residential property was one of the original 18C lodges from the quarry garden to pass two rock features. in the late 19C Ordnance Survey mapping which for the estate. Also located within the wood are the The first appears to be a single rock seat, the second appears to show diversification of the woodland ruins of four other estate buildings; Penpole Lodge, a natural rock outcrop that forms a seat. Together structure along the edge of key rides. The presence The former pasture land at the foot of the ridge two estate cottages, and the possible remains of an with the historic map evidence, the surviving layout of cherry laurel and snowberry, traditional game slope, behind the Mancroft Avenue properties, has ornamental garden building. The remains of a stone suggests that the Penpole Wood path network invited management species, suggests that in addition to its developed into a mosaic habitat of semi mature ash, boundary wall dating to 18C stand at the edge of the a series of key views from the woodland across the ornamental value Penpole Wood was also a covert sycamore and beech with areas of dense bramble. Penpole Wood and Penpole Point character areas. Severn Estuary and back towards the main house. for the rearing of game birds. Kings Weston’s mention There has been a history of encroachment of back To the north of this and roughly parallel is the parish These views are now lost or partial. within Rawstorne’s Gamonia supports this. gardens on to the estate land along this boundary with boundary marked with boundary stones. at least one encroachment actively maintained.
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 82 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 4. Kings Weston Today 1 2 3 1 Penpole Wood © ASA Blom 2010 2 Penpole Wood © ASA Blom 2010 4 5 6 7 8 3 Penpole Wood © ASA Blom 2010
4 Wood Lodge, Penpole Lane (2012)
5 Penpole Lodge (2012)
6 Rock outcrop feature along the lower path (2012) Penpole Wood 7 Rock seat along the lower path (2012) 8 Lime Circle (2012)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 83 4. Kings Weston Today
Penpole Point
Penpole Point lies at the south west end of the Kings The unmanaged growth of woody vegetation has Weston and Blaise limestone ridge. Penpole Dial and three adverse effects on the Penpole Point landscape. the site of the demolished Penpole Lodge are key Firstly, the historic panoramic views available from features of the character area. the Dial across the River Avon valley, the Bristol Channel and back towards Kings Weston House are Historically the Point provided elevated and blocked. Secondly, it shades out and takes over areas expansive views across Shirehampton the river Avon of grassland habitat which, although semi-improved, and the Bristol channel. However, the progressive may include remnant limestone sward species. The encroachment of secondary woodland scrub on the rocky habitat has supported a small population of ridge flanks have screened these views and narrowed Bristol rock-cress (Arabis scabra) although the SNCI the once open downland to an enclosed woodland report considers this to be at risk from the secondary ride. woodland encroachment. Thirdly, for users of the The main bridle path along Penpole Point provides an summit path, the scrub and tree canopies conceal important pedestrian route for estate visitors to and the risk presented by the adjacent steep slopes, from Shirehampton. The ridge summit is short and in particularly on the southern side. places semi-improved grassland whilst the steep rocky flanks now support a sycamore dominated woodland with frequent holm oak, and an elm understorey. Site of Penpole Lodge
Penpole Dial
Penpole Wood © ASA Blom 2010
References
1 Penpole Wood and Quarry SNCI Audit 2006)
2 Nicholas Pearson Associates (1994)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 84 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 4. Kings Weston Today 1 2 3 1 View SW towards Penpole Point from Penpole Lane (2012) 2 Penpole Dial (2012) 4 3 View SW from the site of Penpole Lodge towards Penpole Dial showing the encroachment of secondary woodland scrub (2012)
4 View NE towards the site of Penpole Lodge showing the encroachment of secondary woodland scrub (2012) Penpole Point
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 85 4. Kings Weston Today References 1 Penpole Wood and Quarry SNCI Audit 2006)
2 Nicholas Pearson Associates (1994)
3 National trust: Shirehampton Park Property Management Plan (2005)
4 Wessex Ecological Consulting, Ecological Report for National Trust (2002)
The Little Park: 5 Three Acre Covert and Portway Gardens SNCI Audit (2006)
The Little Park character area extends south of the Shirehampton Park 1772 Taylor surveys. The bound gravel car park surface Portway. Conger Hill, a knoll of densely tangled, mixed Kings Weston ridge line to the banks of the River Avon. extends beyond the width and line of the original drive. woodland scrub stands at the eastern end of the Long Shirehampton Park is a linear bank of attractive It is considered as having four sub areas: Penpole Lane, Together with the associated boulders and timber Combe. Three veteran oak trees survive in the east and parkland landscape running adjacent to and below Shirehampton Park, Shirehampton Park Golf Club, and bollards, and the secondary woodland encroachment west of the site. The Walk (WA) character area. It includes the Crab Tree Slip and Thee Acre Covert. around The Circle, this severely masks the historic Shirehampton Road highway (B4504) forming the Over recent decades the golf course landscape has approach towards Kings Weston House. boundary with Shirehampton Park Golf Club. been subject to amenity tree and shrub planting Penpole Lane Redundant tennis courts, dating from c1949, lie within alongside the golf fairways. The selection of non-native Originally a carriage drive through the estate, and still Penpole Lane is hedged on both sides with a deciduous the historic line of the Great Avenue leading from Kings ornamental species gives the golf course a suburban marked by the original lodge buildings (Shirehampton native hedgerow with oak specimens, which contribute Weston House and through The Circle. Removal of feel in contrast to its historic parkland character. Lodge and Park Lodge), Shirehampton Road now to an attractive semi-rural landscape character. chain link fencing and secondary tree growth around operates as a busy secondary distributor road within The golf course is crossed by two public rights of The land on the north side of Penpole Lane is in the the court edges has recently been undertaken by the local area. The width and form of the road, the way (PROW), and whilst these are signposted at the ownership of Bristol City Council and is used for KWAG and has substantially improved the parkland design of the junctions and the excessive vehicle boundaries their routes are not easily legible as they formal recreation by Twyford House Cricket Club setting. speeds that these factors encourage, have adversely cross the golf course. There are fine elevated views and Shirehampton Football Club. The sports field is affected the historic landscape character of the drive. In the eastern section the grassland is a species- across the horseshoe bend of the River Avon from the enclosed within the curve of Penpole Wood on the rich calcareous sward. During the summer meadow southern PROW although the chainlink fence boundary north and west sides, and has a two storey brick built The alignment of the current day Shirehampton Road management and the mowing of informal grass paths is inappropriately utiltiarian in appearance. The second clubhouse in the south east corner. can be seen on the 1720 Halett survey, lined by avenue helps to establish and maintain a highly attractive PROW passes close to the Conger Hill feature. tree planting. Early 20th century postcards suggest The privately owned Karakal warehouse occupies parkland character throughout this area. Tree clumps that the present lime avenue was planted circa 1900. A maintenance shed building within the Long Combe unused land between Shirehampton Park and the have established on the site of former quarry features. Legibility of this avenue feature, and views across the conceals a rectangular pond feature shown on the Twyford Cricket Club. The warehouse is a single storey, Little Park area, have been reduced by the growth historic map series. utilitarian business unit, with associated informal car Shirehampton Park Golf Club of secondary tree species (ash and sycamore) along parking and a large subsoil heap stockpiled at the rear the boundary with Shirehampton Park Golf Club. The Shirehampton Park Golf Club is an eighteen hole golf Crab Tree Slip and Three Acre Covert of the warehouse. The informal car parking lies within character and appearance has been further degraded course with club house and car parking accessed from the line of the Great Avenue that extended from Kings Between the A4 Portway and the railway line, Crab by the placement of vehicle deterrent boulders along Shirehampton Road adjacent to Shirehampton Lodge. Weston House. Tree Slip is a small semi-natural, species rich woodland the edge of the open space during the 1990s. The club have leased the land from the National Trust with two outlying areas of herb-rich grassland. The The triangular plot of land on the south side of Penpole since 1922. The junction with Penpole Lane is marked by the war site is publicly accessible although use is limited by Lane is within the ownership of the National Trust memorial set within a small hedged enclosure. Most of the golf course grasslands have been the heavily trafficked Portway. Three Acre Covert at and is used for formal recreation by Shirehampton intensively managed and have low nature conservation Sylvan Way includes a semi-improved neutral grassland Cricket Club. The grassland has been intensively Visitor parking for the estate is accessed from value. There are small areas of herb-rich grassland, enclosed by native hedgerow along the highway and managed but the site is enclosed on all sides by species Shirehampton Road and occupies the line of a second scrub and secondary woodland scattered around the broadleaved scrub woodland behind. rich hedgerows The historic Rush Pool adjacent to historic carriage drive which leads towards Kings edges. At the centre of the site is the Longcombe; a Shirehampton Road no longer holds open water and Weston House and crosses The Circle. The alignment dry valley with semi-natural woodland slopes running historically provided estate cattle with water. of this route is visible on both the 1720 Halett and west-east then turning south-east towards the
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 86 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 4. Kings Weston Today 1 2 3 1 Aerial view of Penpole Lane ©ASABlom2010 2 Penpole Lane with Twyford House Cricket Club clubhouse 4 5 visible beyond (2012)
3 Karakal warehouse from Penpole Lane (2012)
4 Twyford House Cricket Club clubhouse from Penpole Lane (2012)
5 Site of the Rush Pool with the Shirehampton Cricket Club The Little Park: clubhouse visible beyond (2012) Penpole Lane
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 87 4. Kings Weston Today 1 3 5 7 1 Shirehampton Road and Penpole Lane junction (2012) 2 Shirehampton war memorial at Penpole Lane junction (2012) 2 4 6 8 3 Disused tennis courts (2012)
4 Hedgerow boundary (2012)
5 Shirehampton Road car park (2012)
6 Entrance to Shirehampton Road car park (2012) The Little Park: 7 View east along edge of The Walk (2012) 8 Vehicle deterrent boulders along Shirehampton Road (2012) Shirehampton Park
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 88 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 4. Kings Weston Today 1 3 5 6 1 Shirehampton Road 2 View across Shirehampton Road and Shirehampton Golf Club 2 4 7 3 Listed boundary stone at the Iron Bridge (2012)
4 Junction of Shirehampton Road and Kings Weston Road (2012)
5 The Iron Bridge over Kings Weston Road (2012)
6 Park Lodge, Shirehampton Road (2012)
7 Aerial view of Shirehampton Road junction with Kingsweston The Little Park: Road ©ASABlom2010 Shirehampton Park
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 89 4. Kings Weston Today 1 2 3 1 Shirehampton Lodge, Shirehampton Road (2012) 2 Public Right of Way entrance at Shirehampton Road (2012) 4 5 6 3 Aerial view of the Longcombe and A4 Portway © ASA Blom 2010
4 Amenity planting between fairways (2012)
5 View east along the Longcombe (2012)
6 The Horseshoe Bend - view across the River Avon from the The Little Park: PROW (2012) Shirehampton Golf Club
Shirehampton Road Conger Hill
Longcombe
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 90 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 1 2 1 Aerial view of Crab Tree Slip and the River Avon 4. Kings Weston Today ©ASABlom2010
2 Aerial view of Crab Tree Slip and the Three Acre Covert ©ASABlom2010
The Little Park: Crab Tree Slip and Three Acre Covert
Crab Tree Slip
Three Acre Covert
Crab Tree Slip
Site of Crab Tree Slip
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 91 4. Kings Weston Today
The Great Park
The Great Park character area covers the land between The original field entrance to the Great Park from Kings the Great Terrace at Kings Weston House and Long Weston Lane survives as a pedestrian entrance to the Cross. It includes the surrounding inter-war housing at estate. The boundary with the Mancroft residential Mancroft Avenue and Barrowmead Drive. Whilst the properties is formed by an outgrown hawthorn character of this part of the Kings Weston estate has hedge. Severe encroachment by bramble scrub changed beyond recognition within living memory, the throughout this grassland area over the last fifteen area reflects aspects of the parkland layout in the 1720 years has recently been addressed (February 2013). Halett and 1772 Taylor surveys. It is important that bramble control and grassland management continues. The key surviving open space features within the character are the grassland slope immediately below The Tump is a roughly rectangular site of 3.3Ha of the house terrace and ‘The Tump’; an outlying knoll predominantly mature secondary woodland, species within the principal view from Kings Weston House. rank grassland and bramble scrub. It has some areas of tall herb vegetation and a small area of Occupying the sloping ground between the terrace relict calcareous grassland. The Tump is enclosed and the residential properties at Mancroft Avenue, by residential housing and the playing field of Kings the grassland bank provides the immediate setting to Weston School. It is publicly accessible from adjoining the north west front of the house. An informal path roads and includes a loose network of informal paths. crosses the bank diagonally from the corner of Kings A relict Wellingtonia tree stump reported in the 1994 Weston Lane and Mancroft Avenue gate within the Nicholas Pearson report was not evident in 2012. estate rail fence adjacent to the Great Court. The fence was installed in 2000 as part of an earlier phase of The other surviving feature of the Great Park is the minor improvements. peripheral belt of trees between Kings Weston Lane and Moor Grove. The belt includes a number of large plane trees dating to around 1775 (1). The Great Park character area is both setting for the historic house and the interface with the Lawrence Weston local community. The experience of arriving at Aerial view of The Tump and meadow below the Great Terrace ©ASA Blom 2010 Kings Weston could be significantly improved for local visitors. Pedestrian entrances at Kings Weston Lane References and Mancroft Avenue are narrow and poorly signed with utilitarian entrance detailing. 1 Nicholas Pearson Associates (1994) Grassland below the terrace following bramble scrub control (2013) 2 The Tump SNCI Audit Report (2006) 3 Penpole Wood and Quarry SNCI Audit (2006)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 92 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 4. Kings Weston Today 1 3 5 7 1 Kings Weston House viewed from below the terrace (2012) 2 Pedestrian entrance at Kings Weston Lane (2012) 2 4 6 8 3 Bramble scrub below the terrace prior to management (2012)
4 The Home Farm, Kings Weston Lane (2012)
5 Pedestrian entrance to Penpole Wood at Mancroft Avenue (2012)
6 View of Kings Weston house from Sadlier Close (2012)
The Great Park 7 Pedestrian entrance from Sadlier Close at the Tump (2012)
8 The Tump summit at Sadlier Close (2012)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 93 4. Kings Weston Today
Stable Block and Gardens
Accessed from Napier Miles Road the Stable Block and at risk, surviving in a poor condition fenced against Gardens character area is defined by the presence and vandalism and risk to the public. distinctive layout of the Mylne designed stable block. In the northern compartment standing remains of This in turn is mirrored by the pond and lodges in the structures can be seen heavily overgrown with ivy. adjacent House in the Garden character area. These are likely to relate to functional/ domestic estate During the tenure of Avon and Somerset Constabulary yard uses around the late 19C/ early 20C. the stable block was used for office and residential The garden walls along the Napier Miles Road frontage use, and received limited repair and restoration. remain neglected and are in need of serious review An application for conversion and extension of the and repair. existing building and change of use from office to 14 new townhouses and apartments was granted in 2008 References but was not developed. In July 2013 permission was 1 Nicholas Pearson Associates (1994) granted for conversion and extension to 10 dwellings (application 13/01051/F). 2 Thirty Acre Wood SNCI Audit (2006) To the north and south of the stable block, lying behind tall, rubble stone boundary walls, are two areas of former stable garden/ yard. Unmanaged, these have developed to a dense woodland scrub habitat with a ground flora of ivy and periwinkle. The southern compartment contains the layout and remains of the Mylne hothouse and the ice house. Yews within this area date to c1850 (1) . The ice house is a building
Aerial view of the Stable Block © ASA Blom 2010
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 94 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 1 2 3 4. Kings Weston Today 1 The Ice House (2012) 2 The Mylne Stable Block (2012) 4 5 3 Walls and gate piers forming entrance to stable block gardens (2012)
4 Remains of the Mylne designed hothouse (2012)
5 Standing remains of structures within the stable block gardens Stable Block and Gardens (2012)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 95 4. Kings Weston Today
The House in the Garden
The former kitchen garden complex, dating to around Kings Weston Lane is characterised by the groups 1765, is now used by Bristol City Council as the grounds of limestone rubble former estate cottages still in for Kingsweston School. residential use. The lane is narrow and twisting, with building walls at the highway edge, and only a single The 1938 House on the Grounds, built on the death pedestrian footway against the estate boundary of Philip Napier Miles for his widow, occupies the wall. High vehicle speeds and poor forward visibility centre of the site and operates as the main school particularly at the junction of Napier Miles Road and building. Associated school buildings and playgrounds the Home Lodge drive, means that the quality of have been constructed within the adjoining kitchen pedestrian experience is low. garden spaces. The single storey forms ensure that many of the school buildings remain at or below the height of the surviving walls; helping to maintain the References kitchen garden character and appearance from the surrounding areas. 1 Nicholas Pearson Associates (1994) Kingsweston School provides for children with special educational needs. The school encourages horticultural and outdoor based learning within the curriculum. This has helped to ensure that three compartments, including the pond, survive undeveloped as distinct garden spaces and maintains a strong school association with the original historic landscape function. The two Mylne lodge buildings either side of the pond are in poor condition. Their size and internal form mean that use by the school has been limited. The school is currently considering improved use of the west lodge as a horticultural classroom resource. Other viable uses should also be considered to bring the Lodges back into a repaired and restored condition. Aerial view of the House in the Garden character area ©ASA Blom 2010
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 96 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 4. Kings Weston Today 1 3 4 5 1 The 1938 House in the Garden (2012) 2 Entrance gates at Napier Miles Lane (2012) 2 6 3 Archway within the kitchen garden walls (2012)
4 Kitchen garden buildings within car park area (2012)
5 Historic kitchen garden enclosure (2012)
6 School buildings enclosed within the historic kitchen garden The House in the Garden walls (2012)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 97 4. Kings Weston Today 1 4 6 1 The Mylne designed Pond, Lodges and Stable Block (2012) 2 The Pond and East Lodge from Napier Miles Road (2012) 2 3 5 7 3 The Pond and West Lodge (2012)
4 View along Napier Miles towards the Home Lodge (2012)
5 The Old Fives Court, Kings Weston Lane (2012)
6 Napier Cottages Kings Weston Lane The House in the Garden 7 4-8 Kings Weston Lane (2012)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 98 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 4. Kings Weston Today 1 3 1 Henbury Lodge (2012) 2 Kingsweston Sports and Social Club (2012) 2 3 Aerial view of Napier Miles Park character area ©ASA Blom 2010
Napier Miles Park
The Napier Miles Park character area is divided by Napier Miles Road which runs from Kingsweston Road to the Home Lodge. The road has an attractive rural character and in places is lined with remnant estate rail fencing possibly dating to the 19th century. Henbury Lodge, a private residential property dating to c1820-1840, marks the junction of Napier Miles Road and Kingsweston Road. Enclosed by broadleaved woodland and trees on three sides, the area to the east of Napier Miles Road is a sports ground leased by Kingsweston Sports and Social Club from Bristol City Council. The club facilities have been vandalised in recent years and they currently use an ad-hoc range of shipping containers and portacabins along the southern boundary as a club house. The land to the west of Napier Miles Road is rough grassland, informal open space. It is partially enclosed by woodland on the north and southern boundaries. The gates and railings at the entrance to both sides of Napier Miles Road are unattractive and utilitarian in appearance and adversely affect the character and appearance of the road. There are wide views across the Severnside area towards the Bristol Channel with the Welsh hills visible beyond.
References
1 Nicholas Pearson Associates (1994)
2 Thirty Acre Wood SNCI Audit (2006)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 99 4. Kings Weston Today
Kings Weston Down
An elevated limestone ridge, Kings Weston Down forms the highest part of the Kings Weston estate, extending from Kings Weston Inn at Kings Weston Road through to Blaise Castle. It is bounded on the north west side by Kingsweston Road and on the south east side, by Sea Mills residential properties. The ridgeline summit is a wide band of grassland extending the length of the ridge, and includes extensive areas of unimproved calcareous grassland habitat and scattered scrub. The open summit is enclosed on the east and west sides by the wooded Aerial plan view of Kings Weston Down character area flanks of the ridge. ©ASA Blom 2010 The historic evidence suggests that Kings Weston The earthwork remains of the prehistoric barrows, Down was open and unwooded until c1820 but by enclosures and hill fort contribute to the landscape 1841 mixed woodland had been extensively planted character of the ridge. Kings Weston Inn, its on the ridge slopes between Blaise to Kings Weston. neighbouring cottages, and the Iron Bridge cutting The style of planting and the presence of a carriage are defining and characterful features of the southern drive circuit is evidence of a Picturesque design phase section. The presence of the transmitter and the coinciding with the similar design characteristics at the galvanized palisade fencing around the quarry visually adjacent Blaise estate. detract from the distinctive ‘natural’ character. The ridge is vulnerable to the loss of calcareous Views of the ridge and wooded slopes are a key grassland habitat and the loss of key historic views defining feature of the Sea Mills Garden suburb. due to the encroachment of scrub and the woodland Historically famous views from kingsweston hill looking edges. avoer Kings Weston house and the River Severn have The Down is public open space within the ownership been lost through growth of woodland scrub. of Bristol City Council and is well used by local walkers and horse riders. Recent monolithic signage installed References Aerial view of Kings Weston Inn and the Iron Bridge ©ASA Blom 2010 c2003 as part of the Blaise HLF project is out of context 1 Nicholas Pearson Associates (1994) with the natural setting. 2 Blaise Castle Estate SNCI Audit (2006)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 100 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 1 2 3 4 1 Aerial view of Kings Weston Inn and the Iron Bridge ©ASA 4. Kings Weston Today Blom 2010
5 6 7 2 Inn Cottages adjacent to Kings Weston Inn (2012)
3 Kings Weston Inn (2012)
4 Kings Weston Down (2012)
5 Retaining wall adjacent to the Iron Bridge (2012)
6 Entrance to Kings Weston Down at Kings Weston Inn (2012)
Kings Weston Down 7 The summit of Kings Weston Down (2012)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 101 Blank page
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 102 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 5 Statement of Significance
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 103 5. Statement of Significance
Understanding Significance
Understanding the Fabric and Evolution of the Place For landscape sites such as Kings Weston a further Who Values Kings Weston and Why Do They Do So? Kingsweston School value the grounds of the kitchen category of natural value should also be considered garden complex as a safe, nurturing environment The Kings Weston estate is valued by different The development and evolution of Kings Weston over to encompass ecological, geological and arboricultural for their children. The members of Kings Weston’s communities and organisations at different scales. time to the present day has been set out in Sections 2 values. golf, football and cricket clubs value the social and 3 of this plan. The current condition of the twelve Kings Weston’s inclusion on the English Heritage and recreational facilities that the estate grounds Within the five value categories the different levels of composite character areas is summarised in Section 4: Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic accommodate. importance inevitably require judgements about their Kings Weston Today. The status of the individual place Interest, and the presence of 19 listed buildings, relative significance. Kings Weston exhibits a complex For a number of stakeholders the landscape setting is elements of historic fabric are recorded within the reflects acknowledges the importance at both the set of heritage values and levels of significance across valued as a business enterprise with the potential to Appendix B: Gazetteer. regional and national level. the twelve character areas and their component provide revenue. This includes the use of Kings Weston features. At the city scale, Kings Weston’s prominent landscape House for events and conferences, Shirehampton Heritage Values and Significance ridge is widely visible in views across north and west Golf Club’s revenue through membership fees, and This study takes a broad approach to ranking Kings Bristol. It is a valued, publicly accessible heritage estate developer plans to extend business/ industrial use of The conservation principle of ‘Significance’, the sum Weston’s significance based on the heritage values, and Site of Nature Conservation, and has a key role in the land surrounding the Karakal warehouse. of the cultural and natural heritage values of a historic any formal designation status and survey information the history of Bristol. For Bristol City Council and The place, underpins modern conservation policy and available at the time of assessment. The following National Trust it forms part of their portfolio of assets practice. It provides a framework for understanding significance ratings are used: and visitor destinations and comparing different values that have established A+ Exceptional (international) in a given place through time. The adjoining local communities of Avonmouth, A Exceptional (national - UK) Henbury, Lawrence Weston, Sea Mills and Recent publications by English Heritage and the Shirehampton value the estate both as a local Heritage Lottery Fund set out the current thinking on B Considerable (regional - West of England) greenspace to visit, and as the landscape setting what is significant and how it is to be described. These C Some (local - Bristol) to their urban neighbourhoods. They value Kings documents promote four key categories of heritage Weston’s quiet, contemplative landscape character value: D Little or no importance which is subtly distinctive from that of the adjoining INT Intrusive or damaging Blaise landscape. Aspects of the estate’s 20C history The site as a source of evidence or knowledge are still within the living memory of local people. The This approach supports future decision-making about (evidential) cafe at the main house is a popular facility for local the prioritisation and approach to management The site as a link to the past, the people who people. of historic fabric at Kings Weston. However, it is shaped it and a means of learning about it (historic) recognised that direct comparison across different Kings Weston is valued as a home by residents living The site as a source of sensory or intellectual heritage values can be problematic. For example part within the historic buildings and lodges within the stimulation, designed or incidentalaesthetic ( ) of site may only be of limited historic interest but estate. This includes Norman Routledge who, as the The site as an embodiment of social or spiritual exceptional communal value to the local community. new owner, values the opportunity to live in Kings values (communal) Weston House.
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 104 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 5. Statement of Significance
Kings Weston’s Heritage Values
Buried and standing archaeological remains e.g. prehistoric, roman
Settlement and landuse patterns across the wider local area (prehistory to present day)
Associations: Cultural Associations: Designers
Jane Austen John Evelyn
Ralph Vaughan Williams Robert Hooke Evidential Site of Special Scientific Interest - Geological (SSSI) Artists: Pocock, Danby and Sir John Vanbrugh Grimm Site of Nature Conservation Interest Robert Mylne (SNCI) Associations: Owners Lancelot Capability Brown Veteran trees Historic: Natural : F i t z h a r d i n g e , B e r k e l e y , W i n t o u r Thomas Wright Associative Ancient woodland and Hook families Ecology Thomas Hopper value Geology Habitats Sir Robert Southwell Illustrative Kings Arboriculture value Protected species Edward Southwell I MP Weston Green setting to urban area Edward Southwell II MP Estate
Edward Southwell III MP Kings Weston House
Edward Southwell IV MP Echo, Loggia and Brewhouse Aesthetic: Communal: Philip John Miles MP Penpole lodge Design Commemorative Public open space (BCC/ National Trust) Philip William Skynner Miles MP Estate lodges and buildings values values Fortuitous Social values Open Access Land (CROW Act 2000 S15) Dr Philip Napier Miles Stables, ice house, stable gardens values Wartime uses National Trust K i t c h e n g a r d e n s , pond with lodges Remembrance (war memorial) Bristol City Council Estate walls and terraces School/ educational uses
Illustrative Parkland trees and avenues Residential use - a place to live
D e s i g n e d l a n d s c a p e p h a s e s Rides and walks 20C formal recreation history (Restoration, Baroque, (golf and sport club use) English Landscape, Registered historic landscape Picturesque, Scout camp Wider landscape setting and views Reformalisation, Institutional Landscape Decline)
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 105 5. Statement of Significance
Historic Values
English Heritage’s ‘Conservation Principles, Policies and Kings Weston is associated with seven nationally The Kings Weston design phases are both illustrative of Kings Weston’s illustrative value also lies in Guidance’ (2008) states that: important architects, landscape designers and writers, more widely acknowledged periods of English designed the surviving phased layers, each successively whose involvement has influenced the form and layout landscape history, and representative of key owner/ accommodating, adapting or removing elements of the of the landscape estate either directly or indirectly: designer associations. The designed landscape is a designed landscape. historic value derives from the ways in which past John Evelyn (natural philosopher) direct expression of the wealth, status and aspirations people, events and aspects of life can be connected Sir Robert Hooke (natural philosopher) of its owners, in response to the wider cultural through a place to the present Sir John Vanbrugh (architect) fashions and political contexts of any given period. Owner Notable Designer(s) Designed historic value tends to be illustrative or associative Robert Mylne (architect) Landscape Phase Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown (landscape designer) Combined Value Historic Associative Values Thomas Wright (landscape designer/ architect) Sir Robert Southwell John Evelyn and Formal The various associations of notable owners and Kings Weston has significant historic association with a Thomas Hopper (architect) Robert Hook Restoration designers are all part of the Kings Weston history. number of important people; the estate’s owners, their From the mid 18th century the Kings Weston However, it is Sir John Vanbrugh’s commission by designers, and others who visited or acknowledged its Edward Southwell I Sir John Vanbrugh Baroque landscape was widely known and admired, and was Edward Southwell I that is considered to be of the special value. visited by a number of important people, or has highest significance. Vanbrugh is widely considered Edward Southwell II - Between circa 1086 and 1937 Kings Weston was sold featured in their work, including: one of the greatest British architects of the 18C. The and inherited through successive generations of six Jane Austen (writer) survival of four, grade I listed, Vanbrugh buildings Edward Southwell III Robert Mylne English notable families: Sir Ralph Vaughan Williams (composer) at the core of the designed landscape is of major Capability Brown Landscape Fitzhardinge, Berkeley, Wintour and Hook families John Wesley (theologian) importance,. This significance is further enhanced by Thomas Wright Sir Robert Southwell (Secretary of State for Ireland) artists including Nicholas Pocock, Francis Danby the collected Kings Weston Book of Drawings. Edward Southwell I (MP, Secretary of State Ireland) and Samuel Grimm Edward Southwell IV - Picturesque The association of Sir Robert Southwell with the Edward Southwell II (MP, Secretary of State Ireland) notable figures of John Evelyn and Robert Hook is also Edward Southwell III (MP) Historic Illustrative Values Philip John Miles - Picturesque highly significant. The framework of Sir Robert’s formal Edward Southwell IV (MP) The historic evidence highlights seven distinct designed restoration landscape survives heavily adapted by the Philip John Miles (MP) Philip William Thomas Hopper Reformalisation landscape phases at Kings Weston since 1660: subsequent landscape phases. Philip William Skynner Miles (MP) Skynner Miles 1 Formal Restoration Landscape (c1660-1702) Dr Philip Napier Miles (philanthropist, composer) The involvement of Robert Mylne, Capability 2 Baroque Landscape (c1709-1730) Brown and Thomas Wright in Edward Southwell III’s Philip Napier Miles - Philanthropy & The most significant ownership in terms of estate 3 English Landscape (c1750-1799) improvements is also significant, despite uncertainty Recreation development and change being the Southwell and 4 Picturesque Landscape (c1799-1840) about the extent of Brown and Wright’s contribution. Miles families. Each generation was responsible for 5 Landscape Re-formalisation (c1850-1920) It is the English Landscape phase however that Bristol City Council - Institutional commissioning different phases of design activity 6 Philanthropy & Recreation (c1900-1930) predominantly survives and provides the Claudean decline within the Kings Weston landscape. 7 Institutional Landscape Decline (c1937-present) setting to Vanbrugh’s buildings.
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 106 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 5. Statement of Significance
Aesthetic Values
English Heritage’s ‘Conservation Principles, Policies and Design Value Aesthetic Value Guidance’ (2008) states that: The design value of Kings Weston’s landscape and The aesthetic values of the Kings Weston landscape buildings is recognised at a national level through have long been recognised by owners, visitors and design value relates to the aesthetic qualities their inclusion on the National Heritage List for artists. Historically, before suburban and industrial generated by the conscious design of a building, England. Kings Weston House, the Loggia, Brewhouse expansion, people visited Kings Weston to admire the structure or landscape as a whole and Echo are Grade I listed buildings, and the estate views across the Severn Estuary and the River Avon. aesthetic value derives from the ways in which includes a further 17 listed buildings and structures. This is clear from the rich archive of paintings and people draw sensory and intellectual stimulation The landscape is Grade II on the Register of Parks and literature describing the estate within its landscape from a place Gardens of Special Historic Interest setting. some aesthetic values are not substantially the Kings Weston’s design value is evident in the registered Many of these aesthetic values survive despite the product of formal design, but develop more or less historic landscape as a whole, and within its character surrounding urbanisation of the estate’s original fortuitously over time, as the result of a succession areas and individual components. landscape context. Whilst the industrial and suburban of responses within a cultural framework expansion of the 20th century cannot be realistically It is the deliberate and collective siting, layout, reversed it is important that future development form, materials and details of the built and natural within the area considers and, where appropriate, components, within a complex topographic landscape, mitigates the physical and visual effect on the views that establishes Kings Weston’s unique and significant from the Kings Weston designated landscape. design value. Today the green ridge is visually prominent across Vanbrugh’s design for Kings Weston house was a direct much of north and west Bristol and contributes to the response to the landscape setting. The purpose of green setting of the surrounding neighbourhoods. the arcaded roofline was twofold; it ensured that the relatively compact house could be seen as a landmark building on the ridge, and provided a viewing terrace from which to admire the designed landscape and the wider views. The distinctive form of Kings Weston House is enhanced by the presence of the other three Vanbrugh estate buildings; each demonstrating a different design response and language. The adaptation of existing woodlands, and the extensive planting of avenues and plantations, were deliberate design expressions by successive owners; each seeking to make their mark, and to adapt the estate to their own needs and aspirations.
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 107 5. Statement of Significance
Evidential, Communal and Natural Values
Evidential Value Communal Value Natural Value A number of trees within the estate are valued for being ‘veteran trees’. Veteran trees are usually in English Heritage’s ‘Conservation Principles, Policies and English Heritage’s ‘Conservation Principles, Policies and Kings Weston’s natural value is recognised at the the second or mature stage of their life and have Guidance’ (2008) states that: Guidance’ (2008) states that: local/ city scale through its status as a Site of Nature important wildlife and habitat features including Conservation Interest (SNCI). The estate forms part of hollowing or associated decay, fungi, holes, wounds the following individual SNCI designations: evidential value derives from the potential of a communal value derives from the meanings of a and large dead branches. There is a need for further, place to yield evidence about past human activity place for the people who relate to it, or for whom it more detailed assessment of the woodlands to physical remains of past human activity are the figures in their collective experience or memory Penpole Wood and Quarry SNCI identify additional veterans. primary source of evidence and evolution of places, commemorative and symbolic values reflect the Shirehampton Golf Course and Park SNCI The estate provides habitat for many different and of the people and cultures that made them meanings of a place for those who draw part of River Avon SNCI protected species including bats and badgers. age can be a strong indicator of relative evidential their identity from it, or have emotional links to it The Tump SNCI value social value is associated with places that people Three Acre Covert and Portway Gardens SNCI An area of land to the south of the Portway and evidential value derives from the physical remains perceive as a source of identity, distinctiveness, Blaise Caste Estate SNCI adjacent to the Crab Tree Slip character area is or genetic lines that have been inherited from the social interaction and coherence Thirty Acre Wood SNCI defined as a geological Site of Special Scientific past Interest (SSSi) and as such is valued as being of Kings Weston has a rich history of communal, social, the ability to understand and interpret the national significance. commemorative and symbolic value. As a major, locally evidence tends to be diminished in proportion to The lower slopes of Penpole Wood are designated accessible open space Kings Weston has social value the extent of its removal and replacement as Ancient Semi Natural Woodland (ASNW). Natural for the Bristol neighbourhoods that surround it. England define this as: At Kings Weston there is significant evidential value in The setting of Kingsweston School, sited within the the settlement, agricultural, industrial and recreational ‘land that has had a continuous woodland cover since former kitchen gardens, has communal value for landuse patterns, within and around the estate, from at least 1600 AD, and which retains a native tree and children and their families as providing a special pre-history to the modern day. The surviving physical shrub cover that has not been planted, although it may place for their specific educational needs. The use of landscape, together with the historic map record, have been managed by coppicing or felling and allowed Kings Weston for educational and scouting purposes provides evidence of the phased adaptation of a to regenerate naturally’ during the 1950s and 1960s means that it resides in designed historic landscape. the collective and communal memories of many local Ancient woodlands are particularly important because Archaeological remains from the late bronze age, iron people. they are exceptionally rich in wildlife, including many age and Roman periods provide important evidence rare species and habitats; are an integral part of The use of the estate during World War I and II, and of early settlement and farming patterns within the England’s historic landscapes; and act as reservoirs the siting of the war memorial at Shirehampton Bristol region. from which wildlife can spread into new woodlands. Road means there is commemorative value for local people. The remains of wartime buildings along The Walk reflect this value although they are intrusive and damaging to the 18C landscape.
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 108 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 5. Statement of Significance Rating Name Interest
A+ Exceptional + International A Exceptional National (UK) B Considerable Regional (West of England) C Some Local (Bristol) Levels of Significance D Little or none Int Intrusive or damaging
Refer to Gazetteer (Appendix B) for details of individual place features
Ref Place Feature Significance Ref Place Feature Significance Ref Place Feature Significance Ref Place Feature Significance
HG1 Kings Weston House A+ WA1 The Eastern Walk B L P 4 Shirehampton Golf Club C SB4 Gas lamp columns C . grounds . HG2 Brewhouse A+ WA2 The Circle B SB5 Woodland yard C LP5 Shirehampton CC grounds C HG3 Brewhouse Gatepost B WA3 Boundary bank and ditch B HS1 Pond A LP6 Twyford House CC grounds C HG4 Loggia & Banqueting House A+ WA4 The Western Walk B HS2 Pond Lodges A LP7 Karakal warehouse Int HG5 Home Lodge and gateway B WA5 Wartime remains C HS3 Bewys Cross B LP8 War Memorial C HG6 SW front (site of Great Court) A PW1 Paths and rides B HS4 Garden walls A LP9 Disused tennis courts Int HG7 NW front (The Terrace) A PW2 Penpole Lodge A HS5 The House in the Garden B LP10 Rush Pool C HG8 SE front (site of first parterre) A PW3 Wood Lodge (Penpole Lane) B HS6 Napier Cottages B LP11 Boundary marker stone C HG9 Woodland car park D PW4 Site of estate cottages C HS7 Old Fives Court C LP12 Milestone C HG10 NE front (main car park) A PW5 Site of quarry garden A HS8 4-8 Kings Weston Lane B LP13 Crab Tree Slip C HG11 QEH School Building Int PW6 The lime circle A HS9 Kings Weston Lane highway Int LP14 Three Acre Covert C HP1 Principal avenue A PW7 Estate wall B NM1 Henbury Lodge C LP15 Longcombe & Conger Hill B HP2 Carriage drive A PW8 Ruined building D NM2 Thirty Acre Wood B LP16 Groundskeepers depot Int HP3 Fence stone B PW9 Stone seat feature(s) B NM3 Playing Fields D LP17 Shirehampton Road highway Int HP4 Stone balustrade remains C PP1 Penpole Dial A KW1 Kings Weston Inn B GP1 The Tump B HP5 Fire pond C PP2 Trig Point D KW2 Iron Bridge & Cutting B GP2 The Terrace Meadow B EW1 Echo Walk A PP3 Penpole quarries (north side) C KW3 Kings Weston Down B GP3 Home Farmhouse B EW2 The Echo A+ PP4 Penpole quarries (south side) C KW4 Carriage Rides B SB1 Stable Block A (A group) EW3 Echo Ponds D LP1 Shirehampton Lodge A KW5 TV Transmitter Int SB2 Ice House B (A group) EW4 The Terras A LP2 Park Lodge B KW6 Quarry on SE side Int SB3 Stable Garden - Site of B (A group) EW5 Boundary Wall B LP3 Shirehampton Park B Mylne hot house EW6 18C Walk B Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) Kings Weston Estate City Design Group 109 Blank page
Historic Landscape Conservation Management Plan January 2014 (version 1.0) 110 Kings Weston Estate City Design Group