D E R N G a T E C O N S E R V a T I O N a R E A

D E R N G A T E C O N S E R V A T I O N A R E A 78 Derngate CONSERVATION AREA ASSESSMENT Planning Policy & Conservation Section Northampton Borough Council September 2006 Derngate Conservation Area Assessment Introduction Conservation Areas were first introduced by the Civic Amenities Act in 1967. Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 places a duty on Local Authorities to designate as Conservation Areas “areas of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance”. Local Authorities also have a duty to review the Conservation Areas from time to time. Section 71 places a duty on Local Authorities to formulate and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of their Conservation Areas. The primary objectives of Conservation Area designation are: - 18 Albion Place ♦ to preserve worthy buildings and prevent their demolition unless this is shown to be the Background only suitable action; ♦ to ensure that redevelopment, The Conservation Area was designated on renovation or the extension of existing 25th June 1986 following a period of buildings will harmonise with other buildings in consultation which included amenity the area; organisations, local businesses and residents. Its boundary has not altered since ♦ to preserve or enhance the setting of the designation. area; ♦ to encourage positive schemes for the Located in the heart of the town centre restoration of buildings within the area. Derngate Conservation Area forms part of the historic core. Covering a diverse area, it The purpose of this assessment is to provide stretches from St Giles Street to the north, guidance for owners and occupiers on how which has a predominantly retail base, to the preservation and enhancement of the Guildhall Road and Albion Place to the character and appearance of the area can south. Guildhall Road forms part of the be achieved. It will also provide a sound town’s cultural quarter and is home to the basis for the assessment of planning Central Museum and the Royal and applications and will help identify proposals Derngate Theatres. Albion Place was for preserving and enhancing the character formerly primarily residential but many and appearance of the area. properties have been converted into business use. This diversity of use within the conservation area creates a busy and vibrant character with both day and evening activity. Derngate itself is one of the primary access routes into the town centre. Archaeology Derngate Conservation Area lies within the medieval walled area of Northampton’s historic core, with Victoria Promenade being the line of defence. Some archaeological investigation has take place during development works which have revealed the survival of buried archaeological remains associated with the development of the th Head Post Office, St Giles Street town from the 12 century onwards. Northampton Borough Council 1 Derngate Conservation Area Assessment History and Development In the 12th century only London and Lincoln were bigger towns than Northampton and during the 13th century Northampton was considered the most important town in the Midlands, by then a Royal Burgh with its own constitution. Northampton was the administrative centre of the surrounding Shire, a function first recorded in the Anglo- Saxon Chronicle of 921. Derngate, formerly known as Darngate is the only road in Northampton to retain its original gate name. East Gate was reputedly the Derngate, looking towards the town centre finest of the gates, both large and high and embellished with coats of arms and other Street Descriptions stone work ornamentation. Dern, or Darn is Through the street description it is important derived from the old English word for water – to identify the area’s architectural and Derngate being the gateway to the rivers historic qualities, those areas of distinctive and wells. Derngate has also been known as townscape value and those areas which Swineswell Street and the eastern section as would benefit from improvement. Waterloo until comparatively recently. Many of the original buildings within the area St Giles Street succumbed to the Great Fire of 1675 and therefore most of the existing buildings of The western portion of St Giles Street is within character stem from the 19th century. the Derngate Conservation Area boundary. On the north side of the street there is a row Building Ages and Primary Uses of elegant mid-19th century buildings, most of which retain their original shop fronts, rebuilt Most of the buildings date from the 19th in 1864 from much earlier buildings forming century with a few more modern examples part of St Thomas’ Hospital Charity (nos 33- such as the Derngate Theatre and the 45). The former St Thomas’ Hospital is modern rows of shops opposite. The area located further up St Giles Street (in St Giles would formerly have been primarily Conservation Area), and is currently used as residential and there are many fine examples Almshouses. of late Regency and early Victorian terraces. Some remain in private occupation but many had been sympathetically converted into business use. A more recent trend has seen the conversion of a small number of properties back into residential use. Landscape Features The contribution made by the existing trees (many protected by a Tree Preservation Order) on the former High School site bounded by Derngate, Albion Place and Victoria Promenade is significant, creating a distinctive and unique character. The front gardens of Albion Place in 33-45 St Giles Street particular are well-vegetated, while Victoria Promenade is lined with trees and flower The buildings to the west of Fish Street are beds. more diverse in character, and while not The trees at the southern end of Castilian listed, some are distinguished enough to Street combine with those across the road appear on the Local List. These include no. outside the Derngate Theatre (see p. 8) to 21, built by the Borough Council and break up the line of buildings at the heart of exhibiting the town’s crest carved into its the Conservation Area. gable (see illustration), and the building next Northampton Borough Council 2 Derngate Conservation Area Assessment to it – now a public house (the Goose on Two Streets), but built in 1865 as a Working Men’s Club & Institute, with money donated by Major Whyte-Melville of Wootton Hall. On the south side is the Head Post Office, built in 1915-17 to a design by A.R. Myers (H.M. Office of Works) – a typical example of early 20th century commercial building with an imposing elevation (illustration p. 1). It was proposed for inclusion in statutory list in April 2005, but turned down by the Secretary of State. The central portion of St Giles Street makes an important contribution to the street scene but currently lies outside the boundaries of both St Giles and Derngate Conservation Areas. This creates an anomaly when dealing with planning applications. It is therefore proposed to extend the Conservation Area to include this portion of City Buildings, Fish Street St Giles Street (see p. 7). for some time but have recently been sympathetically converted into residential use – a new occupier for the ground floor is currently being sought. Other buildings in the street make an important contribution to the intimate character of the area. Castilian Street The street is characterised by well- proportioned Victorian properties, most of which are now in office use. Many retain their architectural detailing such as sash windows, original doors and boundary railings which adds to the attraction of the street. 21 St Giles Street Fish Street Castilian Street Fish Street is a narrow street which was pedestrianised in 1985. The street is On the western side is the former YWCA, built dominated by City Buildings – an imposing in 1919 (no 17). It was designed by five-storey predominantly stone building Alexander Ellis Anderson in Scottish Baronial designed by Alexander Ellis Anderson in 1900 style commemorating the victims of the for Malcolm Inglis and Company, Glasgow. Great War. Originally used as a military The upper floors of the building were vacant hospital, it has now been converted into residential flats. Northampton Borough Council 3 Derngate Conservation Area Assessment Guildhall Road This is a fine and elegant street lined either side by buildings of significant quality. The street is particularly wide which adds to the overall grandeur of the street scene and is home to major attractions such as the Royal and Derngate Theatres and the Museum and Art Gallery. Of particular note is no. 9 Guildhall Road, formerly Franklins Hotel, by E. F. Law who designed a number of buildings in Northampton, including St Giles School. The building dates from the mid 19th century and is constructed over four floors, of red brick with stone dressing and slate roof. The Royal Theatre, built in 1884 by C J Phipps, has a typically modest frontage and a highly A few buildings have been subject to decorated interior. modern alterations which have had a damaging effect on the character of the area. Advertisements, whilst essential for a vibrant centre, can be damaging to the area if insensitive; care should be taken to ensure signage is appropriate to both the building it is on and to the surrounding area. As opportunities arise it is essential to ensure high quality development to enhance the Conservation Area. Off Castilian Street is Castilian Terrace, a cul- de-sac which provides rear access to properties in St Giles Street and Hazelwood Road. On the north side is a short row of typical red brick Victorian terraced properties which culminates in an elegant double fronted red brick building (below). The remainder of this quiet backwater would benefit from improvement.

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