Willenhall: 2014
Plan
2014
Management
and
Appraisal
Willenhall Conservation Willenhall Area
Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan | 1
Willenhall Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan Adoption Statement
Walsall’s Planning Committee delegations (2007) – function number 37 states that Planning Committee is the Council body in place for the “Approval of Conservation Area Appraisals” rather than Cabinet.
Title of the document: Willenhall Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan.
Subject: This document provides an evidence base behind “saved” policy ENV29, ENV39 and WH3 of the Walsall Unitary Development Plan regarding the preservation and enhancement of the Willenhall conservation Area.
Consultation: Was undertaken XXXXXXXXXX.
Address: Further information can be obtained, in written or electronic form, from:
Regeneration Directorate Walsall Council Civic Centre, Darwall Street, Walsall, WS1 1TP Telephone: 01922 655537 E-mail: [email protected] The relevant documents can be inspected on the Council’s website at XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX or during normal opening hours at the First Stop Shop in Walsall Civic Centre and at public libraries in the Borough of Walsall.
Useful contacts are provided at the end of the document.
Adoption: The SPD was adopted by Walsall Council at its Planning Committee meeting on the XXXXXXXXXX.
Modifications made: The following modification are listed: XXXX
The consultation process is set out in Appendix 6 (Consultation Statement).
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CONTENTS
Part I: Introduction 6
1.0 Background 8
1.1 What is a conservation area? 8 1.2 What does conservation area status mean? 8 1.3 Purpose of the appraisal and management plan 9 1.4 Current status of the Willenhall plan 13
2.0 Legislation and planning policy framework 15
2.1 The T&CP (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 15 2.2 National planning policy Framework 15 2.3 The Development Plan 15
3.0 Summary of Special interest 17
3.1 A traditional Black Country market town 17 3.2 Streets and pedestrian routes 18 3.3 Retention of original character 19 3.4 Definition of special character of the conservation area 19
Part II: Appraisal 21
4.0 Location and setting 22
4.1 Location 22 4.2 Setting 23 4.3 Demographics 25 4.4 Force for change 25
5.0 Historic development 29
5.1 Early origins: 8th-mid 18th century 29 5.2 The early industrial town: Mid 18th century – 1800 30 5.3 Industrialisation: 1800-1900 33 5.4 Edwardian to interwar: 1900-1940 36 5.5 Post war: 1945-To date 37 5.6 The archaeological significance and potential of the area 38
6.0 Spatial analysis 40
6.1 Identification of character areas 40 6.2 Character Area 1 – Market Place & Cross Street 42 6.3 Character Area 2 – Stafford Street (west) and Wolverhampton Street 50 6.4 Character Area 3 – Stafford Street (east) 55 6.5 Character Area 4 – Little London School 57 6.6 Character Area 5 – Upper Lichfield Street and Cheapside 59 Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 3
6.7 Character Area 6 – New Road 64
7.0 Character analysis 67
7.1 Building styles and types 67 7.2 Positive aspects of the conservation area 74 Key buildings 74 Materials 75 Building details 83 Public realm, open spaces and public art 84 7.3 Negative aspects of the conservation area 87 Dereliction 87 Vacant buildings 87 Vacant sites 88 Changing patters in retail 88 New demographics 88 Maintenance of buildings 88 Heritage crime 89 Development, alterations and adoptions 90 New buildings 92 Highways management 92
Part III: Management Plan 93
8.0 Management recommendations 94
8.1 Resources needed in the area 94 8.2 Decision making procedures 94 8.3 Enforcement strategy 95 8.4 Opportunities 96 8.5 Design 98 8.6 Maintenance and repair 101 8.7 Mechanisms for monitoring change 101 8.8 Community involvement 102
APPENDICES
Appendix 1: Relevant Planning Policies in the Development Plan 103 Appendix 2: Listed Building 104 Appendix 3: Locally listed buildings 105 Appendix 4: Townscape Heritage Initiative programme 107 Appendix 5: Contact details 108 Appendix 6: Consultation Statement 109
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Conservation Area Boundary (Walsall Council: 2014) 14 Figure 2: Period of origins (Black Country Archaeology: 2007) 24 Figure 3: Modern land use (broad types) (Black Country Archaeology: 2007) 24 Figure 4: The Unitary Development Plan Inset Map (Walsall Council: 2014) 27 Figure 5: English Heritage Repairs Grant work (Walsall Council: 2014) 28 Figure 6: Map of Willenhall 1775 (Walsall Local History Centre: 2007) 30 Figure 7: Map of Willenhall C1800 (Walsall Local History Centre: 2007) 33 Figure 8: Map of Willenhall 1884 (Walsall Local History Centre: 2007) 35 Figure 9: Map of Willenhall 1914 (Walsall Local History Centre: 2007) 36 Figure 10: Map of Willenhall 1937 (Walsall Local History Centre: 2007) 37 Figure 11: Periods of Building Development (Walsall Council: 2014) 39 Figure 12: Character Areas (Walsall Council: 2014) 41 Figure 13: Character Area 1 – Market Place & Cross Street (Walsall Council: 2014) 42 Figure 14: Character Area 2 – Stafford Street (west) and Wolverhampton Street (Walsall Council: 2014) 50 Figure 15: Character Area 3 – Stafford Street (east) (Walsall Council: 2014) 55 Figure 16: Character Area 4 – Little London School (Walsall Council: 2014) 57 Figure 17: Character Area 5 – Upper Lichfield Street and Cheapside (Walsall Council: 2014) 59 Figure 18: Character Area 6 – New Road (Walsall Council: 2014) 64 Figure 19: Key buildings (Walsall Council: 2014) 74 Figure 20: Boundary changes (Walsall Council: 2014) 95
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Willenhall: 2014
PART I: INTRODUCTION
Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan | LIST OF FIGURES 6
Willenhall: 2014
The town of Willenhall lies in the heart of Black Country between Wolverhampton (to the west), Walsall (to the east) and Dudley (to the south). It falls within the wider conurbation of Britain’s second city, Birmingham, from which it sits north west of at a distance of 9.5 miles.
Located at the centre of an extensive network of local, regional and national roads (just 1.5m west of the M6 and 0.5miles north of the Black Country Way) Willenhall today is surrounded by a post industrial landscape. This context is itself restructuring into one of Britain’s most diverse and industrious communities and Willenhall now finds itself at the cross roads of growth, change and regeneration.
Despite this transformation, at its heart is a town centre that dates back to the 8th century. The thriving market place, that the Georgian and Victorian traders would have know still exists as do many of the shops and public houses that surround it.
Whilst initially the wider landscape of industry and housing that continues uninterrupted into the heart of Birmingham may appear to have swallowed up and irreversibly altered the setting of this small town, in fact this setting of aggressive and unfettered industrial growth was the very driving force that established the 19th century town we now identify with today. It is this mix of pre and post industrial growth that defines Willenhall and makes it an historic town that has been able to absorb the driving forces of industrial growth. It is the best preserved of Walsall’s towns that showcases the character of the Black Country and its people past and present – The storey of Willenhall is the storey of change, industry, progress and community.
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Restricted ‘Permitted Development’ 1.0 Background Certain types of development, mainly concerned with alterations to buildings are restricted in conservation areas. Any form 1.1 What is a conservation area? of new cladding, for example, is not permitted without planning permission. Conservation Areas were introduced by the Civic Amenities Act 1967 and are defined as The normal allowance of what is called “areas of special architectural or historic ‘Permitted Development’, development that interest the character and appearance of is normally at the discretion of a land owner which it is desirable to preserve or and does not require planning permission, is enhance”. Conservation Area designation is curtailed in conservation area. This is in more dependent on the overall quality and order to prevent harmful change that could interest of an area, rather than individual damage the special historic character of the buildings, although it is common for such area. areas to contain a number of Listed Buildings. The full extent of ‘Permitted Development’ allowances are set out in the Governments A conservation area is concerned with on-line planning toolkit known as The townscapes and how they hold together as a planning portal and can be viewed at whole. They are mindful of the value of not http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission just buildings or groups of buildings, but /responsibilities/planningpermission/permitte open spaces, streets, public realm, street d but it is strongly recommended that furniture, trees and advertisements and how contact is made with the planning all of these elements relate to one another. department in order to ensure that any alterations are ‘Permitted Development’ prior Indeed the very dynamics of the community to implementation. that inhabit such an area is important. The uses and functions of a place are crucial and Further information concerning ‘permitted in particular, how they interact will define Development’ is set out under the how successful an area is. The bringing Management Plan in section 9 of this together of both historic and new document. development harmonises communities and allows them to be sustainable and resilient. In short, a conservation area can add value Planning approval to a community by recognising and maximise on the resource of heritage in The conservation area becomes a ‘material which we lives. consideration’ in the determination of any planning application that is submitted to the local planning authority. 1.2 What does conservation area status mean? The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires determination of planning The purpose of an area does not end with applications to be made in accordance with conservation area designation. Under the the provisions of the Development Plan, primary legislation that governs these unless material considerations indicate designations, that being the Town and otherwise. A clear definition of those Country Planning (Listed Buildings and elements which contribute to the special Conservation Areas), Act 1990 (Planning architectural or historic interest of a place (LBCA) Act 1990) measures are set in place will enable the development of a robust to ensure that conservation areas are policy framework for the future management managed and grow. This takes a number of of that area, against which applications can forms: be considered. Character appraisals should therefore provide a framework against which development proposals can be assessed for Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 8 their appropriateness in the historic environment. Regeneration
The National Planning Policy Framework Conservation area status does not (NPPF) (2012) places a duty on the automatically equate to the preservation of applicant to ‘describe the significance of the all aspects of the designation. As a whole, heritage asset’. The character of the conservation areas present qualities that are conservation area therefore helps form the assets to the environment that need to be rational behind the design of a proposed recognised and conserved, this does not development. mean that everything within them is positive.
Similarly the local planning authority must The post war restructuring of Britain resulted justify the decisions it makes in approving or in devastating redevelopment that was refusing applications in a conservation area experimental in terms of architecture, by justifying clearly if it has a positive or materials, public realm and transportation. negative impact on its character, viability This legacy has fundamentally altered the and function. way in which we live in our towns. The presence of the car, modern construction Section 72(1) of the primary legislation sets techniques and materials and new ways of out the general duty in respect of shopping, living and communication have conservation areas in exercise of planning challenged the historic ways that town functions. It states that ‘in the exercise, with operate and has left a legacy of ill conceived respect to any buildings or other land in a development. conservation area, special attention shall be paid to the desirability of preserving or The poor decision of the past 60 years, enhancing the character or appearance of along with a cultural shift in the way we now that area’. build new places has become a challenge for historic places, however, over the past Policies set out in Section 2 of this 20 years historic places have been the document help to further guide decision inspiration and model for new sustainable makes and the appraisal within this communities. Section 4.3 sets out the role of document serves as the evidence base. conservation in the regeneration of Willenhall Conservation Area and the force Development therefore in conservation for change it has had. areas are required to pay special regard to materials, architectural details, height, massing, form and street frontage that will 1.3 Purpose of the appraisal and help preserve the areas special character. It management plan should be noted that this does not automatically mean all new development Achieving everything set out in Section 1.2 should be pastiche, but more that the above requires an evidence base. The very function and quality of design is nature of the planning process is a political fundamental. one. People’s difference in opinion is the very basis of a modern and democratic decision making process. Such decision, Statutory functions of the council however, must be based on an ‘evidence base’. This document therefore undertakes The council is not only the local planning that role in two stages: authority, but also the local highway authority and licensing authority. In Firstly; it assesses the ‘place’ and identifies conservation areas these parallel authorities the positive and negative aspects present. It must be mindful of carrying out their analyses the qualities of the environment in statutory duties in a way that is responsible terms of the physical built structure, the and enhance the character of the activity and the economic viability. From this conservation area. a clear picture is presented of what we want to keep and the scope and opportunities for Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 9 change. This is the Conservation Area spaces, park, gardens and trees, character Appraisal. zones, boundaries and condition, along with a host of other topics that will apply in Secondly; the document sets out a varying degrees in accordance with the Management Plan. This is evidenced on the nature of the areas. appraisal and sets out a suite of actions that will both facilitate change as well as regulate it.
The 1990 Act requires the preparation of this evidence base along with a strategy to manage this resource. It states that local authorities are required under Section 71 from time to time to ‘formulate and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of any parts of their area which are conservation areas’.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) further supports the primary legislation stating that ‘local planning authorities should set out in their Local Plan a positive strategy for the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment, including heritage assets most at risk through neglect, decay or other threats’ (paragraph 126). It goes on to state that ‘Local Planning Authorities should have up- to-date evidence about the historic environment in their area and use it to assess the significance of heritage assets and the contribution they make to their environment’ (Paragraph 169). The 2011 guidance cannot be read in isolation and is dependent on other The NPPF takes the need for a publications that assist in the appraisal of Management Plan further; requiring Local characterisation of place. Authorities to ‘look for opportunities for new development in Conservation Areas … to ‘Understanding Places: An Introduction’ ensure or better reveal their significance’ (2010) places great weight on the need to (paragraph 137). This places an onus on use Historic Landscape Characterisation such appraisals to ensure that heritage play (HLC). This approach has been carried out a positive and active role in wider as a programme with the intention of regeneration activity and economic growth encompassing the whole country and and specifically to identify how this is therefore helps to perceive the conservation achieved. area as part of a wider landscape and not in isolation with a hard boundary. There is no formal structure to either an appraisal or management plan, however, It also offers a description of an historic English Heritage published updated landscape character type that can be related guidance in March 2011 to advise on to other similar areas and as such will link methods of gathering such a varied scope of Willenhall to other areas of similar character data. ‘Understanding Places: Conservation across the Black Country. Area Designation, Appraisal and Management’ sets out the need to consider location and setting, , historic development, architectural quality and built form, open Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 10
• Areas suitable for adaptive re-use; • Characteristics or features that schemes for re-use should aim to retain or respect; • Areas where demolition would result in neighbourhoods losing their integrity and therefore becoming more vulnerable; • Which parts of the historic fabric could be lost without reducing the significance of an area or building; • Areas where grant-aid or other incentives would be most effective; • Areas where heritage protection is strongest, and areas where new or revised designations are needed; • Areas where more detailed or contextual research is needed; and • Heritage assets suitable for inclusion in a Local List
Another important publication of value in the undertaking of conservation area appraisals is ‘Understanding Places: Historic Area Assessments in a Planning and Development Context’. The publication suggests the methodology of defining character and assessing condition in order to appraise significance.
Historic Area Assessment focuses on the historic built environment includes both buildings and other elements of the landscape that provide their setting such as street and road patterns, or boundary hedges and walls. It also has regard to buried archaeological remains. It requires observations that look at a place or area as a whole. It provides a rapid methodology of gathering data. A key document in the appraisal and management of the historic environment is It states that the practical application of such English Heritage ‘Conservation, Principles, assessments is to enable local planning Policy and guidance’ (2008). authorities to identify: The document focuses on how weight can • The way in which the character of an area be given to the significance of a heritage can be used to engender a sense of place asset. Four values are considered (1) which can provide a focus for regeneration; evidential value, (2) aesthetic value, (3) • Areas which could accommodate historical value, and (4) communal value. substantial change or wholesale These strands drawn together substantiate redevelopment; the significance of an asset. Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 11
‘Valuing Places: Good Practice in
Conservation Areas’. The publication refers ‘Understanding Places: Historic Area to ‘Constructive conservation’ which is the Assessment, Principles and Practice’ term English Heritage uses to define the advocates Historic Area Assessment (HAA) protection and adaptation of historic places as an important and practical tool for the through active management. informed management of the historic environment, and forms one of a number of This document is focused on ‘opportunities’ approaches to understanding the historic and aspect of the appraisal and the environment at area scale, commonly management plan that are concerned with grouped under the heading ‘historic informed, careful adaptation to historic characterisation’. The approach advocated places so that we can not only reduce the is to evaluate the historic environment by amount of energy expended in creating new understanding how the past is encapsulated development, but also achieve greater in today’s landscape, explaining why it has energy efficiency, sustaining the utility of assumed its present form and distinguishing historic places into the future. its more significant elements. This approach encourages a definition of the character of The first step is to establish general the area under review, and helps to address agreement on what elements are issues that may threaten to change that architecturally or historically significant, and character. By providing a firm evidence base why, and to assess their relative it assists in the formulation of plans at both significance. The second is to formulate local and strategic levels, as well as policies that will protect those elements that enabling informed decision making on are of greater significance, and to provide proposals ranging from new developments guidance on the way those of lesser and regeneration schemes to programmes significance may be adapted or replaced to of ongoing environmental improvement or meet changing needs. The third is to ensure maintenance. that when new interventions are made they
reinforce local distinctiveness and historic character. Popular support for these
Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 12 approaches, and their firm and consistent area is registered with English Heritage as application, is essential throughout. being ‘at risk’.
Common understanding in the heritage 1.4 Current status of the Willenhall plan sector over the reference in Section 71 (of the Act) which states that appraisals should The Willenhall Conservation Area was be reviewed ‘from time to time’, is that this designated by Walsall Metropolitan Borough equates to 5 years. Council in January 1977 and covers an area of approximately 8 hectares. In the light of the requirements of Section 71, the current condition of Willenhall and Willenhall has had a Conservation Area the level of ongoing investment it has Appraisal and Management Plan for a warranted the council undertakes a review number of years, the last appraisal was of the Appraisal and Management Plan at adopted on 5th August 2008. The boundary this time. of the conservation area was amended at this time (see figure 1).
Since 2008 a number of changes have taken place. New development has been secured, a Townscape Heritage Programme (THI) has made significant progress to a number of properties and new businesses have been set up. This has taken place in parallel with a culture of poor maintenance, loss of historic fabric and the continued need to enforce against unauthorised development. As such the conservation
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Conservation area boundary
Figure 1: Conservation area boundary (Walsall Council: 2014)
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Environment Register (HER) (see section 2.0 Legislation and 5.5) comprises the evidence base for decision making. planning policy framework Paragraph 131 goes on to state that ‘in determining planning applications, local
planning authorities should take account of:
Section 1.3 sets out the sections of the primary legislation and National Planning The desirability of sustaining and policy Framework that requires local enhancing the significance of planning authorities to maintain an up to heritage assets and putting them to date evidence base and management viable uses consistent with their strategy for conservation areas. This conservation; section is concerned with policy that guides The positive contribution that the decision making process and conservation of heritage assets can management issues concerning the make to sustaining communities Willenhall Conservation Area. including their economic vitality; and The desirability of new development making a positive contribution to 2.1 The Town and Country Planning local character and distinctiveness. (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 This firmly places conservation areas in the realm of regeneration and seeks their Section 72(1) of the primary legislation sets exploitation in order to add value to out the general duty as respects development and delivering economic conservation areas in exercise of planning growth. functions. It states that ‘in the exercise, with respect to any buildings or other land in a conservation area, special attention shall be 2.3 The development Plan paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of Walsall’s Development Plan comprises the that area’. Walsall Unitary Development Plan (UPD) and the Black Country Core Strategy.
2.2 National Planning policy Framework The current Walsall UDP was formally adopted by Walsall Metropolitan Borough The UK government’s current agenda Council in March 2005. Fundamental to any concerning heritage assets is set out in the consideration of Willenhall Conservation National Planning Policy framework (NPPF) Area is its designation over the town centre. (2012) which addresses heritage in the The nature of the conservation area, round with the wider policy approach for therefore, must be mindful of the UDP’s other planning and environmental issues. principal policies concerned with investing in This allows for the planning balance to be central locations, transport links, connectivity more readily appraised and for key issues to and retail growth. These policies cross be weighted in the sustainability agenda. reference with policies concerned with high quality design and conservation of the Paragraph 128 states that ‘local planning historic environment. authorities should identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset Heritage policy is primarily set out in that may be affected by a proposal Chapter 3 (Environment and Amenity). The (including by development affecting the main policy of relevance is ENV29 setting of a heritage asset) taking account of the available evidence and any necessary (Conservation Areas) which is a criteria expertise’. The Conservation Area based policy seeking to allow development Appraisal along with the Walsall Historic that ‘preserves or enhances the character and appearance of a conservation area in Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 15 terms of: of Historic or Architectural Interest); ENV 31 (Continued Protection of the The degree of loss or alteration to Historic Built Environment); property which makes a positive ENV 33 (Landscape Design); contribution to the character of the ENV 34 (Public Art); area; ENV 35 (Appearance of Commercial The impact of any new buildings on Buildings); the special townscape and ENV 36 (Posters Hoardings); landscape features within the area; ENV37 (Small Poster Panel The scale, massing, siting, layout, Advertisements); and design or choice of materials used ENV38 (Telecommunications in any new building or structure; and Equipment). The nature of its use and the anticipated level of traffic, parking and other activity that will result. Relating specifically to this Conservation Area, Chapter 17 (Willenhall District Centre) The policy goes on to confirm that it will includes Policy WH3 (Environmental resist the loss of buildings that make a Enhancement) which ‘seeks to ensure that positive contribution or development that new development makes a positive erodes special features which the council contribution towards the environment of the wishes to preserve and enhance. centre, with particular regard to the character of the conservation area’. For the sound implementation of this policy, a detailed conservation area appraisal is Moreover, policy WH4 (Development / required. Investment Opportunities) identifies a number of sites within the conservation area In addition, Policy ENV32 (Design and where positive new development would be Development Proposals) specifies the supported. These sites are considered particular significance of design in further in the regeneration section of this Conservation Areas and visually prominent document (See section 4.3). sites The Black Country Core Strategy was As the conservation area is multi layered adopted in February 2011. Policy ENV2 and includes listed buildings and locally (Historic Character and Local listed buildings, a swath of policies from this Distinctiveness) makes reference to the chapter of the UDP are relevant, these need to analyse the characteristics of the include: areas of historic character that make the Black Country distinctive. ENV 25 (Archaeology);
ENV 26 (Industrial Archaeology); ENV 27 (Buildings of Historic or Architectural Interest); ENV 28 (The ‘Local List’ of Buildings
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3.0 Summary of special interest
3.1 A traditional Black Country market town
The Willenhall Conservation Area derives its underlying character from five key phases of development, the early medieval origins of which are retained to the present day and are found in the organic structure of a medieval market.
The town grew up around the market, which would have been the very life blood of the settlement and became an important destination for the then surrounding rural community.
Naturally located where transport was easiest, at a crossroads in the local landscape, the market would have been the stimulus for the surrounding buildings and wider settlement to develop. This very local way of life would have gone unchanged throughout Mediaeval, Tudor, Stuart and early Georgian England and then was transformed by the Industrial Revolution.
The late 17th century construction of the canals and early 19th century construction of the toll road transformed the ancient form of the town and its rural-urban symbiotic balance. Willenhall became a stopping point between the industrial centers of Wolverhampton, Walsall and Dudley and at the heart of an area now known as the Black Country.
The market continued to survive, but this was now in tandem with industrial activity. The narrow mediaeval plots around the market and adjacent streets (known as burgage plots) increasingly became taken up with industrial activities. Houses and shops occupying the street frontage and long linear workshops developing along courtyards to the rear. This was a pattern of development evident across the Black Country and Birmingham. But as is typical of this sub-region the nature of the industry was specialised. In the case of Willenhall it was the manufacture of locks.
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3.2 Streets and pedestrian routes
Central to the character of the conservation area is the hierarchy of thoroughfares. The mediaeval core focuses on the swollen form of Market Place and the immediate unplanned streets that likely developed organically. These all vary slightly, but retain an intimate scale that relate to the coexistence of small independent businesses and workshops. The irregular form of the streets, with their curved alignments have established out of what would have been lanes that gradually urbanised and become defined by buildings. In many respects the shape and position of these streets are the oldest part of the conservation area and relate to a thread of continuous activity that has survived for over 1,300 years.
At the local level are the alleys that link principal streets together and wrap around the formation of plot boundaries. These narrow wall lined ginnals offer a fine layer to the urban form of the town and provide for incremental as well as strategic links.
The topography of Willenhall town centre is generally level, being located in a wide saucer shaped depression. This allowed for the driving through of new long straight routes connecting the town to the wider industrial landscape from the late 18th century onwards. Most obviously and strategically was the toll road that linked the town to Walsall (to the east) and Wolverhampton (to the west).
Streets are typically defined by the strong built form of individual buildings abutting one another or purpose built terraces, all at back of pavement so as to form strong urban edges to streets.
Whilst much of the conservation area has been the subject of pedestrianisation and significant changes to the design of the public realm, streets remain significant providing the gateways into the town and forming trading and communication routes.
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Willenhall: 2014
3.3 Retention of original character and open spaces remain as they would have been recognised in 1900. The sense of a local community trading and living around a central nucleus is a strong characteristic of the area. Without this 3.4 Definition of special character of the thread the mix of buildings from different conservation area ages, using different materials and employing different architectural styles The Willenhall Conservation Area has a would appear chaotic. On closer inspection, market town character that has undergone, however, there are common traits within withstood and absorbed the social, these buildings that root themselves within economic and political impacts of the the Black Country. Industrial Revolution.
Whilst a little faded in some areas the Its ability to retain its mediaeval town robustness of buildings, both in stature, but structure and accommodate structures from also built fabric, remains. The active use of the industrial period is owed to the way the ground floors of most buildings as retail industrialisation was accommodated in this or other forms of commercial activity is region. The formation of small workshops particularly important and has been retained behind principal houses and retail premises through the subsequent periods of married well with the mediaeval plot redevelopment. This sustains the bustle formation of these towns. Lock making, like and dynamic activity that has defined the many industries in the Black Country and character of the area and supported new Birmingham, was undertaken on a large generations and ever changing scale, but using small incremental demographics of the town. The vibrant mix workshops. This is in sharp contrast with of uses has made Willenhall a resilient town, the cathedral like mills of Lancashire and and whilst the economic profile has shifted Yorkshire, which radically reconfigured radically, in many ways presents its own towns. challenges, it has allowed the centre to redefine itself. The 1818 toll road by-passed the town and therefore avoided harmful rebuilding, There have been some significant changes allowing the intimate scale and character of that have altered the town appearance, the market place to be retained. The particularly during post war years. Moreover, position of the toll road, so close to the the population has changed, the businesses market place, did not kill the town. have changed and the forms of transport have changed, but the original structure of The patina of time expressed through this market town remains intact. The market different architectural movements and the is still held several times each week bringing varied scale of buildings forms a layered business and social interactions out onto the heritage. streets and most of the key buildings, streets
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Willenhall: 2014
Some buildings from early eras through the There are, however, a limited variety of mid 18th century onwards survive, helping to architectural styles with preferences towards express the continued prosperity of the town particular architectural movements. These from the last years before industrialisation very much define principal phases of the through to the 1930 and the outbreak of the towns development and show a sharp and Second World War. The importance of these endearing contrast between the rambling buildings is that whilst they are well informed nature of buildings prior to the application of by leading architectural styles of the day, architectural principles and those of grander they all respond to the local area and local design informed by architectural philosophy. resources and local character. This is further heightened through the rich In Willenhall we see the remnants of a pre- application of materials. The diversity of industrialised market town with well informed ceramics, stone, timber and metal resulted aspirations of a developing middle class, in a riot of design and colour quiet alien in adapted into an industrious town of trade modern urban design. belonging entirely to the Black Country.
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Willenhall: 2014
PART II: APPRAISAL
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Willenhall: 2014
The 'Black Country' is relatively recent as an 4.0 Location and setting identity, but recognise that this track densely developed land north west of England's 4.1 Location second city became one of the most industrialised parts of Britain during the 19th Willenhall town centre is situated mid way century, with coal mines, coking, iron between Walsall and Wolverhampton and is foundries and steel mills. located central within the Black Country (North West of Birmingham). Its occupies a As early as 1785 commentators were strategic position in the centre of this referring to the 14 mile road between densely populated conurbation and is a Wolverhampton and Birmingham as being second tier town in the sub region. "one continuous town". This route ran close to Willenhall and illustrates how early the There is a continuous urban landscape urbanisation of the area was compared to between Willenhall and the centre of the rest of Britain. Birmingham and this wider setting is key to the character of Willenhall. The Black The scale of the industrial city by the close Country is a network of canals, roads and of the 18th century was taking shape and railways that connect the individual towns to Birmingham lead the way in its absorption of one another and to the wider country, at the peripheral towns into the soup of industry, centre of which it sits. housing and commerce.
Modern day Willenhall is now more The first trace of the term "The Black associated with the urban structure of the Country" as an expression dates from the Black Country than the pastoral rural setting 1840s and is likely to reflect the of Staffordshire, as it once was before the environmental conditions of the area at that Industrial Revolution. The surrounding time. The first recorded use of the term transport networks and tracks of rapidly dates from 1846 and occurs in the novel developed land paved the way for the Cotton Green: A Tale of the Black Country modern city and it is this landscape that we by the Reverend William Gresley. inherit today. The original purpose of the Black Country, that of industry, has largely relocated or at the very least has downscaled.
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Willenhall: 2014
The process of globalisation that the centre. These relate both to the industrial as Industrial Revolution set into motion has well as modern periods of growth and now moved to its final phase and much of development, linking the town centre to the the manufacturing from this region is sub region without directly impacting on the undertaken in the worlds developing local network. economies. This has resulted in the Black Country restructuring itself in line with the The areas directly surrounding the town growth of the professional disciplines and comprise a mix of 19th and 20th century the service sector. As a result the industrial industry and housing, as well as late 20th landscape has been remodeled further and century retail development. development has maximised on the flexibility of the location and nature of the industrial The sites surrounding the town are generally landscape. The Black Country has larger as development increased in scale reinvented itself over the past 50 years with during the later part of the 19th century to new roads and business parks emerging accommodate the methods of improved along with associated housing to facilitate a manufacturing and more competent growing population. construction techniques. Moreover, the land around the town was not constrained by the Whilst the rapid changes that the Black small plots and complex ownership Country has experienced have helped structures of the ancient core. sustain it and reinvent it, meaningful heritage survives in pockets, hubs and ribbons of development and provide focus The Black Country Historic Landscape for meaningful townscape that relate to the Characterisation places Willenhall within human dimension. Willenhall is one such Character Area (WL06) which states that centre of significant historic value and its ‘this is an important historical settlement 1,300 years must be tied directly to this (43% of land is still given to housing). The wider landscape that provides its context townscape is mostly (51%) of mid to late and rational. 20th century origin, but with large areas of older buildings. The area includes the 4.2 Setting residential and commercial centre of Willenhall, together with significant industrial areas, which are important in defining the The conservation area broadly covers the landscape’s character. The area is principal streets within the town centre and demarcated by the Walsall borough extends into key historic sites around its boundary to the south and west, and areas periphery. of generally more modern origin to the north and east, beyond the former Bentley canal The town centre is surrounded by a and modern A462’. significant transport arteries, mainly running east-west, to the north and south of the town
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Figure 2: Period of origins (Black Country Archaeology: 2007)
Figure 3: Modern land use (broad types) (Black Country Archaeology: 2007)
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Willenhall: 2014
4.3 Demographics organised industrial development and the diversity of individual trades culminated into Historically, Willenhall was an independent the production of a single product, that of Urban District Council, forming part of South 'locks'. Staffordshire. In 1974 the restructuring of Local Government resulted in Willenhall's The collapse of industrialisation, in the main administration being absorbed into the part during post war Britain, further altered Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council which the composition of the town’s demographics. was part of the new West Midlands Globalisation and exportation, reversed and Metropolitan County. with the establishment of the commonwealth new communities emerging, through which The population of Willenhall town was 3,143 Willenhall has benefited. Today Willenhall is in 1801 and grew to 18,515 in 1901. The home to a number of varied community period of fastest growth was between 1841 groups from around the world and now and 1861 when the population more than comprises a richer and more complex doubled – 8,695 to 17,256. Following the population than it has contained. linking up of the towns across the Black Country, the excises of defining population’s The rich variety of shops and market stalls size is relatively meaningless; however, it is reflects the diversity of ethnicity in the town safe to say that fewer people live in the town and how it operates. Different faith groups centre and in family units than in the period use the places of worship and those living leading up to the Second World War above the shop are rarely those that run the shop. The character of areas, their functions and purpose is shaped by the community that live and work there. The social dimensions 4.4 Force for change of a place are powerful and shafts over time, influenced by economic and political factors. The downturn and changes in the economy of Willenhall during the 20th century resulted The history of Willenhall is more an exercise in many environmental adjustments. in social history than it is one of architectural. The town’s origins in a rural landscape are unrecognisable to that of Most of the small traditional workshops have modern day Willenhall and are the very closed and other than the Colonial works on reasons for why the place operates today. Little Wood Street, the larger industrial Understanding the interests, demands, buildings that fringe the Conservation Area limitations and aspirations of the community are derelict or demolished. Employment is is key in understanding the current town’s primarily in retail or in the service sector. condition and how it needs to be managed. Post war attitudes to planning and The market place is the oldest surviving regeneration were focused on the aspect of the town. Its associations with the reinvention of areas whole scale and sale of agricultural produce, domestic ware comprehensively. The need for these and clothes would have related to a masterplans were poorly evidenced and hierarchy of goods that reflected the badly conceived and whilst the spirit of the complex structure of the medieval town. time, during post war austerities is not The complex social strata of society would questioned, Willenhall experienced some have coexisted and lead to the varied harmful redevelopment. The precinct, along pattern of plot sizes and functions. the east side of Stafford Street is a prime example of this period’s lust for change. Industrialisation urbanised the community and in response the structure of society became bottom heavy, with a large working This combined with the national decline in class population working within and locally the condition of town centers which followed to the town. Incremental workshops a new pattern in shopping habits, including gradually materialised into larger more the growth of out of town stores and later the Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan | LIST OF FIGURES 25 internet. This has resulted in deterioration in English Heritage in October 2013 the investment of individual shops and retail commended the Council on the progress new struggles. being made. These programmes include:
The economic ceiling for Willenhall is capped, as are all local markets. The town sustains low rents and therefore generates Willenhall Heritage Economic low revenue. That said, vacancy is not Regeneration Scheme (HERS) (2000- significant and is lower than is present in 2004): An English Heritage led project to many comparable towns, even in regions of protect and reuse 13 historic buildings in higher prosperity. As a result, poor profit Market Place and Cross Street. margins materialise in poor maintenance, which is exacerbated when one factors in Willenhall Townscape Heritage the complexities of older building fabric and Initiative (THI) (2011-2014): A Heritage the constraints of often tall buildings at back Lottery Fund programme of investment of pavement that are inaccessible. which has invested in the repair and reinstatement of architectural details, Some buildings and sites have declined into structural fabric, windows, roofing, a very poor condition, with limited use and, rainwater goods and historic shop fronts to in some cases, dereliction. When the cycle historic buildings in need throughout the of decline materializes the viability of Conservation Area. securing sustainable futures for buildings This project was deemed so successful becomes more challenging. In addition to that in October 2013 the project was this, owners must also acknowledge a extended. 'conservation deficit'. This is the gap in costs between the end market value of a site Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) (2013): A and the cost to conserve it due to the project to bring back into use of the Grade complexities present in historic buildings. II listed Bell Inn in Market Place. The As a result it is normal to see visible decline project started on site with the first phase in older buildings in areas of poorer of structural remediation in November economic stability. 2013.
Poor decisions on highway management A Repair Grant for Places of Worship and the public realm have further aided a (2013): An English Heritage grant to decline in the appearance of the town repair the external fabric of the façade of centre. A busy use of varied brick paving the former Methodist church on Union has replaced traffic from the heart of the Street (C1860s), now used by the light town, subjecting it to quiet evenings and and life Mission (fondly known as The poor surveillance. Travellers Church) was offered in March 2013. Phase I investigative work Over recent years serious efforts have been commenced in October 2013. made to address this decline and a visit by
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Figure 4: The Unitary Development Plan Inset map of Willenhall identifying the Primary Shopping Area and the Development Opportunities. NB The conservation area boundary is illustrated as it was before its subsequent alteration. (Walsall Council: 2014) Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 27
Willenhall: 2014
These programmes are hands on projects that address the site specific issues of individual buildings and work to maximise on the opportunities currently present. In parallel, the council must consider the strategic planning of the town centre and develop policy that sets out a longer term vision for both individual sites as well as applying a comprehensive approach.
The Unitary Development Plan remains the principal document that steers site specific regeneration in the conservation area. It What is important for the Willenhall includes Policy WH4: (Development/ Conservation Area is to address the Investment Opportunities) which identifies challenges of conservation with the towns where development/reuse would be wider scope of regeneration. The mistakes particularly encouraged, these include: of the past have been to segregate the various disciplines of highway management, WH4 i (74-77 Stafford Street); retail investment, heritage conservation, WH4 ii (Indoor market, Union public realm and security & crime. This has Street); resulted in a patchwork of conflicting WH4 vi (East of the district centre); strategies. Heritage must now be applied as and part of the wider regeneration of the town WH4 vii (2-10 Union Street, 1-7 and not exclusively to designated assets. Stafford Street and 24-28 Market This has been the approach of the THI Place). programme and is the reason why the success of the programme has been so significant to changing perceptions of the town.
Figure5: The implementation of the Phase I works of the English Heritage Repair Grant for Places of Worship to the Grade II listed non-conformist church on Union Street (Walsall Council: 2014).
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5.0 Historic development
5.1 Early origins: 8th to mid 18th century but the form and shape and function of this space has survived generations of new buildings and retains the intimate scale of Willenhall traces its roots back to the 8th that early trading space. century. Then known as “Willenhalch” it was an Anglo-Saxon settlement meaning 'the There is no record of a medieval standing meadowland of Willan'. Willenhala was cross and it is unknown if Cross Street mentioned in a charter of AD 994 and again refers to the position of a market cross to the in the Domesday Book (1086) and termed western limits or if it simply relates to the as a very small settlement. The town, which cross link it forms between Market Place was really only a village throughout the and Lichfield Street. Middle Ages, sustained a small but stable population that changed little from one The wider settlement would likely not have century to the next. extended much beyond the market place, sitting in an open rural landscape that would Markets and fairs are documented to have have supported various forms of livestock, taken place since the 13th century, although dairy and arable farming and comprised a medieval strip field system. All streets lead there is no evidence that there was ever an from the landscape into the market place official market as decreed through charter. and would have followed ancient tracks and As a traditional market village, the 'market place' became the destination of the ways, which gradually formed into streets on settlement, providing a space where the the approach into the town. The buildings that would have lined the principal streets rural economy traded. To cater for a and would have backed onto the fields and it market, the built form of the town was is likely that a structure similar to the widened to facilitate the setting up of stalls burgage system would have been used. and booths on market days. Records indicate that there was a well-established fair by the late 15th century. The organic rural shapes of these streets have not been eradicated. Individual
ownership has prevented significant change Market places were the strategic heart of a and realignment from taking place. The form mediaeval settlement, and second only in of Lichfield Street, Stafford Street (as it importance to the church. The 13th century (when the earliest record for Willenhall's leads into Market Place) and Cheapside are market is documented) was a period of town ruminants of the rural structure of the town.
development across England. During that A large moated site existing adjacent to the period the country was a rich agricultural northern edge of the mediaeval limits of the nation, principally based on the wool trade. town, near the present day Wood Street Towns were establishing fast and the market place was coming into force as a piece of cemetery, but was subsequently lost during the 19th century under the construction of civic planning, indeed forming the first wave the Colonial Works. The site is still recorded of town planning following the retreat of the on the modern landscape through the street Roman Empire from Britain. Large towns that runs across the site ‘Moat Street’. developed square or nuclei markets, where as villages such as Willenhall would have retained the earlier, more organic street St. Giles on Walsall Street (south east of the town centre) is the site of the mediaeval widening solution. church, although replaced in 1866 by the
current gothic revival building. The lost The market place in Willenhall is therefore building was known to have existed by 1298 part of a family of the earliest recorded spaces in Mediaeval England to facilitate the and therefore is likely to have formed part of trading of goods and wares. The original the church building that took place during the 13th century in conjunction with town timber framed buildings that would have expansions. Willenhall’s church, beyond the enclosed the market place have long gone, Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 29 high street is not unusual as churches for coal working was in progress locally as early growing town provided church yards that as 1325. Such activities were incremental needed room for expansion. and would have facilitated the town forge for the production of a limited range of essential Medieval England was not only agricultural, metal wares.
Figure 6: Yates Map of 1775. N.B. The setting out of new streets and the prominence of natural features such as brooks, which are largely ignored or converted on later maps. (Walsall Council: 2014)
5.2 The early-industrial town: Late 18th century – 1800 the South Staffordshire coalfield, comprised Established during Elizabethan England, of grey shale with coal seams and irregular lock and key making was recorded as taking carboniferous sandstone bands. This is place in Willenhall as an industry as early as overlain with glacial boulder clay deposits of the late 16th century and by the close of the unstratified gravelly clays. 18th century local iron and coal began to be fully exploited and in line with a steady The events of the mid 18th century manifest growth in the population. At this time themselves in the first real changes of any Willenhall remained a village rather than a significance to Willenhall from its early town, albeit with some industrial enterprises, medieval form and appearance. The that started to grow exponentially. population had stabilised by 1666 at around 300 inhabitants, and the principal form of Key to the transformation of Willenhall, and activity focused on agriculture. During the indeed the wider Black Country, is its 17th century changes were happening location within the Middle Coal Measures of across the country that altered the path of Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 30
Britain forever. The 'Enlightenment' of the this produced would have been humble and 17th century had materialise in the rudimentary. Timber framing would have industrious spirit of the 18th century. The been common, as would 'wattle and daub' (a Agricultural Revolution transformed rural mix of mud and dung applied to crudely Britain and fostered the mechanised spirit of formed panels of woven sticks. Lime the age for the far more dramatic Industrial renders and white wash would have also Revolution. featured. Any decoration would have been simple and 'naive'. The Agricultural Revolution, whilst spanning several centuries, from the 15th to the 19th Wealthy and fashionable locals who century, was particularly prevalent during travelled to London and Bath would have the 18th century, where most change was brought back to Staffordshire the designs of witnessed in the landscape through the buildings that were conceived on plan and mechanisation of farming and field adhered to geometry and the rules of enclosure. Market towns flourished and proportion, order and constrain. The during Georgian England agriculture Georgian town was a mastery of formality prospered. Towns such as Willenhall in the and regulation. Buildings that implemented Staffordshire countryside started to change the 'Golden Ratio'. their appearance. The middle classes that would have As the 18th century progressed the process constituted the upper end of society at this of industrialisation gradually emerged. First time would have been exposed to these was the scientific approach to agriculture ideas and subsequently built themselves that was subsequently applied to the houses and commercial premises, manufacturing of goods. The readily employing these architectural principles. available provision of coal and iron ore allowed for the local production of metal The Georgian buildings of Willenhall, second goods. By the second half of the 18th to the survival of the market place, are century the area was already functioning in among the greatest assets retained in the a way that heralded the systems of mass modern day town. There is a charm in their production and specialisation that fostered execution and heavy handed use of the onslaught of the Industrial Revolution. cornicing and lintels, which would have been The main industry in Willenhall, for which it poor interpretations of London fashion, as has become famous, was lock making. By was typical with the delay in time of passing 1770, Willenhall had 140 locksmiths. on architectural fashions the further from London you were based and the lower down Twinned with this exploitation of local raw the social order you sat. The use of steep materials was transportation. This impacted traditional roofs place these buildings in the on population’s growth and the way the town rural context of Staffordshire and far from reinvented itself by using new materials and their London contemporaries, where low ideas. New ways of building were brought pitched roofs and high concealing parapets about in parallel with the introduction of predominated. That said, these buildings organised industry. transformed the town and set in motion a sea change that moved the town towards Improvements in transportation and the the age of 'polite' architecture, informed by movement of new ideas, saw the arrival of classical Rome. new architectural fashions by the middle decades of the 18th century. Polite For the first time in Willenhall's history the architectural practice arrived in Willenhall sash window appears, Flemish bond is used and changed the town forever. in brickwork and a rhythm of windows introducing a 50:50 solid to void ration is Before the mid part of the 18th century, enjoyed across the elevations of buildings. buildings had been ''vernacular', that being constructed using locally sourced materials Of note are Dale House, 41-46 and put together using historic local (consecutive) Market Place and 33 Market traditions and craftsmanship. The buildings Place. These masterful and well ordered Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 31 buildings translate the grandeur of the ‘smart’ house and shop presenting the London town house into Willenhall and set commercial face to the street and the the bench for a second tier of contemporary industrial workshops to the rear. This buildings. domestic and industrial unity was common across England at this time with weaver’s Less well financed development was cottages being built in Yorkshire (with their inspired by these buildings, taking aspects distinctive line of mullion windows at first of the design, but delivering them in a cruder floor) and warehouses appended to house in fashion. Today these buildings are viewed dock cities such as Liverpool and Bristol. as being a charming interpretation of The early phase of industrial development grander principles, but academically they was appended to the traditional domestic reflect the diluted understanding of arrangement and in Willenhall examples of classicism and therefore represent an this still survive. Note the workshop to the emerging class of commercial enterprise rear of 46 Market Place. that was rising through the social strata. Examples of these buildings include 1-3 The arrangement between the front of house (consecutively) Cross Street, where the and rear yard and workshop is expressed in sash windows, doors and architraves are a hierarchy of architecture within a single borrowed from the grander town houses, but site and the workshops were built using the proportions of the earlier squat large windows, employing less sophisticated vernacular building remain. segmental arches and the latest in construction technology of the day, the The period by which considered architecture metal frame window. emerges in a town is known as the 'Vernacular threshold' and for Willenhall it is The canals had progressed across the Black in line with the wider area and falls around Country during the last decade of the 18th the middle of the 18th century. century with the Wyrley and Essington Canal (1797) to the north of the town centre It should be noted that vernacular buildings and the Walsall Canal (1799) to the south of did continue to be constructed. In Willenhall the town, facilitated this growth and these would typically be two-storey, with a changing economy. These 18th century simple shop window and door, casement super highways facilitated the movement or window above and a steep tiled roof. raw material and the exportation of finished goods, making their production affordable, The impact of this early phase of reliable and disposable. industrialisation was subtle and materialised in a built form unique to Birmingham and the By the mid 18th century a satellite hamlet West Midlands. The yards to the rear of developed to the north of the town which houses became workshops. The nature of became known as Little London. The name the product was small, crafted and often possibly indicates associations with the City bespoke. Front and back of house of London companies who owned the land in development became common, with the the area.
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Figure 7: Map of Willenhall C1800. N.B. The organic form of the streets that have a strong synergy with the rural lanes running into the town. Field enclosure is established, but the rear aspects of buildings running along the form of streets are exposed to the open countryside, much the way a largely unaltered medieval village is seen today. Of interest is the form of Market Place, Wolverhampton Street, Strafford Street, Cross Street, Union Street, Upper Lichfield Street and Cheapside. The church of St. Giles is present in the south east corner and the medieval moated site in the north east corner. (Walsall Council: 2014).
5.3 Industrialisation: 1800-1900 straight wide alignment is unmistakable and the toll house outside the town centre Whilst canals continues to be dug across the replicates a building typology seen across Black Country during the early part of the Britain at that time, with its canted single cell 19th century, road traffic also increased. form and employment of Gothick design. Canals transported heavy, fragile and non- perishable goods, but the movement of The position of the New Road (as the toll people was becoming more important. Toll road was aptly named) had a significant roads were the first real strategic planned impact on what was retained of the investment in the road network in Britain mediaeval market place. Had Willenhall since the Roman invasion. The mediaeval been one of the bigger Black Country towns roads that linked into Willenhall were organic it may have been directed through the and followed topography, natural features centre of it and destroyed the market places and agricultural activity. This inherited form, had it been further away, the trade of network of streets were narrow, cramped the town may have been by-passed and the and grossly insufficient for an industrstrial town’s productivity shrunk. population’s movement. The toll road network finally made its way across this It was, however, the railways that stretch of the Black Country in 1818. Its transformed the Industrial Revolution and Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 33 took the Black Country into its most aggressive phase of expansion. Railway A number of collieries also sprang up lines were constructed to the south of the around the town. The coal seams in the town (the Birmingham to Liverpool: 1837) Willenhall area were worked until the end of and later to the north (Walsall to the 19th century and the mining of iron and Wolverhampton: 1874), and resulted in the brass continued into the 20th century. town expanding rapidly during the middle decades of the century. Three foundries existing in Willenhall by 1856 and facilitated the ever expanding lock The population had risen to 3,154 in 1801, making industry. In the previous year (1855) and 11,931 in 1851. Poor housing and lack 340 lock makers were recorded as operating of any proper sanitation led to a cholera in the town, more than doubling production epidemic in 1849 when 292 people died. in 80 years. The epidemic shocked the town into improving conditions. With an expanding By the 19th century the industry of lock urban population came 19th century making was well established in the town and municipal endeavors. The Willenhall Water spread out beyond the town into the newly Company was founded in 1852 and the developed suburbs. Larger works were Willenhall Local Board of Health in 1854, a constructed around the periphery of the forerunner of Willenhall Urban District town centre, close to main transport Council which took over in 1894. A new corridors and with purpose built premises, purpose built cemetery was constructed on distinctly separate from the residential Wood Street to facilitate the burial of greater setting. numbers of people and replaced the traditional graveyard resting place. Schools The smaller incremental workshops in rear also were constructed in line with education yards continued to flourish and as such the acts towards the end of the century as social production of different types of locks for reforms became a principal political issue in different markets brought diversity and Britain’s urban areas. The Little London stability to this specialised industry and saw School opened its gates in 1883 and was the export of these goods across the globe. designed to reflect the local civic pride and value placed in education. The application of classicism on buildings during the mid part of the century became In an area as transient as the Black Country very strictly applied and the influence of the which saw the immigration of people from Italianate style dominated. This architectural far afield the religious communities of the movement was heavily informed by the town became more diverse. During the 19th Georgian principals of refined order, but century religious tolerance was established applied a greater emphasis on the in order to liberate geographically separate application of the classical orders. Formal communities and allow them to come terraces of three storey properties together in urban areas for industrial developed extensively throughout the town productivity to expand unfettered. Church and comprised shop fronts with console building therefore reached a peak during the brackets to the fascias, which matched with 19th century and was at the highest level the consoles to the lintels over the first floor since the 13th century. In and around windows. Examples of this include 79-83 Willenhall churches were under mass Stafford Street and 4-7 Cross Street. The construction to sanitise the urban poor. Of finest of the buildings to survive from this particular note around Willenhall was the period applied the Italianate principals take up of non-conformism. Within the town stringently and adopted a stucco rendered a spectacular Methodist church was finish, not out of places with the nation’s constructed in the 1860’s (now Grade II premier Italianate building, Osborne House, listed) along with three other chapels (The Queen Victoria’s private residence on the New Testament Church (Upper Lichfield Isle of White. No. 29 Market Place is Street), The little London Baptist Church unquestionably the grandest building in (Temple Bar) and the Providence Baptist Willenhall. Chapel (New Road). Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 34
As the century progressed the rich geology up the possibilities in architecture. This of the wider area was exploited in coincided with more liberal ideas of culture conjunction with the production of ever more and the rise in English architectural varied building materials. Clays were mixed philosophy and heritage. The hold of in new ways and fired at different classicism fractured and the gothic revival, temperatures, using different pigments. The followed by a series of eclectic styles, coming of the railways also allowed from the emerged. Buildings such as No. 3 Upper transportation of materials and by the 1840’s Lichfield Street are built and express the the tiled roofs of the vernacular age and confidence of the age, the manufacturing inherited by the Georgian buildings were ability of the area and the desire to apply the replaced by slate imported to the area from arts liberally within the townscape. The north Wales. buildings in Willenhall at the close of the 19th century are bold and use manufactured The result was a diversity of building products such as terracotta and dressed materials, which in conjunction with the use stone to deliver vibrant façades that counter of new materials such as iron girders, freed the increasingly polluted atmosphere.
Figure 8: Ordnance Survey Map of Willenhall (1884). NB the majority of the current Conservation Area had been built, with all the roads and pedestrian alleys. From the Little London school in the north, to the development along New Road in the south there is little vacant land within the town centre. Willenhall is a town of small businesses and workshops. Along Upper Lichfield Street and north of Wood Street small houses and workshops line the roads. The horse-drawn tram route from Wolverhampton opened in 1880 and terminates on New Road at Willenhall town centre. (Walsall Council: 2014).
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5.4 Edwardian to interwar: 1900-1940 During the early part of the 20th centuries the Lock making during the 19th century was collieries had all closed and the scene was undertaken entirely by hand and it was not set to change and a belt of housing started until 1900 that machinery was widely used in to be developed around the town, largely in the trade. Famous lock makers in Willenhall response to planning and housing legislation include Josiah Parkes & Sons, Yale & to build better homes for returning Towne and John Harper & Co. By the First servicemen from the Great War Estates of World War, Willenhall was increasingly the ‘Homes Fit for Hero’s’ now define the wider th landscape of the town and replace much of centre for lock making and by the mid 20 th century there were 60 lock factories the 19 century housing that was no longer employing over 7,000 workers. seen fit for purpose.
Figure 9: The Ordnance Survey 1914 of Willenhall town centre. N.B. The pattern of buildings and roads on the shows no further significant changes from the close of the 19th century. A number of industrial buildings were being established on open land around Willenhall but no larger factories had been built in or near the centre. The tramway on New Road was electrified in 1903 and extended along Bilston Street and Walsall Street and the large bank on the corner of New Road and Market Place has been constructed. (Walsall Council: 2014).
During these twilight years of the industrial and in particular the vernacular. Willenhall age the arts were reacting strongly to the is particularly rich in these buildings and impact of manufacturing on the health and during the 1900’s saw a number of high well being of society as a whole. In quality buildings of this type constructed architecture this materialized in the ‘Arts & including 5 Upper Lichfield Street and 69-71 Crafts’ movement, which revered the Stafford Street. building styles of the pre industrial period
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The Great War (1914-1919) laid waste to such as the neo-Georgian façade of the any redevelopment plans and few changes bank at 6-8 Market Place, other sought to took place. By the late 1920’s and into the embrace the modern age such as that at 39 1930’s a new modern era dawned with Market Place, and employed the new mixed confidence. Whilst some buildings material of the age, concrete. made very strong reference to the past,
Figure 10: The Ordnance Survey 1937. N.B. The first major changes for fifty years to the built environment of Willenhall town centre can be seen on the Ordnance Survey map of 1937. At the corner of Market Place and Stafford Street, the Post Office has been demolished and replaced by a Picture Theatre, another Picture Theatre has been built next to Dale House on New Road, the Union Works on Upper Lichfield Street is the first of the large lock making factories to be built in the town centre, and the tram rails have been removed as motor buses replaced the trams. (Walsall Council: 2014).
5.5 Post war: 1945 – To date Street. The historic alignment of Union Street was retained as was the Methodist The close of a second world war in just a church, otherwise all else was removed and quarter of a century had exhausted Britain the gentle meander of the built form at the and a new planning system met post war confluence of Market Place, Wolverhampton aspirations that focused on ‘the new’ not Street and Stafford street was replaced by a heritage. As with many town centres, recessed paved square formed by the radical plans were implemented to clear orthogonal flank elevations of the new areas of historic buildings to make way for precinct. new shopping precincts. In Willenhall, the last significant development within the town Two phases of the precinct were developed, centre comprised the demolition of the land the principle comprising the majority of its between Upper Lichfield Street and Stafford southern portion and extending either side of Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 37
Union Street and constituting a concrete flamed shopping precinct with a projecting The National Planning policy Framework canopy to shelter shoppers from inclement (NPPF) confirms that ‘Archaeological weather and a brick first floor comprising interest’ is where there is ‘interest in a storage and staffing areas. The northern heritage asset if it holds, or potentially may section is separated from the former by a hold, evidence of past human activity worthy retained historic shop and constitutes a of expert investigation at some point. concrete panelled building with projecting Heritage assets with archaeological interest concrete fins dividing a fully glazed office are the primary source of evidence about floor above the main shopping floor. the substance and evolution of places, and of the people and cultures that made them’. Following the construction of the precinct few changes, other than the This may be required in the form of a desk pedestrianisation in 2000, have changed the based study or an archaeological evaluation. basic structure of the town. The job centre In order to protect the archaeological (to the rear of the former Methodist church) remains it is sometimes necessary to modify replaced the Sunday school and more proposals or carry out an excavation before recently the group of industrial and office development takes place. buildings on Wood Street have been cleared away to be replaced by housing overlooking A number of archaeological sites are the cemetery. recorded within the conservation area. Of particular importance is buried Significant changes that have taken place archaeological deposits relating to the early beyond the boundary, altering the function settlement of Willenhall (SMR5849) or of its and setting of the conservation area include moated site (SMR2645). Early lock-making the construction of the superstore on the sites would also be of importance given the east side of Upper Lichfield Street. industry’s later predominance.
Given the large number and wide range of 5.6 The archaeological significance and sites within the area it is not possible to give potential of the area an archaeological response for each site in this document. They should be dealt with The council is required to take archaeology through the normal planning procedures. into consideration when managing the built Many will need an archaeological evaluation environment and making decisions on as part of the submission of any planning proposals that will alter it. application. Others may need recording ahead of development secured through a The Walsall Historic environment register condition on any planning permission. (HER) is the evidence base for all cultural Preservation of archaeological deposits and heritage and houses the Black Country Sites historic buildings on site is the preferred and Monuments Register (SMR). This option. Early consultation with the borough identifies all built and buried archaeology (of archaeologist is advised for all major varying significance) within the Willenhall consultations. Conservation area.
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Figure 11: Periods of building development in the present day landscape. (Walsall Council: 2014).
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designation as a whole. The distinction 6. Spatial analysis between townscape form, building type and function is critical in order to appraise 6.1 Identification of Character Areas character.
The conservation area covers the entire The assessment of each character area extend of the ‘Primary Shopping Area’ and needs to set out in detail the positive and the central portion of the ‘Willenhall District negative aspects that are present so as to Centre’ as well as extending beyond it. The inform priorities for change and designation therefore covers a variety of management. different streets and areas, with different building types, different functions and The following sections set out: different patters of movement and interaction. An overview of the historic development and significance of the The conservation area naturally covers the area; oldest areas of the town, with a particular focus on the Market Place. The surrounding General summary of the local roads serving this hub within the town and townscape merit, features, built forms over the centuries developed very different and function; characters. An identification of the positive aspects The diversity of the conservation area is just of the area; as important as the features that tie it together. This is based on a series of six A summary of negative aspects within character areas: the area; and
1: Market Place and cross street; A plan of the character area showing 2: Stafford Street (west side) & the location of nationally and locally Wolverhampton Street; Listed buildings, in conjunction with a 3: Stafford Street (east side); list of these heritage assets. 4: Little London School; 5: Upper Lichfield Street & Cheapside; and 6: New Road
The identification of the significant aspects of each of these areas is necessary in order to understand how these contribute to the
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4
3 2 5
1
6
1: Market Place and Cross Street; 4: Little London School; 2: Stafford Street (west side) & 5: Upper Lichfield Street & Cheapside; & Wolverhampton Street; 6: New Road 3: Stafford Street (east side);
Figure 12: Character Areas of the Willenhall Conservation Area. (Walsall Council: 2014) Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 41
6.2 Character Area 1: Townscape merits
Market Place & Cross Street The tapering form of Market Place reflects its organic mediaeval origins. The enclosure Market Place and Cross Street are the of the market place itself is of significant historic heart of Willenhall town centre. The value and reflects a hierarchy of society and market place is the very nucleus of the early uses typical of a pre-industrial town. Most mediaeval settlement, and its flourishing buildings are at back of pavement and follow likely led to the 13th century growth of the the centuries of development along the village and establishment of a church. naturally widened market space.
The survival of the form of the market place No. 33 is set back elevating its importance in transcends the agricultural origins of the the town, which along with the front yard of town and the industry age. the Bell Inn, introduces the different function that these buildings over to the dominance The southern end of Market Place (where it of commercial properties that occupy most is constrained down to regular street other plots. proportions) and Cross Street retain the narrow mediaeval character of the streets The majority of buildings are three-storeys in that once connected the market to the rural height, emphasising the dense development countryside that surrounded the small around the heart of the town. This scale settlement. further iterates the sense of enclosure and heightens the level of activity that takes This character area retains early mediaeval place around the core of the town. plots and the more irregular and tight knit plot form of the pre-industrial period. These streets have retained the earliest built forms of development, with a high proportion of 18th and early 19th century buildings. This area, however, also illustrates most clearly the variety of building types, styles and materials than any other part of the conservation area. A range of red, blue and buff bricks, stucco, stone, render, timber, concrete, metal, slate and tiles are deployed across buildings that span over three centuries (and earlier).
The east side of Market Place along with Cross Street display the greatest range of development types and contrast starkly with the terraces to the south and east of the market place. This diversity is further heightened by the retail led mix of uses along these streets.
The clock tower, in the centre of the market place, is a local landmark and acts as a destination and meeting point, confirming the role of the market place as the centre of the town. The clocks alignment, when viewed from each of the three gateways into the town, is a well considered piece of townscape and heightens the impact of this Figure 13: Character Area 1: Market Place & Cross Street. (Walsall Council: th 2014). typically excessive late 19 century piece of design.
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Despite the attempts throughout the 18th and 19th centuries to order the town with grander premises, often forming terraces, individual plots remain very prominent in the structure of this part of the town. Even where the order of Georgian development prevails, the individuality of independent ownership is evident and there are subtle differences in the handling of windows, the sourcing of bricks and the detailing of cornices, shop fronts and rainwater goods.
There are a number of gunnels that create incident points between private land and To the rear survives a series an ad hoc intimate public rights of way. These break arrangement of outriggers and courtyards, through the typical built form of the town and subdivided by walling, guinnels and create a more complex structure of workshops. These workshops vary in date movement patters as well as relationships but share the cruder characteristics of between built form and public realm. Some segmental arched windows over iron framed of these gunnels are private and link through windows and largely plane brickwork with to the rear yards where much of the early occasional blue brick detailing. domestic scale industrial activity took place, and are therefore as significant as the public alleys.
Positive aspects of the area
There are a number of individual elements within this character area that are of significant value. Six statutory listed entries are located in this area, comprising eleven buildings:
The southern end of Market Street comprises the principal ‘gateway into the An earlier phase of Georgian development conservation area. Along the western side occupies the next adjacent site as it turns of the street is a key group of early building into Market Place proper. No.41-44 Market from the 18th century. 45- 46 Market Place Place ( 42-44 Grade II listed) comprise a (Grade II listed building) comprise a pair of similar three-storey brick premises but brick commercial premises with residential predate the finer stone dressing of 45-46. accommodation above. Humble segmental arched portrait sash windows, typical of early Georgian town The elegant proportions are defined by the architecture and a plain brick cornice ordered arrangement of the portrait sash carrying the gutter above, further windows. The chamfered false voussoirs emphasised the early origins of this terrace. and fluted keystones and moulded cornice elevate these buildings above most others in This group complete the southern aspect of the market place and illustrate the height of Market Place and, whilst only No. 44 has Georgian design in the town. Of particular been fully conserved, they present a very note is the perfect balance of brickwork to typical market town appearance, window opening, executing the ‘Golden characteristic of the flourish of 18th century proportion’ along this street frontage. development in comparable towns. What is most interesting about this group is the brickwork and steep tiled roof, which very Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 43 much has its origins in the lowland countries origins owe much to Georgian design, albeit of a century earlier. on a modest two-storey scale. The crude application of classical design through wide The terrace likely comprises the first use of sash windows are not dissimilar to No. 1-3 Flemish bonded brick in the town and the (opposite), but its shallow hipped roof, set it first concerted effort to align windows and apart, further emphasising its detached use sash joinery, although the solid to void form. The squat nature of this building sits ratio is less balanced that the disciplined in stark contrast to other buildings and application of 45-46. relates very much to a period before full scale industrialisation set in and the nature of individual units was more intimate.
This frontage continues directly into Cross Street and a varied arrangement of buildings, the first being 33 Cross Street (Locally listed). This consists of an The final stretch of the street, that being the elevated late Victorian commercial premises terrace that extends from 26-29 Cross set over three-storey with shallow first floor Street (Locally listed) dates to the mid 19th oriel windows. The buildings introduces a th century and has its origins embedded in the typical late 19 century ordering up the Italianate tradition of Britain at that time. elevation, creating a stark contrast between This introduces a controlled style of terrace the floors, reflecting the function of the construction repeated a number of times rooms within. throughout the town (notably 5-6 Cross Street and 79-82 Stafford Street). This terrace has high Victorian shop fronts broken by an arched carriage entrance to the rear yard with an ordered first and second floor.
Of significance is the console lintels offer the first floor windows and the buff brick quoin detailing to the corners and framing windows, which contrasts with the red brick of the main body of the building. The cornice has evolved from a brick to a timber bracketed soffit supporting a low pitched slate roof in place of the steeper peg tiles of its earlier neighbours. Windows are also the plainer 2-over-2 sash rather than 6-over-6. 32 Cross Street (Locally listed) is peculiar in Willenhall, is as much as that it is one of the few detached premises in this central part of the town. Its early 19th century Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 44
north side of Cross Street is 5-6 Cross Street (Locally listed). This hansom structure is a stripped down Italianate composition that retains the intended austerity of the style, somewhat lost in the busy brickwork of No. 26-29 Cross Street. It should be noted that symmetry based on a central void (window) has been achieved here over an arrangement of five bays, illustrating further the well considered design of not only the controlled detailing, but also the complete composition.
The eastern end of Cross Street (where it intersects with Cheapside) is also an important gateway into the conservation area and the building on both the north and south corners have adopted a curved plan at back-of-pavement which further fosters that entrance into the town.
The building that occupies 7-8 Cross Street (locally listed) is typical of the 1870’s (although the date stone states 1880) and illustrates the transition from the regimented
Italianate to the looser eclectic styles of the th late 19 century. The classically framed 4 Cross street (Locally listed) is likely to windows at first floor and cornice work refer date to the 1870’s or 80’s and illustrates the to an established style in the town (see No. liberation of architecture seen at No. 7-8 26-29 Cross Street) but enjoy a frivolity at Cross Street. Buff stock bricks is employed first floor and incorporates an inventive for the body of the building and is dressed in curved gable parapet and chimney dressed red brick in quoin work around windows and in blue brick banding. corners, with a dentil band at eaves. Windows have inherited decorative plaster The Flemish bond in the brickwork is stark surrounds in the classical tradition and against the stucco surrounds to windows frame simple sash joinery. and the 2-over-2 sash joinery firmly sets this building in the late Victorian age. What is unusual is the scale of this building. This period of development generally saw the construction of denser development and therefore this building possible remodelled an older more modest building, however, has resulted in a structure that relates to the older generation of low order 18th century development that is located in this immediate area.
Continuing the scale of this gateway building back into the conservation area along the Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 45
As Cross Street turns back into Market Place a number of undesignated buildings dating from the 19th, 20th and 18th century respectively line the curved aspect of the building line. This section of the street retains a building height limit of two-storeys, but offers a varied arrangement of built form. This includes red pressed brick gablets, a stripped classical concrete parapet and rendered orthogonal vernacular brick premises.
Whilst this group are undesignated, they occupy a key site and contribute significantly to the setting of the clock tower. The last three buildings of significant interest along the northern side of Cross Street (at The clock tower (Grade II listed) is the its western limits) are 1-3 Cross Street most recognised landmark in Willenhall and (Grade II listed). This short terrace of th dates to 1892. It employs the Jacobean buildings is thought to be early 18 century style (originally popular during the late Tudor and is the town’s best example of buildings and early Stuart age). Erected in sandstone at the cross of the ‘vernacular threshold’. and completed with an exuberant flourish of ironwork supporting lanterns and a Their proportions reflect that of the earlier weathervane. The structure incorporates mediaeval house, with low ceilings, steep drinking fountains and is surrounded by roof slopes and prominence of the chimney railings. stack. The politeness of Georgian design has however emerged, and is particularly The market place surrounds the clock tower evident in the joinery, which is borrowed and therefore its central location has from grander premises, such as those at 41- warranted principal elevations on all faces 46 Market Place. as it aligns with both approaches (north and south) along Market Place as well as the The crudeness in the window proportions approach west along Cross Street. does not reflect the ‘Golden proportion’ of the more well informed buildings in the town from that period, which along with the adaption of the shop fronts in the 19th century gives these premises the typical character of commercial buildings in market town from the 18th and 19th centuries.
An important group of buildings are located between 32 and 34 Market Place, resulting in an important townscape group along the east side of the street.
34 Market Place (Grade II listed) is thought to be late 17th century in origin, although its
rendered façade and replaced windows Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 46 gives it the appearance of a later building. The northern return flank retains some of these vernacular characteristics including the segmental arches to the window openings, which along with the steep tiled roof, with its kick over the eaves gives away its early date.
A licence for The Bell Inn (Grade II listed) is recorded as early as 1660, providing evidence that parts of this building date back to this period, making it the likely oldest secular building in the town.
Formed around an ‘L’ shaped plan, the building envelopes a front courtyard. In contrast to 33, this yard is intended as a functional and active space, rather than No.33 Market Place (Grade II listed) can polite landscaping and the series of doors possibly be argued as being the second that open up onto it confirm this relationship highest ordered building in the town (after between building and apron. Dale House, see Character Area 6). Set back from the street behind its own private The building comprises numerous phase of yard, No. 33 consists of a mid 18th century development and incorporates an town house. It is the only full residency in assortment of architectural detailing. The the central part of town that offers no retail main body of the building is essentially or trade floor space at ground level and the vernacular in construction, but like many setting back of the premises is intended to early buildings was renovated during the emphasise this difference, although this 19th century and given a new commercial does not exclude the possible carrying out of public face. The forward projecting wing a profession at this premises. contains a shop front with an entablature supported by deep timber consoles and The house stands at three stories and carrying a first floor canted bay window. reflects the design of 45-46 Market Place, The Dickensian appearance marries being of local red brick construction and together with the ad hoc body with the order dressed with hansom chamfered false façade. voussoirs and fluted keystones and a moulded cornice.
The windows date to the 19th century and crude rainwater goods have been fixed to the front elevation illustrating that the building status deteriorated over the following centuries, likely in parallel to increased industrialisation in the town.
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Beyond Bell Alley, which forms a guinnel in the most fashionable town of the mid between Market Place and Upper Lichfield Victorian age. Street is 30 Market Place (Locally listed). The building is routed in the classical tradition typical of this area (note the first floor lintels in comparison to those at 5- Cross Street). The solid to void ratio is well considered and the classical value placed on a central void is secured across three bays, with the use of a blind second floor window to retain the rhythm up through the elevation.
The total width of the shop front reflects the structural possibilities of the industrial age (carrying such a wide opening on a frame). The northern most building of interest on the western side of Market Place within this Character area is 18-21 Market Place (including the Barrel & Shive Public House) (Locally listed). There was a tradition in parts of the borough, including in the industrial town centres to construct white/cream painted stucco terraces, imitating the resort town style of places such as Royal Leamington Spa.
The terrace is at three storeys and has scribed imitation ashlar and deep rusticated pilasters carrying a moulded cornice, across the upper floors. The built form curves in relation to the curved form of the street and The final build on the east side of Market has shop fronts at ground floor to 19 and 21, Place (within this Character Area) is 29 but a later early 20th century butterscotch Market Place (Locally listed). This tiles frontage surrounding shallow bay building is a grand Italianate property in buff windows to the public house. London brick and dressed in stuccowork. It is an exceptional example of the Italianate style as employed at Osborne House (Queen Victoria’s Isle of White home) against which this building would not look out of place.
The first floor piano nobile houses a three bay symmetry centred on a grand tripartite window housed in pilastered mullions, carrying a pediment on consoles. Straight quoins flank the elevation and deep string courses define the floors. A heavy modillion cornice carries the soffits and eaves of the shallow hipped roof.
Whilst the use of Italianate and classical Further south at 15 Market Place (Locally language is a thread that runs through much th of the town’s architecture, 29 Market Place listed) survives an early to mid 18 century is the only 19th century building that bears two-storey commercial premises. The tight- no local characteristics and could be placed knit form of the building utilises its narrow Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 48 mediaeval plot by bridging over the alley that runs through its northern side. Exposed timber joists carry the early brickwork over the guinnel and terminates in a simple dentil course beneath a steep peg tiled roof.
The simple vernacular construction of this building is in stark contrast to No. 33 Market Place (opposite) which is of a similar date, but shows how varied construction would have been at the time in response to the social hierarchy of even a town as small as Willenhall.
The principal stretch of building frontage along the west side of the market place is occupied by a terrace of 4 properties at 9-13 Market Place (Locally listed). The terrace is constructed in two phases, but utilises the same brickwork, rhythm of windows, cornice line and roof pitch. The terrace is now much altered with painted brick and rendered. No. 9 and 10 have wedge lintels whilst 11-13 have bracketed hoodmould lintels.
The terrace introduces a formality in the way it encloses the western side of the market place and is in striking contrast to the varied Adjacent to No 15 is No 14 Market Place height, form and footprint of the counterpart (Locally listed) which is another example of frontage to the eastern enclosure. liberated architectural expression during the second half of the 19th century. C1860, this three storey building is constructed in brick and dressed in sandstone, which includes lintels, consoles, banding, parapet copping, dormer hoods, window architraves and quoins.
Great emphasis and imagination has been used to design an individual building with large first floor windows with bracketed hood moulds forming the attic window cills that themselves comprise half dormers slicing through the parapet.
The lack of architectural clarity is part of the charm of buildings from this period, which were largely designed by the rising middle class industrialists rather than the applied skill of a draftsman/architect.
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6.3 Character Area 2.
Stafford Street (west) & Wolverhampton Townscape merits Street Following the Market Place, the junction at This area takes in the west side of Stafford the southern end of Stafford Street is the Street from the junction with Market Place next most important confluence of roads up to the Little London School, and takes in and a central part of the traditional Wolverhampton Street. It survives from the shopping area of Willenhall. earliest maps of Willenhall and is an important part of the towns plan form, Buildings in this area largely date from the th containing the historic western approach mid 19 century although a number of th from Wolverhampton. The curve of the earlier, modest 18 century premises building line from Market Place into survive which together form a continuous Wolverhampton Street is a continuation of street frontage of shops of diverse built the organic form of the market place proper form and using a variety of materials. A and Stafford Street and contributes to the large number of the buildings are of either town’s north south orientation. distinctive architectural design or comprise humble terrace form (similar to that found in Character Area 1). All buildings are at back-of-pavement and follow the gently alignment of the street as it curves out of the Market Place and continues north up Stafford Street.
Whilst the area predominantly comprises retail premises, it does include a portion of industrial properties to the northern end of the street, along the eastern side of the street (north of the junction with Little Wood Street).
Regardless of the type of building, be it a planned terrace or incremental survival from the pre-industrial age, the cellular plot layout of the town survives. Whilst rear yards are not visible from many public vantage points, back land industrial development survives in some locations, such as the workshop to the rear of 22 Market Place. A similar back of house arrangement is found to the rear of 59 Wolverhampton Street.
The northern end of the character area contains a transition between the traditional retail function of town of this type and the industrial presence that exists as a collar round many Black Country towns. The scale of the Union Locks building relates to the larger scale industrial activity towards the close of the 19th century and the architecture presents a less active frontage to the public realm. Figure 14: Character Area 2: Stafford Street (west) & Wolverhampton Street. (Walsall Council: 2014). Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 50
Positive aspects of the area (oddly proportioned) sash window that place the building at the ‘vernacular threshold’. A number of locally listed buildings (both individual and groups) exist within this The building falls into a wider family of similar character area and for a total of 16 entries. properties in the conservation area including 1–3 Cross Street and 15 Market Place. Starting at the southern end of the area along the curved frontage extending out of Market The building frontage continues uninterrupted Place is 22 and 23 Market Place (locally into Wolverhampton Street where a terrace of listed) which dates to the mid 19th century. three commercial buildings stand, dating from These two premises are set out over six bays the 1870’s. No. 62 - 64 Wolverhampton and utilise classical proportions seen in other Street (Locally listed) are part of the Gothic commercial terraces in the town centre (see revival movement and employ an 5-6 Cross Street, Section 6.2, above). This architectural composition and detailing that is hansom structure is a stripped down at odds with the earlier classical forms of 22 – Italianate composition that retains the 23 Market Place (see above). The roof is intended austerity of the style. celebrated by a series of parapet gables, topped with finials and housing under-pointed arched attic windows. The first floor windows match, but are wider, with a similar arrangement of springer and key stones set into a brick soldier course which is incorporated into a ceramic string course that forms a hoodmould. Other stark contrasts to the mid 19th century classical terraces and earlier development is the use of a more industrial red pressed brick and windows comprising mullioned casements.
Earlier building survive, directly to the west, from No 65 – 67 Wolverhampton Street (Locally listed). Again this is a terrace of three properties, now opened up into two units.
Directly adjacent stands No. 59 – 61 Wolverhampton Street (Locally listed) which falls within the same architectural genre as No. 62–64, but is likely to be slightly earlier and handled with a more conservative approach. This structure is also gothic, but with a leaning towards Venetian Gothic,
No. 67 has retained some of the original which is most clearly expressed through the architectural elements that clearly date the deep round arches with slight outer point of building to the mid 18th century and has the the first floor windows. The building enjoys mediaeval form of building with a square well defined banding picked out with moulded decorative string courses that are integral to
Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 51 the first floor arches, second floor cills and complimentary cornice. The second floor windows comprise paired sash windows with thick stone mullions and moulded lintels. Unlike 62–64, the roof is formed by a straight cornice and is absent of the gables that defines typical gothic architecture of the time.
On the opposite side of the street and turning the corner back into Stafford Street is No. 91 Stafford Street / 1 Wolverhampton Street (Locally listed). This building was formally a public house and has its origins in the early
18th century. The building sits at back of As one moves further along the street, pavement and has the scale of the early passing the access road to the side of 59 – development in the town. Stafford Street was 61, there is a group of Edwardian buildings, clearly a lower ranking street than the the first at Lyndhurst, 58 Wolverhampton premium location of Market Place, where the Street (Locally listed) is of particular finer three-storey town housing was found. interest. The building has a roof design with an eve
kick-out that is similar to that found on 41 The building is one of 5 houses in the Market Place. conservation area and dates to around 1900.
Unlike the fashionable Arts & Crafts style of the day (see 4–5 Upper Lichfield Street, Section 6.6, below) this building comprises an evolved Victorian style and is within the neo-vernacular tradition with half timbered gables, including gablets over front first floor windows and coving. The building brings together red pressed brick, terracotta, Timber, render, stone and Welsh slate and is a true product of the industrial age.
The double fronted arrangement is expressed through the symmetry of the flanking square bays and central recessed porch with Continuing up Stafford Street a further 19th projecting canopy. Decoration is found in century building of the same classical design relief on terracotta plaques, in the stone as 22–23 Market Place. No. 89–90 Stafford lintels and stained glass in the window lights. Street (Locally listed) delivers an overall
structure of symmetry formed on an odd The large proportions of the building and its number of bays. clearly middle class status reflect its use as a doctor’s surgery and as such it is set back The lintels and sash windows are identical to from the highway behind a small front garden 22–23 Market Place and as such were likely and boundary enclosure, only seen in two built by the same builder at a similar time. other middle class residencies in the town centre (N.B. Dale House and 33 Market Place.
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roof, very much inspired by the Glasgow School of Art.
Beyond this the street returns to its earlier scale and two premises, No. 87- 88 Stafford Street (Locally listed), reflect the modest The most significant stretch of development scale of the original areas development, as along this side of Stafford street is No. 79 – seen at 65–67 Wolverhampton Street and 91 82 Stafford Street (Locally listed) which is Stafford Street. The building has first floor an impressively long terrace, considering the reorganisation of former development into a casement windows that sit tight under the th eaves of a steep pitched tiled roof. Likely single phase of redevelopment in the mid 19 dating to the mid 18th century, the building century. illustrates the small scale of early commercial premises in the town. This terrace is a contemporary of 22–23 Market Place and 89–90 Stafford Street, however is less well considered. Whilst classical language is deployed, the windows are set too far apart forming a naive ‘solid-to- void ratio’ and an older, Georgian, sash arrangement of 6-over-6 is used, suggesting that the building was less informed of good architectural principles of the time.
No. 85 Stafford Street (Locally listed) is a former public house, The Plough Inn. This early 20th century building is a contemporary of another public house, 4–5 Upper Lichfield Street, and illustrates how fluid the application of the Arts & Crafts movement Of interest is the carriage entrance through could be. The buildings scale is unusually No. 79 and the rear wing of No. 81–82 where large for the architectural style, particularly a chimney on rubble stone footings survives when considering the height of the first floor from earlier development, as does twin string windows, which comprise a long row of courses, and a pair of oval windows either mullions, not dissimilar to weaver’s windows. side of the gable stack breast C.1700. The octagonal corner turret supported on a first floor oriel is particularly characteristic of Beyond a small side street called Fox Avenue the style with its coving and very low pitched is The Three Crowns (No. 72) Stafford Street (Locally listed). This only surviving Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 53 public house in Stafford Street dates to the (Locally listed). This comprises a pair of early 19th century and comprises not only the three-storey early 19th century Georgian town public house, but cottages added to the houses. northern side. The building has the characteristics and proportions of vernacular The building shows an evolution of ideas and architecture, but the larger window openings incremental redevelopment of the town in the of the era. 19th century, prior to the more organised redevelopment plans seen at No. 79–82 Stafford Street. The wedge lintels are stone in 67, but iron in 69 and the tripartite sash at ground floor in 69 suggests the adaption of the traditional formal Georgian town house model to fit an emerging professional outfit with a clerk’s office for the visiting public, rather than the more constrained narrower domestic scale of window.
Towards the top end of Stafford Street are two final groups of buildings that are of significant architectural presence. The first group is No. 69–70 Stafford Street (Locally listed). C1900 this three-storey terrace take the form of typical Edwardian terrace villas, but employ exceptional Arts & crafts detailing. Built in brick and dressed in stone, the shop fronts are housed under a continuous entablature. The first floor is defined by Opposite are the premises of B E Wedge paired portrait sash windows with a six- Limited (Locally listed). Amid this pained sash over a single-pained lower sash. extensive industrial frontage is a two-storey The second floor attic storey contains the office dating to 1897. The building is of a strongest characteristics of the Arts & Crafts typical eclectic design of the age. Set over movement, containing oriels of leaded lights, three bays, separated by brick piers, the carried on brackets, to match those of the building houses three wide arches at ground brackets that support the projecting gable floor with voussoirs and a heavy ceramic above. Of particular quality are the cornice at first floor and elevated gable to the exceptional rainwater goods, with bespoke centre. hoppers (also note 4–5 Upper Lichfield
Street).
The final group of building at the top end of Stafford Street is No. 67 – 69 Stafford Street
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6.4 Character Area 3: Stafford Street (comprises a reinforced concrete with first floor projecting fins). The Stafford Street (east) second phase extends in three blocks from 1-7 and 8-15 Stafford Street and 24-28 The 1960’s was a period of radical change Market Place (comprises a concrete framed in Britain, realised in the built environment structure with a projecting canopy and brick through the comprehensive master-planning first floor with elevated windows cut into it. of historic townscapes in order to undertake ‘slum clearance’. Such ‘progress’ affected This character area has seen the greatest many town centres, including Willenhall, changes to the structure of the townscape in where most the east side of Stafford Street the shortest period of time compared to any was dropped so as to construct a shopping of the other character areas. precinct with shared rear servicing. This is most evident at the southern end of Two buildings escaped the comprehensive the precinct where the historic structure of ‘regeneration’ of the 1960’s. These are both small individual units was first redeveloped late C18, two-storey structure (No. 16 and during the 1920’s with a cinema on a curved 24 Stafford Street). The 1960’s plan likely plan form, then during the post war period included these properties, nevertheless, the with the recessed footprint of the precincts. impact of the architect design is felt.
Townscape merits
The comprehensive redevelopment was not so aggressive as to remove the historic street pattern, and as such Union Street remains an important link from Stafford Figure 15: Character Area 3: Stafford Street (east). (Walsall Council: 2014). Street through to modern retail to the east of the town centre proper. Malt House Lane The precinct comprises two phases of also escaped closure during the 1960’s development, the first between 19-22 redevelopment providing yet further ties to
Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 55 historic urban grain. The retention of both of these routes provides vital connection to an important listed buildings in Character Area 5.
Along the majority of Stafford Street the precinct does not introduce any new urban grain, open spaces or abstract forms, but replaces historic development at back of pavement and, therefore, retains enclosure of the street.
Positive aspects of the area: Further down Stafford Street avoiding the redevelopment plans of the 1960’s is No. 16 Heading south again down Stafford Street Stafford Street (Locally listed). This and past the works, on the far side of Little building is not dissimilar to No. 24 (above) Wood Street is No. 24 Stafford Street and dates to the late 18th century, with a 19th (Locally listed). This building dates to the th century shop front. The wide casement late 18 century and comprises vernacular window opening is a clear reference to a characteristics. The steep tile roof, off period prior to ‘polite’ architecture in the centre chimney and low ceiling heights all town and the steep tiled roof is characteristic date it to a similar period to the construction of this vernacular age. of 1 – 3 Cross Street.
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6.5 Character Area 4: facades, set back but addressing Stafford Street and Field Street. This outward facing Little London school site forms a unique experience in the town centre, comprising a building sat within its The northern end of the conservation area own landscape, rather than at back of focuses on the site of the Little London pavement and part of a row. School. The school dates to 1883 and at that time was located on the edge of the Later development to support the continued town centre overlooking largely expansion of the school took place around undeveloped land beyond (other than the the buildings rear and northern boundary, railway station and sidings that were however, only the original school building located to the north). This end of the town and clock tower is locally listed. remained largely undeveloped until after the First World War when the area beyond The clock tower is the second most was developed for housing (see map recognised landmark after the clock tower in regression – Section 5). At this time the the market place and has elevated road to the north of the school (Field architectural properties unrivalled by any Street) was widened and a war memorial other site within the town. Comprising four and peace gardens created. stages, its rubbed and moulded brickwork is of exceptional quality and although engaged to the main school building is almost an independent piece of architecture in its own right.
Figure 16: Character Area 3: Little London School. (Walsall Council: 2014)
Townscape Merit
This corner of the conservation area has become a natural counterpart to that of New Road to the south of the town centre. It can be read as a natural ‘gateway’ into the town and the conservation area.
The school comprises an ‘L’-shaped plan which originally had two polite architectural
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factory like constructions with tight walled The introduction of an open green aspect yards. The Little London model is generous with mature deciduous trees, contrasts with in terms of the openness of the surrounding the urban enclosure of the retail area. The lawns and play yard, but also the trees along the school boundary and within architecture. the memorial gardens are under a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) and as such are considered to be important to the greener and more open appearance of this Character Area.
The use of boundary walling and railings is rare in a town centre conservation area such as this, where most premises are at back of pavement. This formal setting out and enclosure of open space creates a dimension that is quite different and establishes a formal divide between the public realm and private open space, whilst allowing a visual presence to be retained. War memorial (Locally listed) comprises both dedications to the first and second world wars. The former comprises a large Positive aspects of the area: Portland stone obelisk on a stepped plinth, with the latter forming four Portland stone The Little London School (Locally Listed) mounts onto which bronze plaques are comprises brick structure dresses in fixed. terracotta in the Queen Anne style. The architectural reference, therefore, date to the early 18th century and the naive application of classical architecture realised in the steep roof pitches and pediments filled with heavy relief cartouches and roundels supported by floral swags and volutes.
The school forms part of an early wave of an education reforms across Britain, to standardise the format and quality of education amongst the working class population. In Willenhall, this was realised in a building quite different from most. Largely, Victorian schools comprise either village hall like characteristics or dense
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6.6 Character Area 5:
Upper Lichfield Street & Cheapside The character area encompasses a tack of land along the west side of Upper Lichfield The area covers a parallel north-south route Street and Cheapside. At the northern end it to the east of the town centre. This sequence extends to take in land either side of Gower of street is much later than the mediaeval Street, Little Wood Street and sections of core of the town, but pre-dated New Road as Malt House Lane and Union Street (linking it it was in place by 1800, where maps indicate west through to Character Area 2 and 3). that this route largely provided access to fields. Development only crept in during the Undoubtedly, this is the most varied first decades of the century, but was largely character are in the conservation area, it complete by the middle of the 19th century. takes in industry, housing, places of worship and retail. Due to the areas later development, the plot formation is more generous, comprising wider The northern section of this Character Area frontages, varying according to function. comprises a series of industrial premises relating to the historic industry of the town as a centre for making locks. The large plots relate to latter industrial development and constitute large industrial premises. This area has recently been the subject of significant change and the premises to the east of Gower Street have been demolished and replaced by modern housing.
Further south, this character area comprises a mix of housing, workshops, shops and religious building and this historically extended beyond the town centre eastwards, although significant clearance has taken place over recent years.
Townscape merit:
This linear route is connected back through to the main high street via a series of roads (Little Wood Street, Union Street and Cross Street), which are supplemented by a number of passages and alleys (Angel Passage, Bell Alley and Malt House Lane).
As this character area was developed during the Victorian urban expansion, growth and industrialisation as well as social, political and religious reform, it is in this area that we find a flourish of different building types and uses including non-conformist chapels, purpose built shops and modern workshops.
A hierarchy of smaller buildings of both
commercial and residential origin complete the townscape between these new building types emerging in the street scene. Figure 17: Character Area 5: Upper Lichfield Street & Cheapside. (Walsall Council: 2014). Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 59
As the area is not part of the early core of the town it lacks the consistency that the areas of early development comprise. Instead, it has given rise to an interesting diversity in built form through both scale and architectural expression. The area houses some of the best examples from the late Victorian and Edwardian period.
Buildings retained from the 1870’s and 1880’s are mostly commercial in nature, apply more decoration to all forms of use (including residential and commercial) and generally become taller compared to their earlier counterparts.
Buildings also survive from the turn of the Adjacent to the church is the Manse to century when architecture took a romantic in Trinity Methodist Church (Locally listed). the idealised notion of England’s pre- The building post dates the church itself and industrial past, largely realised by the Arts & reflects the characteristics of this type of Crafts Movement and the Neo-vernacular middle class housing built in the area around style common throughout Edwardian the 1860’s and 1870’s. architecture. The characteristics of this building are its large proportions and the naive arrangement Positive aspects of the area: of the fenestration and heavy use of decoration. Of particular interest is the There are a number of groups of buildings excessive corbelled first floor lintels and that hold together as good instances of cornice, which sit above the slenderness of complete townscape, including aspects of the the ground floor canted bays, resulting in a early development of the area. bizarre architectural arrangement.
At the northern end of the character area is the grandest building in the conservation area. The Trinity Methodist Church (now the Light and Life Mission) (Grade II listed) dates to the 1860’s and is one of the grandest non-conformist chapels in the Black Country. Constructed in brick with a stucco finish the building is a rare example of chapel architecture catering for larger congregations on the typical mid 19th century gallery plan.
The architecture reflects the pavilion style of classical architecture that was akin to theatres and pleasure palaces of the day. It incorporates a well ordered Tuscan portico that supports a deep entablature, however, at This clearly reflects the absence of an first floor there is an imaginative use of architect and the application of new mass Egyptian style lotus leaf pilasters. produced decorative building materials by untrained new money. There are a number The main body of the building is a simple of such properties around the town including brick carcass, never intended to be viewed, ‘The Workers Rest’ (see below) and housing but comprises a style of basic construction on New Road (west of the conservation typical to other domestic and industrial area). building in the area. Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 60
On the opposite corner to the church is The The giant order pilasters span through the Workers Rest Inn, Upper Lichfield Street gallery and frame the full height of the (Locally listed). This detached 3 bay villa is windows. The windows themselves are iron now an inn and of the same genre as the and reflect the industrial progress of the age. Methodist manse (see above). The building has the typical bulk and awkward arrangement of fenestration with heavy decoration typical of the 1860’s and 1870’s from the area. It comprises an eclectic mix of different architectural references which is applied in an almost ad-hoc fashion. The engaged portico is Tuscan in origin whilst the heavily mounted arches with keystones to the first floor window have floral corbel like consoles/springers. The overall composition is chaotic and typical from this period.
Of particular interest with these premises is the carriage entrance, which would originally have lead through to the rear yard, prior to th No’s 14 and 15, Upper Lichfield Street the construction of the late 19 century (Grade II listed) are sited at back of Assembly rooms which comprise an open pavement and directly to the south of the timber truss roof with rod stays and side New Testament church. Together, these arcading. along with the church and public house form an attractive group of buildings that form a complete section of townscape that relates to the early development of this street.
This pair of early to mid 19th century houses were built with a locksmiths workshops to the rear. They are typical cottages constructed around the vernacular threshold and have traits of early traditional construction, but also polite new fashions in architecture.
Adjacent to, but set back, from the Workers Rest is the New Testament Church of God, Lichfield Street (Locally listed). A contemporary to the Trinity Methodist Church, the New Testament Church was constructed in 1862 as a Baptist Chapel. Its brick body decorated in stuccowork is typical of a non-conformist church from that period. The building has the simple rectilinear form of the Welsh chapel introduced by the The layout is not handed (as was fashionable Wheslyan builders that nods to the Church of in later semi’s), the roof remains steep and Rome. The flat classical elevation is exposed with gable parapets and casement modelled in the Tuscan order and introduces windows are still employed. Nevertheless, simple clarity in its entablature and pediment. the use of wedge lintels and fan lights over the doors heralds the new age of architecture appearing slowly in workers housing. The Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 61 industrial workshop to rear is a typical arrangement during the early industrialisation of areas.
Chamberlin Unionist Club, Upper Lichfield Street (Locally listed) is sited behind a modern structure that fronts Lichfield Street and forms the southern side of Angel Passage. It dates to the mid 19th century and was constructed as an assembly hall. Constructed over a series of 7 bay, it is built of red brick dressed round the windows in a blue brick quoin pattern. Openings are set within a blind arcade of round arches that are in the Italianate tradition and commonly employed at the time for the construction of Directly adjacent is No. 3, Upper Lichfield large single storey structures over multiple Street (locally listed). Comprises a purpose bays. built three storey commercial premises with residential accommodation over. This building dates to the latter part of the 19th century and adopts a variety of architectural detailing, which it applies heavily and liberally, which can broadly be described as eclectic. It takes advantage of the newly available building material, for terracotta, architectural details as an affordable way of dressing up a façade.
The building has an order to its composition with a heavy terracotta framing to the shop front with an imaginative entablature with deep dentil course terminating pilasters with Further south along Upper Lichfield Street is triangular and segmental pediments. No’s 4 – 5 Upper Lichfield Street (Locally listed). Beneath this Arts & Crafts exterior is an early 19th century carcass. The re-fronted building dates to C1900 and is an excellent example of the very confident use of the Arts & Crafts style.
It employs mullioned windows, a tapered rendered first floor over a brick base, metal rainwater goods in the tradition of the Glasgow School of Art and cantered oriel windows under projecting gables (similar to 69-70 Stafford Street).
The building is an essay in this pivotal artistic The first floor is set out over a symmetrical movement which set the tone for architecture composition of 3 bays formed by a series of in the early 20th century. The hoppers, gutter tightly arranged elongated portrait windows. brackets and canopy hood are particularly The central bay constitutes an arrangement fine. of round topped blind spreader arches containing a fish scale motif, which relates to the arrangement of the central gable above. The cornice is deep and contains terracotta
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Further down the street is the former Lion Hotel, 9, Upper Lichfield Street (Locally listed). The building was originally a late 18th century house (left side) and was converted to a public house at the turn of the 20th century. At this time an extension was commissioned (to the right) and comprises the heavy use of planted timber and jettisoned gables fashionable at that time. The Neo-vernacular style was a reaction to the impact of industrialisation and was the forerunner to the Arts & Crafts movement that followed (see No. 4 – 5 Upper Lichfield Street above).
The street terminates south of Atlantis Court at the junction with New Road, where No. 1 falls within character area 6 (see Section 6.7, below).
To the side of the former lion Hotel are the buildings that flank either side of the junction into Cross Street. These buildings are reviewed under Section 6.2 (above).
South of Cross Street the road becomes known as Cheapside, which continues down to New Road. Atlantic Court, Cheapside (Locally listed), is an important building along this stretch of street. This purpose built locksmiths works dates to around 1900 and was built for the Anglo American Locks Co.
This building displays the use of polychrome brickwork that was popular in the latter part of the 19th century in a fairly liberal fashion across the façade of commercial buildings and was an affordable way of introducing greater interest. The elevation is principally red brick and is heavily dressed in yellow brick around the windows and along corner quoins and complete with blue brick banding. It is broadly, although not typically, Italianate
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6.7 Character Area 6: House still stands on the southern side of the street but in a much altered setting. New Road Unlike other Character Area within the During the last few decades on the 18th Conservation Area, New Road developed century and the first few decades of the 19th entirely from the mid 19th century onwards century, new toll roads were built across and appears to have been fully developed Britain. They were particularly desirable in (along the section of the conservation area) the Midlands as they supplemented canal within a decade. The close alignment of the building for the ease of moving newly road with the side of 46 Market Place produced industrial wares across the country appears to have sterilised the land between and supported the increasing movement of and has never been developed, leaving the people to facilitate industrial growth. side of the Royal George public house exposed. Similarly, the premises at 1 Bilston The toll road network made its way to Street has open land to the north (towards Willenhall in 1838 with the construction of the junction) that has never been developed, New Road to remove much of the through nor has the land to the north of the former traffic, connecting the industrial activities of cinema (now public house) likely for similar the surrounding towns, away from the Market reasons. Place. The road drove its way south of the town centre cutting off the stately pile of the Townscape merit: 18th century Dale House from the town. The housing along the north side of New Being the first purpose built building on the Road largely sat at, or close to, back-of- road following its completion it would have pavement. enjoyed a relatively rural setting. Today, Dale
Figure 18: Character Area 6: New Road. (Walsall Council: 2014). Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 64
The housing developed to the east of the Market Place junction comprises a collection of working class housing and workshops and has an affinity to the townscape of Cheapside (Character area 5, see section 6.6). This housing is typical of the period and includes early brick vernacular buildings (not dissimilar to that now listed at 14-15 Upper Lichfield Street) and housing with classical references to window lintels.
Housing to the west of the junction with
Market Place, was catered for a new classes At the opposite end of the terrace is the Royal of people and comprises finer villa housing George Inn, New Road. It is likely that this that was built speculatively and employing premises opened shortly after the construction of standardised building lines and architectural New Road as a coaching inn. It was refronted in detailing, relating to the toll house which the 1860’s with a heavy Italianate rusticated employed the Early Gothick Revival ground floor and subsequently the first floor architecture found in most toll houses which brickwork has been rendered and painted. The can broadly be described as Strawberry Hill building has Georgian proportions, but is of a Gothick (more simplistic that the later heavier later style. Gothic revival). The villas adopted this style and unashamedly make strong architectural references to this building. Although later, they illustrate a confident use of the style with hoodmoulds over window lintels, heraldic shields in gables, steep roofs and Tudor arched entrances.
Although not planned, the functional design of the routing of the new toll road across the bottom end of the mediaeval town core, has resulted in a new gateway into the town centre and the development of the bank on the corner of Market Place has taken advantage of this coincidence. The buildings has exploited its corner positions to deliver a No.1 Market Place (Locally listed) sits at turret and offers an important gateway into back of pavement to New Road and Market the town centre, bookmarking the Little Place and addresses the corner with an London School at the northern end elevated turret. The building comprises a late (Character area 4, see Section 6.5 above). 19th century bank in the Baronial style
popular with banking institutions at the time. Positive aspects of the area: The red brick body is heavily dressed in a The local townscape has a number of buff sandstone (used entirely to deliver the distinctive buildings. At the corner of tower) and enjoys a steep pitched Welsh Cheapside stands No. 1, New Road (Locally slate roof. The use of an attic gable further listed). This brick and stone terrace. enriches the building profile, contrasting Classically proportioned windows with rigorously with the polite Georgian building ordered lintels carried by consoles was built opposite. as a purpose built legal chambers for Rowland Tidesley & Harris Solicitors.
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On the south side of the street, separated from the town by the construction of the toll road is the fines house in Willenhall, Dale House, Bilston Street (Grade II listed). This grand Georgian gentleman town house dates to the late 18th century and is a mansion built in brick using the Flemish bond over 5 bays, with pronounced key stone flat arch windows and expressed cornice with dentil course. It is a contemporary to 33 and 45-46 Market Place. Its odd number of bays, independent plot and (originally) separate The Toll House, No. 8, New Road (Grade II aspect from the town, would have made this listed) is located back of pavement to new the home of a gentleman (in this instance the Road with a typical side access. The use of Hicks Family). This style of Georgian gothic windows (some now altered) and a architecture illustrating the late arrival of shallow projecting hipped roof make its politer late Georgian architecture which was typology unmistakable. The use of the plainer and employed a parapet. This Gothick in its design has heavily influenced lagging behind the national architectural style the adjacent terrace (see below). is something synonymous of regional architecture before the coming of the railway and the fast transfer of styles and fashions.
The ‘terraced housing’ New Road (none- designated heritage asset) make a direct and unashamed reference to the Gothick design of the toll house. The terrace employs a repetitive parapet and gable arrangement to the street with hooded mullion windows and heraldic shields for decoration.
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framed, although little of the timber framing 7. Character analysis legacy survives, vernacular buildings constructed from brick are the commonest 7.1 Building styles and types surviving buildings, although many have been painted or rendered. The conservation area hosts most of the main styles of architecture from Georgian Steep roofs made of clay tiles (sometimes England through to the present day. An replaced during the 19th century with Welsh overview of the styles present include the slate are typical). Chimneys are located in following and illustrate not simply how accordance with the most convenient important varied architectural styles are to the functional place to have a fire internally and conservation areas character, but, how appear in different locations across the roof. prosperous and current the town has been throughout history. Windows are casement and generally small with an inclination to high cills and horizontal proportions. First floor windows are tucked Vernacular (pre-1800): up high under eves to avoid the difficulty of arching them with brick, with wall plates Buildings that are constructed using locally acting as lintels. available materials such as clay and timber and constructed in a simple form. These Elevations are rarely ordered or arranged buildings are only two-storey height, with the inclination to achieve symmetry, but comprise a low floor to ceiling height and purely to service the internal function and have limited decoration. In Willenhall these layout of rooms. buildings traditionally would have been timber
Vernacular threshold (mid 18th century): The arrangement of the façade starts to be considered and windows become evenly Buildings that are influenced by the ‘polite’ spaced out and the arrangement of individual styles of architecture arriving from the properties is repeated across a terrace. continent via London, but are essentially applied to vernacular carcasses. These The roof remains steep and tiled and building remain typically two-storey, although parapets occasionally appear on gables. three-storey building do start to appear. Brick dental course and brick cornices are Casements are replaced with sash windows introduced to carry the gutter. Chimneys (although these generally remain quite start to be considered in the arrangement of square and squat) and flat brick arches or some properties. wedged soldier courses replace timber lintels.
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Georgian town houses and commercial door casements, which normally have a fan premises (mid 18th century): light or pediment.
Buildings are more commonly constructed The roof pitch does not become shallow, nor over three-storeys and floor to ceiling heights does a parapet appear, but heavy stone increase substantially to give the buildings cornices are formed with modillions or dentil the ‘Golden proportion’. A 50-50 ‘solid to void courses to carry the gutter. ration’ is achieved between windows and flanking brickwork and Flemish bond is used Symmetry appears in may of the properties for all brickwork. and the better class properties are arranged around an odd arrangement of bays so as to The sash window is more elongated to the centre the door. Terraces become ‘handed’ ‘Golden proportion’ and is arranged in a six- (bringing entrances together in a mirrored over-six arrangement (although sometimes arrangement. All functional and domestic replaced later). elements are arranged to the rear of the building. Windows are dressed with stone lintels or key stones which are painted white and match
Mid Victorian classical terraces (1840’s – lintel comprising a moulded cornice 1860’s): supported by classical consoles.
Buildings retain their elevated three-storey Plain red brickwork used for the principal form and the proportion and arrangement of façade, sometimes supplemented with a windows vary little from their Georgian contrasting brick to form quoins round counterparts. Sashes adopt a two-over-two windows and to corners. arrangement and the wedged lintel and key stone at first floor are replaced with a flat Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 68
Roofs have a lower pitch and are now slated signage fascias appear, mounted over the in Welsh slate rather than local clay tiles. bressumer and angled down slightly towards the street. Where there are shop fronts, these become more ornately designed and consoles and
Italianate (1850’s): Roofs are low pitched and project with deep This is part of the more generic Victorian eaves, expressed with the use of ornate classical family of architecture, however, is a brackets. Windows enjoy the corniced lintels direct reference to the indigenous supported by consoles seen in other more architecture of Italy. Inspired by the general building types of the age and construction of Osborne House on the Isle of pediments are used to heighten a central White. The construction of Italianate building point of symmetry. favoured the use of yellow brick and stucco.
Roman (1860’s): These buildings are brick and stucco and comprise pilasters supporting entablatures, Building employing this style are generally which in turn hold pediments screening roofs. ecclesiastical, emulating the churches of Rome and employing the classical orders in Round arched windows, parapets and heavy their native origin. Such architecture was cornices are important features that give Anglicised in order to accommodate modern these churches temple like appearances. construction and materials and is generally impure in the details of its design.
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Gothic revival (1860’s – 1890’s): presence of hood moulds, exposed rainwater goods and heavy banding / string courses. Buildings are typically elevated in proportion with exceptional floor to ceiling heights and The application of a variety of materials is steep pitched roofs that contribute common and in this locality the use of significantly to the appearance of the differing ceramics in one composition such as building. brickwork dressed in terracotta and stone or polychrome brickwork. Pointed arched windows are a principal reference to the gothic, but so also are the
Baronial and Jacobethan (1880’s – The profile of buildings are typically 1890’s): asymmetrical and therefore have their roots in the gothic tradition. Buildings are varied in form and style and comprise the naive application of classical Windows are round headed or square and architecture to highly articulated often feature mullions. compositions, generally of fantastical design. Stonework is preferred medium or heavily Decoration usually comprises a mix of embellished brickwork. The style is a classical motifs such as pediments, pilasters romantic reinterpretation of the late 16th and arches, but in the absence of any rational century and early 17th century enlightenment order or clarity on the true constraints of in architecture in Britain. classical anatomy.
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Aesthetic / Eclectic (1870’s – 1900): money’ of the time. Buildings are brash and sometimes gaudy. Building reflect the new possibilities of construction through advances in technology, Often different architectural concepts are industrialisation, manufacturing and the brought together on an inventive and often production chain. The use of a variety of grandiose body. Heavy cornices are often different materials together is common, but broken with highly decorated gables and unlike the gothic, this manifests in an ad hoc finials. Whilst windows are grouped and collection of designs. ordered, their design does not always reflect the buildings wider design. There is great These buildings are typically the product of scope for architectural experimentation and untrained industrialists and new enterprising interpretation. companies and effectively reflect the ‘new
Neo-vernacular (1890’s – 1910): Brickwork is decorated with plaques and Buildings respond to their appearance before banding and often owes significantly to main classical architecture was introduced. By this stream Victorian domestic architecture from time there is little scope for local the industrial suburbs. interpretation, other than the use of local materials. Buildings purposefully express their functional aspects, however unlike the gothic, Half timbering is common, particularly in the is more domestic in its arrangement. form of planted timbers to gables and Windows vary in size and position to respond gablets. Brackets and coving are also to internal function and order is loosely common and support large steep roofs and interpreted. substantial chimneys.
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Arts & Crafts (1900 – 1910) qualities of the wider composition and are considered carefully in the arrangement of Buildings fall within the wider family of the elevation. neo-vernacular movement, but owe more to the rigorous proportions of the Glasgow Windows are invariably of a mullion type and School of Art which champions the almost arranged in horizontal proportions. They abstract arrangement of elements across an typically are leaded lights and side opening elevation. Strong and well defined vertical casements. and horizontal lines are arranged through careful composition and these proportions Brick, render, timber and stone are typical are controlled through to detailing. materials and used in a controlled and precise fashion, expressing floors or Ironwork in windows and rainwater goods are windows. central features and contain the abstract
Stripped classicism and deco 1920’s – Buildings generally reduce in scale and single 1930’s): storey and two-storey buildings are prominent. Buildings respond to the post war climate of social reform. Simplification and relaxation of The ornate aspects of classicism are architecture manifests in a sea change to pre removed and abstract compositions and war conservative styles. motifs appear. This is an inherited legacy of the Arts & Crafts and the emergence of the Concrete and reconstituted stone become contemporary jazz movement of the day. popular, along with the use of Portland stone. Simplicity of form is paramount and windows become a major decorative aspect as decoration of masonry becomes constrained.
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Leaded lights and metal (Crital) windows on a casement design emerge as a central feature.
Brutalism and modern (1960’s – 1970’s): Commercial entrances are covered by Building become entirely abstract and their continuous canopies that add dimension to form follows function. The structural frame flat facades. Vertical fins are also employed defines the buildings composition and is to the same effect. exposed to express the constructional units of the building. Shop fronts are flexible spaces supported by structural columns. And comprise wide open Materials are principally reinforced concrete, glazing and entrances. brickwork and timber. Upper floors are typically modular and Buildings typically have strong horizontal contain windows dispersed rhythmically proportions with expansive flat roofs amongst expanses of solid masonry or timber screened by parapets. cladding.
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7.2 Positive aspects of the conservation scale and quality help mark the significance area of this area.
Key buildings The Clock tower, Market Place, is only a modest structure in scale, but acts as a Whilst a number of buildings are recognised destination point, offering a point of arrival in for their architectural, social and historic merit the town, aligned to close Market Place through the statutory listing process and (north and south) and Cross Street others are designated through local listing, a (westbound). number of building have particular townscape merit and warrant consideration when Market Place is a linear open meeting place addressing the public realm and regeneration and function between an open space and a initiatives. street and whilst all the buildings that surround it are important in securing enclosure of the space, No. 41 – 44 enclose the long southern view in a location that one might find a market hall or civic building in a larger town.
The Bell Inn, Market Place, presents a building with open private courtyards either side of its principal entrance which both creates grammar along the eastern side of the market place and a tension between the public and semi private realm found nowhere else in the conservation area. The fact that this is delivered along the main public open space in the town heightens this tension
29, Market Place, is an elevated building of exception quality and individual architecture. It is the building one focuses on when looking north up Market Place, but is also the pivot building that draws one down to the market place from Stafford Street, indicating that the town centre proper is further round the curve in the street when one arrives along Stafford Street from the north.
Little London School, marks the gateway into the conservation area from the north, in particular the tower and east facing elevation (towards Stafford Street). This aspect is Figure 19: Character Area 5: Key buildings in the urban grain of Willenhall most visible across formal lawns and fronts (Walsall Council: 2014). the principal thoroughfare into the town.
The Royal George, New Road marks the Trinity Methodist Church terminates the gateway into the conservation area on the northern progress up Cheapside and Upper approach along New Road from the west, Lichfield Street, the street curves so as to whilst the bank at 1, Market Place, counters place the church central to this route, but in this for the eastern approach. such a way that the mass of the building, its
elevated pediment and flanking towers are Dale House, Bilston Lane, is the only building revealed from behind the townscape in the south of New Road and helps hold the foreground. townscape beyond this large junction. Its
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Materials contains all the impurities in the ground including organic matter and stones. This It is inevitable that in an area that falls results in the rich texture and varied colour in geographically close to the centre of England, these bricks. Later bricks were fired at a close to a geologically rich area, close to a higher temperature and have a ‘fire-skin’ to range of transport infrastructures (including them which has a deeper mottled the railway and canals) and at the heart of an appearance. By the close of the 19th century industrial area that produced a range of red pressed brick were favoured, which have building material that the conservation area is a hard smooth finish and a deep red colour. diverse in building materials. Birmingham and the Black Country is also known for its use of ‘blue’ bricks which are (1) Brickwork used heavily in decoration, dressing of buildings, engineering structures and the The Black Country is at the centre of a clay public realm (see below). rich area that has a long tradition in brick making. Whilst the principal brick of the Due to the legacy of brick making in this region is the red clay brick this varies greatly. region, Willenhall also showcase yellow and Early bricks (up to as late as the 1870’s) buff bricks and a variety of 20th century stock comprised local clay fired in clamps (small and pink bricks too. earth covered fire on the building site) and
It should also be noted that bricks are stretched bonds. On Georgian buildings displayed in a variety of bonds including brickwork is also applied in bands and as (most commonly) Flemish, English and quoins whilst in Victorian and Edwardian
Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 75 buildings they were also applied in a variety ‘rubbed’ and cut to apply decorative relief of ways to accentuate cornices by forming work and form soldier course in segmental dentil courses, dog tooth work and string arches or flat wedged arches over doors and courses. Bricks can also be moulded or windows.
Bricks also vary in size typically being larger in the 18th century to reduce the impact of the (2) Terracotta Brick Tax and gradually becoming smaller by the mid 20th century. Joint width have Terracotta has existed in Britain since Roman conversely increased in width over time times, but flourished during the industrial although this could vary on the quality revolution due to its production favouring the (importance) of the building. systems of mass production. In Willenhall terracotta is used to deliver difficult In short, the type, colour, size, density, bond, architectural detailing and decoration (see application and pointing of brickwork below) and is largely of the traditional deep contribute significantly to the character of red colour rather than the cream/buff option. buildings in the Willenhall Conservation Area, as this is the principle building material.
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(3) Other ceramics need to inject bright colours into a poor industrial climate. Ceramics comprises a wide variety of materials and whilst bricks, roof tiles and Cream, brown, butterscotch, red, green and terracotta represent the most common blue were particularly favoured and such tile application of the product, the family of work still exists in the town today. The materials includes glazed block work pigments have a dappled finish as they are (faience), glazed bricks and tiles. Glazed hand dipped cresting a differential in the tiles are particularly important to late Victorian density of colour over the surface of an and Edwardian shop fronts during a period individual tile. This allows for greater where cleanliness was important and the refraction in colour compared to a modern manufactured tile.
Tiles are typically 3” X 6” and applied in a rather than as the principal building material stretcher bond. They sometimes have border in the form of ashlar. tiles that match in colour and can be quite abstract in design, often dating to the period Sandstone is most commonly used and is when Art Deco was favoured. mostly buff or yellow, although there are examples of red sandstone. Glazed ceramic tiles are also typically used for street name signs, set into brickwork at Much of the earlier stone dressing high level. (particularly on Georgian buildings is often painted white to offer a stark contrast with the brickwork. (4) Stonework It is important to note some stonework is Willenhall lies within a rich geological area given a plaster finish to aid in decoration diverse with stone. Whilst not all local stone before it is painted and there are many in of building quality, as transportation routs examples of painted cast iron lintels and improved the options to use stone increased. stucco work to imitate stonework (see below). Generally stone is used to dress buildings
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(5) Plaster and renders Regency and came into its own for Italianate decoration. To transport, cut, dress and carve stone is expensive and therefore it was more cost These finishes are normally painted, but can effective to apply plaster and render in place be left untreated to reflect the characteristics of stone. For vernacular buildings, simple of the stonework they emulate. white washed lime render was uncommon in this are, but as brickwork has tired it has Plaster decoration to lintels is common and is become more common to apply render over its use to form quoins, cornices, entablatures brickwork. The traditional use of plaster in and pilasters. Indeed the use of stucco was Willenhall is in the form of stucco, which was common in order to deliver the full extent of favoured in the town from the Georgian classicism to the town. period onwards, but increased through the
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(6) Concrete where they exist they contribute positively to the character of the area. Concrete is used The advent of concrete in mainstream either to form the structure of the building construction started after the First World War through reinforced elements, or as a cost and liberated the constraints of built form. effective alternative to stone through cast There are limited examples in Willenhall, but elements to dress buildings.
(7) Metalwork Willenhall is particularly well crafted and replicates the style of the age the building As Willenhall was at the heart of a metal was built in with great artistry. The ironwork producing region it is not unusual to find iron is a mix of wrought iron as well as cast iron, work within the town. The ironwork in but is generally complex in its design and
Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 79 used to add decoration to a building, not importance is the ironwork that was used in simply to carry out a function. the production of windows. Typically these windows were used for the workshops, but Rainwater goods are particularly fine in the were also bespoke for individual premises of town as is lighting and brackets to support exceptional design. lighting and guttering. Of particular
(8) Roofing materials 18th century. These are normally rosemary or Dreadnought tiles. Following the advent of Principally two types of roofs exist in the railway to Willenhall, quality Welsh slate Willenhall, the earlier peg or clay tile roof arrived and became the preferred roofing comprising of small, square, flat, red clay material for new build and replacing earlier tiles. These are fixed to the roof at a steep roof in some cases. pitch and are part of the vernacular tradition inherited by the Georgian architecture in the
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(8) Timber form roof trusses and particularly during the late Victorian and Edwardian period these There are few surviving buildings with much elements became exposed to reflect the timber framing in them. Masonry was the ‘honesty’ in the design and construction of preferred material for construction in buildings, made fashionable through the Arts industrial towns where fire presented itself as & Crafts movement and the neo-vernacular a hazard. Timber was still used, however, to tradition.
Timber however is most commonly employed across large opening in a way that masonry in the construction of shop fronts where its rarely could be. It also allowed for the light weight and malleability allowed for application of colour in a controlled part of the extensive decorative detailing to be carried building and was used to form signage.
Timber was also used to construct windows. Over the course of the 19th century the Early windows were side hung casements, proportion of these windows became more but with the arrival of the French style Sash portrait, the box frame became recessed window in Willenhall during the 18th century, back and into the walling and the panes Deal or slow grown Baltic Pine was used to became larger and set in narrower bars. ensure that a tight grained, light, strong and durable window could be built. The gothic revival reintroduced the casement window, but with a solid over light above a Joinery was originally rather bulky with transom, not seen in Willenhall before, this squarer proportions, forward set box frames was followed by a purer casement window on and a greater number of panes. Arts & Crafts properties (although this often incorporated wrought iron casements set in timber frames and stone mullions).
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Building details
The majority of the detailed of buildings are integral parts of the buildings design and form and comprise either structural components or functional elements of the structure which have been embellished and designed to reflect the buildings architectural style.
Its is common on many buildings to have stylised lintels, door casements, corbels, hoodmolds, cornices, pilasters, quoins, banding, string courses, dentil courses, projecting gables, oriel windows, coving, half timbering, hoppers and rustication. In each of these there is a clear function, but the architect and craftsman has used them to enhance the overall design of the building.
These details are important in preserving the quality of the building and helping to relate to the period in which it was constructed and can be a critical focal point of an elevation.
Such architectural details may be delivered using a different material, is picked out in the paint finish or designed to be starkly in contrast to the arrangement of the surrounding fabric.
It is these concentrated points of architecture that add a human dimension to a building, ensure regional and local differences and allow an individual building to have a unique personality that reflects its use, ownership, history and identity.
In a industrial town such as Willenhall it would be normal to expect to find such detailing which is repeated over and over through the use of mass produced pattern book materials, such as faience or moulded brickwork, but the conservation area does enjoy a significant amount of unique and hand produced detailing on buildings that is irreplaceable and therefore heightens aesthetic value.
In addition, there are also decorative building details that serve no purpose such as finials, and plaques. These superfluous aspects of a buildings design reinforce the aesthetic value of buildings and an age when buildings were built to delight and deliver civic pride.
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Public realm, open spaces and public art these forms of enclosure are visually permeable and allow a two way aspect, but most importantly a view of these premises (1) Paving from the street. These boundary treatments, therefore, are typically low and comprise As a town centre area, Willenhall is largely railings. paved, giving the conservation area principally a hard landscaping. Whilst few of Walling typically is constructed in red brick the original cobbles, sets and slabs survive, with blue brick or stone copping, with wrought the area is largely surfaced in brick paving ironwork. which ties in with the ceramics tradition in the area.
Both red and blue pressed bricks are used to define different areas of the public realm, namely to mark the original location of footpaths (lost during pedestrianisation).
Other walling exists along the network of alleyways that connect the principal street in an east-west direction. These walls are typically much higher, more robust and rudimentary in their design. They are the single most important aspect in the preserving the guinnal like environment of these passageways.
Railings are common towards the northern end of the conservation area around the war memorial and the Little London School and define the change in character in this area.
(2) Boundary treatment (3) Open spaces and trees The town largely consists of buildings at back of pavement, however, some of the high As noted above, the conservation area is order buildings (two Georgian town houses, mainly an area of hard landscaping. There an Edwardian doctors house and a chapel) are a few open spaces that are open. The have been set back from the street. This main open space is the market place, which social delineation from the public realm has is effectively a widened part of the highway been enclosed to mark the separation and network and is paved in matching materials. provide a degree of security. That said, Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 84
Other open spaces include the aprons or front yards to the high order buildings. The most important, that off 33 Market Place and The Bell Public house which are also paved and thus contribute to the character of this urban environment. In the case off No. 33 a form of York paving has been used and this introduces a quality material that reflect the high status of the building.
Trees are rare in Willenhall and are largely contained to The Little London School and along New Road. These trees are sycamore and London Plane (respectively) which are of a deciduous and indigenous origin that help enforce the very different character of these two aspects within the conservation area.
(4) Public art
Willenhall has a legacy relating to the lock manufacture industry which provides for its strongest historical identity.
This public art comprises wall murals, metal plaques in the ground and way finder markers.
The art work acts both as a town trail, taking visitors to the key parts of the town and linking it to destinations such as the Lock Museum. They also mark the gateway into the town as modern counterparts to the Victorian town clock in the market place.
The public art strategy, therefore, ties together not only the lock making industry,
but other important historic aspects of the a public art strategy was undertaken in 2006 town such as the medieval market and the and added to in 2012 and references the daily life of the residents of the town over the towns lock making industry through a variety past millennia. of works of public art (see page 15).
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Much of the public art is made of metal and Some buildings are named, whilst others therefore is not only durable and capable of have date stones, plaques or cartouches. being integrated into the substantial fabric of These are normally in pediments, gables or the public realm, but also makes a literal above entrances and are generally modest. reference to the raw product of the town.
Some art work has been sited within the curtilage of private properties, such as that at No. 33 Market Place. In this event the sculpture further cements the interplay between the public and private realm.
The design of this artwork is abruptly modern and translates the notional form of literal art into conceptual art generating real engagement. The use of contemporary art forms is also recognised as delivering art that is current, relevant and has a dimension beyond the narrative.
(6) Lighting and other infrastructure
Lighting design is based on the 19th century glass lantern, common through Britain until the early 20th century. It consists of the square iron frame with angled glass faces supported on a bracket from the face of buildings.
These modern lanterns are found around Market Place and along Cross Street, Wolverhampton Street, Stafford Street, Union Street, Upper Lichfield Street, Cheapside and New Road and make a significant contribution in preserving the setting of the historic buildings to which they are attached. They reference the town clock (in Market Place) which is surmounted with a crown of decorative ironwork which supports four large (hexagonal) lanterns. The use of a traditional lantern design throughout the town makes this structure less alienated in its setting. (5) Street and building signage
Many of the original street signs survive around the town. These are made of cast iron or glazed ceramic tiles.
The signs are typically at high level and are set into the masonry face of buildings.
The signs personalise streets, individualising each street corner, by adding crafted touch, now lost from many areas.
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7.3 Negative aspects of the conservation infectious and spread to neighbouring sites At the root of most decline in Willenhall is as it harms the confidence of investors. the shift in its economy away from manufacturing. The loss of this industry has A number of buildings in the conservation left a void in the town’s economy, and whilst area have been the subject of long term some of the traditional industry of lock dereliction. These include (not exclusively): making survives, this alone cannot support the town that we inherit today. Littler London School (Stafford street); Willenhall, like most towns, not only in the 74-75 Stafford Street; Black Country but nation-wide, has seen The Methodist Manse (100-101 th changes to manufacturing over the late 20 Union Street); century. The post industrial landscape has Rear of 59 Wolverhampton Street; emerged very different to that under which Workshop to rear of 21-22 Market the town prospered during previous Place; centuries. Outbuildings to the rear of The Royal George (New Road); and As with many comparable areas, this shift The Bell Inn (Market Place). away from manufacturing has not resulted in a straight forwards exchange with an It should also be noted that dereliction often alternative economic generator. Rather starts gradually with receding uses within a more, the shift has had a knock on effect to building. Most traditional shops within the the vary way we use town centres. town have accommodation above and these have become progressively abandoned over Whilst economic decline can not be held the latter part of the 20th century. This has responsible for all difficulties faced, it falls at resulted in only part of the building being the nub of many problems including lack of used and therefore threatening commercial demand and vacancy and is linked to the viability, but has also resulted in failure to difficulties faced in generating enough built fabric going unchecked and these capital to commission quality new areas becoming uninhabitable. development and pay for costly maintenance. The greatest risk with dereliction is the time factor and the exponential cost of repair. Decay escalates rapidly and can fast shift Dereliction from rotting fabric to structural failure.
The most critical aspects of the conservation area are the derelict buildings. Such sites Vacant buildings often contain buildings that are significant to the understanding of the conservation area Linked to the issue of dereliction is the more and their failing condition typically threatens temporary problem of vacancy. The high the very survival of built heritage. turnover of tenancy in town centres is a wide spread issue across the country and Dereliction occurs when long term vacancy Willenhall is similarly susceptible to the starts to manifest in decay to the built fabric fragility of the modern retail environment. preventing its reuse. The decay either stems though damp (caused by failure to the Redundant sites are not prevalent in the external envelope and/or lack of ventilation), town, but (as noted above) are linked to pest invasion and/or structural failure. issues of maintenance and deterioration. Besides this crucial issues, vacancy Other than the obvious threat to an generates two seriously negative impacts on individual building, dereliction escalates the the town (1) security and (2) viability. degraded image of the conservation area, deflating neighbouring land values. If left Due to the nature of retail premises, vacant unchecked dereliction can become units often result in security arrangements Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 87 which can be substantial and aggressive 59 Wolverhampton Street; and across the frontage of a building. Once in Land within the site of The Little place such defensive instillations can be London School (Stafford Street / difficult to remove and collectively give a Field Street). hostile appearance, threatening confidence in security to occupied premises. Changing patterns in retail
In addition to the changing economic picture, the pattern of retail investment and customer usage has changed in favour of online shopping and out of town and edge of centre shopping. Whilst part of a national picture, this trend is impacting on the viability of the town in sustaining traditional shopping. An increase in A5 (fast food outlets) is noticeable as the town attempts to diversify and find other uses to sustain commercial floor space.
Vacancy also affects viability, damaging a town’s vitality and consumer confidence. New demographics Vacancy is most common in upper floors of buildings and has a significant impact at In parallel to the restructuring of the night when the retail function of the town economy, the demographics of the area have ceases and there is little activity left to police changes. Fewer people are living in the town the town through natural surveillance. and a new and more diverse population live Public houses are the only contributor to the in and around the town. As such bespoke evening economy and many have close buildings have to find new uses, therefore as down or been converted to alternative uses. much as the warehouses and workshops have become redundant so have schools and churches. These buildings are often Vacant sites bespoke, large, inflexible and expensive to maintain and have subsequently suffered as Although less of a threat to built heritage a result of poor maintenance and poor quality than dereliction and vacancy, vacant sites repair and adaption. have a serious visual impact. There are sections of the conservation area where Linked to this is the housing. Once diverse buildings have been lost completely. The and catering for all social ranks, the new reasons behind their loss are varied, population is less affluent and can no longer however, such sites create voids and gaps sustain occupancy of larger housing such as in the street scene that seriously harm the Dale House (New Road) and The Methodist composition of the townscape. Manse (Union Street) and where upper floors of buildings have been brought back into There are a number of such sites on side residential use, this has resulted in poor streets and alleys and in many cases these quality subdivision of previously substantial are either used for parking storage or simply floor space. comprise unmanaged and uncoordinated landscaping. Maintenance of buildings Land on the south corner at the junction of Union Street and Upper There is a direct correlation between the Lichfield Street; revenue generated by individual businesses Land along Bell Alley; and the affordability of individual properly Land along the south side of Wood owners/tenants to maintaining buildings. In Street; addition, there are challenges around Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 88 accessing tall buildings and buildings to impact. Simple loss of flashing, or rot fronting onto public highways. caused my failed paint along the flange of the entablature or console heads can result Roofs are especially problematic and both in water ingress often resulting in embedded the Rosemary / Dreadnought tiles are structural components failing and decorative particularly susceptible to slipping. Where pieces of panelling becoming loose or roofing meeting parapets, chimneys and missing. It is common for the base of the junctions with flashing, failure is most likely. pilasters not to be kept well painted and for surface water and splash-back to cause Chimneys and parapets are the areas of these elements to rot upwards rapidly. masonry most exposed to the weather and where pointing has failed and not been Collectively the impact of poor maintenance replaced the external envelope is has given Willenhall an unkempt compromised. Where pointing has been appearance which has an escalating repair undertaken, this has been done in cement bill and a serious impact on perception of which is harder and less impervious than the place. original lime, brickwork has failed. In some locations vegetation has become established in masonry with roots separating Heritage crime block work and causing structural damage with parapets and cladding becoming loose. Heritage crime is now recognised by the West Midlands Constabulary as a crime in Where masonry is damaged or tired owners its own right and covers a number of have opted to use modern plastic paint and offenses including, but not exclusively, theft, cement renders to cover brickwork and vandalism, graffiti. stonework. This often has exacerbated decay to masonry, escalating damp and With regards theft, the greatest threat to making surfaces more prone to staining. Willenhall is the removal of metals. Lead flashing to roofs are a common target and Rainwater goods are typically cast iron and cause not only immediate physical damage without regular maintenance (painting with to the building, but leave a building open to oxide paints and clearing of debris) will water ingress, which in turn leads to rotting corrode. In many locations the brackets and roof members, wall plates and collapsed joints (between sections of guttering) rust ceilings, and subsequently the gradual loss through and the weight of established of surrounding tiles/slates. vegetation bring guttering down or allow water to escape before reaching hoppers The theft of metal rainwater goods is equally and down pipes. The result is stained devastating and has largely taken place to masonry, rotting windows and washed out the rear of buildings, down alleyways and at pointing. low level areas. Where gutters are close to wall plate this can cause rot within the roof Elevated soffits and eaves, similarly, are and saturation of the head of the wall, and difficult to access and once the surface there lower sections of down pipes have finish is weathered the timber is prone to rot. taken place pointing is washed out and walls Where properties have decorative eaves become green with a deterioration of the comprising modillion courses or brackets, masonry. these are more prone to rot as they can hold water and stay damp longer after inclement Break-ins to facilitate the theft of copper weather. Similarly, windows are susceptible wiring and piping are also common in the to rot where paint has deteriorated, putty town and not only leave buildings open to has failed and water sits on glazing bars. other criminal behaviour as well as causing damage to plaster work and putting the Traditional shop fronts comprise a complex building at risk of flooding or electrical fires. mix of timber, masonry, ceramics, metal and glass and sit forwards of the building, The greatest concern with metal theft is the thereby catching water and being vulnerable repetitive patterns of this crime in the town, Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 89 the consequences to insurance and the cost pitched tar over original roofing materials or both in terms of the monetary value of the added an entirely new roof structure. The goods, but also further damage to reinstate profile and finish of roofs have a significant utilities. impact on the appearance of historic buildings and the quality of its finish, Graffiti is not prominent in Willenhall, but the particularly on steep roofs or roofs that are towns historic layout make it prone to fundamental to the design of the building. incidents of graffiti because if the extent of Unlike ceramic tiles, concrete tiles are ginnels and alleyways that do not benefit uniform in their appearance and look heavier from natural surveillance. on the building. Not only are they physically stressing the building, overloading roofs and There is a more common pattern of damaging timbers, they sit more rigidly on vandalism to shops as well as conventional older roofs that have settled over long break-ins. Shop windows have been periods of time. susceptible to vandalism and has resulted in damage to historic fabric and pressure to employ damaging security measures.
Incidents of arson have taken place within the town and caused significant damage to a number of properties. Arson generally correlates to vacancy and dereliction and is linked to wider criminal activity beyond the boundaries of the conservation area. Ineffective security and poorly surveyed entrances normally makes building prone to arson. A number of buildings have lost sections of roofs as a result of such fire and where these have not been repaired rainwater has ingressed and damp and timber decay has set in. Many chimneys have been removed over th the 20 century (in conjunction with their Fouling and litter is typically a problem in the redundancy) and this has a significant ginnels and alleyways and where sites have impact on the skyline of a street. Chimneys become vacant. In some locations the have also been truncated (rather than dumping of furniture and other large objects removed) or capped and therefore have no has attracted other day to day waste and pots. These aborted forms of accumulated into large unsightly piles of decommissioning are common in the town, litter. These areas also have been however, the stumpy results look clumsy convenient locations for fouling. and incongruous on the roof.
The town’s buildings have had an assault on Development, alterations and adaptations the original windows in buildings. Some
buildings, such as The Bell, have an The greatest impact on character to the assortment of windows through the ages, conservation area is not the process of including innovative adaption of windows decay and ineffective maintenance, but over time, but from the post war onwards damaging changes both allowed through the windows have been replaced, firstly by planning system and undertaken as a result timber casements and later by UPVC of unlawful development and ‘permitted plastic. Whilst the design of replacement development’ (that being development that windows vary enormously, they generally does not require planning permission). have a harmful impact on most building
subjected to them. Plastic windows are A number of properties have altered or typically placed in line with the brickwork, replaced roofs with modern loosing the depth of the reveal and even if concrete/asbestos roof tiles, felted or Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 90 they emulate the original design, such as a now completely replace the entablature sash, they usually open as a side or top across the top of the window and constitute hung casement. Plastic windows are a deep-set box that projects far beyond the generally thicker in the frame and glazing other elements of the shop front. Many of bar and use single panes of glass, giving the signs are plastic Perspex and metal them a flatter and lifeless appearance. As rather than timber, comprise bright synthetic windows are often the most significant colours and are internally lit, giving the architectural expressing in the façade of a signage a bright, distracting glow. building, the use of modern windows, on mass, can have a very deleterious impact on Other signage is common in the form of the quality of an areas heritage value. projecting signs, which in themselves are a traditional signage solution, but have Render and painting of masonry not only is become endemic, advertising individual harmful in terms of its impact on wears and services, not just the name of the maintenance (see above) but has a premises. Moreover, this over use of significant visual impact. Like the projecting signs has started to appear replacement of roofs, render and paint further up the façade of buildings, well into masks over the varied texture, pigments and the first floor, causing a greater visual charring of brickwork and the veining in impact when viewed obliquely along the stone. It gives a uniform but homogenous street. finish and eradicates the visibility of functional and decorative brickwork (such as Temporary signage has started to appear soldier courses) which form part of the across the frontage of buildings, only nailed proportions of a buildings elevation. to the building so that it is not actually temporary, but semi permanent. There is a The removal, alteration and adaption of very significant culture of not removing shop fronts are one of the most damaging redundant signage so as to tidy up sites impacts that have taken place to the town. when the tenants function evolves or The loss of ornate historic shop front, often ceases. informed by the classical orders. Originally constructed in metal, wood and stone, their In connection with the section above replacement with soft wood, powder coated (concerned with crime) security has become alloy metal and plastic shop fronts of largely a significant concern in the town. Where utilitarian proportions has altered the public shop fronts exist, roller shutters have been perception of the buildings greatly. Where fitted and project forwards of the shop front, the original shop front related to the wider although some times when signage is composition of the building, modern ones renewed, the roller shutter has sometimes often fail to pick up on any design lines becomes absorbed into the housing for this. within the elevation and typically comprise Many roller shutters have no paint finish and open areas of glazing that extend beyond are solid. This screens off the commercial the width of the bays of the building above. space entirely and allow for criminal activity The transom lights are rarely replicated, to be conducted inside if security is which in conjunction with modern door breached from the rear whist also preventing heights, give the shop front a squat any internal lighting strategy to spill into the appearance. Moreover modern materials street and create a degree of vitality during allow for a far more vivid application of the evening hours. Harm has been diminish colours which contrasts harmfully with the somewhat by integrating roller shutters into soft pallet of traditional building materials new shop fronts (when they have previously that form the wider building. excised) and using demountable grills, although when these are left in situ during In conjunction with the harm caused by hours of operation it can have a damaging alterations to shop fronts is the application of impact on the character of the town. Whilst modern signage and lighting. The scale of there is a degree of criminal behaviour in the fascia signage in Willenhall (like many town, this is not exclusive to Willenhall, towns) has become out of scale with the where the fear of crime has instigated an shop front over which it sits. Fascia signs ingrained culture for the need to employ Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 91 excessive security measures that damage the town’s appearance
The final layer of visual clutter on buildings that detracts from their appearance is that of utilities and services. The application of satellite dishes, plastic rainwater goods, security alarms, vents, wiring, flues and ducting has littered the elevation of many buildings. The layering of years of utilities and appliances across the face of buildings creates visual clutter that distracts for the architecture, particularly when little consideration is given to their position or Larger areas of post war redevelopment fixing. also compromise the character of the town, and whilst not classed as ‘new’ are not part of the historic development within the town New build that have contributed to the designation being made. The post war phase of Although the economic difficulties of the development, is weathering poorly and sits town have enabled the majority of the aggressively against the wider townscape of Conservation Area to retain its Victorian individually developed plots of land that streetscapes, the examples of new infill surround it. development have been of poor design quality failing to integrate well with the adjacent historic buildings. There are Highways management several examples of building using poor quality materials which neither replicate The public realm integrates conventional historic detailing accurately or deliver high streets with pedestrianised areas and areas quality contemporary design. with shared access. A collection of differing materials have been used to express The buildings at 16 and 17 Market Place are different zones and traffic management and a typical example of poor quality modern calming. Whilst much of this hard development in the heart of the historic town landscaping has been delivered using centre, where poor quality brickwork, quality natural materials along side a pallet modern roof tiling and a disjointed design of historic ceramics, these have failed in part between the shop front and the wider and been repaired insensitively. building frontage has resulted in a harmful inclusion to the conservation area. Highway signage clutters the street scene and road marking have not employed the softer cream paints in place of the bright yellow.
Bollards appear scattered and in poor condition, and along with other street furniture a tired and dated.
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Willenhall: 2014
PART III: MANAGEMENT PLAN
Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan | LIST OF FIGURES 93
8.0 Management The partnerships objectives for regeneration focus on business investment and the recommendations resources identified include:
Continued THI investment; 8.1 Resources needed in the area Planning application guidance;
For the current regeneration in Willenhall not Mapping of the property ownership to loose pace, particularly with the and vacant units to support new Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) business start ups; programme drawing to a close, new Funding for the restoration of the resources need to be identified. Union Street Methodist Church; Union Street development analysis, It is important not to look at the conservation which is looking to coordinate area in isolation, but rather as part of the ownership across the precinct and wider regeneration of the town. The town along Union Street to steer new has a dedicated Regeneration Officer (Town investment into the vacant buildings and District Centre Management) who and land and uplift the appearance manages the ‘Town Centre Partnership’. of the precinct. The project will look The partnership leads on regeneration to draw down funding to deliver initiatives with the following aim: solutions that respond to the aspirations set out in the urban To improve the economic viability and vitality design priorities (Section 8.5 below). of Willenhall Town Centre for all who work, live or visit there through an effective public, This collective business and community private and voluntary sector partnership’. body is the most effective resource the town has and the regeneration of the conservation area must remain at the heart of their aspirations.
8.2 Decision making procedures
The planning system remains the principle process through which decisions will be taken in the town.
The ‘Development Plan’ comprises the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) and the Core Strategy, but will not include the Site Allocation Document (SAD) currently being prepared as this excludes district centres. That said, updated mapping of all designations will take place as part of the SAD adoption process and therefore any revisions to the conservation area boundary will take place at this time.
Taking into account the data collected through characterisation under Section 7 of the Appraisal, there is a need to revise the conservation area boundary.
As seen in the appraisal, the fortunes of the The conservation area is proposed to be conservation area are very much linked to reduced in three areas, with a single the wider economic prosperity of the area. addition. Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 94
therefore should be excluded from the 1) Wood Street / Gower Street conservation area.
Due to the demolition of buildings that had a positive character, leaving only modern shed 4) New Road construction and the delivery of ‘neutral’ modern housing, the boundary of area has The interwar cinema complex behind Dale been reduced to eliminate the entire junction House comprises a heavily moulded ‘Art behind the superstore down to Malt House Deco’ concrete rendered curved entrance Lane. So little of the historic character of the that addresses the junction of New Road area now survives, this area no longer and Bilston Street corner. Whilst very warrants inclusion in the conservation area. different from the Georgian and Victorian architecture in the immediate vicinity, the building is of good quality and has strong urban design characteristics, strengthening the gateway into the conservation area.
These boundary changes will affect planning and investment decisions in the town.
With regards the planning process, the determination of planning applications shall respond to the design criteria (set out in 8.5 below) and for major new build development proposals in or adjacent to the boundary of the conservation area, the application (at pre-application stage) should be promoted to the Council’s ‘Development Team’ to ensure heightened design quality is achieved.
With regards investment decisions, the sites set out in Sections 8.4 shall be the priority for directing new resources and investment into in order to strengthen the activity and appearance of the conservation area.
Figure 20: Boundary changes. (Walsall Council 2014). 8.3 Enforcement strategy 2) Upper Lichfield Street A review of all the boroughs listed building A section of landscaping forming part of the took place during the summer of 2013. superstore surface level parking. This area From this exercise a comprehensive should be omitted in line with the wider programme to review all unauthorised works superstore as it has a negative impact on to listed buildings has taken place with a the conservation area. mind to take enforcement action against harmful offences.
3) New Road / Bilston Street This process will be ongoing in order to address these offences and aid the A section of landscaping forming part of the conservation of the most significant round-a-bout junction at the entrance point buildings within the conservation area. into the town. This section of landscaping does not hold or mark the corner, which Aside from this is the need to undertake a should be a ‘gateway’ into the town and wider programme of enforcement work
Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 95 within the conservation area, with a clear development should be secured for a variety steer towards addressing: of town centre uses and should be in accordance with the design principles set Security systems; out in Section 8.5. Advertisements; and Shop fronts. The sites will be promoted through the Willenhall Town Centre Partnership which This is particularly important following the will liaise with current owners and THI programme, where the standard of shop encourage either new development to take front design has been elevated. place or for the sale of sites to individuals who would develop these sites. In addition to the standard use of various enforcement notices, greater use must be Most of the vacant sites do not generate any made of Section 215 of the Planning Act that revenue, and whilst constraints are present allows for an Amenity Notice to be issued (like any site) the need to develop these when buildings and land become sites will ensure that solutions can be found unacceptable. This notice can (but not to overcome these constraints. exclusively) address waste, graffiti and general visible surface decay to buildings. There will be a commitment on the behalf of the Council to relax planning policy constraints where possible and to promote 8.4 Opportunities these sites as key investment opportunities.
The UDP proposals map (see figure 2) identifies a number of sites with 2) Derelict Buildings development potential through Policy WH4, these address a number of different sites, Whilst vacant sites only contain constraints both vacant and occupied. These are all beyond the plot and from its location, size supported in this plan. and shape, derelict buildings present an additional constraint of the building itself. In addition to the WH4 sites are other opportunities for investment in the town and The following sites are derelict buildings that these fall under three categories (1) vacant present opportunities for development: land, (2) derelict premises, (3) vacant premises and (4) Redevelopment. Littler London School (Stafford street); 74-75 Stafford Street; 1) Vacant land. The Methodist Manse (100-101 Union Street); The following vacant parcels / plots of land Rear of 59 Wolverhampton Street; (listed below) are key focuses for Workshop to rear of 21-22 Market regeneration. Place; Outbuildings to the rear of The Land on the south corner at the Royal George (New Road); and junction of Union Street and Upper The Bell Inn (Market Place). Lichfield Street; Land along Bell Alley; With the exception of The Bell Inn (which 59 Wolverhampton Street; and has undergone extensive repair to the Land within the site of The Little external envelope and structural London School (Stafford Street / remediation) and the rear of 59 Field Street). Wolverhampton Street, all of these buildings are in exceptionally poor condition. The development of these sites is key in strengthening the townscape and Whilst these buildings all contribute completing what is currently a degraded positively to the conservation area, their streetscape in certain areas. New condition allows for an imaginative approach Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 96 to be undertaken to find new uses. property income and creating natural Innovative adaption through the creation of surveillance around the clock. contemporary extensions, openings and internal arrangements will be encouraged in Residential development at upper floors is order to make them more flexible spaces for strongly supported by the Council and is a wider range of uses. Lessons should be often less complicated and demanding than taken from the contemporary conversion of commercial requirements. barns and agricultural buildings in rural area and applied to these buildings so as to generate new possibilities beyond the 4) Redevelopment constraints of the historic fabric. The Precinct is included within the conservation area as it encloses Stafford 3) Vacant buildings Street. It is not highly valued as a piece of architecture, although it has a genre that is The stock of vacant buildings and premises important in the evolution of design. Its fluctuates and therefore does not warrant redevelopment has been considered in the listing. past and the opportunity may present itself in the future. For clarity the Precinct Principally, ground floor commercial space includes all building on the east side of must be brought into use to sustain the retail Stafford Street (from 28 Market Place to 22 function of the town. Planning permissions Stafford Street, including 1-10 Union Street should be sought for A1-A5 uses to ensure and the Market Hall, but excluding 16, 23 flexibility of use and careful consideration as and 24 Stafford Street). to how ground and first floor uses coexist so as not to prejudice future uses by Opportunities may take a number of forms, constraining access. but broadly will either comprise renovation of the existing structure or total redevelopment The Regeneration Officer for the town following demolition. maintains mapping of property ownership and use and is the focus of re-letting and Refurbishment would be complex due to the promoting availability of premises in the reinforced nature of the concrete frame, town centre. which would limit loading and fixing of new fabric. Should this option be considered A significant constraint to commercial then the key issues would be (1) the premises is sound security and effective removal of the canopy, (2) the creation of advertisements. Advice on these new contemporary shop front, and (3) the commercially sensitive issues is provided in opening up of fenestration at first floor level, the shop front guidance document that is a treatment, cladding or dressing to first floor published as part of this document and will brick and or concrete panels. materialise in borough wide guidance (see section 8.5). Should comprehensive redevelopment present itself as a viable venture then Upper floors of town centres are becoming careful consideration should be taken to more popular for flatted accommodation. ensure that a redevelopment at back of Since the Urban Renaissance work of the pavement is delivered which restores the 1990’s in the UK’s city centres, the growth of organic curved alignment of the top end of in-town living has steadily increased in Market Place and provides discrete service secondary and tertiary centres and over the and delivery yards to the rear off Union last 10 years residential uses over shops Street. The design should be contemporary, has increased in Willenhall, largely due to yet reflect historic plot widths, moving away the achievements of the THI programme. from the overtly modular and horizontal Many upper floors remain vacant and arrangement of the existing buildings. If this encouraging residential use back into the opportunity presents itself, it could see the town is important in generating additional erection of a structure up to three-storeys in height, with a design solution that helps both Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 97 close the view north up from the market Where a development extends over place, yet turn the corner into Stafford more than one historic plot, the Street. architecture expresses the historic pattern of the townscape through informed and imaginative architectural composition should be made.
Failure to achieve this is witnessed in the precinct development where the emphasis of the architectural composition is in unifying blocks of
(left) lost development at the northern end of Market buildings in horizontal development. Place and (right) the Precinct that now poorly New development on larger sites terminates the northern end of Market Place. should introduce alignments through fenestration, material or detailing Similar redevelopment opportunities exist at that expresses historic plot widths. 16-17 Market Place and the front section of the Chamberlain Unionist Club (Upper Views Lichfield Street), where an unsatisfactory The town centre comprises a modern architectural solution has been number of streets where buildings delivered. and sites form prominent aspects in strategic views across the town, any redevelopment of sites around the 8.5 Design Market Place or on the precinct will have a significant impact on views and vistas through the conservation Development principles area and should be used to deliver enclosure without significant UDP policy WH3 (ii) (Environmental juxtaposition. Enhancement) seeks to ensure that new development makes a positive contribution The southern end of the Precinct towards the environment of the centre, with terminates the key view north out of particular regard to the character of the the market place and is the only site Conservation Area. It is, therefore, in the town centre that is an important to ensure that new development opportunity site (section 8.4) where proposals respond to the context additional height should be established through the characterisation encouraged to help close the view work undertaken in the Appraisal. and term the corner into Stafford Street. Sound urban design principles need to be at the heart of any new development Building lines: proposals. Buildings largely sit at back of pavement, those that don’t, are Pastiche development will not be supported, enclosed by walling and well however, an environmental response can be conceived yards (and are few and secured through the following measures: far between).
Plots: The direct relationship between Preserve and reinforce the buildings and the public realm form distinctive pattern of historic the tight enclosure of the streets and development, including street open spaces and should be patterns, open spaces, plot strengthened when opportunities for alignments and boundary new development present itself. treatments.
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Scale: addressed at the planning stage so One of the charming aspects of that the quality of their design, Willenhall is its varied scale as position and material can be fully identified in the appraisal. Careful understood as part of the consideration must therefore be architectural concept. taken when introducing new buildings within the area. The town In a town where building heights will can handle strong juxtaposition vary, side/flank/return elevations are between scale, however, this will as important as front elevations. have significant consequences with Materials must match and detailing regard to elevational treatment. employed that with give the building a sound and complete unity. Scale is most sensitive along the west side of Market Place and Building materials: around the precinct, where any Innovative use of building materials variation could be harmful due to the and construction techniques is existing degree of uniformity. important so as to include elements Where different heights exist along of traditional building materials a section of townscape a difference without delivering pastiche. in one floor in height can be tolerated, but buildings should be Brickwork should feature as the either two or three storeys in height. principal building material, yet using contemporary fixings, bonding and Elevational treatment arrangements to bring a new Front elevation of buildings need to solution to task. deliver confident modern architecture. Willenhall has a long Render, cladding and metalwork legacy of defining architectural should be reserved for detailing or styles and movements of the time. expression of structural frames or To mimic these would undermine spandrels. Where more than one their authenticity. Modern material is used, this should relate architecture must employ dynamic to the form, modelling and compositions that generate composition of the building and not elevations that have defined ground simply applied as a ‘wallpaper’ to floors, main bodies and tops. dress up a quintessentially simplistic Façades must be anchored to the design. ground through generous masonry and pillars. Windows should have Roofs are either slate or clay tile sound proportions, spacing and and, again, these materials can be arrangement and roofs should cap a used imaginatively to deliver a well building in a style akin to the conceived modern design. architectural genre being employed.
Modern buildings have standard Shop front design guidance floor heights (according to their use) and infrequently align with historic A key shortcoming in the conservation area buildings, and this too adds to the is the quality of replacement shop fronts and patina of building types and ages in associated signage and security. the town, however highlights the need to deliver rigorous As part of the final stages of the THI compositions that express clarity in programme, it is important to deliver training the rhythm of bays and fenestration and education so that the project leaves a arrangements. legacy in its wake. Central to this is the production by the HLF of a shop front design Details such as soffits, barge boards guide in partnership with the Council. This and rainwater goods need to be Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 99 is being produced in conjunction with this of the conservation area and this needs to appraisal and management plan. be brought under control.
The guidance will be a celebration of the During 2013 negotiations with the Local projects achievements, but will also sets out Highway Authority has resulted in the design principles for future shop fronts as signage and markings for Traffic Regulation proposals for new shop fronts come Order (TRO) in other conservation areas forwards. being kept to a minimum and using more subtle colours. It is important that future replacement shop fronts are not markedly different to those delivered through the THI as the value of this work is improvements to the townscape comprehensively.
The document is chiefly a visual guide and will be aimed directly at the local community although it will also be a useful negotiations tool during the planning process.
Its focus is the composition of shop fronts, the needs of users, security, signage, materials and structural constraints. It provides illustrations and examples of how shop fronts work and how a good shop front can effectively promote business.
Shop front Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)
Following the delivery of the HLF shop front design guidance, the Council will produce a shop front Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) that will adopt the In the implementation of new TRO’s in the principles of the guidance into the Local conservation area only lemon and white Development Framework (LDF). This will paint will be used for road markings and replace the existing ‘Design guidance for signage will be restricted. security shutters’ adopted in June 1998.
The document will sit in conjunction with Permitted development UDP policy ENV32 (Design and Development Proposals) and ENV35 The conservation area has suffered from (Appearance of Commercial Buildings), alterations that have harmed character. along with policies CSP4 (Place Making), Under the previous Management Plan it was ENV2 (Historic Character and Local noted that an Article 4 Direction should be Distinctiveness) and ENV3 (Design Quality) considered. However, no such direction in the Black Country Core Strategy. was drawn up as they only apply to properties in use as dwelling houses. A significant proportion of the built Highway management development within the Conservation Area is in commercial use or flatted As noted in the appraisal, the impact of the accommodation, which does not have the highway works and regulations in the area same permitted development rights as has had a negative impact on the character residential property and is therefore less at Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 100 risk from permitted inappropriate changes in coordinating groups of buildings being and loss of heritage character. maintained together.
Any change that materially affects the The repair of historic buildings is a sad appearance of buildings should be the consequence of poor maintenance and subject of planning permission and where natural decal of building fabric in the permission is not sought planning Northern European climate. enforcement should be undertaken (see Section 8.3). All materials can be repaired or sensitively replaced on a needs only basis and again the Council’s web site contains a significant 8.6 Maintenance and repair amount of advice on the repair of masonry (bricks, stone and other ceramic products), There is a significant need to improve the timber and metal, as well as advice on standard of maintenance and repair specific types of joinery such as windows throughout the conservation area. and doors.
In terms of maintenance this is concerned with the need to: 8.7 Mechanisms for monitoring change
Clear gutters at least once a year; It is essential that this plan is reviewed in Use/replace wire gutter protectors to order to monitor signs of deterioration and keep leaves out of gutters, hoppers assess the quality of progress. There are a and down pipes; number of tools that can be used. Use ventilator caps to disused chimney pots; This document is produced in accordance Replace slipped tiles and slates; with Section 71 of the town and Country Primer, undercoat and top coat Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation timber accordingly as it weathers; Areas) Act 1990 which states the need for Re-point masonry as it fails with local planning authorities to formulate and appropriate mortar; publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of conservation areas. A significant amount of information on these and other aspects of basic maintenance can S71 also states that such proposals shall be be found on the Councils web site and as undertaken ‘from time to time’. It is well as the following websites: accepted that this correlates to a 5 year monitoring exercise. The next www.ihbc.org.uk/stitch_in_time/index.htm comprehensive review of this document will therefore fall in 2019. www.maintainyourbuilding.org.uk. Monitoring will be necessary on a more Maintenance is important and if left frequent basis that 5 years as it will need to unchecked will escalate not only in the respond to issues as they arise. A more degree and severity of damage, but also the useful monitoring period is an annual review. cost of rectifying. There is a risk that following the close of the A main difficulty in undertaking maintenance THI programme, those schemes that were in the conservation area are the position of part of the project are not maintained. There buildings at back of pavement, building are contracts in place for each site that has heights, complexity of roof form and Heath received funding and there needs to be an and safety Regulations. annual review of each scheme over the 10 year life of programme and appropriate Assistance in organising access to the front action taken if need be. of buildings can be organised through the towns Regeneration Officer who could assist The appraisal and the photographic survey work that took place in delivering it provides Walsall Council | Willenhall Conservation Area and Management Plan 101 a broad overview of the condition of the therefore will need to be exposed to public conservation area at the time of adoption. scrutiny to ascertain if it accurately reflects This will need to be reviewed on an annual the concerns of the local community and basis to feed back into either the truly portrays the strengths of the town. enforcement process (section 8.3) or negotiations with the property owner with the Consultation will comprise the following towns Regeneration Officer. exercises:
Ongoing monitoring can be undertaken by 1) Consultation through the Willenhall the Town Centre Partnership and the Summer event held between 24-26 July contracts for each property forming part of 2014 - ‘Best of British’. The plan will be the THI are included in Appendix 4. promoted and publicised to gauge peoples perspectives on what is important within the conservation area and if the appropriate 8.8 Community involvement measures have been built in;
This document is not intended to be either 2) Consultation via the web site; elitist or divorced from the day to day running of the town. Buy-in from residents, 3) Consultation in conjunction with the SAD; businesses and users alike is essential if it is and to bed itself next to the Town Centre Partnership Plan and be a useful document 4) Consultation through the Shop front for the planning department to liaise and guidance document delivered as part of the negotiate future development. THI programme.
The appraisal and management plan must . reflect the aspirations of the town and
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Appendix 1: Relevant planning policies in the Development Plan
Walsall Unitary Development Plan:
ENV9: Environmental Improvement Initiatives; ENV14: Development of Derelict and Previously–Developed Sites; ENV25: Archaeology; ENV26: Industrial Archaeology; ENV27: Buildings of Historic or Architectural Interest; ENV28: The ‘Local List’ of Buildings of Historic or Architectural Interest; ENV29: Conservation Areas; ENV31: Continued Protection of the Historic Built Environment; ENV32: Design and Development Proposals; ENV33: Landscape Design; ENV34: Public Art; ENV35: Appearance of Commercial Buildings; ENV36: Poster hoardings; ENV37: Small Poster Panel Advertisements; S1: Definition of Town Centre Uses; S2: The Hierarchy of Centres; S3: Integration of Developments into Centres; S4: The Town and District Centres: General Principles; S8: Housing in Town Centres; S9: Amusement Centres and Arcades; S10: Hot Food Take-Aways, Restaurants and Other A3 (Food and Drink) Outlets; H3: Windfall Sites on Previously Developed Land and Conversion of Existing Buildings; H9: Minimum Density; H10: Layout, Design and Dwelling Mix; T1: Helping People to Get Around; T5: Highway Improvements; T6: Traffic Calming; T7: Car Parking; T8: Walking; T10: Accessibility Standards – General; WH1: Primary Shopping Area (Willenhall District Centre); WH2: The Market (Willenhall District Centre); WH3: Environmental Enhancements (Willenhall District Centre); WH4: Development / Investment Opportunities (Willenhall District Centre); WH7: Pedestrians (Willenhall District Centre); and WH9: Traffic Management (Willenhall District Centre).
Black Country Core Strategy:
CSP4: Place Making; EMP6: Cultural Facilities and the Visitor Economy; CEN2: Hierarchy of Centres; CEN4: Regeneration of Town Centres; ENV2: Historic Character and Local Distinctiveness; and ENV3: Design Quality.
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Appendix 2: Listed Building
There are 17 buildings and structures within the designated conservation area included in on the scheduled list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest. They are all Grade II listed and designated under the following 11 entries:
1, 2 AND 3, CROSS STREET
8, NEW ROAD
NUMBERS 14 AND 15, WITH ATTACHED WORKSHOP ON NORTH AND WEST SIDES OF YARD TO REAR, UPPER LICHFIELD STREET
33, MARKET PLACE
34, MARKET PLACE
42, 43 AND 44, MARKET PLACE
45 AND 46, MARKET PLACE
CLOCK TOWER, MARKET PLACE
DALE HOUSE, BILSTON STYREET
THE BELL PUBLIC HOUSE, 32, MARKET PLACE
TRINITY METHODIST CHURCH, UNION STREET
A fuller description of these buildings and structures, together with photographs is found under Sections 6.2 – 6.7.
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Appendix 3: Locally listed buildings
In addition to the statutory listed buildings there are a number of listed buildings of local significance within the conservation area. There are included on the council’s ‘Local List’ of Buildings of Historic or Architectural Interest, as defined under the criteria within Policy ENV28 of the Walsall Unitary Development Plan.
There are 70 locally listed buildings under the following 42 entries:
ALTLANTIC COURT, CHEAPSIDE
4 CROSS STREET
5 – 6 CROSS STREET
7 – 8 CROSS STREET
26 – 29 CROSS STREET
32 CROSS STREET
33 CROSS STREET
WAR MEMORIAL, FIELD LANE
1 MARKET PLACE
9 – 13 MARKET PLACE
14 MARKET PLACE
15 MARKET PLACE
18 – 21 MARKET PLACE
22 – 23 MARKET PLACE
29 MARKET PLACE
30 MARKET PLACE
1 NEW ROAD
ROYAL GEORGE INN, NEW ROAD
16 STAFFORD STREET
24 STAFFORD STREET
67 – 69 STAFFORD STREET
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69 – 70 STAFFORD STREET
72 STAFFORD STREET
79 – 82 STAFFORD STREET
85 STAFFORD STREET
87 – 88 STAFFORD STREET
89 – 90 STAFFORD STREET
BE WEDGES, STAFFORD STREET
LITTLE LONDON SCHOOL, STAFFORD STREET
MANSE, TRINITY METHODIST CHURCH, UNION STREET
3 UPPER LICHFIELD STREET
4 – 5 UPPER LICHFIELD STREET
9 UPPER LICHFIELD STREET
14 – 15 UPPER LICHFIELD STREET
CHAMBERLIN UNIONIST CLUB, UPPER LICHFIELD STREET
THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH OF GOD, UPPER LICHFIELD STREET
THE WORKERS REST INN, UPPER LICHFIELD STREET
1 WOLVERHAMPTON STREET / 91 STAFFORD STREET
58 WOLVERHAMPTON STREET
59 – 61 WOLVERHAMPTON STREET
62 – 64 WOLVERHAMPTON STREET
65 – 67 WOLVERHAMPTON STREET
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Appendix 4: Townscape Heritage Initiative programme
Cross Street (4) Cross Street (32)
Market Place (22) Market Place (30) Market Place (45)
Stafford Street (77) Stafford Street (77a) Stafford Street (87) Stafford Street (88) Stafford Street (89) Stafford Street (90-91)
Wolverhampton St (57) Wolverhampton St (58)
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Appendix 5: Contact details
Contacts
Natural Environment and Conservation
Andrew Fuller: Building Conservation Officer e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01922 655537
Licensing
James Roberts: Licensing Officer e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01922 653082
Lighting engineer
Elizabeth Thomas: Public Lighting PFI Manager e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01922 652555
Highways
Kevin Gannon: Transportation Team Leader e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01922 654669
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Appendix 6: Willenhall Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan Consultation Statement
A “consultation statement” sets out the requisite public participation undertaken prior to adoption. The Walsall Revised Statement of Community Involvement (2012) does not explicitly address Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans, however, Section 71(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 states that ‘Proposals under this section shall be submitted for consideration to a public meeting in the area to which they relate’.
In response to this statutory requirement, the Council will undertake consultation at the Willenhall Town centre Partnership meeting on 16th September 2014.
In addition, letters will be sent to every property within the conservation area (existing boundary) as well as to a number of public organisations/bodies.
Representations will also be made by the Walsall Planning Committee on 20 August 2014, prior to its adoption by the same committee.
The scope of consultation responses included:
The persons the local planning authority consulted Walsall Council Planning Committee XXXXXX when preparing the document. XXXXXX
A summary of the main issues raised. XXXXXX
How those issues have been addressed in the XXXXXX supplementary planning document
Copies of this statement and the Willenhall Conservation Area appraisal and Management Plan were made available to those persons consulted and the representation made are recorded below.
The date by which representations must be made XXXXXX (being not less than 4 weeks from the date the local planning authority complies with this paragraph):
The address to which consultations must be sent: Andrew Fuller: Building Conservation Officer Civic Centre (Second Floor) Darwall Street Walsall WS1 1TW
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