St Teath Conservation Area Appraisal
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St Teath Conservation Area Appraisal Endorsed June 2008 Contents 1 Introduction 1 The purpose of a Conservation Area Appraisal 1 Scope and structure 1 General identity and character 1 Date of designation 1 The Conservation Area within the wider settlement 1 2 Planning Context 3 National 3 Regional 3 Local 3 3 Location and setting 5 4 Designations 7 5 Historic and topographic development 9 Prehistory 9 Medieval 9 Sixteenth and Seventeenth century 9 Eighteenth century 10 Early Nineteenth century 11 Later Nineteenth century 13 Early Twentieth century 14 Later Twentieth century and current 14 6 Archaeological potential 17 7 Present settlement character 19 Topography and settlement form 19 Standing historic fabric 19 St Teath Conservation Area Appraisal - DRAFT Key Buildings 22 Local details 26 Local and traditional building materials 29 Activity and use 33 Spatial analysis 33 Streetscape and views 34 Public realm 37 Greenery and green space 42 Loss, intrusion and damage 43 General condition 44 8 Problems and pressures 45 Historic Buildings 45 Public Realm 45 New Building 46 9 Recommendations 47 Historic Buildings 47 Public Realm 47 Designation 49 10 Opportunities 51 1 Sources 53 St Teath Conservation Area Appraisal - DRAFT 1 Introduction community supporting both Anglican and The purpose of a Conservation Methodist churches, a primary school, Area Appraisal several shops, a community centre, church hall and public house. There are bus The purpose of this conservation area services to local towns and Plymouth. appraisal is to clearly define the special interest, character and appearance of the Date of designation conservation area. The appraisal should then inform development control decisions A conservation area was designated in and policies and act as a foundation for 1997 and, at the same time, a conservation further work on design guidance and area statement was adopted by the Council enhancement schemes. as supplementary planning guidance. Scope and structure The Conservation Area within the wider settlement This appraisal describes and analyses the character of the St Teath conservation area The present conservation area boundary and the immediately surrounding historic was drawn to encompass the historic core environment. The appraisal will look at the of the village around the church and the historic and topographical development of nineteenth century development radiating the settlement and analyse its present out from it. character in order to identify problems and pressures and make recommendations for its future management. More detailed advice on the management of the conservation area can be found in the St Teath Conservation Area Management Plan which is designed to stand alongside this appraisal. General identity and character Originally an historic church town the village expanded greatly during the nineteenth century to accommodate workers in the local industries. Much of St Teath’s historic character is still evident in the core of the settlement where there is a good survival of historic buildings. Over the years the village has expanded steadily, with recent development to the south and east, providing accommodation for an increasing number of people - many of whom are commuters. There is an active village 1 St Teath Conservation Area Appraisal - DRAFT 2 St Teath Conservation Area Appraisal - DRAFT 2 Planning Context Local National The adopted North Cornwall District Local In 1967 the concept of protecting areas of Plan (1999) contains detailed polices special merit, rather than individual relating to listed buildings and conservation buildings was first brought under legislative areas. For this reason, anyone considering control with the passing of the Civil making an application for consent for Amenities Act. Whilst listed buildings are development or demolition within a assessed nationally with lists drawn up by conservation area or which would affect a the government on advice from English listed building should consult the Local Heritage conservation areas are designated Plan. The document is available for by local authorities. The current Act inspection at the Council’s offices and governing the designation of ‘areas of online at www.ncdc.gov.uk . Pre-application special architectural or historic interest, the advice can also be sought from the character or appearance of which it is Council’s Conservation and Development desirable to preserve or enhance’ is the Control Officers. Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Under this The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act local planning authorities are required Act 2004 introduced changes to the to designate conservation areas, to keep planning system that will result in the North them under review and if appropriate to Cornwall District Local Plan replacement designate further areas. Designation by a Local Development Framework. A remains the principal means by which local portfolio of Development Plan Documents authorities can apply conservation policies will set out the spatial planning strategy for to a particular area. North Cornwall and provided detailed development control policies including Regional locally distinct polices relating to listed buildings and conservation areas. All Broad polices relating to the protection and documents prepared as part of the North enhancement of the natural and built Cornwall Local Development Framework, environment is currently contained in the including the Local Development Scheme Cornwall Structure Plan (2004). The policy which sets the timescale for Development emphasis is that development should Plan Document preparation and adoption respect and consolidate local character. In can be viewed at www.ncdc.gov.uk . 2008 the Structure Plan will be replaced as part of the statutory Development Plan by The saved polices of the North Cornwall the South West Regional Spatial Strategy. District Local Plan will remain part of the The contained policy approach in respect statutory development plan until replaced of the built and natural environment will be by adopted Development Plan Documents. maintained in accordance with national guidance. 3 St Teath Conservation Area Appraisal - DRAFT 4 St Teath Conservation Area Appraisal - DRAFT 3 Location and setting St Teath is situated approximately 5km (3 miles) to the south-west of Camelford and 11km (7 miles) to the north-west of Wadebridge. It lies on the B 3267 Delabole Road which links the A39, about ½ km to the west of the village with the B 3314, about 2km to the north-west. The village gives the parish its name, and is within the area of North Cornwall District Council. The village lies on a plateau of land approximately 130 m above sea level between two river valleys. To the east lies the valley of the River Allen and the to the west the river valley of one of its tributaries. Further to the east the land rises first to the ancient site of Helsbury Castle and then to the high ground of Bodmin Moor. Directly to the east of the village the land falls sharply to Knightsmill Bridge and the wooded slopes of the Allen Valley. To the north and south the land drops at a very gradual gradient, whilst to the east it falls sharply to the tributary below. The village itself is situated on a relatively flat site - the only enclosure coming from the trees in the churchyard and cemetery, and the buildings themselves. Under the historic landscape characterisation survey carried out by Cornwall County Council Historic Environment Service the land around most of the village was identified as medieval farmland and the land directly to the north as post medieval farmland. 5 St Teath Conservation Area Appraisal - DRAFT 6 St Teath Conservation Area Appraisal - DRAFT 4 Designations Scheduled Monuments There is one scheduled monument a medieval wheelheaded cross which stands in the cemetery - it is also listed grade II. Historic Buildings There are 22 listed buildings in St Teath including the grade I church and grade II* Community Centre. In addition there are 27 listed headstones and tombchests in the churchyard and the churchyard entrance walls are listed. There is no local list. Historic Area Designations The majority of the historic settlement lies within a conservation area. Other Designations (All policy numbers refer to North Cornwall Local Plan adopted April 1999). All the settlement lies within an Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV) – (ENV1). The development boundary is tightly drawn around the present village limit to protect the surrounding countryside from encroaching development. The area identified as Housing Allocation (HSG1) has now been developed with the new Meadows estate and play area. 7 St Teath Conservation Area Appraisal - DRAFT 8 St Teath Conservation Area Appraisal - DRAFT 5 Historic and topographic development See also the surviving historic components village referring to it as ‘Egglostetha’. This map. name is Cornish and derives from eglos for church and the saint’s name. Prehistory The church continued to operate under a Although there is no evidence of prehistoric collegiate system in the thirteenth century remains within the settlement itself the with two prebendaries and a vicar who were surrounding area is rich in early sites. To funded by the Bishop of Exeter and from the east on Bodmin Moor are a number of large local tithes. During the fifteenth Neolithic and Bronze Age sites and nearby century in common with many churches in there are Iron Age sites at Tregeare Cornwall it was substantially extended and Rounds to the south-west, Helsbury Castle rebuilt. A preaching cross which dates from to the south-east and Newbury Settlement. this period was subsequently re-sited in the cemetery during the Victorian period. Medieval Hitchens quotes in his book The History of St Teath’s raised circular churchyard is Cornwall, in 1824 the writer Whitaker on St typical of those found in settlements with Teath ‘It is thus shared the common fate of Celtic religious origins. It has been almost all collegiate churches, their suggested that the village could have been opulence marking them out for plunder, and on a Celtic trading route between Wales their reduction now being in proportion to and Brittany.