8F: CANDOVER VALLEY

Rolling large scale open fields at Candover.

Axford at the northern most end ofParkland landscapes rising from the Down Farm on the the valley valley floor. upper slopes of the Candover valley.

Brown Candover at the head of theWidely visible farmsteads – tendency Valley bottom nucleated settlements Itchen valley tributary . for conversion to domestic use. – -

Hampshire County 1 Status: FINAL: May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Candover Valley Open Downs

Hampshire County 2 Status: FINAL: May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Candover Valley Open Downs

Hampshire County 3 Status: FINAL: May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Candover Valley Open Downs

1.0 Location and Boundaries 1.1 This character area lies to the east of the M3 corridor, north of New Alrseford. The distinguishing aspects of this character area are its topography which defines a broad river valley, and the open nature of the downland that form its valley sides and context. This character area is unified by the Candover Stream and the string of nucleated villages with associated parkland along its length.

1.2 Component County Landscape Types: Open Downs

1.3 Composition of Borough/District LCAs: and District Deane District Candover Valley Stratton-Woodlands (part)

East Hampshire District (part)

Much of this character area falls within the Candover Valley defined in the Basingstoke and Dean District Character Assessment, although this character area boundary is drawn further to the north to include the higher downland above the valley. This landscape also includes the open areas of the Stratton-Woodlands and Lasham character area where they form the upper slopes of the valley.

1.4 Associations with NCAs and Natural Areas: NCA 130: Hampshire Downs NA 78: Hampshire Downs

2.0 Key Characteristics • Distinctive river valley comprising a narrow valley floor and gently sloping valley sides which create a shallow ‘bowl’. • Diverse pattern of arable, pasture, woodland and parkland has high visual quality and biodiversity value. • Predominant land use is arable in large-scale open fields on the valley sides defined by low hedges and few hedgerow trees. • Smaller fields occur on lower valley’s slopes and valley floor supporting pasture and distinctive riparian vegetation. • Scattered blocks of ancient semi-natural woodland. • Parkland landscapes along the valleys floor giving rise to a well managed character.

Hampshire County 4 Status: FINAL: May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Candover Valley Open Downs

• Small nucleated settlements along the valley floor and lower slopes. • Many barrows and archaeological sites on upper slopes overlooking valley.

3.0 Physical Characteristics and Land Use 3.1 The geology within this area consists of Upper Chalk covered with occasional deposits of clay and flint. Along the valley floor there are also alluvial deposits. The valley is orientated approximately northeast-southwest and is surrounded by gently undulating valley sides reaching a height of 170m AOD in the northwest and 165m AOD in the southeast. Immediately north of the valley floor the Candover Stream has cut into the chalk creating steeper valley sides which rise to approximately 120m AOD before flattening off. This distinctive ridge north of the river creates a more enclosed and defined character to the valley when experienced from the valley floor. The soils in this character area are light calcareous soils which are well drained giving rise to an agricultural land of medium quality throughout the area.

3.2 Although the predominant land use in this landscape is arable, the overall land use patterns are diverse and comprise woodland, parkland and areas of pasture on the steeper lower slopes and the valley floor. The arable fields which occur primarily on the upper valley slopes are medium to large in scale defined by low well trimmed hedgerows and few woodlands resulting in a generally open aspect. Where woodlands occur they are often linear shelterbelts. In contrast the lower valley slopes and floor support smaller fields of improved grassland defined by thicker hedgerows and hedgerow trees and interspersed with small frequent woodland copses and areas of parkland including in field trees. Lines of beech trees along roads are also a feature.

3.3 The area falls within two different catchments. The eastern half of the character area falls within the Environment Agency Itchen catchment area while the western half of the character area falls within the Upper Test catchment. The Candover Stream rises in the northern fringes of this area and flows in a southerly direction through the nucleated villages which line the valley floor. Where it passes through the settlements, it lines one side of the road and runs through a canalised channel which is crossed by numerous small bridges providing access to individual dwellings.

4.0 Experiential/Perceptual Characteristics 4.1 Intervisibility across this landscape is variable, views are contained within the lower valley slopes by landform and the strong tree and hedgerow structure, and more extensive views are possible across the valley from higher ground. The horizon is often treed reflecting the wooded nature of the surrounding wider downland particularly to the north in character area 7B.

4.2 This landscape is crossed by a number of popular long distance routes including The Wayfarers Walk (runs north-south) and the circular route of the Oxdrove Way. Across the rest of the landscape there are footpaths and rights of way which radiate out from the valley floor connecting onto the downland, some of which follow former historic drove roads and tracks.

4.3 This landscape is quiet, unspoilt and with a strongly rural character. The topography of the area isolates it from the wider landscape, giving it a sense of remoteness and identity as a rural backwater. Tranquillity is most readily felt on the southern valley

Hampshire County 5 Status: FINAL: May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Candover Valley Open Downs

slopes away from the villages and from the M3 corridor which lies to the north of this area.

5.0 Biodiversity Character 5.1 This is an arable landscape with large patches of improved grassland generally located adjacent to settlements. Unimproved grassland is limited in this landscape although there is a significant patch near to Preston Grange. Woodland character varies, there are two areas of parkland at Chilton Manor and Preston House, while other woodland includes broadleaved woodland and mixed plantation. Ancient and semi-natural woodland is limited in this landscape character area and residential areas provide habitat variation through gardens.

5.2 The Wooded Downland Plateau BOA covers the eastern fringe of this landscape character area. It comprises an exceptionally dense concentration of ancient and semi-natural and replanted woodland SINCs, supporting rare plant populations and containing in-cycle coppice.

5.3 The northern extremity of the Itchen Valley BOA exists in the south of this area: the Itchen is a classic chalk stream and is botanically very important with extensive areas of unimproved vegetation along its length, including fen, carr and herb-rich meadows, much of it on peat. Many of the meadows were managed as water meadows in the 19th century. The vegetation supports important populations of wetland birds and the river supports one of the few populations of the native white- clawed crayfish remaining in the rivers of southern , along with breeding otters, nationally important populations of water vole and southern damselfly and freshwater fish, including brook lamprey, bullhead and Atlantic salmon.

5.4 There are very few SINCs in this landscape character area. Most are designated for the ancient and semi-natural woodland resource which they support.

6.0 Historic Character 6.1 Archaeology 6.1.1 The area is an isolated block of open downland, bisected by the Candover Valley. There is a large north-south belt of wooded downland plateau to the east, and large scale mosaic downland to the north, south and west. It is separated from other larger blocks of open downland and may potentially have had a different landscape evolution to open downland to the west.

6.1.2 There is little Mesolithic evidence in the area, and such that there is tends towards the northern part. It forms part of a wider trend of Mesolithic evidence between the prolific sites of and the Basingstoke basin, which might possibly be interpreted as trace elements of a Mesolithic route between resource zones.

6.1.3 There is only limited evidence of Neolithic activity in this open downland zone. The single Long Barrow may imply the emergence of an arable landscape at this time. But the lack of density to the evidence does suggest a peripheral position compared to other open downland areas. It is interesting to note that the long barrow in this area is placed at the head of the valley rather than on its flanks. This might imply that the valley itself that was the focus of settlement activity. However, on the eastern edge

Hampshire County 6 Status: FINAL: May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Candover Valley Open Downs

of Neolithic activity in Hampshire there are long barrows at the head of three river valleys, possibly suggesting they defined a frontier rather than oversaw a community.

6.1.4 The ambivalence of landscape evolution continues into the Bronze Age. There are no recorded Bronze Age settlements, but there are clusters of burial mounds. This may indicate that the area developed as a settled landscape, or that the area was being exploited from adjacent settled areas. Whilst either might apply, the relatively paucity of Iron Age settlement evidence implies that the landscape remained weakly or not intensively exploited.

6.1.5 There is a distribution of Iron Age Banjo enclosures in this area. These have funnel like antennae interpreted as enabling stock to be driven and corralled. The distribution of Banjos along this east-west frontier may imply communities with greater access to grazing. In this case this the distribution of banjos may mark the frontier in the Iron Age between the arable and settled landscapes to the west and the more wooded and less evolved landscapes to the east, where non-intensive grazing could still be carried out.

6.1.6 There is also a limited quantity of Roman evidence from the area, but as the principal Roman site is a villa, this might imply Roman expansion into a previously under utilised area. There are a number of Saxon cemeteries, and medieval settlement and churches cluster down the valley, indicating that by the post Roman period this landscape was both settled and farmed.

6.2 Historic Landscape 6.2.1 The intensity of exploitation of this landscape continued into the Medieval period, giving rise to two distinctive historic field enclosure patterns which are evident in the landscape today. The first the pattern of wavy boundaries and woodland found on the upper slopes and margins of the character area particularly to the north and east. The second includes large scale regular enclosures which cover the majority of the character area.

6.2.2 During the Medieval period it is likely that the majority of the landscape (with the exception of the lower valley slopes and settled valley floor) was open downland used for common grazing. On the upper slopes and margins of the valley there would have been woodland. The wavy field boundaries and associated woodland which occurs in adjacent character areas reflects informal assart enclosures from the 17th and 18th centuries where woodland was cleared for agricultural use. The medium to large scale regular enclosures covering the majority of the area were created by a later process of formal enclosure of previously open downland in the 18th and 19th centuries.

6.2.3 On the valley floor and lower slopes, adjacent to the nucleated villages, there is a more domestic scale land use pattern, with small scale fields defined by thick hedgerows and hedgerow trees as well as areas of parkland e.g. Candover House, Preston Candover, Chilton House, South Hall and North Hall. Preston House is a 19th century parkland while Chilton Manor appears to have been a significant site in the 17th century and had formal gardens of which an avenue of yew trees and a series of terraces and earthworks remain.

Hampshire County 7 Status: FINAL: May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Candover Valley Open Downs

6.3 Built Environment 6.3.1 The main road which runs through the area, along the valley floor is the B3046. Smaller rural lanes extend off at right angles over the valley sides connecting with the higher downland beyond. This pattern of rural routes is an historic one dating back to the Medieval period and possibly earlier.

6.3.2 Within this character area there are three settlements located along the Candover Stream, namely , and Preston Candover. They have developed around Medieval manor buildings and churches along the road which passes through the valley. The name ‘Candover’ means ‘clear waters’. The settlements have grown to service the local agricultural industry. Many of the smaller houses are likely to have been built originally to accommodate workers on the Estates and principle farms. All three settlements ere entirely covered by Conservation Area status. 6.3.3 In the case of Brown Candover dwellings have grown around St Peter’s Church, Candover House and three large farms. The first church in the area, which was destroyed by fire in the 16th century, was located half a mile from the present church. A map of the village of 1588 shows lines of plots extended along both sides of the road. They run from the present church site down to the land at the fork in the road. 6.3.4 At Chilton Candover, the shrunken village was built around the former St Nicholas Church, sited on the south-east facing side of the valley. Manor Farm lies close to the former church, and earthworks mark the site of the earlier settlement. There has been little development since the 18th century. 6.3.5 Preston Candover is primarily a linear settlement north-south along the main road, almost two miles in length. The main group of buildings lie around the junction of roads in front of the church. The pattern of development is generally irregular, with cottages set in small plots. These are often in cohesive groups, but sometimes stand alone, or amongst more recent development. 6.3.6 Other small intact villages occur to the east of the Character Area at Bradley and Lower Wield, both of which have Conservation area status and have also retained their historic integrity.

6.3.7 The prevalent traditional building materials are mellow red brick, flint with red brick dressings, and some timber-frame. Roofing materials include slate, red clay tile and thatch (the survival of long straw thatch is of particular interest), while many buildings have large chimney stacks, creating a repetitive pattern. Large chimney stacks, central or to one end, are found on all the older houses in Chilton Candover. A special feature of all villages is the use of brick, flint and chalk cob in extensive boundary walls, and the overall cohesive character of the villages and associated parkland.

6.3.8 There are relatively few dispersed farmstead within this area beyond the villages in the valley bottom. The farmsteads are generally medium in scale and are located on the mid slopes along the rural lanes.

Hampshire County 8 Status: FINAL: May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Candover Valley Open Downs

EVALUATION

7.0 Forces for Change 1. Changes in agricultural practices and woodland management, particularly associated with intensification of farming practices. 2. Inappropriate modern development leading to incremental loss of traditional character of roads and villages. 3. Potential development of tall and visually intrusive structures on skylines. 4. Climate change, potentially affecting farming practices, groundwater and river levels and increased rates of tree loss.

KEY QUALITIES AND EFFECTS OF FORCES 7.1 Valley floor has a sense of rural remoteness and enclosure due to topography and vegetation, including hedgerows surrounding small pastoral fields and distinctive riparian trees. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 1 Threats: Potential inappropriate management of floodplain vegetation and wetland habitats. Past (and potential future) loss of grassland/ pasture to arable land use. Loss of water quality in springs and rivers, and potential pollution of rivers and chalk aquifers due to run-off from agricultural chemicals and fertilizers.

Opportunities: Target agri-environment schemes to conserve and enhance water meadows and areas of unimproved pasture, including appropriate grazing management, and conserve the rich biodiversity associated with clear spring water in accordance with BOA objectives. Conserve the variety and rural nature of views throughout the area, including short, enclosed views within the river valley floor.

7.2 Scattered blocks of ancient semi-natural woodland, shelterbelts and valley-floor parkland create an enclosed, well-managed landscape. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 1.4 Threats: Potential under-management of woodland, including ancient hazel coppice reduces the well-managed appearance of the landscape. Potential loss of parkland, riparian and woodland trees due to neglect and over-maturity (possibly exacerbated by drought, disease and storms caused by climate change).

Opportunities: Target agri-environment and other grant schemes to encourage the re-introduction of traditional woodland management techniques, such as coppicing, and promote an interest, and marketing of, local wood products, including wood for fuel. Also manage woodland to ensure a diverse indigenous species and age structure, to minimise the risk of damage as a result of increased storms and high winds. Potential to carry out conservation management plans as appropriate for parkland landscapes in this landscape character area.

Hampshire County 9 Status: FINAL: May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Candover Valley Open Downs

7.3 Valley sides are more open with visible archaeological earthworks and treed horizons (reflecting the wooded nature of the wider downland). Land use is predominantly arable, with hedgerows providing landscape structure FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 1.3 Threats: Trend towards weakening of landscape structure due to loss of hedgerows. Visual impacts from large agricultural buildings are noticeable in the open landscape. Loss of long views, and potential visual impacts from intrusive structures. Past (and potential future) loss of biodiversity in arable areas due to intensive agriculture. Potential damage to archaeological sites through ploughing and other means, and potential impacts on their settings from insensitive development.

Opportunities: Use planning policies and conditions to ensure modern agricultural buildings are sensitively designed and sited, and integrated into the landscape through planting where necessary. Conserve open and long views towards the surrounding downs. Use planning policies and conditions to retain the characteristic open skyline of the area. Target agri-environment (and other grant) schemes to increase the biodiversity of agricultural land, minimise potential pollution of the river Itchen and the chalk aquifer and restore the landscape structure through management/ replanting of hedgerows. Establish agreements with farmers to minimise damage to archaeological sites through ploughing or scrub encroachment. Use planning policies and conditions to minimise the impacts of new development on the settings of archaeological sites, particularly where they occur on horizons.

7.4 The close relationship between roads, rivers and buildings, and use of local building materials, creates a very distinctive character to some of the small historic settlements, from which radiate ancient tracks and lanes (often lined with beech trees). FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 1.2.3 Threats: Potential loss of the historic character and settings of villages through insensitive development or land use change. Potential loss of character of rural lanes and their associated features due to suburbanising influences such as unnecessarily intrusive signage, and poor management of verges and hedgebanks.

Opportunities: When designing new or built additions promote reference to historic buildings guidance documents (HCC, EH and local) with regard to use traditional building materials. Use of planning policies and conditions to ensure that any new development respects the traditional form, materials and design of villages, and is integrated with sensitive planting. Use Village Design Statements to identify features distinctive to the area which should be retained (e.g. use of long-straw thatch; repetitive patterns of chimney stacks; distinctive bridges over the canalised river Candover to access properties and traditional boundary walls of brick, chalk, cob and flint.) Village Design Statements could also give the opportunity to emphasise the importance of the parkland and historic field patterns which create the setting to villages. Potentially use the Rural Roads Initiative to retain the historic character of the narrow rural lanes whilst enabling them to meet Highways standards. In particular, the area’s fords, footbridges, hedgebanks, verges and beech avenues should be retained.

Hampshire County 10 Status: FINAL: May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Candover Valley Open Downs