Burghwallis Conservation Area Appraisal December 2014 www.doncaster.gov.uk/conservationareas Burghwallis Conservation Area Appraisal Index Preface 3 Part I – Appraisal 1. Introduction 4 2. Location 6 3. Origins and development of the settlement 7 4. Prevailing and former uses and the influence on the plan 9 form and building types 5. Archaeological significance and potential of the area 12 6. Architectural and historic qualities of the buildings 13 7. Traditional building materials and local details 23 8. Character and relationship of the spaces in the area 29 9. Green spaces and trees 31 10. Negative features 35 11. Neutral features 39 12. Condition of buildings 44 13. Problems, pressures and capacity for change 44 14. Suggested boundary changes 45 15. Summary of special interest 46 Part II – Management Proposals 16. Management Proposals 47 Appendices I Useful Information & Contact Details II Significant Policies of Doncaster Local Development Framework and Doncaster Unitary Development Plan III Archaeological finds in the Burghwallis area IV Listed Buildings in and around Burghwallis Conservation Area V Community Involvement Maps 1. Origin and Development of Area 2. Positive Features 3. Negative and Neutral Features 4. Views into and out of Conservation Area 2 Preface: The purpose of this document is twofold. Primarily, it is a statement of the special historic and architectural character of the Burghwallis conservation area. It also seeks to provide a positive medium to long term strategy for its conservation and enjoyment. It should be of particular use in assisting developers and the general public when submitting planning applications. It supplements the policies of Doncaster‟s statutory development plan (which currently comprises Doncaster Council‟s Core Strategy and the saved policies of the Unitary Development Plan). It will also supplement the policies provided in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which has replaced the previous Planning Policy Statements on Heritage and Conservation. There are policies to protect the historic environment throughout the NPPF and more specifically about “Conserving and enhancing the historic environment” within paragraphs 126 to 141 inclusive of the NPPF. Burghwallis Parish Council is also currently developing a Neighbourhood Plan for the area of Burghwallis which if adopted by Doncaster Council will also become part of the statutory development plan. In determining planning applications local planning authorities are required by the NPPF to identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset (i.e. the conservation area), including its setting, that may be affected by a proposal and take this into account. Consequently the appraisal will be a material consideration in making planning decisions relating to the conservation area. It is also hoped that this appraisal will be a useful aid for applicants in preparing heritage statements in support of their planning applications. The appraisal however is not intended to be wholly comprehensive and the failure to mention any particular building; feature or space should not be assumed to imply that they are not of significance. Advice is available from Doncaster Council‟s Design and Conservation Team and you are advised to make early contact before carrying out any work within the conservation area. Doncaster Council appreciates the help given by Alicia Hunston in analysing the conservation area and initiating this appraisal and the assistance of Burghwallis Parish Council and Burghwallis Neighbourhood Working Group in the dissemination of information regarding the appraisal and their input into the final version. 3 Part 1 – Appraisal 1. Introduction A conservation area is an area “…of special architectural or historic interest, the character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance”1 Conservation areas were first introduced by the Civic Amenities Act 1967. The Act was incorporated and expanded into the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, which provides the statutory basis for planning control within conservation areas. This current Act imposes a duty on local planning authority to designate conservation areas (where appropriate), to review them from time to time, and to bring forward policies and proposals for the preservations and enhancement of such areas. Before bringing forward policies and proposals for any conservation area it is important to define what its special historic or architectural character is. Government guidance contained in the National Planning Policy Framework states when considering the designation of conservation areas, local planning authorities should ensure that an area justifies such status because of its special architectural or historic interest, and that the concept of conservation is not devalued through the designation of areas that lack special interest. (NPPF, 2012). English Heritage also provide a guidance document “Understanding Place: Conservation Area Designation, Appraisal and Management” a methodology for analysing this character. Aerial photograph showing existing boundary of Burghwallis Conservation Area 1 As defined under S61 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 4 This appraisal covers the Burghwallis Conservation Area, which was originally designated on the 15th June 1978. The appraisal follows the English Heritage guidance and aims to identify the special architectural, landscape and historic interest of Burghwallis Conservation Area. Burghwallis is a rural settlement that is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Burg. The conservation area is made up of the settlement clustered along Old Village Street to the west, the old Hall (now St. Anne‟s Rest Home) and its immediate grounds, the Church of St. Helen and associated buildings in the centre, and mainly suburban development set in spacious grounds to the east. The main road through the settlement appears to have been diverted north to the present Grange Lane and east to Abbe‟s Walk with the historic development of the original hall and its former park. Limestone was the traditional material, which is rendered on some buildings. Principle historic roofing materials are slate and clay pantiles. Limestone boundary walls are an important and extensive feature of the conservation area. The conservation area is well endowed with mature trees particularly to the central and eastern areas. Within the conservation area there are six listed structures. These can be viewed on Map 2 as well as being listed on p13 in Section 6. The cross within the churchyard as well as being listed is also a scheduled monument. The pinfold just outside the conservation area is also listed. The special interest of the conservation area is due to the historic character and appearance of a small limestone village connected with an ancient settlement associated with a manorial estate and church. 5 2. Location Burghwallis is situated amongst mixed farmland and woodland on a slight rise, roughly six miles north of Doncaster and one mile off the A1 motorway. The conservation area itself is situated around the historic centre of the village, and includes the Church of St. Helen, St. Anne‟s Rest Home (formerly Burghwallis Hall), the Old Rectory, the properties clustered along Village Street and relatively recent developments off Grange Lane and Abbe‟s Walk which are in the former grounds of Burghwallis Hall and the church. Burghwallis Conservation Area in context 6 3. Origins and development of the settlement Burghwallis is first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, as Burg. The settlement was originally based around the Church of St Helen. This church is believed to be either standing or under development around the time of the Domesday Book. This is due to the Norman element of the building which would suggest an 11th century construction. Sir Richard de Wallis owned the Manor and its estate in the early 13th century and from whom the name Burghwallis is derived. His descendants remained here until the late 16th century when it passed to the Anne‟s family who themselves were present for five centuries until they sold Burghwallis Hall to the Bishop of Leeds in 1942. Burghwallis Hall was the main manor of the area and the present building is thought to date from the early 16th century. There are remains of a moated site within its former parkland which are likely to be its predecessor. The site of the medieval village is thought to lie within and around the grounds of the hall and the church. The later 17th and 18th century houses around Village Street are estate developments that may coincide with the development of the hall‟s landscaping including the realignment of the road to that of the present Grange Lane and Abbe‟s Walk (previously it seems that Village Street continued past the hall and then headed south of the church to meet Common Lane). The church has a very intimate relationship with the hall, both in terms of its proximity and the fact that it is included within the hall‟s decorative landscape. 7 Very little in the way of residential development took place in Burghwallis during the 19th and early 20th centuries compared with other settlements in the area. Today the village is one of a handful in the area to have retained much of its original character and small-scale rural feel. Some inter-war and immediate post-war development have occurred mainly west of the historic centre which due to their more modern form and establishment are not included within the conservation area. More latterly there have also been some developments to the eastern area of the village in lands formerly closely connected with the hall and church but which still retain a wealth of historic tree cover and, due to this, have been included within the conservation area. 8 4. Prevailing and former uses and the influences on the plan form and building types. The part of the village that is in the conservation area has a very rural feel to it. It has an elevated position and is generally low density.