7. Kennet Valley

7. Kennet Valley 1. Avebury Plain 2. Marlborough Downs 11. Spye Parklands 7. Kennet Valley 4. Horton Down 3. Savernake Plateau 10.Bristol Avon Clay Vale 9. Vale of Pewsey 6. Chute Forest 5. Salisbury Plain (East) 5. Salisbury Plain (West) 8. Salisbury Avon Valley Character Area 7. Kennet Valley 7: Kennet Valley Landscape Character Overview Historic Landscape Character The Kennet Valley forms a distinct topographic unit which cuts through the chalk of the There are few records for prehistoric occupation Marlborough Downs from Avebury in the west to of the Kennet Valley, partially due to later soil the eastern boundary of the District at Chilton formation processes that may have masked such Foliat. The valley is characterised by smooth evidence. It is possible that an early prehistoric valley sides which roll gently down to a narrow settlement existed in the vicinity of Marlborough, strip of flat, floodplain farmland following the with occasional Bronze Age round barrows course of the River Kennet. Although fairly located along the fringes of the valley in the shallow, the valley form creates a sense of general area. Mildenhall (Cunetio) remains the enclosure which contrasts with the open only confirmed Roman town within the District, downland to the north, and the valley floor has and is centrally located along the Kennet Valley an intimate, pastoral and riparian character. as it passes through the Marlborough Downs. It is situated at the junction of the Bath to Silchester road and Ermine Street, and at the crossing over Geology and Landform the River Kennet. Alluvium and valley gravels overlie the base of Saxon settlement is concentrated at Ramsbury, the area throughout its length. The valley sides which is first documented in AD 909, as a newly are predominantly Middle Chalk to the west of created West Saxon bishopric. As such, it may Marlborough, while downstream the Upper predate the establishment of Marlborough, and Chalk predominates. In profile the valley is therefore represent the principal administrative relatively steep sided and narrow, but the chalk centre in the river valley at the time. Although slopes smoothly down on either side, generally in Ramsbury Manor was created in the early a convex form. medieval period, the medieval development of this character area is dominated by the expansion of Marlborough, along with the Landcover commensurate development of most of the present day villages along the valley (Axford, The valley floor is dominated by pasture Manton, Chilton Foliat). Medieval agricultural throughout its length, with a varying landscape earthworks are generally preserved on the lower structure created by willows, poplars and slopes of the adjoining downs. hedgerow enclosure. The modern landscape of the River Kennet valley has resulted from the medieval water meadow system, defined by the distinctive earthworks still present today. This system was also responsible for the deposition of vast quantities of silt within the river valleys, resulting in an artificial profile for the river valleys. The development of Marlborough and other settlements, such as Ramsbury, has also contributed to the landscape of the area, in the same manner that the smaller villages characterise the Avon valley to the south. The River Kennet looking west toward Marlborough Barnfield School is visible centrally in the distance Character Area 7: Kennet Valley 69 Settlement and Buildings Marlborough through Axford, Ramsbury and Chilton Foliat. Settlements are strung out along the valley, from Chilton Foliat in the east, through Ramsbury, Axford, Stitchcombe, Mildenhall, Marlborough, Manton and East and West Kennett to Avebury and the source of the river at Swallowhead Spring in the west. With the exception of Marlborough, Ramsbury is the largest settlement, and is a very attractive, bustling village with a square at one end of the main street. The main streets have continuous The Kennet downstream of Chilton Foliat, looking built frontages and long, narrow burgage plots. toward the District boundary More recent development has extended onto the northern valley side. The other settlements Individual components of the area may be generally have a looser, more open form. broken down, and key characteristics are Marlborough is the main settlement in the area illustrated in Figure 14.1, and summarised and is an attractive blend of brick, tile-hung below. frontages, timber frame and stone buildings, with a broad market street running through the centre Valley floor pasture. and a green next to the Swindon road. • occupying the river floodplain; underlain by alluvium and generally under permanent Building materials in the area reflect the local pasture; geology, with brick being the main material in • characterised by willows and alders in hedges the eastern part of the valley, but flint is also and along watercourses; common, with plain clay tile or straw thatched • attractive, pastoral character; roofs. To the west of Marlborough the character • open valley floor pasture with weak structure changes, and there is a greater use of stone, is characterised by poor hedgerow structure particularly the local sarsen stone used in and relatively few mature trees along conjunction with brick. watercourses; open character; • semi-enclosed valley floor pasture with intact structure, comprises a generally strong Landscape and Visual hedgerow structure, and in particular a Character richness in mature riparian trees such as willows and alder. The area is visually strongly enclosed by the chalk Formal parkland and designed landscapes valley sides to the north and south which begin • areas of formal C18 and C19 designed to broaden out significantly east of Ramsbury. As parkland with a distinctively pastoral and a result the landscape character is intimate with mature character; few long distance views. Vegetation along the • characteristic features such as parkland trees river varies from dense bankside willow and set in pasture, avenues, rides, copses and alder to more open structure where the river blocks of woodland, lakes, formal gardens, passes through open pasture with little definition estate boundaries (walls or railings), of the watercourse itself. Parkland at Ramsbury ornamental features, estate buildings etc. creates a semi-formal interlude in the otherwise pastoral landscape. The character of the valley Estate farmland changes subtly from a small watercourse set • traces of a former parkland character or land within an ancient, rolling chalk landscape near which displays typical estate characteristics; Avebury, to a much more substantial river which • fields enclosed by blocks of woodland and flows through lush water meadows, woodland belts of trees;; and valley floor pasture as it flows east from • regular single-species hedgerow trees, avenues; 70 Character Area 7: Kennet Valley • estate fencing (railings and post and rail); • game coverts. Key Landmarks and Landscape Features • Silbury Hill; • Ramsbury Manor Park; • the River Kennet itself. Character Area 7: Kennet Valley 71 7: Kennet Valley Landscape Guidelines Landscape Quality and Key • agricultural intensification, particularly Issues drainage and improvement of floodplain pasture and water meadows within the River This character area lies within the North Wessex Kennet corridor and the loss or poor Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, maintenance of field boundaries and riparian confirming its outstanding quality and national vegetation; significance. • the maintenance of water quality and flows within the River Kennet; The character area also includes a number of • the intrusion of roads and the influence of other features of conservation value which built development on the fringes of contribute to its overall significance, including: Marlborough and smaller settlements within the corridor; • Conservation Areas at Marlborough, • management and enhancement of Axford; Chilton Foliat; East Kennett; woodlands, parkland and estate landscapes Lockeridge; Manton; Mildenhall, Ramsbury; within the river corridor. and West Kennett. • Sites of Special Scientific Interest on the River Kennet east of Marlborough, Rack Marsh at Chilton Foliat and Sidbury Hill, for Guidelines for Kennet Valley their chalk river, wetland and chalk Landscapes grassland interest respectively. Elsewhere there are a large number of non-statutory Enhancement priorities sites of nature conservation interest which include water meadows, chalk grassland, • retain and manage areas of valley floor and semi-natural ancient woodland; permanent pasture, wet grassland and • a large number of Scheduled Ancient meadows, including riparian vegetation, and Monuments which include many tumuli, discourage further ploughing and field Silbury Hill and the site of the Roman town enlargement of Cunetio at Mildenhall. Silbury Hill, East • encourage traditional practices of willow and West Kennett and West Overton all lie pollarding and ditch management within the Avebury WHS. • in more open floodplain areas, introduce new • Historic Park and Gardens at Ramsbury tree planting along watercourses and in lines Manor; and Marlborough College. and groups within the valley floor, using typical riparian species such as willow and Overall the Kennet Valley is a very attractive alder blend of riparian and pastoral landscapes. There • retain the tranquil, intimate and unspoilt are a small number of areas, however, where qualities of the river corridor and improve strategies for management and enhancement landscape structure and land

Load more