CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL Area Number 6

Dr af t RoxethCONSERVATION AREAHill APPRAISAL Area Number 6 ublic House, built in 1862, then 1862, in built House, the current building in 1893 in building current the demolished to make way for way to make demolished The original Half Moon P Moon Half original The he conservation area forms one of the main approaches to the Hill from the south west. This 32 acre part of the western slope of Harrow on the Hill has an openly developed mainly residential, but also commercial and community character. The steeply sloping land Tthroughout is the key defining feature. This provides good views of attractive buildings, particularly through staggered rooflines, and panoramic views out. The topography also affects density, with tight knit, small-scale terraces in small plots usually found along the lower slopes of the Hill, whilst larger villas and detached cottages and houses in larger plots are mainly found along the upper reaches. 1 Site of the recently developed former Harrow Hospital, Roxeth Hill, one of the most important conservation area sites 1. Overview of Roxeth Hill and a great deal of dense south links between Byron Hill Conservation Area private trees and shrubbery and and Roxeth Hill. Lower Road and large open spaces visible from Byron Hill Road form important 1.1 The area contains a variety the streetscene. boundaries to the west and of architectural styles including north-east respectively. typical Edwardian villas, Arts and 1.2 The area is dominated by Crafts inspired terraces and the two principal roads of Roxeth 2.0 Location and Context detached buildings and 1930s Hill and Middle Road, which semi-detached properties. In contain two of the most 2.1 Roxeth Hill Conservation recognition of the wealth of important conservation area Area is set amongst seven other architecturally and/or historically sites, Harrow Hospital and John conservation areas around important buildings, ten Lyon School respectively. There Harrow on the Hill, as illustrated properties are statutory listed are a number of ancillary by the map below. Harrow on whilst many more are locally offshoots, for instance West Hill the Hill Village is directly north, listed. There is a leafy feel and Brickfields. These form the characterised by small Victorian throughout due to a number of highest parts of the conservation terraced development closely public trees along the pavement, area, providing attractive north- associated with the growth of Harrow School. Sudbury Hill is Conservation Area in relation to surrounding Harrow on the to the east and the Mount Park Hill Conservation Area Estate to the south, each Key characterised by large Victorian A. Roxborough villas in extensive grounds. The p Park south and west of the N B. Harrow School C. Harrow Park conservation area is D. Sudbury Hill characterised by less elevated E. South Hill Ave land and more modern F. Mount park residential and commercial G. Roxeth Hill H. Harrow on the development. Roxeth Hill Hill Village therefore has a character quite distinct from surrounding conservation areas. 3. Planning Policy Context 3.1 The area was designated as a Conservation Area in 1969. This status means it is considered an area of 'special historic or architectural interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance'. The initial boundary, which remains today, 2 is illustrated in the map on page Area Supplementary Planning conservation area before the 5. Document, and within national late 18th century. However, it is policy provided by Planning known that the wider site of 3.2 Designation of a Policy Guidance Note 15 and Harrow Hospital was used in the conservation area puts a duty on the Planning (Listed Building and 16th century for archery. Just the local authority to assess the Conservation Areas) Act 1990. west of the Hospital, historic special interest of the maps note shooting butts, set up conservation area and to 4. Archaeology and Geology when Henry VIII decreed archery develop management and should be practiced by all. enhancement proposals. So, this 4.1 An archaeological priority Certainly the butts were in use Conservation Area Appraisal area covers part of the north for the 'Silver Arrow' archery (C.A.A.) evaluates the special east of this conservation area competition started by Sir Gilbert character and appearance of and is illustrated on the Talbot in 1684 that was held by the area and sets out 'Historical Development' map on Harrow School on the site each opportunities for preservation page 5. The linked document summer. and enhancement. This provides entitled 'Harrow on the Hill the basis for making sustainable Supplementary Planning 5.3 Late Eighteenth Century decisions about its future Document' consider archaeology Development during the late through the development of and geology for this 18th century was concentrated management proposals. These conservation area and the wider along Byron Hill Road and the are contained in the linked Harrow on the Hill area. parts of Middle Road nearest to document 'Roxeth Hill this (see historical development Management Strategy'. 5. Historical Development map on page 5). This was part of the Harrow on the Hill Village 3.3 It is important to note 5.1 Pre-Eighteenth Century expansion. The establishment of however, that no appraisal can The development of the the nearby Harrow School in the ever be completely conservation area should be early seventeenth century meant comprehensive and that the viewed in context with that of the the Village expanded to omission of a particular wider Hill. Records indicate that accommodate its growth over building, feature or open space the region belonged to the time. Please refer to the Harrow should not be taken to imply it is Saxon Kings of Mercia in the on the Hill Village Appraisal for of no interest. eighth century AD and it is more information on this. probable that the continuous 3.4 This appraisal and settlement of Harrow on the Hill 5.4 Early to Mid 19th management strategy can be set dates from this time. The area Century within broader Conservation was attractive for early Enclosure of common fields Area Policy guidance contained settlement due to its topography, along the bottom end of Middle in local policy for Harrow in the water sources and good Road, lower Road and Roxeth Adopted Harrow Unitary drainage. Hill took place and was Development Plan 2004 complete by 1817. This meant (HUDP), the emerging Local 5.2 Despite its archaeological land was divided into small plots Development Framework (LDF), importance, there is little and a number of cottages were Harrow on the Hill Conservation documented history for this formally laid out in a linear 3 Lower Road: Christ Early 19th Church, built Century Small- in 1862, set Scale Cottages back from the Resulting From main road enclosure amongst greenery pattern across along the bottom 5.7 Although Roxeth was 5.11 The pattern of institutional end of Middle Road, Lower becoming more suburban, and community development Road and Roxeth Hill (see photo Christ Church was built in 1862 also continued in order to serve above). This formed a centre, to reflect its country hamlet the increasing residential known as Roxeth Corner to the roots. So, it is surrounded by population. This also followed wider area of Roxeth (now South dense planting and is an the linear plan form begun by Harrow). Indeed, Roxeth Hill was exception to the mainly linear enclosure. The John Lyon first formally named in the development as it is set back School, built on the north side of Harrow Enclosure Award of from the main road (see photo Middle Road in 1876, is an 1817 as Roxeth Green Road. It above right). important example. Local needs acquired its present name by were no longer fulfilled by the 1889. 5.8 The above institutional and older foundation of Harrow community developments School. This later led to the 5.5 To service the need created marked the beginning of the Lower School of John Lyon by this residential development, area's long history as a location (1876) and also the school part of the growth was the for these types of developments. taking up occupation of the establishment of institutional and The school and the Church also earlier Red House (also known community uses, for instance, mark the start of the larger scale as Byron Hill House) opposite. The Half Moon (a conversion developments on the upper This was later extended by E.S. from two cottages) and the slopes. Prior. Similarly, greater demand White Horse public houses, and meant that the Roxeth First and several shops. The former 5.9 Late 19th Century Middle School was extended in gained its name from a nearby The majority of development 1898 by which time there were pond of that shape. Both pubs took place during the late 19th more than 600 pupils. were rebuilt in 1893 and 1959 century and onto the early 20th respectively. century. These comprise 5.12 Early 20th Century Edwardian villas, Arts and Crafts South Harrow Station opened in 5.6 Roxeth School (now Roxeth inspired buildings (terraces and South Hill Avenue, near the Nursery, First and Middle detached) and 1930s semi- present conservation area, in School) and Christ Church are detached properties. 1903. This was for the further examples of this pattern Metropolitan District Railway and of development. The former 5.10 Formal residential growth trains here ran to Hanger Lane moved to its present site in continued as demand increased. Junction where a connection 1838. The son of the great This occurred in linear form and could be caught to central Victorian philanthropist Lord along the slope of the land London.

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