Chilham Parish Design Statement 2 PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT 3

Contents Introduction

INTRODUCTION 3 An initiative was launched in 1996 by AB the then Countryside Commission (now Agency) to involve villages in their own LANDSCAPE 3 development and future planning. Landscape 1 CD Every village was encouraged to pro- CHILHAM duce its own Village Design Statement, and many have now done so. The Parish of Chilham lies in the valley uplands, narrow lanes, sunken paths, HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE VILLAGE 5 Cover photographs: of the River Stour between ancient woods and hedgerows, historic QUALITIES AND CHARACTER 8 A Surrounding countryside Chilham Parish Council set up a sub- and Ashford on the northern edge of the villages and distinctive wildlife. In the B Chilham committee in October 2001 to organise North Downs. Chilham village occupies a Parish, therefore, most of the views to C Old Wives Lees and implement a Design Statement for promontory in the river valley and is the south and west are over protected OLD WIVES LEES D Shottenden Chilham. Because the Parish comprises overlooked by Old Wives Lees and landscape: those to the north from Old HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE VILLAGE 11 three disparate villages, Chilham, Old Shottenden, situated on higher ground Wives and Shottenden are mostly over Wives Lees and Shottenden, within its QUALITIES AND CHARACTER 12 to the northeast and northwest, respec- areas lacking any protection and under boundaries, it elected to describe the tively. Chilham is located at the junction the control of three different local document as a Parish Design Statement. of the A28 (Ashford–Canterbury road) authorities. Between the two parks of SHOTTENDEN and the A252 (Maidstone–Canterbury In October 2002, following postal invi- Chilham and , along the road). Narrow lanes from the A252 con- HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE VILLAGE 14 tations to every household in the Parish boundary line, are exceptionally nect Chilham with Old Wives Lees and Parish, a Workshop was held in the fine views of Kentish landscape, espe- QUALITIES AND CHARACTER 14 Shottenden. Village Hall attended by sixty people. cially of the Godmersham Downs and Children at the primary school held a Due to its position, the Parish therefore mansion. FUTURE TECHNOLOGY 15 similar Workshop. lies just within the northern boundary of The North Downs Way runs through the the Downs Area of Outstanding The Parish Design Statement has been Parish from Mountain Street, Chilham, Natural Beauty (AONB). The Kent BIODIVERSITY 15 written in full consultation with resi- up Long Hill to Old Wives Lees and Downs have been protected by the 1949 dents and submitted to Ashford leaves the road near Pamphletts Green National Parks and Access to the Borough Council for adoption as sup- crossing the Parish boundary into CARE OF OLD AND LISTED BUILDINGS 15 Countryside Act, which enabled them to plementary planning guidance. Chartham and on to Canterbury. be designated in 1968 as an AONB, to According to archaeologists this is one protect their diverse landscape of chalk HOUSEHOLDERS’ OWN DESIGN ASSESSMENT 16 of the most important ‘ancient track- ways’ in Britain because it was a main 1 Views from Old Wives route by which early man gained access DESIGN GUIDELINES 17 Lees to Britain from the Continent. Along 2 North Downs Way at Mountain Street and Mountain Street, it coincides with the USEFUL CONTACTS 19 castle wall Pilgrims route to Canterbury.

The landscape of the Parish, with its vil- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 19 lages, downland, farmland, orchards and the river, lakes and water meadows along the Stour Valley, is characteristic of the Downs. There are extensive areas of deciduous woodland in the southeast, south, southwest and northwest of the Parish, of which the dominant species are oak, ash, beech, sweet chestnut and sycamore. At the end of Mountain Street, Kings Wood, a working forest of about 574 hectares (1418 acres) man- aged for deciduous and coniferous timber production, wildlife conservation and recreation by Forest Enterprise, is a treasured area of natural heritage in the Parish, a valuable resource for parish- 2 ioners and visitors. 4 CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT 5

History and Development er that century, now named Cumberland House. In the Square, the dominant of the Village house of Wealden Hall plan is what is now called Tudor Lodge and Talisman Pre-historic archaeological remains and shop, thought to have been built the Neolithic long barrow known as between 1370 and 1410. The original Julieberries Grave are confirmation of the farmhouse buildings of what is the White ancient habitation of Chilham for many Horse Inn public house are dated 1422. thousands of years. Evidence at the cas- tle exists of Roman foundations, thought The Norman castle was demolished in the to be a small hill fort; and the site was early seventeenth century and replaced subsequently occupied by Saxon kings. by a large red brick mansion, completed in l616 for Sir Dudley Digges, and reput- The modern village evolved from former edly designed by Inigo Jones. In the habitations which grew up around and eighteenth century, a great brick wall depended upon the castle for protection 1 enclosing the castle’s grounds was built, and employment. The church, built on separating the grounds from the village. Saxon foundations, is mentioned in the Domesday Book, and a list of its incum- The re-facing of the timber houses with bents starts in 1280. brickwork in the seventeenth and eigh- teenth centuries, plus the red brick wall The central core of the village forms a of the castle, changed the look of the vil- square on a small plateau between the lage from daub and plaster to church and the castle. It was created predominantly brick. Large dramatic during the great Tudor building era, chimneys were built. 2 probably built on many of the old exist- ing foundations. The then wealth of oak About 1820, the village school moved 1 An early house of Wealden Hall plan enabled substantial timber framed hous- from its class in the south porch of the 2 A brickwork re-faced es to be erected. In what is now The church to a small brick and stone timber house Street, the fifteenth century Burgoyne dressed building in School Hill. Extra 3 The May Fayre in 1 Chilham’s symbol of The upland areas of the Stour Valley The three villages are united by the Chilham Square a heron reflects its (which, like many houses in the Parish, classrooms were added in 1861 in a consist of chalk deposits overlain by landscape in which they lie and each vil- © Countryside long asociation with retains its historic name), with its large red and yellow brick building with Agency/Tina Stallard clay with flints, which provide the dis- lage has many treasured views. Any the ancient heronry pinched Wealden front, was a farm. a plate traceried window. 2 Fishing at Chilham tinctive soils of the North Downs. The new development should seek to pre- Lakes Opposite is another hall house, built lat- floor of the Stour Valley is composed of serve and respect these. alluvial soils deposited by the river over millennia. These deposits have long been economically “The promontory of the chalk downs, important as a source of gravel overlooking a bend in the River Stour, and a for the building industry and indeed straight view down to Canterbury half a dozen continue to be worked elsewhere miles away, was an important defensive in the valley. Chilham Lakes are position”. Pevsner N.E. and E. Kent. p.274 a legacy of earlier workings and this area is now a wild- fowl sanctuary and an 3 amenity much appreciated by walkers, bird-watchers and fishermen. The lakes, with their reed beds, fringing alder trees and poplar plantation, form a distinctive and beautiful landscape at the foot of the Downs, despite being 1 bounded on one side by the railway line 2 and the A28. 6 CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT 7

Outside the centre of the village, Hurst Ribbon development has occurred in Farm, at the end of Mountain Street, is Hambrook Lane, with a mixture of mod- by John Tradescant (senior), were In 1534, the church was left a legacy Grade I Listed and is the oldest and one ern and copybook design housing redesigned in the eighteenth century towards the construction of the great of the most important set of domestic styles. The flat roof of the doctor’s sur- under the guidance of Capability Brown perpendicular west tower, 68 feet tall, gery built about 1960, now looks out of buildings in the Parish. and include a fine terrace leading down which dominates the village to great keeping in Chilham. A fire station was to a fishing lake. effect. It is chequered with flint and local Gradually, with increased population, built at the bottom of Taylors Hill and a stone and also contains some Roman many of the large dwellings were sub- police house in Bagham Lane. Recent After its sale in l949, the fabric of the bricks or tiles. It has magnificent view of divided; infill between the existing additions to the village include the building gradually deteriorated. On its the Downs, the beautiful Stour Valley, buildings led to a more compact village Sports Hall in 1998 and, in 2002, one of re-sale in 1997, the new owner under- and even of the Bell Harry Tower of and in the nineteenth century more cot- the war-time air raid shelters at the took restoration work. As English Canterbury Cathedral. tages for estate workers were built in school was converted to a classroom Heritage was not involved, much of this Mountain Street and Hambrook Lane. and ICT suite for use by the school and required re-visiting and when the castle The clock was made in 1727 but had no Clements Cottage was built at the the community. minute hand until 1790. The fine peal of 1 was again sold in 2002, a major restora- entrance to the churchyard. tion was undertaken, and completed in eight bells weighs nearly four tons alto- The village has two public houses, the October 2004. The main gates have gether. The twentieth century saw the final for- White Horse Inn and the Woolpack Inn, been altered to enable the house to be malisation of the Square with the and is the only one of the three villages foundations of a much older Anglo- Chilham Mill seen, so re-connecting it visually to the erection in l922 of the paired castle to have retained some shops including Saxon fortification, possibly dating from Square. Chilham Mill is located between the River gatehouses, designed by Sir Herbert the Post Office. the fifth century. There is evidence of Stour and a carrier stream and has been 1 earlier Roman habitation in the vicinity. Baker. Later, in the l930s, several hous- The gardens too are being restored. situated at the mill race for many cen- The village remains relatively unspoilt, Stonemasons and carpenters from es were built which have strong Arts and The landscape historian John Phibbs turies. The present mill is thought to but constant vigilance to retain its beau- Canterbury Cathedral have recently Crafts attention to detail. has researched and written the history stand on the site of a Saxon mill and is ty is required. The Parish values its restored the fireplace canopy and of the park and garden, and his results the last survivor of the six mills record- In the 1930s, Sir Edmund Davis had an history and the recording of archaeolog- doors, and installed appropriate iron- will inform the planned restoration. The ed in the Domesday Book. extension constructed to the seven- ical investigations at buildings and work. The donkey house over the well is avenue of lime trees destroyed in the teenth century rear wing at the back of landscape when work is being undertak- also listed. The present building was rebuilt in the 1987 gale was apparently replanted Belke House built in the Tudor style, pro- en should be encouraged. mid-nineteenth century, and is consid- with an incorrect species. The front of viding a large classroom for the school. The Grade I Listed Jacobean building, ered to be the best preserved of its kind and keep the house is being replanted with sin- At this time he also undertook changes now known as Chilham Castle, was in the South of . It is known as a The Norman keep (under separate own- gle trees to replace the feeling of a in the Square, and many of the brick constructed in 1616 for Sir Dudley French mill as the six pairs of grinding ership from the castle), Grade I Listed, park. facades were removed and windows Digges. It is one of the finer mansions stones came from France. It ceased pro- was built for King Henry II and dates in the South-East and commands changed. The estate since 1949 has greatly dimin- duction in l934 and nowadays is a from 1174 but archaeological excava- exceptional views across the Stour 2 ished in acreage. However, the pumping station. Post-war development tions suggest that it stands on the Valley. The gardens, originally laid out remaining grounds constituting the It is a striking building of brick and Much new development has occurred major part of the Chilham Conservation 1 St Mary’s Church since the sale of the castle estate in white clapboard, with an adjoining low 2 Chilham Mill and mill race 1 1820 new school Area include an ancient avenue of chest- 3 Engraving showing 1949. A crisis arose for local people brick miller’s house. The mill is a splen- 2 Hurst Farm, the nuts, a lake and heronry. An appraisal of Chilham Castle: the didly restored piece of English industrial when the houses they had inhabited as oldest dwelling in Norman keep and the Parish ecological interests by Landscape tenants and employees were sold. heritage. seventeenth century 3 1980 dwellings for Architects dated 2003 notes the exten- house retired residents sive area of “lowland wood-pasture and The first group of buildings to be built 4 1953 Herons Close historic parkland, included in the Kent was Herons Close in 1953. Great atten- Biodiversity Action plan as priority habi- tion was paid to this first new local tat”. The eighteenth century wall authority building in Chilham; its surrounding the estate is an important 3 design won an award at the time. feature but listed only down School Hill 2 The second phase, Felborough Close, and on either side of the gatehouses. Its although using bricks and clay tiles, loss would be greatly regretted by the used 1960s pattern book designs of village, however, the present owners are suburban scale, with no reference to maintaining it under the Countryside location or traditions of the area. Stewardship Scheme.

The third phase of building (1980s) of St Mary’s Church brick and tiled low dwellings for elderly There has probably been a church on the residents, sits appropriately at the foot site since the seventh century. The pres- of Felborough Close; its scale and ent church, built of flint in the English grouping has been placed thoughtfully Perpendicular style, is of an unusual size 3 4 in the landscape. for a relatively small village. 8 CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT 9

frames painted black and opening and irregular way. Evidence of such win- rows. Burgoyne still retains its original Qualities and Character lights painted white. The houses gener- dows remains in some of the old houses shaped hall house roof without chim- ally front directly on to the streets, where they have been filled in. neys. Slate is little used. The Square and the with only the occasional small front Conservation Area garden behind low walls or timber pal- The seventeenth and eighteenth centu- Walls and boundaries The village still retains the appearance of ing fences. High warm red stock brick ry brick facing of dwellings enabled the The red brick wall partially surrounding a strategic settlement rising from the walls surround the castle with occa- enlargement of windows to be made the castle estate is a strong element. It rural Stour valley, crowned by its church sional gateways leading to the castle or and their arrangement formalised. is listed only down School Hill and on and castle, surrounded by the huddled other properties, which were once part Classically proportioned sash windows either side of the gatehouses, and these roofs of its mediaeval houses. Recent of the estate. Most of the roads have or casements were often inserted. sections are in good repair. The low brick housing running down the east side of views closed by buildings but occasion- wall opposite, on the boundary of Castle The large two storeyed bay window of the hill on which the settlement stands ally, as on School Hill, vistas open up Oak, continues the theme round into the Woolpack Inn was built in the nine- has not, so far, detracted from the sense across the Downs. Hambrook Lane. 1 teenth century, with stone mullions and 1 of the village as an island. Narrow steep a stone battlemented parapet. In the Square itself, the frontage of lanes rising from the valley emerge, one Chilham’s special sense of place is at most of the houses is about one metre. to each corner, into a unique and beauti- present preserved by orchards, woods Clements Cottage has triangular leaded Boundaries are characterised by link ful square, formed by mediaeval houses and trees surrounding the village. lights in iron frames, as do some other chain and posts, picket fences and low on its north and south sides, and the Characteristic features properties. The back of Belke House, walls or planters. entrance to the castle on the west and clearly visible down School Hill, has the church and graveyard on the east. Materials modern coarsely proportioned fanlight The post-war houses of Felborough Most of the buildings in the Square and The palette of materials and colours windows. Close all have front gardens, with gen- in the four streets leading to it are black used in Chilham is restrained. The dis- erous swathes of public grass in front of 2 and white, half timbered structures, tinctive red bricks and clay tiles have The windows in some houses in the many of the dwellings. some faced with brick. Almost all are ensured a visual cohesion of the village. Square were restored during the twen- 1 The Old Vicarage: listed buildings and the greater part of Red brick faced houses and their chim- tieth century and have rubbed brick Street furniture stone Venetian the village is a Conservation Area, under mullions and labels. Timber oriels were The Square, has in the past been window over stone neys, red tiled roofs, and occasionally pediment of the 1972 Act. Chilham Square is consid- hung tiles, form a warm counterpoint to inserted in several houses at about this marred by the use of inappropriate, 2x doorcase ered by many to be one of the most the now stained black timbers and white time. The mid-twentieth century houses poorly designed contemporary planters 2 Woolpack Inn perfectly preserved mediaeval settings in built for castle estate staff, such as and it is hoped that the street furniture 3 White Horse Inn infill panels of the other buildings. the country but is currently predomi- Belwether and Castle Oak, have rectan- would be appropriate for a Conservation nantly used as a car park. Chilham Flint has receded as an important mate- gular leaded lights in iron frames. Area with the use of wood and cast iron. Parish Council has set up a committee rial, and now occurs only in the Norman which is working to improve the appear- keep, the church, a few remaining Doors and door frames Lighting ance and function of the Square. plinths on which the timber frames A few original and some reproduction The Square is at present lit effectively stand, and some walls. Stone is used mediaeval shaped door frames remain, from individual properties; this creates Roofs within the Conservation Area are sparingly, as roughly dressed blocks in namely at the Talisman shop, Vergers a natural and rather magical effect, largely steeply pitched with clay tiles the keep, the chequered decoration in Lodge and Cumberland House. Little especially when the church is floodlit. It and a variety of red brick chimneys. the church tower, as dressings to win- Belke has a four centred basket arch. would be regrettable if this level was Windows are normally timber sashes or dows and doors in the castle and its Doors require replacing over the years, increased. An orange street light at the timber casements, often with the and many in Chilham are of nineteenth bottom of School Hill lights it sufficient- 3 gatehouses, and a few other buildings. 3x century plank and stud design. Some ly, especially as it is supplemented with There are a few examples of painted good examples of appropriate replace- lighting from the school and Castle weather boarding which is not a charac- ments are seen in Taylors Hill and Oak. Felborough Close necessarily has teristic feature of the village but there Church Hill. a high level of lighting in a suburban are several examples of painted brick- rather than rural manner. All light fit- work in Chilham, notably on the two Porches tings should be appropriate to a public houses. The predominant form of porch in the Conservation Area. centre of Chilham is a flat lead covered The character of the mediaeval Square hood, occasionally with moulded sur- Trees Chilham is particularly rich in mature is marred by its surface which is grey rounds, supported on brackets. Elsewhere 4 patched municipal tarmac. the porches are mostly of brick. trees. Its entrance along The Avenue is lined on each side with full grown limes, Windows Roofs and chimneys and there is also a row of extremely tall 1 Brick porch 2 Doorway at Belke The windows in the village are extreme- The huddled roofs and dramatic brick and dramatic limes by Herons Close. House ly varied and reflect the changes that chimneys are a strong architectural fea- The pleached limes in front of 3 Doorway at the have been made to the houses over the ture of Chilham. The warm orange hue Cumberland House are an unusual fea- Talisman shop 4 Early nineteenth centuries. Original mediaeval windows of the Kent peg tiles is a cohesive and ture. The ancient yew in the churchyard century Clements were high and small and placed between distinctive feature of the village. Some has died but still stands; a young Cottage the timber framing, often in an informal roofs have decorative ‘fish tail’ tiles in replacement has been planted. 10 CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT 11

Entrances to Chilham (c) Canterbury entrance to (a) Mountain Street Chilham A28 Mountain Street is on the North Downs The listed toll cottage now called Way and is an exceptionally beautiful Shalmsford Bridge Cottage is on the Kentish lane. There is a sense of leaving boundary of the Parish. It is linked to an eighteenth century exterior on what habitation behind and fine views open Chilham by ribbon development – both History and Development housing and light industry. Approaching is probably an older building. up across the wide floodplain of the of the Village River Stour to the wooded Julieberrie Bagham Cross Junction (A28/A252), the Around 30 cottages date from the late Downs beyond. The orchard and copse station, The Alma Inn and former rail- Old Wives Lees is a small village of eighteenth and early nineteenth cen- which mark the beginning of the rural way cottages, were joined later by around 240 houses located approxi- turies, though several have been added edge of the village should be protected. buildings for the Chilham Gas mately one mile north of Chilham, to in more recent years, some quite sub- Mountain Street closely follows the cas- Consumers Co. Ltd. The gasometers arranged around a crossroads and tran- stantially. tle estate’s boundary; its immense red were demolished in the l930s and the 1 sected by the North Downs Way. The brick wall runs on one side for about a land and orchards sold. The Chilham settlement (then named Ealdewode) The 1908 edition of the Ordnance quarter of a mile. Fruit Stall was built subsequently, was certainly known in the thirteenth Survey six inch map records a chapel (in together with the adjacent building, addition to the Methodist Church built in A mostly linear development of 14 century. While there exists a variety of now an agricultural and garden machin- 1868) and a smithy. These have subse- dwellings commences where the castle theories as to the origin of the name, ery business. quently been turned into private wall ends. There are Victorian workers the village was called Old Wyves Lease dwellings, as have two oast house com- 1 cottages and three Grade II Listed build- The area has become the light industri- in 1610, and it appears with the pres- plexes. The Mission (now village) Hall ings: Heron Manor, Monckton Manor and al estate of Chilham and includes three ent spelling in the first edition of the was built in 1904, originally as a parish April Cottage. At Monckton Manor there second-hand car businesses. This Ordnance Survey map (1801). It is room. The map suggests that there were is an especially good example of an approach to Chilham has a large num- doubted, however, whether it was ever around 35 dwelling houses in the village appropriate new garage in relation to a ber of poles, overhead wires and cables a main pilgrim route, despite the pres- at the turn of the century as well as a timber framed medieval house. Also of and a confusion of business signs. ent-day long-distance path, since a number of farm buildings, but this figure interest are the former gamekeeper’s lower and easier route (probably along may underestimate the size of the vil- and estate manager’s houses. Pilgrims Lane lies high above the A28 the present Pilgrims Lane) would have and is separated from it by long steep been preferable to one involving a lage at this time. Allowing for such an gardens. The ancient narrow lane is underestimate, approximately 60 fur- 2 2 (b) Dane Street and the steep climb from Chilham and then a north-west of Chilham built up, with a mixture of houses and route along what one author has called ther houses were built between the late There are isolated pockets of dwellings bungalows. The dwellings command “the damp and northern side of a nineteenth century and the middle of 1 Whittington and the twentieth century, some mirroring Rosecroft cottages running perpendicular to the A252, sep- views of the valley and its lakes to the loamy hill”. 2 Dwellings in arated by fields with attractive views up Downs beyond. earlier cottage developments while oth- converted oast to the Downs on either side of the road. The oldest buildings in the village date ers show more of a ‘villa’ style. houses At Bagham Cross lies an old farmhouse from the eighteenth century and are 3 Stowe Cottage Dane Street, on the course of the origi- 4 North Court Fruit with its barn. The latter has been con- Since the end of the Second World War, nal road from to Chilham, is the either farmhouses or small cottages. Of Farm the village has doubled in size with the largest of these hamlets, with an attrac- verted recently for business use. The the farmhouses, Upper Ensign House addition of approximately 125 houses. tive group of houses including the derelict old sawmill site continues to (which is sited away from the main vil- About 50 are individual constructions, 3 castle’s former Dower House and Dane remain undeveloped; its eventual lage) was mentioned as belonging to infilling along the line of the four main Court Farm, as well as Tavern Cottage, a appearance will be an important aspect Corpus Christi College Oxford by roads which structure the village and fifteenth century half timbered hall of the approach to Chilham. Thomas Heron in his 1791 Antiquities of house. One interesting local feature is Chilham. Lower Ensden Farmhouse (also (d) Entrance from Ashford A28 the ornate dormers to the same pattern situated away from the main village) has This valley route into Chilham runs as found on cottages at the end of Dane from the Parish boundary with 4 Street and on the opposite side of the Godmersham through woods and main road at Dane Court Farm. There is meadows, and alongside the River also a prominent and attractive brick wall Stour where it is lined with alder and running up the side of Dane Street simi- 4 willow trees. East Stour Farmhouse and lar to that found on Mountain Street on its converted barns, are located at the the opposite side of the village. The tight 1 Entrance to Chilham last point to which the Stour was at one grouping of houses and converted farm coming from time navigable. The Beeches gypsy site Canterbury buildings, with Kent peg roofs, blend into and the sewage works are situated fur- 2 Looking up Taylors their wooded valley locations well and Hill towards village ther on. The view of the village opens this local character should be preserved. 3 Inappropriate sign up over the bridge across the water to centre of the village The wood at the bottom of Taylors Hill in meadows. Just before Bagham Cross 4 Entrance to Chilham Chilham is an important entrance to the Junction and next to the old sawmill from the A252 village from the A252, and also provides site, there is a series of light industrial 3 2 a valuable wildlife habitat. buildings and houses. 12 CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT 13

adding to what was already an eclectic Some of the village houses are quite orchards, soft fruit beds and arable there are few instances of sash windows range of styles. A further 75 houses have substantial whilst others are modest in fields to Shottenden and Perry Wood. and the lack of coherence is regretted. been built since the War in specific public size, but all have large gardens. A key From Long Hill and the Village Green Doors and private developments dating from feature is space between buildings and, are views of Mystole and Stone Street. There are some fine examples of wood- early 1950s to the 1990s reflecting the in particular, front gardens enclosed by Entrances to Old Wives Lees are via en panelled doors, but there is a large styles of each period. Two groups (12 and low level boundary finishes, which do steep hills and very narrow lanes, which variety of styles and materials through- 10) of council houses were built in Cobbs not obstruct the view of the houses, or are characteristic of the area. The lanes out the village. Hill in the early 1950s. The Paddock, a of the views beyond to the Downs and are unsuited to heavy traffic and help grouping of 14 dwellings, of which eight the woods. They have either Kent peg retain the rural character of the village. Roofs and chimneys are bungalows for elderly people, was or slate roofs and have their own vil- Orchards, arable land, hop gardens and Roofing materials are mostly a mix of built around this time. Shrimpton Close is lage style and character. These include woodland surround the village. They heather clay or concrete tiles and a grouping of 10 dwellings built in the Rochester Villas, the two oast houses, retain the agricultural aspect of the vil- slate; a few have Kent peg tiles and late 1980s by a housing association as Chapel House and Shepherd’s Rise. 1 lage and provide an important ‘break’ one cottage is thatched. Most 1 ‘local needs’ housing. Ten private houses Some have ornate carved wood fea- between Old Wives Lees, Chilham and dwellings have a chimney, the majority – Northdown Close – were built in the tures, for example, Willow Cottages, Shottenden. Hawkins Rough wood is a of which are plain. early 1980s, while Cherry Orchard a and ornate brick detailing, such as the key example of this as well as providing grouping of 19 houses was built in 1997. Methodist Church, and some, such as Boundaries a haven for wildlife. The Star Inn and Cork Farm Cottages, The type of boundary used can change Old Wives Lees still has a strong agricul- are part clad with dark stained timber, the character of a village. Traditionally in tural identity with several working farms Characteristic features giving them real distinction. Old Wives Lees low picket fencing with close to the housing in the village. native species hedging and low front Materials The District Council built houses in Cobbs walls with planting are most frequently Walls are mostly warm heather/soft red 2 Qualities and Character Hill reflect the architectural character of seen. Iron gates are also a feature. the village. The views from these hous- brick. Nearly all buildings are of one brick colour only. Ebony stained weath- 1 The Star Inn es to the Village Green as well as from Lighting While, at first sight Old Wives Lees erboarding with brick is featured in a The village has some footpath lighting, but 2 View from the the Green to these houses are important Mount to appears a sprawl of houses around a number of the village houses and a fine and complete the setting of that part of fortunately has avoided light pollution. Shottenden crossroads, in fact the village contains example is at The Star Inn. Some prop- 3 Window in oast the village. Some less pleasing modern many buildings of real architectural val- erties are brick and hung with plain Power lines house 2 development has been interspersed with 4 Willow Cottages ue. Some examples of fine substantial tiles in a similar colour to the brick, Unfortunately power lines are mostly over- the houses of character but, despite buildings around the village include Cork such as Rochester villas. head, however, recently cables were these unfortunate occurrences, the vil- 1 Lees Terrace Farm, Ensign House, Lower Ensden placed underground in the southern part of 2 Play equipment on Farmhouse, North Court, Phyllis Farm lage has managed to retain an Windows the village, which is a great improvement. Village Green identifiable character of its own. 3 Methodist Church and Thorpe Oast Farmhouse. In slightly Over recent years many of the original different ways they are characteristic leaded lights have been removed, but The Village Green was constructed in East Kent farmhouses – Kent pegs with there are still some fine examples at 1 4 1997, adding to the central focus of the varied roof-lines, chimneys and red Willow Cottages, Rose Croft and village provided by the Village Hall, the brick. All are in spacious settings reflect- Honeypot Cottage and leaded lights have Star Inn and Cashel. ing their importance in the village. been replicated in some of the more Much of the village of Old Wives Lees recent houses on Selling Road, Lower lies within the AONB, emphasising the Lees Road, Cobbs Hill and Cherry national recognition of the landscape Orchard. Windows divided into small quality. The many extensive and panes are mostly used in the village; 3 panoramic views seen from the village are to be treasured. In a southerly direction, viewed from many parts of Old Wives Lees and especially from Cobbs Hill are the beautiful Downs. From much of Lower Lees Road, Lower Ensden and the north of the village are views across to Sandwich. Also from the north of the village and the Mount, which is now a Conservation Walk Area, the Swale Estuary, Sheppey and, on a clear day, Essex can be viewed. Looking to the west from Grove Lane and New Forest Lane are the most splendid near 3 and distant views sweeping across 14 CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT 15

Future Biodiversity

The decline in agriculture has reduced History and Development The Parish has a wealth of natural the numbers employed drastically and technology habitats, including Kings Wood and of the Village changed the type of residents. The Chilham Lakes. Through the plan- great majority now go elsewhere for Future technology is having more ning process, the Parish wishes to Formed by its links with farming that go employment relying on their own trans- impact on the external appearance protect, conserve and enhance the back many years, some of the 80 port. of buildings. Solar panels, satellite diversity of its wildlife. dwellings of Shottenden are located on dishes, radio masts and receivers either side of a narrow high street, There is a range of houses, from listed are becoming more common but Planning applications should con- which arose when there were sufficient farm buildings to modern bungalows. they can seem out of place in the sider the Kent Biodiversity Action numbers of villagers to support the now There has been no major development village setting. Plan. This should apply not only to defunct public house, Post Office store, since the early 1970s and there is designated areas but also other Methodist chapel and Church of England unlikely to be without improvements in Planning consent is needed in the land of wildlife conservation value. Mission Hall, which were well used. The the village infrastructure. For example, Conservation Area for satellite The Parish has a tree warden who remaining dwellings are scattered the village no longer has a Post Office, dishes, etc. The Parish has tried to can advise on the care of trees, around the four major farms, whose public house, village hall or shop and 1 resist several mobile phone masts, their pruning and their removal, intensively cropped fruit and hops pro- has only a limited bus service. Also the the ones we have are unsightly and and also where consent is needed. vided employment and housing. village is not on main drainage. intrusions into the landscape. Characteristic features 1 Water meadows There were possibly twelve other small There is an important public right of way 2 Although scarce in many parts of East Kent, farms in the early twentieth century, linking Shottenden to neighbouring There is a mix of building styles and mistletoe occurs commonly in the Parish 12 many of the names of which survive on Chilham via Dane Street. materials. the houses today. Today the main farms Materials are Cock Farm, Hares Farm, Howletts Walls are mainly red brick. There are Farm and Newhouse Farm. Qualities and Character areas with white weatherboarding, Care of old and listed property which is a particular feature of the high Shottenden has a small number of prin- street, and a few buildings built of flint cipal old character houses of red brick Extensions, alterations, decoration ally leads to a general degradation of the Cumberland House in Chilham and its with brick dressings. construction with Kent peg roof tiles and maintenance are particularly historical appearance of the village. unstained timbers are considered a important. Guidelines are produced Traditional materials and methods, such desirable example. Directly opposite interspersed with smaller dwellings once Roofs by the Conservation Office at as lime washes, mortar and plaster, and is Burgoyne, which was ‘restored’ in farmhouses in their own right. Roofs are peg tile to a steep pitch and slate , and the materials that enable the old timbers, the late l940s and its timbers painted Throughout the hamlet are many former and concrete tile to a shallower pitch. tied cottages and a few council houses Society for Protection of Ancient infill panels and brickwork to breathe, black, as too its red brick and flint Buildings (SPAB). Day to day inap- should be used. Modern oil-based finish- foundations. Apart from the loss of 2 now privately owned with their individ- Boundaries ual style. All the houses are pre-1975 Boundaries are mainly hedging but propriate maintenance with es trap moisture, and close inspection of the subtle natural colours, any rot or and are built of brick or weatherboard, there are some walls and close spaced unsuitable modern materials gradu- many of the ancient houses in Chilham damage and the history of the build- 1 Oast house roofs at Howletts Square, for instance, reveal rotting junc- ing is concealed. There also are Farm these factors have contributed to boarding. There are some flint and 2 Chapel converted to a dwelling Shottenden retaining its rural character. brick walls. tions patched with concrete building up similar practical reasons against 3 View towards village of further problems. The Parish is rich in painted brickwork. Shottenden and its setting 3 old timber framed properties, outside the Conservation Area, but which require the same guidelines; SPAB has observed that there is a crisis in the state of old timber framed buildings due to their being almost too cared for, but by inappropriate methods.

Since the nineteenth century it has become fashionable to stain the timbers 3 of old houses. Historically these were untreated, the oak acquiring a natural 3 Cumberland House and Cumberland weathered beauty. Sometimes they Cottage were limewashed. English Heritage 4 4 Burgoyne supervised the restoration of 16 CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT 17

Householders’ own design assessment

If you are considering altering doors or e) Consider the changes you have in mind When considering new applications for windows, building a new garage, adding – do they prejudice the distinctive Parish Design mobile phone masts, etc., in the future, a conservatory or porch, inserting characteristics and details you have rooflights or dormers, or changing any consideration needs to be given to pro- noted? If so, examine other ways of Due to the location of the three vil- other external features of your property, tecting the views and landscape, which conserving the irreplaceable heritage. lages on hills within the AONB, any the following steps may help you to are so valued by the Parish. Locations proposed new development in the vil- should avoid the AONB. Masts, etc. achieve the best results. f) It is advisable not to make decisions lages must be considered for its impact should be in muted colours appropriate on the position of new windows a) Research the age and history of your on the landscape viewed outwards from to the surroundings and be screened by entirely from a consideration of inter- house, and attempt to find old photo- the villages, and conversely towards existing foliage. The use of disguise nal arrangements. Their size, design graphs. If your building is listed, you the villages. should be considered. and proportion to the elevation can can get a brief description of it from make or mar the appearance and his- The ancient narrow lanes leading into Ashford Borough Council Planning 1 toric value of the dwelling. the villages are an essential part of the 1 Department, the local Reference Village Design Neighbouring windows in a terrace area. Their existing character should be Library, or the National Monuments may have a homogeneity which respected and any new development Record, which holds information and Earlier in the text we mentioned the should be continued. should not detract from that. sometimes early photographs. character of the villages, this should be retained and enhanced through the use g) Finally, before submitting an application Oast houses and their kilns should be b) Stand some way back from the of quality design and appropriate mate- for Listed Building Consent, consult preserved as a testimony to the agri- frontage of the property. Note dis- rials; local distinctiveness should be Ashford Borough Council Conservation cultural background of the Parish. tinctive features and, separately, retained. Officer, or an architect, and ask those that seem to be recent and out Any tree planting should be with whether they agree with your Design The character of the entrances to the of character with the building’s histo- native species appropriate to the area Assessment, or can suggest any villages should be protected and retained ry and with surrounding properties; and the planting of C. leylandii and improvements to it. Interiors of listed in any new development. take photographs. other non-native conifers should be buildings are also protected by law. The discouraged as they are not character- 1 Council has useful guidelines also for The scale of new buildings should be c) Stand close to the property and do istic of the Parish. Native broadleaf shop fronts and barn conversions. appropriate to that site and not over- species are to be preferred, specifically 2 the same, but study the details of the whelm their neighbouring surroundings. windows, doors, eaves, etc. those native to the Kent Downs and/or h) Some restrictions may also apply to endangered species such as Sorbus New building work on existing proper- unlisted properties that stand within d) Repeat these processes for each ele- torminalis (wild service tree). Beech ties or disused farm buildings should be the Conservation Area. It is wise to vation of the property; and refer to (Fagus sylvatica) hedging along lanes in proportion to the size of the original check whether you need permission the guidance give in this Design is a distinctive feature throughout the building, retaining its original style and before starting work. Guide. Parish and ought to be protected and using matching materials. 3 new planting encouraged. A POLICY OF MINIMAL INTERVENTION New developments and extensions AND SIMPLICITY OF DESIGN IS NEARLY When new works are carried out, the should make an appropriate contribution ALWAYS APPROPRIATE. opportunity should be taken to put all to the villages’ sense of identity. Old power cables and telephone wires properties throughout the Parish should 1 underground. retain the character of their age and period including their windows and Any alterations to the light industrial doors. Care should be taken when build on the A28 must be of appropri- 1 Rear elevation of old extending terraces to match windows ate scale, well landscaped, and of house in Chilham and doors with the original design. 2 Learning early to design and materials appropriate to the 1 Chimneys and appreciate their built local detailing gateway to Chilham as outlined earlier environment; pupils Chilham Square is at present lit 2 Local materials of St Mary’s School in this document. effectively from individual properties. It 2 at their Parish would be regrettable if this level was Design Statement Rationalisation and co-ordination of Workshop increased. All future street lighting signage on the highways is encour- 3 Cottages in Church should have downward light direction aged. Proliferation of unnecessary Hill to prevent light pollution. signs should be avoided. Size and appropriateness to the historic setting In the past, inappropriate street furni- should be borne in mind. ture has been used in Chilham Square. 2 2 18 CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT CHILHAM PARISH DESIGN STATEMENT 19

More traditional styles and materials the Conservation Area. The materials with pitched tiled roof. Flat roofed, pre- such as cast iron and wood should be used to build them, and their historic fabricated, concrete, mass-produced Useful Contacts Acknowledgements used. joinery, contribute to the character of types are not acceptable as they are not the area. The use of plastic or very mod- in keeping with the character of the Ashford Borough Council Planning and This project was partly funded by Kent Rural ern timber windows and doors in Parish. Conservation Officers Community Council’s Initiatives in Rural Kent grant Buildings Design refurbishment, maintenance and exten- Civic Centre scheme. sions can destroy the local ambience. The character of pavements, street Tannery Lane The Committee is grateful for the financial No alterations to buildings, back or Where the traditional light coloured lime furniture in driveways and access roads Ashford contributions to the publication of this Design front should be undertaken without fol- mortar has been used on one of these should reflect the existing areas in the Telephone 01233 637311 Statement made by: L.W. Hackney and Mrs Brunger; lowing the guidelines listed in this historic houses, the use of modern ‘grey villages. Appropriate materials for pave- Dennis Buggins (Restoration) Ltd; Mr and Mrs C. Design Statement. coloured’ mortar on new work or refur- ments and driveways include pea Society for the Protection of Ancient List; Alan Baker; Robert Brett and Sons; Mr and Mrs bishment can look inappropriate. shingle on hoggin in light use areas, Buildings (SPAB) The variety of angles and pitches has brick and blockwork where appropriate. 37 Spital Square Hogg; Helen Kirwan. created interesting and historic roofs- Care needs to be taken in the location Plain concrete drives should be avoided. London capes, which should be reflected in any The Committee is most grateful to Valerie Howe and of solar panels, aerials, satellite dishes, El 6DY new development. Boundaries should be of natural Chris King for editing and design. radio masts and receivers and where Telephone: 0207 377 1644 species planting or low chain-link possible they should be sited to the rear E-mail: [email protected] Committee members: A. Baker (Chairman); Appropriate materials for each village fences, low picket fences, low brick walls of properties and out of sight, especially Website: www.spab.org.uk P. Aylward; R. Berry; G. Davis; T. Dawes; should be used for roofs, such as clay with natural species planting in order to in the Conservation Area. D. Holbrook (Treasurer); H. Kirwan; N. Lee Evans; tiles of local colour in the Conservation retain the rural aspect of the villages. Heritage Information Exchange C. List (Clerk); J. Marriott; R. Palmar; P. O’Shea; Area or slate and clay tiles in Old Wives Garages should relate to the period of Brickwork walls, some with flintwork, l5 Kensington Palace Gardens J. Pickett; A. Rogers; J. Smith; T. Wheeler; M. Wilson. Lees and Shottenden. the house they adjoin. Construction are a strong Parish feature and should London should be of brick and tile, or timber, be encouraged. Extensions using flat roofs are to be W8 4QG avoided. Telephone: 0207 243 5888 E-mail: [email protected] Walls should be constructed with fac- ing brickwork of local colour and detail National Monuments Record Centre as described earlier. Hung tiles should (NMRC) be clay and in a colour used elsewhere English Heritage locally. Painted weatherboarding is not a Great Western Village local feature of the Parish and should be Kemble Drive discouraged. Swindon SN2 2GZ New plate glass windows and fan- Telephone: 01793 414600 lights, which replace sash or casements, E-mail: [email protected] can quickly remove the character and Website: www.english-heritage.org.uk history of a house, whether an ancient timber frame or Victorian villa. Mass- produced joinery or plastic windows with fanlights and plate glass, with or without ‘leaded’ lights, should be avoided. Sash or casements to be used where appro- priate, with two or three lights, simply divided and set into brickwork with seg- mental arched brick lintels. Outside the Conservation Area, windows should be of high quality and in a style that best reflects the character of that locality, and in keeping with the original windows of the house or terrace.

Where the rear elevation of a property is visible from the highways and foot- paths, it is recommended that as much thought is given to it as to the façade, during alterations to the property.

The villages have many pleasant his- toric houses, which are not listed nor in