Great Offley

North Hertfordshire District Council Great Offley

Conservation Area Character Statement

Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions UK Limited – September 2019

3 © Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions UK Limited

Contents

Background 4 1.1 Introduction 4 1.2 Setting of the Conservation Area 4 1.3 Historical Development 4

2. Character and Special Interest 5 2.1 Character 5 2.2 Statement of Special Interest 6

3. Key Assets and Views 7 3.1 Designated Heritage Assets 7 Listed Buildings 7 3.2 Non-designated Heritage Assets 8 Buildings of Local Interest 8 Buildings or Features that make a positive contribution to the character or appearance of the conservation area 8 3.3 Key Views 8

4. Opportunities for Improvement 9

5. Bibliography 10

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Background

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 Great Offley Conservation Area was designated by North Hertfordshire District Council in 1969 and its boundary was amended in 1984 and 1990. The boundary includes Kings Walden Road and properties facing onto it, short stretches of roads leading off Kings Walden Road, and the group of buildings around Westbury Farm Close and School Lane immediately west of Luton Road/Offley Hill.

1.1.2 This report has been produced for the purpose of appraising the character of Great Offley Conservation Area. It includes a character assessment highlighting key features, a statement of special interest, a list of designated heritage assets, non-designated heritage assets and key views within the Conservation Area, and opportunities for improvement. It is accompanied by an annotated map of the Conservation Area which can be found in Appendix A. This report does not consider potential boundary changes in the Conservation Area.

1.2 Setting of the Conservation Area

1.2.1 The south and east of Great Offley Conservation Area are dominated by expansive, open agricultural and parkland associated with Offley Place, and in near views the church and churchyard, which stands with open countryside to its rear in filtered views. A significant amount of development has taken place since 1945 on the western side of Great Offley outside the Conservation Area boundary which runs in part along the kerb line on the west side of Kings Walden Road. The north part of the Conservation Area, north of Luton Road/Offley Hill centres on Westbury Farm Close with its former farmhouse, listed barns and modern barns added in a similar style. It extends north-east to the opposite side of School Lane.

1.3 Historical Development

1.3.1 The name of at least the parish of Offley is supposed to derive from the establishment here by King Offa of Mercia of a palace in the 8th century. However, this cannot be verified and it was not extant by the time of the Domesday Survey, in which Offley is listed as a very large settlement of 66 households. Offley Place, which incorporates part of the former manor house of Offley St Ledger, and the partly 13th century Church of St Mary Magdalene, stand in the centre of the present village.

1.3.2 The village appears to have grown up between the church and the main Luton to Hitchin Road to the north, largely confined to this small area off Kings Walden Road until the 20th century when it was expanded to the west, although this modern housing lies outside the Conservation Area boundary. On some maps, the north of the Conservation Area is labelled as Offley and the southern part Great Offley.

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2. Character and Special Interest

2.1 Character

2.1.1 Great Offley is essentially a linear settlement along Kings Walden Road (modern housing west of Kings Walden Road has not been included in the Conservation Area). The Conservation Area extends north of Luton Road to include the site of the former Westbury Farm. Despite later 20th century expansion of the settlement, that part of Great Offley that forms the Conservation Area is based on the interrelation of four identifiable areas which together form a distinct, bounded space which contrasts with the modern development beyond.

2.1.2 The four distinct areas are:

2.1.3 i) The southern end of Great Offley forms a slightly separate grouping of buildings which was known historically as Bottom End, though this appellation is no longer found on maps. The most prominent building at this end of the Conservation Area is the Red Lion public house, a 19th century red-brick building which is now fronted by a wide area of car parking and hard-standing and the buildings in the vicinity generally demonstrate late C19 development thinned by modern demolition. The Rookery (Grade II listed) immediately north-east of the pub assists in defining the character of the southern end. Beyond the pub and further to the south is Great Offley House (referred to on earlier OS maps as Great Offley Hall) with associated outbuildings. The distinctly rural, sparsely settled character of this area has remained relatively unaltered since the Conservation Area was designated in 1969 and agricultural fields even further to the south provide the setting to this part of the Conservation Area;

2.1.4 ii) North of the Red Lion public house, the area is open and relatively sparsely occupied, dominated by wide, open spaces north to as far as West Lane. There is a war memorial on the west side of Kings Walden Road, opposite the Church of St Mary Magdalene in a defined, hedged area with a flag pole (Fig 2.4). On the east side of Kings Walden Road is a large amount of green space formed of the churchyard of the Church of St Mary Magdalene and the grounds of Offley Place. The parkland forming the setting to Offley Place being particularly important to the character of this part of the Conservation Area where the ‘countryside’ extends right up to the estate fencing on Kings Walden Road. Either side of this important open view towards Offley Place are hedgerows, beyond which, both north and south, are two significant long sections of brick wall defining the front boundary to Offley Place and the churchyard respectively (KV1).

2.1.5 Historically, a number of jobs in Great Offley would have been agricultural-related. It is also likely that Offley Place would have been a major employer and the fact that The Lawns opposite was apparently the gardener’s accommodation and still complements the character of the site on the opposite side of Kings Walden Road;

2.1.6 iii) Between West Lane and Luton Road/Offley Hill, the density of buildings significantly increases and there are a number of terraced groups located on the west side of High Street with The Green Man public house dominating the east side of the road. From approximately West Lane north, the road is edged on both sides with pavements with modern concrete kerbs. The small areas of ‘green’ in front of The Green Man public house and at the junction of High Street and Luton Road ensure that there is a village character at what is more or less the northern entrance into the Conservation Area; and

2.1.7 iv) North of Luton Road is the former site of Westbury Farm, now principally a relatively densely built estate of barn-type buildings where the estate has a modern road surface edged with inlaid

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brick edges creating more of a shared-space feel. From the cross roads, the Grade II listed Westbury House can be seen in the distance beyond a Grade II listed granary.

2.1.8 Buildings in Great Offley are generally in soft red or red-dominated multi brick although there is flint and stone in the Church of St Mary Magdalene. There are timber-framed buildings within the village south of Luton Road although these are not necessarily obvious as such from the outside due to later rendering. North of Luton Road there are a number of timber-framed buildings, including the plastered Westbury House and its barns, whether historic and converted for residential use or modern residential builds. The older buildings in the Conservation Area tend to have tiled roofs, with others, and buildings into the 20th century using slate. To the north of the Conservation Area weatherboarding has been employed to clad upper stories and extensions and for some modern properties adjacent to historic farm buildings.

2.1.9 With the exception of some buildings at the north end of Kings Walden Road, most of the buildings in the Conservation Area sit back from the road behind gardens or driveways allowing good visibility of buildings while moving along the street. An exception is Offley Place and the Church of St Mary Magdalene which, although they remain generally visible, are separated from the street by a large red brick wall. There is another similar brick wall along the south side of West Lane. Occasional buildings are set behind hedges, which lessens their visibility from the road. The buildings around Westbury Farm Court either front directly onto the street or are set behind walls, although there is no through road here and they are generally less publicly accessible. Buildings are generally in long, thin plots separated by fencing and planting. At the north end of the Conservation Area buildings rise from the rear of the pavement behind small forecourts, that are bounded by fencing, railings or are planted. Other properties stand in more extensive gardens and are arranged in a short row of terraces, detached or semi-detached houses. Generally, housing is two storeys, some with dormer attics whilst some one-and-a half storey cottages have dormer windows at first-floor level.

2.1.10 There is significant tree planting throughout the parkland surrounding Offley House and around the churchyard of the Church of St Mary Magdalene, and smaller areas of tree planting along West End Lane, south of The Lawns, and around Great Offley House. These trees are present in long views and panoramas within the Conservation Area reinforcing the rural character of the area.

2.2 Statement of Special Interest

2.2.1 Great Offley Conservation Area takes in a number of key features and buildings. The four character areas include a church, two pubs, historic farm buildings, smaller scale agricultural cottages, a range of barns around Westbury Court Place, a war memorial and a country house which all combine to create a quintessential rural Hertfordshire village.

2.2.2 Perhaps the area of most significance is that which includes the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Offley Place with its associated parkland, The Lawns and the war memorial. This area also includes the two significant sections of front boundary walls. The northernmost and southernmost areas highlight the farming roots and agricultural tradition of the settlement. These character areas give an idea of the overall variety of village life (past and present) in this moderately-sized rural settlement.

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3. Key Assets and Views

3.1 Designated Heritage Assets

Table 3.1 Listed Buildings

List Entry Name Grade NGR

1103179 North and East Barn Ranges at Westbury Farm alongside School Lane II TL 14137 27143

1103183 2-6, West Lane II TL 14319 26964

1103205 The Green Man Public House II TL 14250 27109

1103206 The Bull Public House II TL 14254 27017

1103208 Walls and Iron Gates of Walled Garden at Offley Place to North West of House II TL 14472 27054

1103209 The Rookery II TL 14637 26678

1103210 The Lawns and linked outbuildings to South II TL 14356 26948

1103211 Walls and Gate of Walled Garden at The Lawns II TL 14315 26945

1103214 South Range of Farm Buildings at Westbury Farm, running from Westbury House to II TL 14125 27072 road

1174723 Barn to North West of The Green Man Public House II TL 14232 27148

1174729 Vine Cottage II TL 14332 27013

1174744 The Pond Cottage (also known as The Pond House) II TL 14208 27083

1174815 Offley Place (Hertfordshire Educational Department Residential Centre) and linked II TL 14511 27004 North Service Block

1174992 Churchyard Wall next road and Iron Gates at Church of St Mary Magdalene II TL 14522 26785

1175047 West Barn at Great Offley House II TL 14542 26490

1175092 Westbury House Flats 1, 2, 3, 4 II TL 14099 27094

1295486 Great Offley House II TL 14569 26485

1347082 Court House II* TL 14344 27014

1347084 Church of St Mary Magdalene (C of E) I TL 14533 26816

1347104 Dovecote at Westbury Farm II TL 14147 27106

Table 2 Listed buildings in Great Offley

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3.2 Non-designated Heritage Assets

Buildings of Local Interest

3.2.1 Recommendations for buildings to be included on North Hertfordshire’s Register of Buildings of Local Interest will be included in the Summary Report at the conclusion of the project.

Buildings or Features that make a positive contribution to the character or appearance of the conservation area

3.2.2 The following non-designated buildings are considered to make a positive contribution to the character or appearance of Great Offley Conservation Area. These buildings have been selected through the contribution they make to the townscape of the Conservation Area.

⚫ The Red Lion public house

⚫ The Vicarage

⚫ Offley War Memorial

⚫ 30-34 High Street

⚫ 17-19 High Street

⚫ Moonlight House

⚫ 12-14 High Street

⚫ Offley Oriental (former Gloucester Arms public house)

⚫ 1-4 Chapel Cottages

3.3 Key Views

3.3.1 There are three significant key views within Great Offley Conservation Area:

⚫ From immediately north of The Red Lion public house looking north along Kings Walden Road including the Church of St Mary Magdalene (KV1)

⚫ North from north of the church towards Offley Place (KV2)

⚫ South from The Lawns towards The Red Lion public house (KV3)

3.3.2 and a fourth view from outside of the Conservation Area:

⚫ North-east from Luton Road where the road bends westwards.

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4. Opportunities for Improvement

4.1.1 There are a number of opportunities for improvement within Great Offley which have the potential to further preserve or enhance the special interest of the Conservation Area. These are:

⚫ parking and use of space in front of houses on High Street and at the north end of Kings Walden Road and consideration of parking issues in future developments within the Conservation Area

⚫ sympathetic redesign of the driveway in front of the currently disused Offley Stores on Luton Road

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5. Bibliography

Domesday Book entry

Online mapping from National Museum of Scotland

Pevsner, N. 2002. Hertfordshire (second edition). London: Yale University Press

Victoria County History. 1912. A History of the County of Hertford: Volume 3. London: Victoria County History

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Appendix A Conservation Area Map

September 2019 41545-WOD-XX-XX-RP-OH-0003_A_P01.1 514000 514200 514400 514600 514800 Key 0 0 2 7

2 S

2 C Conservation area H O L O L L I H L Listed Buildings A Y N E 1174723 L E F F *# Grade I 1103179 O *# Grade II* 1347104 1103205 n i 1175092 k *# Grade II r a p .

i 1174744 u 1103214 Scheduled monument q H c IG a j H

: S 1103208 r T o R Historic parks and gardens t E a D E A T n i O g i R r Heritage at risk N O

O 1347082 T

U d L 1103206 1174815 x 1174729 Building or feature that contributes 0 m 0 .

0 to the character of the 2 . 7 2 1 2

0 Conservation area P _ O S

E E Significant key view _ N

3 A 1103183 L 0 T 1103210

0 S E 0 W - Significant areas of trees 1103211 KV3 H O -

G pq Significant tree F - X X -

X Significant green space X - D

O Significant blue space W - 5 4

5 K

1 IN

4 G \ S KV2 S

I W

G A c L r D E A 1347084

\ N s R g O n

0 A i

0 D w 8 a 6 r 2 1174992 2 D \ l a c i n h c e T _ n g i s e D

D \ e

g Note: a t The Historic England GIS data contained in this material was obtained S

1103209 r on 12/04/2019. The most publicly available up to date Historic England e KV1 v

i GIS Data can be obtained from http://www.historicengland.org.uk l e D \ s t

n 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 m e m e Scale at A3: 1:3,000 t a t © Historic England 2019. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown S

2 a e r A n o i t a v r e s North Hertfordshire District Council n o

C Conservation Area Character Statement

e 1295486 r i h s d r o f t r 1175047 e H h t Great Offley r o N

Appendix B Photographs

B.1 Character Photographs

Fig 2.1 Church wall (continuing in front of Offley Place) along Kings Walden Road. This walling is Grade II listed and is one of two significant long sections of brick wall within the Conservation Area.

Fig 2.2 Historic core of Great Offley, looking south along High Street from outside The Green Man public house

Fig 2.3 Westbury House, looking west from Westbury Farm Place. This is Grade II listed and is a focal point of the part of the Conservation Area within the former site of Westbury Farm.

Fig 2.4 Westbury war memorial on the west side of Kings Walden Road. The ware memorial is opposite the church and is identified as a feature that contributes to the character of the Conservation Area.

B.2 Key Views

Key view KV1: View north along Kings Walden Road towards Church of St Mary Magdalene from outside The Red Lion public house.

Key view KV2: North from north of the church towards Offley Place

Key view KV3: South from The Lawns towards The Red Lion public house

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