Lydford Ramparts and the War Memorial and Which Also Has Great Archaeological Sensitivity

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3.27 Lydford ramparts and the war memorial and which also has great archaeological sensitivity. With the exception of the 3.27.1 Part 3 church, the stannary gaol, and possibly While set against a village history the Castle Inn, all the visible buildings which is of great significance, the th buildings of Lydford are, by and large, appear to date from the late 18 , late, unremarkable and modest, 19th and 20th centuries. The buildings both in size and architecture. What is are modest in size and architecture, remarkable about Lydford is its relative though notable nonetheless. They lack of modern development and are generally set back from the edge therefore the preservation of its of the street, with simple, symmetrical historic form. front gardens. Porches are common. Roofs are most commonly of slate Housing and eaves lines are unbroken. 3.27.2 A housing needs survey undertaken in 3.27.5 July 2005, showed a need for up to six Lydford is, arguably, the most affordable new homes. From that time archaeologically important village there have been assessments of various in the whole of the National Park. sites but none so far has been brought Any proposed development within the forward. Any proposal, for a site historic core is likely to destroy evidence appropriate for housing in Lydford, of early and later medieval activity, must be supported by an up to date and archaeological evaluation will be housing needs survey. required for planning applications that are likely to affect archaeological interests within the Conservation Area. Conserving the quality of the built environment 3.27.6 3.27.3 The surviving traditional non-domestic There is evidence to suggest a Dark th th buildings in Lydford make a significant Ages (5 to 7 centuries AD) origin for contribution to its character. It is th Lydford. By the 10 century it had important to retain these buildings been created a burgh by the Saxon in as unaltered a state as possible. Kings of Wessex and it ranked in importance with Barnstaple, Exeter and 3.27.7 Totnes. The late Saxon/early Norman There are no specific policies or period was probably Lydford's peak, proposals for this settlement. and the small amount of subsequent The policies in the Core Strategy development means that Lydford must and the general policies of this rank as one of the most important document will be sufficient for medieval settlements in the county, development management purposes. if not further afield. The village owed its revival, in part, to the arrival in 1865 of the Launceston and South Devon Railway, and the Victorian 'discovery' of natural beauty, which drew visitors to Lydford Gorge.

3.27.4 The castle, dating on this site back to 1195, is a scheduled monument and key landmark in the landscape. The Conservation Area includes the entire historic core-that is, the original Saxon town which lies within the ramparts and the extra-mural settlement which lies between the

Dartmoor National Park Authority Development Management and Delivery Development Plan Document 157 Adopted Version July 2013