Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal

Home , Boscastle, River Valency, Treforda, Trevalga

Endorsed August 2007

Contents dummy

1 Introduction 1

The purpose of a Conservation Area Appraisal 1

Scope and structure 1

General identity and character 1

Date of designation 1

The Conservation Area within the wider settlement 1

2 Planning Context 2

National 2

Regional 2

Local 2

3 Location and setting 3

Geology 3

4 Designations 4

5 Historic and topographic development 5

Prehistory 5

Medieval 5

Sixteenth century 5

Seventeenth century 6

Eighteenth century 6

Early Nineteenth century 6

Later Nineteenth century 7

Twentieth century 8

6 Archaeological potential 9

7 Present settlement character 10

Topography and settlement form 10

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Standing historic fabric 11

Streetscape and views 12

8 Character Areas 16

Understanding Character 16

Bridge 16

Historic Development 16

Activity and use 19

Architecture and historic qualities 20

Key Buildings 21

Local details 25

Local and traditional building materials 26

Public realm 27

Greenery and green space 28

Loss, intrusion and damage 28

Neutral Areas 29

General condition 29

Quaytown 29

Historic Development 30

Activity & Use 32

Architecture and historic qualitites 32

Key Buildings 32

Local Details 35

Local and traditional building materials 36

Public Realm 36

Greenery and green space 36

Loss, intrusion and damage 37

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Neutral Areas 37

General Condition 38

Upper Town 38

Historic Development 38

Activity and use 41

Architecture and historic qualities 41

Key buildings 42

Local details 44

Local and traditional building materials 46

Public realm 47

Greenery and green space 51

Loss, intrusion and damage 52

Neutral areas 53

General condition 53

Forrabury Churchtown 53

Historic development 53

Activity and use 55

Architecture and historic qualities 55

Key Buildings 55

Local details 57

Local and traditional building materials 57

Public realm 57

Greenery and green space 58

Loss, intrusion and damage 58

Neutral areas 58

General condition 58

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal New Road and Forrabury Hill 58

Historic development 58

Activity and use 59

Architecture and historic qualities 60

Key buildings 60

Local details 61

Local and traditional building materials 62

Public Realm 62

Greenery and green space 63

Loss, intrusion and damage 63

Neutral areas 63

General condition 63

9 Problems and pressures 64

10 Recommendations 67

11 Opportunities 70

1 Sources 72

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal 1 Introduction

contributed to its present unique character. The purpose of a Conservation The high survival of historic buildings dating Area Appraisal from these various and varying phases adds to the town’s character and interest. The purpose of this conservation area appraisal is to clearly define the special Date of designation interest, character and appearance of the conservation area, and to suggest any The village and harbour area was possible amendments to its boundary. The designated a conservation area in 1970, in appraisal should then inform development accordance with North Cornwall District control decisions and policies and act as a Council’s policy document for the area, it foundation for further work on design was further extended in 1980. guidance and enhancement schemes. The Conservation Area within the Scope and structure wider settlement

This appraisal describes and analyses the The present conservation area boundary character of the Boscastle conservation includes the majority of the historic area and the immediately surrounding settlement including the medieval strip field historic environment. The appraisal will look system to the west and the fields bordering at the historic and topographical the river valleys of the Valency and Jordan development of the settlement, analyse its to the east. It does not include the western present character and identify distinct side of the settlement either side of the character areas. These areas will then be coastal road to Tintagel. This part of the further analysed, problems and pressures town is mainly a late twentieth century identified and recommendations made for development, but does include some late its future management. More detailed nineteenth and early twentieth century advice on the management of the elements. conservation area can be found in the Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan which is designed to stand alongside this appraisal.

General identity and character

Today Boscastle is a thriving tourist destination the large number of visitors attracted by its dramatic natural setting and charming historic buildings. The town’s complex history as a castle site, medieval market, seventeenth century centre for trade and fishing, eighteenth and nineteenth century industrial port and destination for artists and writers has

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal 2 Planning Context

Local National The adopted North Cornwall District Local In 1967 the concept of protecting areas of Plan (1999) contains detailed polices special merit, rather than individual relating to listed buildings and conservation buildings was first brought under legislative areas. For this reason, anyone considering control with the passing of the Civil making an application for consent for Amenities Act. Whilst listed buildings are development or demolition within a assessed nationally with lists drawn up by conservation area or which would affect a the government on advice from English listed building should consult the Local Heritage conservation areas are designated Plan. The document is available for by local authorities. The current Act inspection at the Council’s offices and governing the designation of ‘areas of online at www.ncdc.gov.uk . Pre-application special architectural or historic interest, the advice can also be sought from the character or appearance of which it is Council’s Conservation and Development desirable to preserve or enhance’ is the Control Officers. Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Under this The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act local planning authorities are required Act 2004 introduced changes to the to designate conservation areas, to keep planning system that will result in the North them under review and if appropriate to Cornwall District Local Plan replacement designate further areas. Designation by a Local Development Framework. A remains the principal means by which local portfolio of Development Plan Documents authorities can apply conservation policies will set out the spatial planning strategy for to a particular area. North Cornwall and provided detailed development control policies including Regional locally distinct polices relating to listed buildings and conservation areas. All Broad polices relating to the protection and documents prepared as part of the North enhancement of the natural and built Cornwall Local Development Framework, environment are currently contained in the including the Local Development Scheme Cornwall Structure Plan (2004). The policy which sets the timescale for Development emphasis is that development should Plan Document preparation and adoption respect and consolidate local character. In can be viewed at www.ncdc.gov.uk . 2008 the Structure Plan will be replaced as part of the statutory Development Plan by The saved polices of the North Cornwall the South West Regional Spatial Strategy. District Local Plan will remain part of the The contained policy approach in respect statutory development plan until replaced of the built and natural environment will be by adopted Development Plan Documents. maintained in accordance with national guidance.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal 3 Location and setting

A more detailed description of the location, formed by enclosed medieval field systems, topographical setting and historic landscape apart from the land to the west where an character can be found in the Cornwall unenclosed medieval stripfield system, County Council Historic Environment Forrabury Stitches still survives. Service report ‘Boscastle, Cornwall Characterisation and recording in the By the sea to the west is a narrow coastal aftermath of the August 2004 floods’. Below plateau above spectacularly steep cliffs. is a brief summary Either side of the dog-leg harbour are rocky outcrops. The northern entrance to the Boscastle lies on the north coast of harbour is formed by Penally Point a Cornwall between Tintagel to the south and striking landmark and to the south by Crackington Haven to the north. It is Willapark headland. situated 9km north of Camelford, its nearest commercial centre. Approximately 7km to Geology the south-east runs the A39, the main arterial road through north Cornwall. The The underlying geology is mainly folded town lies within the parishes of Forrabury slates and sandstones of the Crackington and Minster, and the area of North Cornwall formation. Seams of quartz or ‘spar’ occur, District Council. particularly on Penally Point.

The historic town sits within three river valleys. The most northerly, the valley of the River Valency, rises in the east and runs almost due west. At the eastern end of the settlement the river flows through narrow riverside meadows enclosed by steep slopes covered with scrub and small trees. As the river travels westwards it widens and the trees give way to spectacular rock outcrops and rough ground covered with heather and bracken. The drowned seaward end of the valley forms a sheltered natural harbour. Early settlements formed around the harbour (Quaytown) and at the bridging point (Bridge) where the Valency joins the River Jordan.

The River Jordan and the smaller Butts Water rise in the south before joining into one. The land between the two rivers forms a low lying ridge where the early castle, market and upper town were sited. The surrounding land is much higher and

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal 4 Designations

Scheduled Monuments The whole settlement lies within and Area There are two scheduled monuments – the of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – castle site and a cross by the churchyard (ENV1) of St Symphorian’s The whole area is within the Heritage Coast

The northern slopes of the Valency Valley, the land around the harbour and the coastal rough ground are designated Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) – (ENV4) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) – (ENV5)

The coastline and fields to the west and north east of the settlement are an Area of Great Scientific Value (AGSV) – (ENV5)

The medieval strip field system to the west of the settlement is an Area of Great Historic Value (AGHV) – (ENV14/15)

The cores of the upper town, Bridge and Forrabury church are designated Historic Settlements – (ENV14)

Much of the land surrounding the northern half of the settlement is a Cornwall Nature Picture 4.1 The medieval cross to the south of the Conservation Site (CNC Site) – (ENV5) churchyard is a scheduled monument. There are 11 Tree Preservation Orders Historic Buildings (TPOs) all within the upper town area There are 81 grade II listed buildings and structures in Boscastle, and 2 grade II* The South West Coastal Path (National buildings – the harbour and St Trail) enters the settlement along either Symphorian’s church. side of the harbour and crosses the River Valency at the Lower Bridge – (SAF7) Historic Area Designations The majority of the historic settlement lies The coastal land, Forrabury Common, the within a conservation area Valency River valley up to the bridge and the land on the northern side of the river Other Designations valley beyond Penally House is all owned (All policy numbers refer to North Cornwall by the National Trust. Local Plan adopted April 1999)

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal 5 Historic and topographic development

An excellent and highly detailed history of uphill from a castle site lined by houses Boscastle appears in the Cornwall County with burgage lots. The original market place Council Historic Environment Service report was possibly adjacent to the castle site, at ‘Boscastle, Cornwall Characterisation and the northern end of Fore Street, but by the recording in the aftermath of the August later medieval period it lay across Fore 2004 floods’. Below is a brief summary Street further up the slope, and continued on this site until the early nineteenth Prehistory century. As the success of the market grew the town continued to develop south along The earliest development in the area High Street. It was taxed as a borough and centres on the Iron Age fort on Willapark by the early fourteenth century there were headland to the west of Boscastle harbour. at least 200 inhabitants. Other early development included a number of rounds in the surrounding countryside. The settlement straddled the boundaries There is no evidence of Roman occupation, of two parishes Minster and Forrabury, both but the sheltered harbour and location near of which had early foundations and a possible Roman land route make this churches rebuilt in the medieval period. St possible. Many surrounding place names Merteriana at Minster to the east of the incorporate ‘tre’ meaning a small farm market settlement became the parish estate indicating occupation in the church for Boscastle and St Symphorian post-Roman period. the parish church for Forrabury. Both churches, whilst situated close to the Medieval market settlement, were separate from the emerging urban core and in the late The first recorded development was in 1086 fourteenth century a chapel of ease, St in the Domesday Book. Talcar Manor was James, was established on the north recorded (which covered roughly the same western side of the market site. There was area as the ecclesiastical parish of Minster) an early mill but its site is uncertain. In and included around eight dispersed addition to the settlement around the holdings owned by Robert, Count of market it seems highly likely that a Mortain. development grew up in this period around the natural harbour at the mouth of the The manor was taken over by the Norman Valency River. noble Bottreaux who built a castle on a mounded site between the Jordan and Sixteenth century Treforda valleys probably before 1150. From Bottreaux castle comes the name Although contemporary references were Boscastle. In 1204 William be Boterell was not favourable and refer to a poor market granted the right to hold a weekly market town, this was probably only in contrast to in the Manor of Tolcarne and from this larger urban centres such as Bodmin and development stems the origins of the urban Truro. A significant number of late medieval settlement. There then developed a classic and sixteenth century town houses, which 'planted' town, similar to Helston and still survive in the market settlement area, Tregony, with a main axial street running attest to the town's continuing prosperity.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal The manor was bought by John Hender in that by the mid eighteenth century the quay 1575 and he went on to build a market required repair. Salt was imported from house and a manor house in the south-east Bristol for the growing local pilchard corner of the castle site. In addition to industry, along with to coal and other development in the market area in the merchandise, which was then distributed sixteenth century there was the first definite to Boscastle's large hinterland, which reference to the port at Boscastle with stretched as far afield as Launceston. In mention of the quay in the 1540s, which addition to the thriving import industry slate was subsequently rebuilt in 1584. At this was exported from the nearby Delabole time Boscastle was one of the few ports quarry. This increase in industry inevitably and trading places on the north coast of affected the physical development of the Cornwall. settlement with fish cellars, warehouses, a smithy and a limekiln all built on the land Seventeenth century behind the harbour and around Bridge. Trade directories from the late eighteenth During this period the development of the century also mention a public house, the area around the harbour and along the river Sun Dial and a number of shops. In parallel valley began in earnest as it became the to the development of the harbour and focus of industrial and commercial activity. Bridge areas as centres for commerce and In addition to the seaborne trade, fishing trade, the upper town continued to expand vessels were first recorded at Boscastle with the building of a number of sizeable during the early seventeenth century. The merchants’ houses. Development beyond bare cliffs surrounding the quay the original main street occurred with discouraged building but fish cellars, a houses built to the north west of the castle commercial pottery and stores were sited site and along the road running east- west on the gentler slops on both sides of the south of the market. In addition some river to the east. By 1680 the first reference development occurred towards the end of to the Bridge at Boscastle was recorded the eighteenth century on the land to the and at around this time, or possibly earlier, south of St Symphorian's at Forrabury. a number of houses were built on the site of the present day Valency Row. Early Nineteenth century Significantly much of the development, especially the houses, were a distance from During the early nineteenth century the the river to avoid flooding. upper town continued to be the main residential centre of Boscastle having Eighteenth century around sixty houses. Although the weekly market ended in the 1810s it was replaced By the mid-eighteenth century there were by a growing number of retail premises and two distinct developed communities - the minor service trades. Physically the area upper town, and the harbour development continued to expand along Dunn Street and referred to as Bottreaux Castle Key (quay) the upper end of the High Street. on Martyn's map of 1748. During this period Nonconformism reached Boscastle at the the quay-centred activity increased and beginning of the century when a Methodist diversified as Boscastle became an chapel was built in Fore Street, and important centre for fishing, imports and subsequently replaced in 1825. This was exports. Such was the increased usage followed by a Wesleyan Methodist chapel

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal in Dunn Street in 1837 and the town's first the full ownership of Boscastle manor and purpose built school in 1844 on Fore Street. constructed New Road improving the A boom in the maritime and commercial access to the harbour from the south and industries during this period resulted in west. He lived more modestly at Valency further developments around the harbour House, a remodelled seventeenth century and bridge. The export industry continued house to the north of the bridge. to expand with increased quantities of slate and manganese from local mines sent from Later Nineteenth century the harbour. Similarly the number of goods imported increased hugely to include coal, During the first half of the nineteenth agricultural manure, timber, limestone, century growth was gradual and consumer goods and groceries for both exponential, whereas during the latter half local use and more distant markets. of the century the form of the town adapted Carriers regularly took goods to in response to a series of events. The first Launceston, Callington and Plymouth. The of these occurred from the mid-nineteenth main impact on the form of the settlement century as seaborne trade began to from the export trade was the need for decline. Much of the slate from Delabole better roads and in 1825 all the road was now sent from Port Gaverne, but this surfaces were macadamised. The import loss was offset in part by the export of iron trade impacted further on the development ore, china clay and china stone. However, of the town with a number of large by the 1880s commercial activity was far warehouses, coal stores and stabling built less diverse resulting in the abandonment in the Quaytown and Bridge area. The main of the former lime kilns, malthouse, pilchard expansion took place on the northern side cellars and manganese mill. The only of the bridge along the Bude Road in the significant surviving industrial presence was form of warehousing, stores, shops and the large mill close to the bridge. By 1893 merchant housing. Further industrial the railway reached nearby Camelford and development took place on the southern this effectively ended all seaborne trade. side of bridge where two limekilns and a The warehouses continued to operate - mill were located. In order to police the storing dry goods for wholesale – but for a harbour activities and to prevent smuggling far more local market. Fishing was also in a coastguard watch house was built in the decline following the end of the pilchard early nineteenth century along with industry, but small seal, lobster and crab accommodation for the crew. fisheries were still operating.

The rivalry between the two major merchant As the seaborne industries went into houses in Boscastle during the first half of decline the nascent tourist industry began the nineteenth century further affected the to grow. By the late eighteenth century the development of the settlement. William picturesque and romantic setting of the Sloggatt of Rosevear and Sloggatt town had already begun to attract visitors constructed a new road to the north of the and these numbers were increased in the Valency Valley linking the harbour to the early nineteenth century by the growing northern routes out of Boscastle and in interest in the legend of King Arthur. The 1836 built the prominent Penally House at town was visited and painted by a number the eastern end of his new road. During the of artists including Turner who sketched same period Thomas Rickard Avery bought the harbour. By the 1840s a visitors' season

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal was already established with visitors land between the upper town and Forrabury arriving by omnibus from Plymouth via the churchtown, and the area to the south Saltash ferry. The arrival of the railway, known as Paradise. In 1946 the manor whilst having a disastrous effect on the estate was broken up and the properties seaborne industries, greatly stimulated the sold to individuals. A large proportion of the tourist industry. The Wellington Hotel was buildings were converted for tourist based created from a former inn and many houses purposes and the character of Boscastle were let as lodgings or converted into as a tourist destination was established. boarding houses. Throughout the second Following the Second World War a large half of the nineteenth century Boscastle’s expansion took place to west of the town reputation as a resort grew through its along the coast road to Tintagel. Some infill inclusion in the increasing number of also took place within the historic core visitors’ handbooks, and ever larger including buildings on the old market place numbers of tourists came to the town. and a visitors’ car park on the Bude Road. In the 1950s the harbour area and Development in the upper town included a surrounding coastline was bought by the Bible Christian chapel built in the High National Trust, and during the 1960s a road Street in 1857, a Silvanus Trevail school in widening scheme led to the replacement Fore Street in 1879 and a mission chapel of the historic bridge. in 1900. In 1885, following the death of Avery, the estate was purchased by Henry Throughout its history the town has suffered Pige-Leschallas a businessman from from floods, the most recent in August 2004 Surrey. Apart from five large villas built causing extensive damage to the historic along New Road, the main developments fabric in the Quaytown and Bridge areas. in late nineteenth century Boscastle took the form of civic and urban improvements including the construction of lower bridge, a sewage system and oil street lighting. The villas effectively joined the upper town to Bridge and Quaytown uniting for the first time the historic core elements of the settlement.

Twentieth century

Because the decline of local industry and fishing had overlapped with the development of the tourist industry many of the industrial buildings such as the warehouses, stables, cart sheds and stores were gradually converted into lodgings, tourist shops and cafes. As a result Quaytown and Bridge continued to retain much of their former character. Up until the mid-twentieth century Boscastle developed little apart from some inter-war housing on

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal 6 Archaeological potential

There are two nationally recognised archaeological sites of importance in Boscastle the two scheduled monuments of the castle site and the cross in St Symphorian’s churchyard. However the long and many layered evolution of the settlement gives the whole area developed up to the early twentieth century potential for standing or buried archaeological features. The earliest centres of development – the areas around Quaytown, Bridge, Upper Town and St Symphorian’s – are of particular archaeological interest and sensitivity. In these areas the deposits are likely to provide valuable information on the settlement’s early form and development and the urban archaeological remains are likely to be more complex.

Picture 6.1 The castle site is a scheduled monument.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal 7 Present settlement character

largely undeveloped until the twentieth Topography and settlement form century – possibly because the fields provided valuable agricultural land. Boscastle’s dramatic natural setting greatly influenced the formation of the town and Engineering advances in the nineteenth continues to inform its modern and twentieth centuries have done much development. Its natural features have both to unite the discrete elements of the Upper encouraged development and impeded it, Town and Bridge areas with villas along resulting in a settlement comprising many New Road and the steeper slopes of Old separate elements. The sheltered harbour Road. More recent building on the fields to encouraged early development which the south of Forrabury has united the continued along the Valency River valley medieval church town to Upper Town. on the lower slopes, high enough to avoid flood damage from the river but low enough to be sheltered. The steep slopes of the hill between the Valency River and Treforda Water discouraged development, and forms a wooded spur between the development along Penally Hill and Old Road.

Picture 7.2 Engineering advances in the nineteenth century allowed for development on steep land, such as New Road, that previously would not have been considered.

However, despite increased possibilities for development, including the pressure from tourism, advanced building Picture 7.1 The steep wooded slopes to the south techniques, and the decreased value of of Valency River have discouraged development. agricultural land, the development of The ridge of land formed by Treforda Water Boscastle is still limited by its topography. and the River Jordan to the west provided Such is the sensitivity of much of the less challenging land for development, surrounding land for its history, scientific whilst still commanding prestigious views interest or for its importance for nature for a castle site. As a consequence this well conservation that it is protected and drained hill was extensively developed by development discouraged or prohibited. the end of the medieval period. The flatter land to the west, apart from the church and a small associated development, remained

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal As a result Boscastle still retains large areas of undeveloped land close to its historic core and the settlement has to be travelled through in order to appreciate its separate elements.

Standing historic fabric

For such a relatively small settlement there is a surprisingly wide range of historic buildings. Sadly there are no standing remains of the castle but an unusually (for Cornwall) high number of buildings from the sixteenth century still survive. One of the most striking early buildings is the harbour wall, and within Upper Town there are a number of houses incorporating sixteenth century elements. These buildings are two-stories high with fairly narrow frontages echoing the pattern of the medieval burgage plot layout - they have slatestone and cob walls, rag slate roofs, irregular window arrangements and large Picture 7.3 Early slatestone chimneys with slate drip stones. stone chimney stacks. Seventeenth century houses survive in the Upper Town and the There are a large number of Bridge area. industrial/fishing buildings, which have been converted into dwellings and buildings associated with the tourist industry - these are a mix of two storey structures and large warehouses. The lower status buildings are mainly constructed from slate rubblestone, most are painted or rendered, have simple flat fronted facades without ornament and rag slate roofs. Some were originally built with the accommodation on the first floor above flood level. The tall warehouses are built from slatestone with rag slate roofs, and most were adapted around the mid to late nineteenth century into domestic accommodation with applied decorative features such as doorcases, brick window surrounds and large sash windows.

In addition to the vernacular buildings there are a number of polite town houses dating from the eighteenth century with

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal symmetrical facades, sash windows and some with doorcases and classical detailing.

There are a number of Victorian and Edwardian town houses and villas. Some are incorporated within the earlier street patterns, distinguishable from their earlier neighbours by their wider facades, taller rooflines and brick dressings. Others are built on previously undeveloped sites such as the prominent row of slatestone villas with red brick dressing along New Road. Picture 7.4 The streetscape in the centre of the Bridge area is quite tight but loosens out either end There are no historic civil buildings extant, towards the car park and over the bridge itself. but two chapels survive (one now converted into a house), the old mission room (now Around the harbour there is no formal the village hall) and two schools (one now streetscape reflecting the former working used as a hall). Apart from the post office nature of the buildings sited for practical the commercial heart of the settlement has rather than aesthetic reasons. They are now moved down the hill to the harbour positioned at differing distances from the area, but a number of historic shopfronts water and with varying orientations. are still preserved despite the conversion of the buildings into houses.

The tendency to convert existing buildings has ensured a good survival of historic fabric, the only major losses being the upper bridge, Harbour Lights (lost during the 2005 flood) and the chapel on Dunn Street.

Streetscape and views

The streetscape in the Bridge area around the eastern end of Valency Row, Hollowell Picture 7.5 The piecemeal and irregular House and the Riverside Hotel is very tight development of the Harbour area reflects its and enclosed with the buildings, some of industrial origins where buildings were sited and which are three stories tall, built straight constructed for practical rather than aesthetic onto the street. The pattern then loosens reasons. around the Cobweb Inn car park and over the bridge, where many of the buildings are Along Old Road, apart from the open land detached and do not address the road or opposite Belmont and Polqueens villas, are set back from it. there is a good sense of enclosure formed by the buildings on the eastern side and the high bank crowned with villas to the west. The sense of an urban street has

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal been increased by the modern villas on the eastern side of the road. Previously there would have been a rural gap between Bridge and Upper Town with the mill in the valley adding to the pastoral feel.

Along Dunn Street, Fore Street and High Street the medieval and post medieval street line has been preserved. These are tightly packed streets with the majority of buildings fronting directly onto the street or just a short distance back. The sense of enclosure is diminished slightly at the Picture 7.6 Views to the Bridge area and the eastern end of Dunn Street where the Valency Valley beyond from New Road. community hall only fills part of the site to allow for parking. The historic open space The spectacular view of the harbour wall of the market ground at the southern end and harbour mouth has inspired artists of Fore Street has been infilled, but the including J M W Turner, Sir Thomas buildings are set back from the street. Dyke-Acland and William Daniell who were inspired by its sublime characteristics. It is Paradise Road and Gunpool Lane, despite the same view that appears on much of the some modern infill, still retain their historic promotional literature for Boscastle and character of semi-rural lanes with sporadic encourages such high visitor numbers. The development. whole of the river valley from Bridge to the sea is highly picturesque with its rows of New Road is enclosed to the east by the cottages and former working buildings steep banks of the hillside and to the west nestling on the cliffs either side of the river. the low positioning of the buildings gives Like Bridge this area is highly visible with an open feel with the hillside beyond clearly roofscapes and rear elevations much in visible. evidence.

Forrabury Hill, despite development in Striking vistas of the river can also be seen recent years, still has a very rural feel with from New Road and Old Road. the lane enclosed by old slatestone walls overgrown with vegetation.

Views In addition to the street level views in the Bridge area, such as the intimate view along Valency Row and the sweep of Pengelley Hill, there are views into and across the area from New Road and the Private Path. As a result the roofscapes and rear elevations form part of many of the vistas. One of the major views is from the road bridge looking down towards the harbour .

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 7.7 Views over the River Jordan Valley from Old Road.

River and sea views, however, are not the only views of note in the settlement. From the castle site there are dramatic views east to the steeply sloped woodland and west to the churchtown emerging above the trees.

Picture 7.9 The vista down High Street to the hillside beyond is fringed by stepped roofs of the houses.

There are intriguing glimpses along Dunn Street where the street curves out of view. From the upper end of the town there are views out over the roof tops clinging to the side of the hills interspersed with trees.

Another important vista is from Forrabury churchyard looking out over Forrabury stitches towards the folly on the cliffs edge at Willapark with the sea beyond. From Picture 7.8 Dramatic views down the Jordan River Mount Pleasant there are views over Valley from the castle site. medieval Upper Town and the river valley.

There are charming urban vistas looking along Fore Street and High Street where the streets are fringed with houses stepping upwards in a jumble of hipped and gabled slate roofs.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 7.10 View of the folly at Willapark from Forrabury Stitches.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal 8 Character Areas

cottages, good quality houses and historic Understanding Character streetscapes is set in a picturesque river valley. The degree of survival of the historic In addition to the broad elements of street plan and buildings is unusual in settlement character identified in the Cornwall. previous chapter Boscastle can be divided into five distinct character areas. These Historic Development were first identified in the Cornwall County Council Historic Environment Service report The first recorded development in the ‘Boscastle, Cornwall Characterisation and Bridge area dates from the recording in the aftermath of the August seventeenth century. This includes the 2004 floods’. They are : first reference to a commercial pottery (probably near Valency Row) in the Bridge 1660s, Boscastle bridge itself in 1680 Quaytown and some of the buildings along Upper Town Valency Row. The site for this row of Forrabury Churchtown houses could originally have New Road and Forrabury Hill addressed the approach to an earlier river crossing further downstream These character areas are differentiated (Kirkham). There would have been a from each other by their varied historic number of small stores and origins, functions and resultant urban outbuildings in the area including part topography, by the processes of change of the structure behind the Clovelly which have affected each subsequently Clothing Company. and the extent to which these elements and processes are evident in the current By the eighteenth century the townscape. settlement now recorded officially as Bridge on Martyn’s map of 1748 The special interest of each character area included, in addition to Valency Row, will be defined in order to asses its value the mill house adjacent to the present or significance both as an individual area Old Mill (which was presumably built and as part of the settlement as a whole. on the site of an eighteenth century This understanding can then form the basis mill), a house on Old Road (which for maintaining and enhancing Boscastle could possibly date from the in the future – to ensure that its special seventeenth century and was character is sustained and enhanced. eventually converted into the Wellington Hotel) and a number of Bridge buildings belonging to the merchant John Avery including four houses, two Statement of Significance warehouses and a smithy called the island (probably the building now Bridge is an area of great historic interest called Island Studio). Avery lived in a and natural beauty. The dynamic mix of house called Parminsters which was commercial and industrial buildings, early probably either Valency House (which

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal dates from the mid-seventeenth Cobweb Inn and a number of stores century or the Old Manor House built and coal sheds. Before 1840 the row around the same time). During this of cottages known as Marine Terrace same period one of the houses in was built on Old Road to house the Valency Row was operating as a coastguards and around this time the brewhouse. Old Manor House and Valency House were remodelled. At the eastern end of the settlement south east of Penally House there was a smithy. During the 1850s Thomas Avery, son of John, bought the title to the Manor, and extended the Joiners Arms on Old Road and converted it into a hotel, the Wellington. His estate offices and stores were on the site of the modern day Clovelly Clothing. By the late nineteenth century the large warehouses Cobweb, Bridge House and Ward’s stores were the principal Picture 8.1 Valency House dates from the early to commercial operations, the mill was mid seventeenth century and was possibly the home rebuilt incorporating two water wheels, of the successful local merchant John Avery. a tower was added to the frontage of the Wellington and a rocket house was During the early nineteenth century built to the west of Valency Row to Bridge was an important focus for house horse drawn rocket-firing commercial activity. In addition to the equipment. existing businesses there was an inn along Valency Row (now known as the Old Ship, converted back into a house at the time of the Great War), and a number of enterprises belonging to the merchant Robert Robinson Langford including a drapers, chandlers and warehouses. These were located in Hollowell House, the warehouse now converted into the Riverside Hotel and a row of warehouses New Stores on the site of the Bridge Walk shops. Another businesses man, William Slogatt made a significant impact on the area during this period with the Picture 8.2 Old Ship on Valency Row dates from the seventeenth century and was part of the building of the Private Path or Green development that occurred in that area following the Cut connecting the northern side of the building of the new quay. settlement to the harbour. In addition he built Penally House in 1836, the large warehouse now known as the

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 8.5 The whitewashed stone building behind the Clovelly Clothing Company could date from the seventeenth or eighteenth century and form part of the former estate office which stood on this site.

Picture 8.3 William Slogatt’s Private Path still connects the northern side of the village to the harbour and is now a footpath maintained by the National Trust.

Picture 8.6 The prominent tower was added to the façade of the Wellington Hotel in the late nineteenth century.

During the early twentieth century many of the former commercial and industrial buildings were converted to cater for the growing tourist industry. A former stables to the west of Valency Row, the Wellington Hotel stables and Picture 8.4 Penally House built by the successful the old oil house and brewhouse on businessman William Slogatt in 1836 as his family home. Valency Row became houses. The major warehouses were converted - Cobweb Warehouse became a public house in 1946 and Hollowell House became a shop and then flats. Langford’s warehouse was already

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal converted into a pair of houses by the mid nineteenth century. The Manor House became a hotel in the late 1920s with the land opposite developed into a tea lawn and tennis courts, and both Valency and Penally Houses were converted into guest houses. In the early twentieth century there was a candle manufactory operating opposite the Manor House which could have dated from an earlier period. In 1923 the Bridge Street garage was built on the site of (and Picture 8.7 Originally an agricultural building possibly incorporating a former coal Sunnyside was converted into domestic use in the store) Post the Second World War the early nineteenth century and is now run as a guest island studios and the old mill and mill house. house became retail outlets. During the 1960s the road was widened which resulted in the demolition of New Stores, the warehouses directly in front and a cottage on the southern side of the bridge. The bridge itself was rebuilt after severe flooding in the late 1950s/ early 1960s. In the 1970s a row of shops, Bridge Walk, was built on the site of New Stores. Other late twentieth century developments include the provision of a large car park on the land opposite the Cobweb Inn and a number of detached houses along the Picture 8.8 The former Wellington Hotel stables Bude Road. were converted into a house in the early twentieth century.

Activity and use

Historically this area has been an important junction between the historic Upper Town, the harbour and the route out of the town to the north. There has certainly been a bridge on this site since 1748 and the area would previously have been a fording place. Bridge is still a major centre of vehicular and pedestrian activity with the majority of visitors to Boscastle crossing the bridge and parking in the Cobweb car park, before walking down to the harbour. The area’s

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal industrial and commercial past can still be discerned in the mills, large warehouses and stores now converted into various uses connected with the tourist industry. The historic wealth of the area, reflected in the domestic architecture can still be appreciated in Valency House, the Old Manor House and Penally House. The utilitarian nature of the industrial buildings and the need for ease of access has resulted in the majority of buildings directly fronting the main routes, but the curious positioning of Valency Row could reflect a route to an earlier crossing point. Bridge today is a busy hub of commercial and residential activity and still to some extent reflects its historic form.

Architecture and historic qualities

There is a remarkable survival of historic buildings in this area and as a result the built environment encompasses a wide Picture 8.9 The doorcase of the Old Manor House Restaurant has a pediment supported by fluted range of styles and types. The building pilasters. types can be roughly categorised as simple two storey cottages, larger detached houses, small utilitarian sheds and stores, large three storey warehouses and the two mills.

The architectural style is mainly the local vernacular, built on a larger scale for the warehouses. However, there is applied classical detailing to some of the larger houses - Valency House, The Old Manor House and Penally House and the use of gothic detailing as an eye-catcher on Valency and Venn Cottage.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal central Ionic porch and original sash windows. Old Manor House Restaurant – (grade II) Mid eighteenth century house partly remodelled in the early nineteenth century. The stone rubble walls are rendered and at some point the rag slate roof was covered in bitumen. The three bay façade has a central doorway with a nineteenth century pedimented doorcase, early nineteenth century sixteen pane sash windows on the ground floor, and replacement sash windows on the first floor.

Picture 8.10 The nineteenth century gothic windows on Venn Cottage have decorative intersecting tracery.

Many of the commercial premises were converted from original domestic or industrial buildings and incorporate much Picture 8.11 The Old Manor House Restaurant dates earlier fabric within their structures including from the mid-eighteenth century and was probably the commanding Wellington Hotel. This built as a house for one of Boscastle’s wealthy building, following its various phases of merchants. development includes Victorian Gothic detailing such as the crenellated tower as Valency House – (grade II) Early to well as genuine medieval elements possibly mid seventeenth century house salvaged from St James Chapel and the remodelled in the mid nineteenth former manor house in Upper Town. century. Rendered and painted rubble stone walls with a rag slate roof and Key Buildings four half dormers with raking roofs. The front door is right of centre with Houses of note an early nineteenth century doorcase with pilasters, frieze and cornice. The Penally House – (grade II) Built for windows are all early nineteenth William Sloggatt in 1836 this rendered century twelve pane sashes. and stuccoed house has a rag slate Marine Terrace – (grade II) A row of hipped roof, a symmetrical three stone rubble two storey cottages with window façade, rusticated quoins, a rag slate roofs, some of which are

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal bitumen covered. The cottages have distinctive pairs of slanting half doors and many have original sliding sash windows.

Picture 8.14 Dating from the eighteenth century this building has a slate hung façade and could once have extended further on the right hand side.

Other houses of note include –

Picture 8.12 Marine Terrace – a pleasing row of The Brew House, Valency Row – slatestone cottages many with original horizontal sliding sash windows. possibly dating from the eighteenth century this house was originally the Other listed houses include – brewhouse for the adjoining Ship Inn.

Venn Cottage, Penally Court, 5 Valency Row, Robin Cottage, Valency Row, The Old Ship Valency Row, Frogapits, Old Road, House to the west of Old Manor Restaurant – all listed grade II

Picture 8.15 The Brewhouse on Valency Row probably dates from the eighteenth century and was formerly the brewhouse for the adjoining Ship Inn.

Cobble, Valency Row – possibly eighteenth century with a later nineteenth century façade, this house has unpainted slatestone walls with Picture 8.13 The irregular window patterns and projecting stone rubble stack indicate Frogapits brick window arches. dates from the eighteenth century. Millstream Cottage, Valency Row – a two storey building with possibly

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal seventeenth or eighteenth century origins. 1b, Valency Row – a two storey house with probable seventeenth century origins. The Old Oil House, Valency Row – a former nineteenth century oil store, now converted into a house.

Converted agricultural buildings -

Sunny Side – a slatestone rubble building with a hipped rag slate roof, Picture 8.17 Like Valency further down the hill the this former store or barn dates from decorative windows of Venn cottage were the mid nineteenth century. deliberately designed to enliven the streetscape. Valency – originally part of a group of buildings including a stable and coach Historic Warehouses - house for the Manor House. Its Gothic-style detailing could have been The Cobweb Inn – (grade II) Almost intended as an eye-catcher, as are the square in plan this three storey slate windows on Venn Cottage. stone rubble building with an attic dates from the eighteenth century and was converted into an inn in 1945.

Picture 8.16 The gothic-style window on Valency, Penally Hill was deliberately designed to catch the eye of passing travellers. Picture 8.18 Although a public house since the mid-twentieth century the eighteenth century origins of the Cobweb Inn as a warehouse are clearly discernible.

Riverside Hotel – (grade II) This early nineteenth century slatestone rubble warehouse with brick dressings was converted into a pair of houses in the mid-nineteenth century

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal This imposing slatestone stone rubble construction is the tallest building in Boscastle rising to five stories on its western elevation. The main elevation has a distinctive castellated tower added in the late nineteenth century. The Old Mill – (grade II) The millhouse is eighteenth century and the present mill appears to date from the mid nineteenth century, but most probably replaced a seventeenth century structure. The building has slatestone Picture 8.19 Originally an early nineteenth century walls and one of its original warehouse this slatestone building with a canted waterwheels is still in situ. western end was converted into a pair of houses in the mid-nineteenth century.

Hollowell House – An early nineteenth century two storey L shaped construction with an attic. The building has slatestone walls and a rag slate hipped roof. By the late nineteenth century the building had been converted into a house and is now in multiple occupancy.

Picture 8.21 The waterwheel - still in situ on the mid-nineteenth century façade of the Old Mill.

Island Studio – (grade II) This late eighteenth century rendered stone rubble building could originally have been a mill built in relation to a leat which would explain its unusual positioning at an angle to the road and the Valency River.

Picture 8.20 The tall plain walls of Hollowell House are typical of former warehouses in the area.

Other key listed buildings -

The Wellington Hotel – (grade II) Originally a coaching house (with possible seventeenth century survivals) but largely rebuilt in 1853.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Hollowell House, the older rear elevation to the Wellington Hotel and the varied roofline of Valency Row.

Picture 8.22 Island Studio could originally have been a mill building.

Other unlisted buildings of note – Picture 8.24 The irregular plan of Hollow House The coal store on Penally Hill, bears witness to its former incarnation as a Boscastle Pottery, the former garage, warehouse. the house behind Clovelly Clothing and the former stables to the Wellington The cottages along Marine Terrace have Hotel. entrances divided in two to form pairs of narrow slanting doors.

Picture 8.23 The slate roof and wooden uprights of the linhay-style former coal store on Penally Hill still survives, now converted into garaging.

Local details

Many of the buildings in this area, because they were converted from former uses, have interesting plans and irregular elevations – such as the L shaped

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 8.26 Nineteenth century six over six pane sliding sash widows on the façade of the Riverside Hotel.

Local and traditional building materials

Most of the buildings in this area have slate stone rubble walls. On the warehouses these walls remain exposed, but on many Picture 8.25 Two entrances are formed by setting the doors at an angle on Marine Terrace. of the houses the walls are rendered or colour washed – sometimes only on the Most of the roofs are hipped and are a principal elevation eg The Old Manor mixture of close mitred and ridge tiled. House. Many of the window surrounds are Chimneys are usually of brick, but a slatestone, but some of the nineteenth number have been rendered. There are a century conversions such as the Wellington few modern dormer windows with gable Hotel and the Riverside Hotel have brick ends, but traditional half dormers with surrounds. raking roofs can be found on Valency House similar to a dormer that used to exist on the western elevation of Hollowell House.

Most of the buildings have regular fenestration patterns and there is a good survival of original windows. Marine Terrace, Island Studio and the house to the west of the Old Manor House have horizontal sliding sashes and impressive vertical sash windows still survive on the Wellington Hotel, the Riverside Hotel and the Old Manor House.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 8.27 5, Valency Row a nineteenth century Picture 8.28 Historic street surfacing along Valency house stands adjacent to Robin Cottage, which Row of water-worn cobbles and edge bedded slate. dates from the eighteenth century – both have painted rubblestone walls typical of the area. One of the major features of the area is the riverside revetment walling. This mainly The vast majority of roofs are rag slate and takes the form of vertically set slatestone, give the area a great sense of some areas of which were badly damaged homogeneity, particularly when viewed from during the 2004 flood. above.

Most of the slate hanging in the area is modern, but blends into the surroundings where natural local materials are used.

Public realm

There is a good survival of historic streetscapes in this area with Valency Row of particular interest. Its unusual site, possibly in relation to an earlier river crossing, has resulted in the street becoming a back lane and as a consequence its historic street surfacing of Picture 8.29 The revetment walling to the west of water-worn cobbles and edge set slates the bridge was badly damaged during the 2004 flood and has been rebuilt to incorporating new flood still survive. prevention features.

Many of the original garden walls of slatestone with granite or spar copings and granite gate posts were lost during the flood, but are currently in the processes of being reinstated. Some of the walls are of simple rubblestone construction whilst

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal others, such as the garden wall to Sunny Side have the distinctive ‘kersey-way’ or ‘Jack-over-Jill’ formation.

Picture 8.32 Slatestone laid in vertical courses forms the boundary walls to Penally House.

Greenery and green space

The predominance of industrial buildings sited to address the road for ease of access has resulted in few areas of forecourts and front gardens. However there is a significant area of green open space in front of the western end of Valency Row (the area was traditionally the garden to Valency House), and areas of informal grass either Picture 8.30 Granite gatepost at the western end of side of the river. There are small front the Private Path. gardens along Marine Row, in front of Island Studio and the detached houses along Bude Road are set in their own grounds. However, the gardens opposite the Old Manor House and the land to the east known as Lower Manor Meadows are now the Cobweb car park.

Although the landscaping at the heart of the area appears quite hard it is immediately surrounded by a green hinterland of hillsides covered in scrub, bracken and gorse and the meadows of the river valley. Picture 8.31 Slatestone rubble wall on the northern side of Penally Hill bordering a granite drinking Loss, intrusion and damage trough set within a granite well house with ashlar round headed arch. Flood Damage -

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal The area was particularly badly hit by the 2004 flood. The following historic buildings were destroyed – the rear outshut to Island Studio and Clovelly Clothing, and damage was sustained to many of the other historic buildings in the area which are listed in the Cornwall County Council Historic Environment Service report ‘Boscastle, Cornwall Characterisation and recording in the aftermath of the August 2004 floods’, pages 7-8. Other historic areas which were affected include the riverbank revetment walls, the cobbled surfacing along Valency Picture 8.33 The original rag slate roofs in this part Row, the lawn in front of Valency House of the village are highly visible and form an important and the meadows above the car park. part of its character. Detailed recommendations for the salvage, repair and reinstatement of historic features Some of the modern detached housing and are given in the CCC report. commercial buildings along Bude Road have not respected the surrounding historic Historic losses in the area include - the buildings and natural setting in terms of bridge and New Stores lost to road their site, design, materials and scale. widening and the Lower Manor Meadows used for fetes and fairs now the car park. Neutral Areas The car park, whilst an important tourist facility, is at present very utilitarian Area to the west of Old Manor House. detracting from the surrounding historic landscape and presenting a poor first General condition impression to visitors. Following repair after the flood damage The street furniture, signage and lighting is most buildings in this area are now in a at present very utilitarian and does not good state of repair and there are no reflect the high quality of the surrounding buildings at risk. built environment and natural setting. Quaytown There is generally a good survival of historic windows, but there are a number Statement of significance – of replacement windows of inappropriate Quaytown is set within one of the most materials and design. striking coastal landscapes in the county There is a very high survival of original rag and has a most notable survival of historic slate roofs which form an important part of buildings with almost no fundamental the town’s character and are highly visible. alteration to the building stock since 1900. As a consequence the use of different roof The lack of modern infill has helped to materials, ridge tiles where the edges were preserve the historic working character of originally mitred or the further insertion of the area. roof lights should be discouraged.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Historic Development Sun Dial (possibly the building now known as Highwater). There would There are no early records referring to also have been a number of the harbour at Boscastle, but it seems warehouses and houses including one likely there was a settlement there called the Palace (probably on a site prior to the first written reference to a behind the Youth Hostel) and the fisherman from Boscastle in 1438. By house now called Harbour Cottage. the sixteenth century the harbour was a port and trading place where lime was imported and slate exported. In 1584 the quay was rebuilt with dimensions that match its present form. During the seventeenth century the area around the harbour became a focus for industrial activity including cellars (or palaces) for the newly developed capitalised fishing industry.

Picture 8.35 Penally Terrace - despite their conversion to domestic use the original form of these fish cellars of open sheds on the ground floor with net lofts above supported by stone rubble piers is still legible.

Picture 8.34 The sixteenth century quay built from vertically coursed slatestone.

By the mid eighteenth century the quay had been improved and repaired and was receiving salt from Bristol for Boscastle’s pilchard industry. At this time Penally Terrace and Bridge Cellars were constructed as purpose Picture 8.36 This pair of listed cottages are known built fish cellars. In addition to salt, coal as Highwater and Highwater Cottage. The left hand cottage possibly dates from the late eighteenth and other merchandise were imported century and could be the former Sun Dial Inn, whilst and Delabole slate exported. During the adjoining cottage dates from the mid nineteenth this period the fish cellars were joined century. by a limekiln (probably on the south bank of the river opposite the modern Much construction took place in the youth hostel) and a public house, the early nineteenth century as the port

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal enjoyed increasing trade. In addition During the late nineteenth century the to the export of slate, manganese was character of the area changed as the exported and a manganese mill was commercial activity became less built (now converted into two houses diverse. Shipbuilding ceased, the Gaviotas/Seagulls). Coal and limekilns and malt house closed, and limestone continued to be imported the manganese mill and pilchard and a further limekiln was built to the cellars became stores. The coming of east of Bridge cellars. The road to the the railway to Camelford in 1893 harbour was macadamised in 1825 effectively put an end to the seaborne for ease of access and further trade. Crab and lobster fishing warehouses built to house the continued and rock-cut tanks were increasing number of imported goods formed on the southern side of the - one of these Foxe’s Cellars was first harbour. Following the sale of the recorded in 1830. Increasing numbers manor to Henry Pige-Leschallas in of people lived in the harbour area and 1886 a new bridge was built lower during the 1820s part of Penally down the river and Palace stables built Cellars was converted into residential to provide transport for carrying goods use. Following his purchase of the from the harbour. Fox’s Cellars was manor of Boscastle in 1844 Thomas converted into four sizeable houses Avery carried out changes to the form and Bridge Cellars which had been of the harbour and built a shipyard used as a salt store became the town (adjacent to the house now called hall in 1909. Highwater)). Walter White a librarian Up until the Second World War from the Royal Society observed after Quayside, despite the decline in a visit in 1855 to the harbour area - ‘on seaborne trade, retained much of its each side the space is occupied by industrial character with a range of warehouses, workshops, shipyards, associated buildings – stables, timber yards, and all the appliances of piggeries, cartsheds and stores still a busy trading port’. Coastguards were surviving. In 1946 the manor estate employed to police the coast and a was finally broken up and this led to a watch house was built on Penally Point period of change. Many of the historic in the mid nineteenth century and a structures were converted into boat house (on land adjacent to the residential and service buildings for youth hostel). In the 1870s Fox’s the tourist industry. The Old Store Cellars were remodelled to store china House became a garage in the 1940s clay and salt, and then altered again and was converted into a house in the to become a malthouse in the 1880s. later twentieth century as was the old The area became increasingly popular manganese mill and the Old as a tourist destination and by the Carpenter’s Shop. The former 1840s already had a definite visitor blacksmiths became an art and crafts season. In 1854 Boscastle was shop and then the National Trust shop. advertised in the press for the walks Palace Stables was converted into a from the harbour, and a bathing pool youth hostel by the National Trust in was established and later improved in the 1960s, and the adjacent building, the 1890s. a former piggery became a shop in 1957. Bridge Cellars was converted

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal from the town hall into the Apollo Cinema and then subsequently into a restaurant and a number of other tourist uses. In the 1950s the National Trust acquired the harbour area and much of the surrounding coastline. In 1962 the present breakwater was built.

Picture 8.38 The great variety of building forms in the harbour area reflects their multiplicity of former uses including warehouses, mill, agricultural buildings and stores.

Architecture and historic qualitites

Due to the organic nature of the settlement with so many buildings converted to Picture 8.37 The late nineteenth century Palace different uses over the years there is very Stables was converted into a youth hostel by the National Trust in the 1960s. little of what can be termed polite architecture. Bourne Stream and Harbour Activity & Use View are the only two surviving buildings specifically constructed as houses, and The historic working nature of the harbour even Harbour View has been altered over has had a profound affect on its present the years. When Harbour Terrace and form. Many of the buildings have been Penally Terrace were converted into converted from previous structures directly domestic accommodation they were given or indirectly connected with the fishing and facades with regular window openings, but import industries, and the open areas of the majority of buildings present charming land associated with these structures have informal facades. The variety of former also been preserved due to a uses has a resulted in great diversity of commendable lack of infill. Although a few mass and scale with buildings ranging from fishing boats still remain in the harbour the single to three stories, and many prevailing activity in the area is now the incorporating structures of different heights. tourist industry. All the non domestic buildings have tourist related uses and Key Buildings many of the houses are holiday lets or bed and breakfast accommodation. Even in the Former fish cellars – winter months there is a steady flow of visitors walking beside the river to the Penally Terrace – (grade II) These harbour and coastline beyond. rendered and painted stone rubble structures are built on three sides with an open courtyard. Originally they probably had open sheds on the

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal ground floor and net lofts above. They was built into a sloping bank in order were converted into domestic to facilitate the top loading of lime and accommodation in the early to mid culm. nineteenth century.

Picture 8.40 Although disused since the late Picture 8.39 Penally Terrace - by the late nineteenth nineteenth century the late eighteenth century century the range on the left hand side had been limekiln on the northern side of the river still converted to provide accommodation for the survives. fishermen with the range on the right remaining in industrial use. Harbour Terrace – The original Foxe’s Cellars that were recorded in 1830 on Bridge Cellars – Originally a complex this site were probably rebuilt later in with a salt store as the eastern end the nineteenth century to form a large and two parallel long narrow ranges warehouse. Its early conversion to extending to the west. The buildings domestic use in the late nineteenth have been converted and extended century has resulted in a terrace of over the years and are now in a variety four houses with sash windows of commercial uses including the underneath brick arches set within the Museum of Witchcraft and a gift shop. imposing coursed slatestone façade. Despite the alterations the overall form of the buildings and its original function is still recognisable.

Major industrial structures –

The Quay and Harbour – (grade II*) The harbour pier, quay and walls on the south west of the harbour all date from 1584. The pier is constructed from vertically coursed slatestone rubble, partly rebuilt on the eastern side. The limekiln – (grade II) A late eighteenth century construction of rubble and calcareous spar. The kiln

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Youth Hostel – Originally Palace Stables this building was converted by the National Trust in 1962 probably incorporating much of the original late nineteenth century fabric.

Other listed buildings –

Cottages to north of Harbour Cottage – (grade II) possibly the original Sun Dial Inn Harbour Cottage – (grade II) an eighteenth century converted net loft Picture 8.41 Despite the insertion of domestic sash windows in the late nineteenth century the large and cellar scale of Harbour Terrace hints at its former Harbour View – (grade II) a mid incarnation as a warehouse. nineteenth century house.

Gaviotas/Seagulls – This building, originally a manganese mill, was converted several times before it became domestic accommodation towards the end of the twentieth century. Inevitably the structure has altered greatly but its slatestone walls (now painted) and low level form still remain. Recently a shop has been opened at the western end of the ground floor.

Picture 8.43 Harbour View – dating from the mid nineteenth century this building was home to the local carpenter Mr Pearn in the early twentieth century whose business was located immediately to the east. It later became a boarding house in the mid twentieth century.

Other unlisted buildings of note –

The Blacksmiths Shop, The Shippen, The Old Carpenter’s Shop and the Old Storehouse.

Picture 8.42 Originally a manganese mill this building has now been converted into houses and a shop. The raking dormers are a traditional local solution to lighting the upper floor.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 8.44 This mid nineteenth century structure Picture 8.46 The former carpenter’s workshop and was originally built as a blacksmith’s shop and is Old Store House (used at one time to house the currently used by the National Trust as a gift shop. rocket lifesaving apparatus) are now both houses.

Local Details

The majority of buildings are vernacular – many converted from their original use – and as a result have irregular plans and rooflines. Despite the conversion of all the industrial buildings to domestic and tourist related uses elements of their original function can still be discerned. There are two distinctive courtyard arrangements associated with the pilchard industry still to be found at Penally Terrace and Bridge Picture 8.45 The Shippen, as its name suggests, Cellars. Large block-like structures such as was originally a cow shippen with adjacent stable Harbour Terrace and the Youth Hostel bear and pigsty. testament to their former uses. The slate hung first floor of Harbour Cottage and the rear elevation of Penally Terrace are both surviving elements of the former net lofts. Former small stores are easily identifiable by their single storey form.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Public Realm

The river and harbour revetment walls are a major feature of the area. They are formed from vertically set slate with larger slatestone and spar at the base. The stone differs in size and texture throughout indicating different phases of building and repair.

Picture 8.47 The slatestone first floor of Harbour Cottage on the left hand side was originally used as a net loft with a cellar below. The right hand range was added in the early 1950s.

In addition to the differing heights and masses of the buildings their roof constructions are a mixture of hipped and gabled, close mitred and ridge tiled, and incorporate both gabled and raking dormers. The majority of historic windows are vertically hung sashes, but casement Picture 8.48 Vertically set slatestone revetment walls on the southern side of the river opposite the windows can be found along Penally limekiln. Terrace. There are few areas of historic surfacing Local and traditional building the majority of paths being tarmac. materials However, the slip in front of the Youth Hostel is of vertically set slatestone The majority of walls are slatestone, some surfaced with edge-set stones. of which are rubblestone and others brought to course. Early photographs Many of the buildings in this area have suggest that the majority of buildings were unbounded plots but there are a few garden bare stone, but a number have walls. These are a mixture of slatestone subsequently been painted and rendered. with spar copings and Cornish hedges The predominance of stone walls and the where the slatestone wall is capped by rag slate roofs give the area an overall vegetation. homogeneity, but there is great variety in the details. The windows have a mixture of Greenery and green space slate and timber lintels and brick arches. The majority of buildings have brick Due to the working nature of the area most chimneys, except for the Youth Hostel of the buildings were traditionally which has slatestone stacks. accompanied by spaces where various tasks associated with the buildings were carried out, the majority of which still remain. In some cases, such as the former

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal fish cellars these spaces remain areas of bridge which lost its parapets. Detailed hard standing, but for many others, such recommendations for the salvage, repair as the former net loft (Harbour Cottage) and reinstatement of historic features are and the Shippen the working yards are now given in the CCC report. gardens.

The overall impression of the area is rural as the buildings are mainly dispersed, set in an irregular pattern backing onto the valley sides. Everywhere nature permeates the built environment with houses nestling into the slopes, accessed by informal tracks. In only a few places is the settlement more than one house deep.

Picture 8.50 The lower bridge – severely damaged in the 2004 flood may have to be entirely rebuilt as part the flood prevention scheme.

Apart from the historic loss of such structures as The Palace, the limekiln on the southern side of the river and the shipyard, Quaytown represents a quite remarkable survival of historic fabric and lack of modern development.

Picture 8.49 Nature is a key component in the In the main there is a good survival of character of this area – with buildings irregularly dispersed along the valley sides. historic windows, but there are a few modern replacements in prominent Loss, intrusion and damage locations. The majority of roofs are traditional rag slate, but again the few Flood damage - exceptions in modern slate are very visible. Such is the exceptional character of the This was one of the worst affected areas area due to the high survival of historic during the 2004 flood. Harbour Lights a buildings, the lack of modern development, grade II building was entirely destroyed, its stunning natural setting and its high and damage was sustained to many of the degree of visibility that small extensions other historic buildings in the area which which could normally be absorbed within are listed in the Cornwall County Council the built environment sound a jarring note. Historic Environment Service report ‘Boscastle, Cornwall Characterisation and Neutral Areas recording in the aftermath of the August 2004 floods’, pages 7-8. Other historic At present, following the flooding, there is areas which were affected include the a gap site to the east of the Old Store. riverbank revetment walls and the lower Harbour Lights and the store to the east of

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal the limekiln are still to be rebuilt. To the ease, St James’, was built on the north west of the witchcraft museum is an western side of the market site. informal area currently being used for car By the sixteenth and seventeenth parking and to store building materials. century the success of the market and the growing importance of the harbour General Condition below resulted in a substantial number of merchants houses being built along Following repair after the flood damage Fore Street and High Street. In 1611 most buildings in this area are now in a John Hender built a manor house in good state of repair and there are no the south-east corner of the market buildings at risk. A number of buildings are site and by 1623 there was a in the process of being rebuilt and the substantial two storey market house Youth Hostel and part of Bridge Cellars still with a corn store on the first floor and await repair. meat stalls below. This building survived until the early nineteenth Upper Town century. By 1701 there was also a row of six almshouses. One of the Upper Town represents the medieval heart sixteenth century houses is now called of Boscastle and its later extensions. Kiddlywink, a reference to its previous Historically this was the site of the castle incarnation as a drinking and market, but is now a mainly residential establishment. area with an attractive mix of historic housing, including an unusually high survival of sixteenth and seventeenth century domestic buildings.

Historic Development

The settlement developed around Bottreaux Castle (which probably dates from before 1150), at the northern end of a spur of land between the Jordan and Treforda Valleys. A market was granted in 1204 and the settlement subsequently developed along the road (Fore Street) leading Picture 8.51 Built on High Street during the early seventeenth century the Napoleon Inn was renamed uphill from the castle to the south. It is to celebrate Wellington’s victory. possible the first market site was adjacent to the castle but by at least During the eighteenth century as the the late fourteenth century a market market continued to flourish and the site was established across the axis harbour based industries continued to of Fore Street further up the slope. By grow further town houses were added the late fourteenth century a chapel of to the already thriving Upper Town.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal southern end of the town. Rosevear built Barn Park and the adjoining house and Benoke built the villa Paradise. During the nineteenth century a number of institutional buildings were built in Upper Town a Methodist chapel on Fore Street in 1800 which was subsequently rebuilt in 1825, a Wesleyan Methodist (Ebenezer) Chapel on Dunn Street in 1837 and in 1857 a Bible Christian (Siloam) Chapel on High Street. In Picture 8.52 Rosewarren was built in the early 1844 a school was built on Fore Street eighteenth century and has stone rubble and cob joined by a further school designed by walls. The irregular positioning of its windows and Silvanus Trevail in 1879. One of the the use of wooden lintels are clues to its early public houses was renamed the origins. Napoleon Inn during this period By the early nineteenth century Upper possibly in 1852 when the Wellington Town was still the main residential Inn in the Bridge area was renamed. area in Boscastle. In 1820 a contemporary writer described it as having around sixty houses in an ‘irregular street’ Despite the abandonment of the weekly market in around 1810 and the poor condition of St James’ Chapel and the Manor House the rest of Upper Town continued to flourish. There were still two yearly fairs and many of the trades originally based at the market were incorporated into former residential buildings. During this period a smithy, tailors, shoemaker, pubs and a number Picture 8.53 Paradise built by the merchant Richard of small retailers were all operating out Benoke in the 1820s. of Upper Town. The boundaries of the former medieval settlement also expanded with further building taking place along Dunn Street and the upper end of High Street. It was also during this period that Jordan Mill was built at the confluence of Treforda Water and the River Jordan. During the 1820s two wealthy merchants Thomas Pope Rosevear and Richard Benoke built large villas on the high ground at the

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal land to the north of Gunpool Lane. A war memorial was also built in this period at the foot of Fore Street at the junction with Dunn Street. In 1946 the manor estate was sold and broken up which resulted in further development including the area between Paradise and Doctor’s Hill and the southern end of Old Road. Piecemeal development has occurred in recent years within the historic core including the further infilling of the market site with a health Picture 8.54 The Methodist Chapel on Fore Street centre and detached houses and built in 1825, with the tower added in 1904. The bungalows, and the building of a cream bricks form a striking contrast with the dark community centre on the old Ebenezer slatestone. Chapel site. During the 1840s the fabric of Upper Town was somewhat disturbed with the building of the southern end of New Road which passed through the south western corner of the old market place. Because at this time so much development was occurring in the Quaytown and Bridge areas the pressure for development was taken off Upper Town. As a result many of the late medieval and early modern domestic properties that could have been demolished to make way for new development were preserved. Picture 8.55 The Mission Chapel on the corner of Gunpool Lane built in 1900 is now the village hall. In 1900 a Mission Chapel was built on the corner of Fore Street and Gunpool Lane and at around this time plots from the old market place began to be sold. Early development on this site included the villa Lundy View and a new shop and hotel, Bottreaux Stores. Although the burgeoning tourist industry was mainly based in the valley there were a number of houses in the Upper Town used for accommodation including Pillar House in Dunn Street. Development in Upper Town in the first half of the twentieth century was based mainly in the Paradise area and the

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal low two storey sixteenth and seventeenth century cottages with large slatestone chimney stacks, irregular window openings (including tiny one pane windows), one storey outshuts and extensions. The Georgian and Victorian builders continued this tradition of cottage building, but with regular window openings and brick chimney stacks, and also built large three storey town houses with plain symmetrical facades.

As most buildings were domestic and Picture 8.56 Pillar House on Dunn Street was one of the first buildings in Upper Town to be used for relatively small scale architectural detailing tourist accommodation. is on the whole kept to a minimum. However the Methodist Church represents Activity and use an eclectic mix of Gothic and Classical forms, and the two large villas, Paradise Despite its ancient castle site, picturesque and Barn Park both have classical detailing. setting and wealth of historic buildings The influence of Classical architecture can (there are over forty listed buildings in be found charmingly incorporated into the comparison to ten at Tintagel – not counting more modest façades of St Hugh’s – which the churchyard tombs) most of the tourists has a cornice with a central pediment, and to Boscastle remain in the Bridge and Pillar House – whose first floor is supported Quaytown area. However Upper Town does by two wooden Tuscan columns. serve the many visitors who are staying in the town with its bed and breakfast accommodation, pub and restaurant. Other enterprises include the garage, post office and hairdresser continuing the area’s early role as a commercial centre. Upper Town remains the centre for local institutions including the school and Methodist Chapel which still operate from their original buildings, the village hall sited within the old Mission Chapel and the new health and community centres. Upper Town is still primarily a residential area with cottages and houses spanning every period from the Picture 8.57 The majority of buildings in the Upper sixteenth century to the present day. Town area are small scale and domestic.

Architecture and historic qualities

The wide historical range of buildings in the Upper Town area has resulted in a wealth of different styles and details. There are

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 8.60 A nineteenth century extension on the front of a seventeenth century building. The original shops timber lintel is still in place but the shop window has been partially blocked.

Picture 8.58 Tuscan wooden columns outside Pillar House.

Although no longer in use, historical shopfronts can still be found on the former Butcher’s Shop, Sharrocks Cottage and St Hugh’s.

Picture 8.61 St Hugh’s, Dunn Street – originally built in the seventeenth century the façade was remodelled in the nineteenth century including the bow shop windows.

The majority of houses, especially on Dunn Street, Fore Street and High Street directly address the street, although the buildings on the eastern side of Fore Street have front gardens (possibly where the original market place stood).

Key buildings Picture 8.59 The former butcher’s shop on Fore Street has retained its nineteenth century shop front. Sixteenth and seventeenth century –

The Glen, Linhay and Kiddlywink, No. 4, Sharrocks, Smugglers, Tinkers

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Cottage, Wren Cottage and Hill Street, The Old Post House – all in Fore Street

Picture 8.62 Smugglers, Fore Street – the left hand range dates from the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century, whereas the range on the right dates from the eighteenth century.

Corner Cottage, The Napoleon Inn, Homeleigh and the Cottage, Mister Picture 8.63 The Cottage, High Street has an Cottage – in High Street ingenious door surround constructed from slabs of slate held together by metal brackets.

All the above are listed grade II

Eighteenth century –

Pillar House, St Hugh, Ingledene and Martindale, The Nook – in Dunn Street Elm Cottage, May Cottage, Harwood Cottage, House adjoining Fairfield, Moss Rose, Rosewarren – in Fore Street

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 8.64 May Cottage dates from the eighteenth Picture 8.65 The slatestone school with granite century, its panelled door and ground floor sash dressings was designed by Silvanus Trevail. windows are nineteenth century, and the casement windows in the raking dormers date from the late nineteenth century.

Heigh Ho, Rose Cottage, Round Tree Cottage, Trevian House, Hilldene, Hilldene Cottage – in High Street The Cottage, Mount Pleasant

All the above are listed grade II

Nineteenth Century –

Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Fore Street, Paradise House, Barn Park and Picture 8.66 Jordan Mill was built in the early Targon, Orchard House, Sharrocks nineteenth century at the confluence of Treforda Cottage, Gunpool Lane - all listed Water and the River Jordan. grade II Other unlisted buildings of interest Local details include the Silvanus Trevail school, the old Mission Church (the village Most buildings are two storeys with a few hall), the Siloam Chapel (now a house) three storey buildings and buildings with and Jordan Mill. an attic. The roofs are a mixture of hipped and gabled, with some houses having gable ends addressing the street (particularly striking is the row of houses above Linhay).Some roofs incorporate traditional half dormers with raking roofs such as Homeleigh and May Cottage, and there are a number of modern roof lights and dormers with gables.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal There is a good survival of historic windows which include a mixture of sliding and vertical sashes, and casements. In addition there are some early one pane windows and the decorative oculus and round arched windows on the Methodist Church.

Picture 8.69 Dunn Street – the character of this area is greatly enhanced by the survival of its historic windows – here there is a mix of nineteenth and Picture 8.67 A traditional half dormer with a raking early twentieth century sashes with only a few roof and slate cheeks. The impact of this charming modern replacements. historic feature is diminished by the modern guttering.

Picture 8.70 A three light greenstone window on the façade of the early eighteenth century Round Tree Picture 8.68 Half dormer widows with raking roofs Cottage. on Homeleigh – one has a casement window and the other a horizontal sliding sash. The upper floor There are examples of slatehanging some window on the adjoining The Cottage has a hood mould. At one point Homeleigh was run as a public of which is historic and the use of slate house. slabs as simple door canopies.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 8.73 Norwood House, Dunn Street is a typical late nineteenth/early twentieth century house in Boscastle with its coursed slatestone walls, brick window and door surrounds, and sash windows.

The walls are a mixture of untreated, painted and rendered, most untreated walls belonging to the later buildings.

Picture 8.71 Historic slatehanging.

Picture 8.74 The slatestone walls on Moss Rose which date from the early eighteenth century have been painted. Picture 8.72 Simple slabs of slate supported by iron brackets are used to form door canopies. The roofs are predominantly rag slate with early slatestone chimneys and later brick Local and traditional building and rendered stacks. materials

Most buildings have slatestone walls which are mainly rubble in the earlier buildings and coursed on the Victorian facades.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 8.77 Timber lintels can be found in both early and later cottages in Upper Town.

Public realm

Upper Town has the most interesting surviving historic street surfacing in Boscastle. Running down either side of Fore Street, High Street and the southern end of Dunn Street are cobbled gullies - Picture 8.75 This chimney is unusually constructed from granite. However, the use of slate to form its where the gullies are particularly deep pot would once have been common amongst the access to the bordering properties is by early buildings. simple slate or granite slabs.

Picture 8.76 This slatestone chimney has been Picture 8.78 Cobbled gully on Dunn Street. partially rendered, but its slate drip moulds are still discernible.

Windows are surrounded by timber and stone lintels on the earlier houses, and dressed slatestone arches and red or cream brick arches on the later structures.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 8.81 A slatestone wall laid in vertical and diagonal courses along Paradise.

Picture 8.79 Slabs of slate bridge the cobbled gullies at the foot of Fore Street.

Picture 8.82 Slatestone garden walls on Dunn Street laid in the traditional ‘kersey way’ formation.

Picture 8.80 A granite slab provides access to the school on Fore Street.

Throughout the area there are slatestone garden walls capped by granite, lumps of spar or edge-bedded slatestone. Picture 8.83 Lumps of spar are frequently used as coping stones and can be found throughout the village.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal The majority of walls are low, but in places along High Street they reach full height. Gate piers are a mixture of brick, granite posts and slatestone. Slatestone and slate are also used to form flights of steps in the area connecting the streets on different levels, and giving access to back gardens. Many of the doorsteps are formed from slabs of slate.

Picture 8.85 Slate and slatestone steps on Dunn Street.

Picture 8.84 A granite gate post, now being used as a barrier across the cobbled gully.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 8.88 Historic iron railings outside Targon.

Picture 8.86 Slate steps leading from Old Road to New Road above.

Picture 8.89 Granite drinking trough on Gunpool Lane – possibly incorporating material from the medieval St James’ Chapel.

On the whole street marking is kept to a minimum helping to preserve the informal character of the streets.

Picture 8.87 Slate doorstep on Dunn Street.

At Paradise, Targon and the house adjacent to Barn Park the original railings still survive. Along Gunpool Lane there is a large mid nineteenth century granite drinking trough incorporating sixteenth century material possibly from the demolished chapel of St James.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 8.90 The lack of road markings helps to retain the character of country lanes within the settlement.

Greenery and green space

The southern parts of Dunn Street, Fore Street and High Street represent areas of quite hard landscaping with many of the properties built straight onto the road. Picture 8.92 The war memorial at the foot of Fore Street.

In contrast Butts Lane, Gunpool Lane, Mount Pleasant and Paradise have a more rural country lane feel with more dispersed building, hedges and open areas of land. Barn Park Road and the southern end of New Road where it becomes the B3266 despite open areas of green space have an urban feel due to the treatment of the roads.

Picture 8.91 The landscaping along Dunn Street is quite hard as many of the buildings immediately address the street, however, some of the houses do have small front gardens.

This is softened somewhat at the foot of Fore Street where the houses on the eastern side have front gardens and the war memorial stands in a little garden of remembrance.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 8.93 Paradise has the character of a country lane.

The castle site represents a significant area of open green space with striking views over the Jordan Valley and across to Forrabury. However although there is public access along a grass track from Fore Street it is poorly signed and the site itself is only sketchily interpreted. Picture 8.94 If the original windows, doors and datestone had survived this former chapel could Loss, intrusion and damage have retained much more of its historic integrity.

On the whole this area has an excellent There is little sense of the original market survival rate of historic buildings. site with only the name Fairfield to indicate Historically a few structures have been lost its former use. including St James’ Chapel, the Market House and the Manor House, and more The development of new houses to the recently the Ebenezer Chapel and the west of the garage site is at present very market place. However the medieval street raw with its high earth bank and boundary pattern, castle site and many early buildings wall. still survive.

The main reasons for loss of character in the area have been replacement windows and doors, roof lights and dormers, porches and other small extensions. In the main however there is a good survival of original windows and most of the original rag slate roofs are still in situ.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 8.95 The raw banks below the new Picture 8.97 At present the entrance to the development at the foot of Doctors Hill. community centre has an unfinished feel. By rebuilding the wall to the west of the entrance the Neutral areas historic street line could be reinstated and a sense of enclosure returned. The small green at the junction between High Street and Mount Pleasant has an General condition unresolved air. The bench is poorly Buildings in this area are generally in a designed and sited and sits amongst a good state of repair and there are no scattering of signs. buildings at risk.

Forrabury Churchtown

Historically this was a small churchtown settlement with a farm, rectory, small holdings and cottages grouped around the church. In recent years the area has become quite highly developed, but the survival of many of its historic buildings and its stunning site on the edge of Forrabury Common has helped to preserve its character.

Picture 8.96 The arrangement of street furniture and Historic development signs on the small green at the junction between Mount Pleasant and the High Street could be better Forrabury is smaller than the other designed. parishes in the area, and it is possible The entrance to the community centre has it was formed from part of it neighbours an unfinished quality. Trevalga and Minster. The name Forrabury could be derived from a word meaning ‘outwork’ referring to the late prehistoric promontory fort on the headland to the north of the church. The church was first built

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal during the Norman period and would have been part of a small settlement. To the north of the church at some time between the tenth and the thirteenth century a strip field system was laid out. By the later twelfth century the church was granted in part to Hartland Abbey by its then patrons the Bottreaux family who owned the manor of Boscastle. During the fifteenth and sixteenth century the church, St Symphorian’s was rebuilt in parts and a south porch Picture 8.99 The unenclosed fields to the north of added. The fields to the north of the the church known as Forrabury Stitches. church remained unenclosed because at some point they were bought by a By the eighteenth century the general variety of different owners from Upper form of the settlement comprising the Town and used as burgage plots. church and a scattering of houses was probably remarkably similar to its original medieval layout. In around 1760 the church tower was largely rebuilt. By 1843 Forrabury was composed of the church and eight other properties including a parsonage to the south west of the church, a row of cottages and a small holding opposite the church, and three small cottages on Potters Lane. Between 1866-7 the church was comprehensively restored by JP St Aubyn. By 1884 the old Picture 8.98 The predominantly fifteenth century parsonage had been demolished and church of St Symphorian. a new rectory built just to the east with a stable block fronting the road. Adjacent to the stables was a pair of attached villas. Three further cottages were built along Potters Lane, possibly to accommodate workers from the nearby quarry. By the early twentieth century Forrabury had not developed any further until a new large detached villa, Forrabury House, was built probably in the late Edwardian period, opposite the church between the small holding and the cottage row. Following the sale

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal and break up of the manor estate in catering accommodation, and various 1946 development took place to the visitors walking the cliff path take a detour south along Potters Lane. This was to visit the church. described in a 1930 Council for the Preservation of Rural England (CPRE) Architecture and historic qualities report – ‘Near the church and facing the sea are three modern bungalows As most of the new development in this of a very different character from the area has occurred beyond the historic core, sturdy church tower’. In recent years rather than in the form of infill the basic further development has taken place layout of the former churchtown is still to the west of the former rectory, readable Although the church was the including a new rectory, and the fields raison d’etre for the settlement the historic to the south are covered in an estate buildings do not address it, but instead are of new housing. built for shelter with their backs to the road in the lea of the hillside looking out over the former fields that slope away to the south. The buildings are a mix of polite villas and vernacular agriculture related structures.

Picture 8.100 View of Forrabury Churchtown with St Symphorian’s in the background, the Edwardian villa just below and a row of Victorian cottages on the road to the right. This view illustrates the high degree of modern infill that has occurred in the area. Picture 8.101 The buildings below the church present their rear facades to the prevailing wind. Activity and use Key Buildings This is one of the quieter parts of Boscastle being largely residential with no commercial St Symphorian’s - A simple slatestone premises. Some of its former churchtown construction incorporating parts of the character remains as it is still a centre for original Norman church in the south religious activity, and although the southern wall of the nave and possibly in the fields have been lost to development there south transept. The window tracery is is still farmland to the north and west. The early English and the two stage tower town’s evolution into a tourist centre has rebuilt in the eighteenth century is impacted on this small community - the old highly visible throughout the area and rectory now incorporates Westerings self from Upper Town across the valley. The churchyard contains a number of

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal listed tombs including those to local businessmen Thomas Rosevear and James Benoke.

Picture 8.103 Forrabury House – a fine late Edwardian villa adds gravitas to the area in front of the church.

Valency Cottage – an early nineteenth century farm building with painted slatestone walls presenting a rear wall without fenestration to the road. Sunny Bank was probably of similar construction, but now has a modern rear extension.

Picture 8.102 Although the tower of St Symphorian has a fifteenth century plinth and was rebuilt c1760 it has the character of a much earlier structure perhaps echoing the original Norman structure.

Westerings (the old Rectory) – a substantial villa with wide eaves, stucco walls and large sash windows. This house stands behind a high slate wall with an adjoining slatestone stable block. Forrabury House – This late Picture 8.104 The original construction of Edwardian slatestone house has Sunnybank is visible behind the flat roof modern painted quoins and window surrounds extension. and large cream brick chimneys. A later development from the old rectory Briar Cottage – another former this house has a garage rather than a agricultural worker’s cottage. This stable block addressing the road and house with its large chimney stack and forming part of its boundary wall. small irregular window openings could date from the eighteenth century.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Local and traditional building materials

The majority of walls are slatestone and in the main painted, although the old rectory is rendered. The roofs are rag slate and most of the chimneys are brick. The chimney at Briar is rendered and could be slatestone underneath.

Picture 8.105 Briar Cottage is one of the oldest surviving domestic buildings in the area and dates from the eighteenth century.

Local details

The larger villas have hipped roofs whereas the roofs of the vernacular buildings are gabled. The vernacular buildings tend not to have windows facing the road whereas the polite structures have sash windows – six over six in the old rectory and in the Picture 8.107 A typical vernacular building in Forrabury with slatestone walls, and a rag slate roof. later villas six over two. On the whole there is not much in the way of architectural Public realm detailing although the pair of villas and Melbourne Cottage have crested ridge tiles. There are original slate gutters outside The cottages are far simpler than similar some of the buildings opposite the church, buildings in the Upper Town area indicating but in the main the roads are plain tarmac. a more utilitarian approach to design. The streets have an informal rural character especially beside the church where the fields are bounded by hedges and grassy tracks lead from the settlement to the church. Fortunately road markings are kept to a minimum helping to preserve the rural character. The boundary walls of the buildings opposite the church, a mixture of slatestone and spar, give a sense of enclosure. The churchyard is bounded by slatestone walls with wrought iron gates

Picture 8.106 Decorative terracotta crested ridge tiles and finial on Melbourne Cottage.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Loss, intrusion and damage

Remarkably little has altered to the built environment in this area since the beginning of the twentieth century other than the extension to Sunny Bank and the two new houses on the corner of Potters Lane. However, the new housing to the south has meant that part of the settlement’s rural context has been lost. Such is the proximity of the new developments it is now quite difficult to read Picture 8.108 The slatestone walls with spar copings the original group when looking from the opposite the church. south. Similarly looking out from the churchyard the original view rapidly merges into a more suburban prospect.

Many of the houses still have their original windows, but some have modern replacements. There is a good survival of original slate roofs.

Neutral areas

There is an informal parking area in front of the church.

General condition Picture 8.109 The wrought iron gates of the churchyard are in need of some repair. The buildings are generally in good Greenery and green space condition and there are no buildings at risk.

The area has a vast green backdrop in the New Road and Forrabury Hill form of the churchyard and fields beyond This area represents good quality housing which stretch to the sea. The buildings built to take advantage of the new access themselves are widely spaced and set route and spectacular views, and still within their own gardens giving an open retains much of its historic character. semi rural aspect which contrasts with the densely developed new estates to the Historic development south. Along the road below the church there are a number of mature trees. Forrabury Hill was one of the early roads in the settlement linking the church of St Symphorian with Old Road leading to the harbour settlement below and the medieval Upper Town. The only building in the area was on

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal the corner of Potters Lane, where by 1804 there was probably a small holding. By the 1840s, however, there were no buildings on this site. At this point the New Road did not exist and was simply part of the hillside below Forrabury Common. There was however a small structure towards the foot of the hillside on the site where Valley View was subsequently built. In 1844 work began on New Road financed by Thomas Avery (following his acquisition of full ownership of the Picture 8.110 The former quarry site on Forrabury Boscastle Manor estate) to improve Hill. access to the harbour from the south and west by bypassing the steep and After Henry Pige-Leschallas bought narrow route through Upper Town. The the Boscastle Manor estate in 1886 new road was built into the hillside work began on a series of seven villas requiring extensive engineering work. (Valley View, Lewarne, Meachard, To begin with the road was simply an Glenfinart, Penrowan, Belmont and access route with no building other Polquenns) along the eastern side of than the late eighteenth/early New Road and the refurbishment of nineteenth century structure at the foot Lynwood. By 1907 the only further of the hill. development was the demolition of the By 1884 there were a pair of cottages quarry building and the building of a (High Bank Cottage and Dunfarley) smallholding on the junction between and a detached house (Lynwood) just Potters Lane and Forrabury Hill. south of the junction between Old The only modern development in the Road and New Road. There was a pair area has been two houses on the of cottages (Penagar and the western side of New Road just below Chestnuts) to the east of New Road the junction with Forrabury Hill, a above Dunn Street and some small detached house on the old quarry site, informal outbuildings on the other side a house to the west of the quarry, and of the road. On the northern side of a detached house in the grounds of Forrabury Hill there was a quarry Melbourne House. already referred to as an old quarry, and associated building, and on the Activity and use southern side of the hill at the junction with New Road a large detached villa, The area in the main still retains its original Melbourne House. functions. New Road is primarily a busy access route and residential area. Forrabury Hill by contrast is a very quiet residential corner of Boscastle and one of the access roads to the church.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Topography has impacted on the development of the area with very little building taking place on the steep slopes until Victorian engineering advances allowed for the building of New Road and the construction of the villas on the hillside. The steepness of the hillside to the west of New Road continues to limit development in this direction.

Architecture and historic qualities

Apart from the odd small cottage or store this area remained undeveloped until the Victorian period due to the aforementioned challenges of the site. However once the expertise was acquired, the area became popular for development due to the striking views across the River Jordan valley. Development in this area took the form of domestic buildings built to take best advantage of the exceptional prospect. Apart from the two Cottages (Chestnuts Picture 8.111 Oriel windows take advantage of the spectacular views along New Road. and Penagar) and the smallholding on Forrabury Hill the building design has little Key buildings to do with the local vernacular. The New Road villas are built as a group in their own Valley View – (grade II) Dated 1887 eclectic style and Melbourne House is a and extended in the early twentieth typical mid-nineteenth century villa. Even century this house appears to take its the smallholding has Edwardian town aesthetic reference from the newly house detailing such as the stained glass refurbished Wellington Hotel, rather window, crested ridge tiles and terracotta than the other buildings in the area. finial. The tall slatestone walls with redbrick dressings are given added monumentality by the addition of an octagonal corner turret built shortly after the tower was added to the Wellington. Other features include a two-storey porch hung with terracotta tiles.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal canted bay windows, decorative quoins, plat bands and a cast-iron balcony, positioned to take advantage of the views.

Picture 8.112 One of the most prominent buildings in Boscastle, Valley View is a triumph of engineering.

Picture 8.114 Due to its size and prominent location Melbourne House plays a key role in the surrounding townscape.

Local details

The New Road villas have a style of their own based, as mentioned above, on the refurbished Wellington Hotel. They are built into the side of the hill with the second storey at road level. From New Road they appear to be solid bungalows in the Scottish tradition, but from Old Road the true monumentality of their design, including deep battered stone bases, is apparent. The slatestone walls have brick and terracotta dressings, canted bay windows and large vertical sash windows.

Picture 8.113 The octagonal tower was added to Valley View to provide even more spectacular views.

Melbourne House – A sizeable rubblestone building with a stucco façade. This house is set on a very prominent site at the junction between Forrabury Hill and New Road. Its stucco eastern façade has two storey

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 8.115 Terracotta decorative tiles on one of Picture 8.116 The villas on New Road have the New Road villas. slatestone walls and brick dressings.

Apart from the smallholding all the other houses are villas. They have a mixture of hipped and gable roofs, and most of the windows are sashes.

Local and traditional building materials

All the houses have slatestone walls and rag slate roofs, and Melbourne House is the only house to have painted walls.

As most of the houses post date the arrival of the railway, in addition to the local materials they incorporate the newly available red brick and terracotta ware.

Public Realm

Walls are a striking feature in this area. On Forrabury Hill there area some early slate stone walls around the old quarry area,

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal some of which are in the traditional Loss, intrusion and damage ‘kersey-way’ or ‘Jack-over-Jill’ formation. The hillside to the west of New Road has Apart from the three new detached houses retaining walls of vertically coursed on Forrabury Hill there has been no further slatestone. The villas on the western side development in the area. In the main there of the road and Melbourne House have is a good survival of original features, slatestone boundary walls with lumps of although there are a few replacement spar as copings. windows. Although New Road is the main access route to the harbour the historic Greenery and green space buildings do not appear to have suffered as a consequence. The main area of greenery is the steep hillside to the west of New Road. Forrabury Neutral areas Hill, since the closure of the quarry has reverted to a country lane with hedges and Forrabury Hill has been the focus of recent trees above the stone walls. Most of the development. However, any further building houses are set within their own plots, but could seriously compromise its character apart from the lawns of Melbourne House, as a rural lane. the gardens are below the street level. General condition

Buildings in this area are in good condition and there are no buildings at risk.

Picture 8.117 Forrabury Hill has the character of a country lane.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal 9 Problems and pressures

Boscastle has an impressive survival of Dominant and poorly sited overhead historic buildings, structures and street cables patterns all of which greatly contribute Street lighting that is inappropriate to towards its character and which, in addition its surroundings in terms of design, to its remarkable natural setting, attracts scale and positioning. so many visitors. However, like all communities Boscastle faces a number of problems and pressures which, if not addressed, could erode its special character.

Problems and pressures are as follows :-

Replacement windows - specifically on non-listed, but historic buildings in prominent or sensitive locations Commercial signage that is overscale, and of unsuitable materials, colour and design Picture 9.2 The utilitarian street lighting at the foot Extensions that are overscale or of New Road takes no account of its sensitive inappropriately designed – including natural location and sounds a jarring urban note. porches and garages Garden and boundary walls demolished for ‘off street’ parking

Picture 9.1 Historic garden walls – such as these outside Marine Terrace – should be preserved and not demolished to provide off street parking.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal Picture 9.4 An over abundance of signage and street furniture give the corner of Old Road and New Road a very cluttered appearance.

A number of important trees were lost during the flood The lower bridge needs to be repaired following flood damage There are a number of buildings still to be repaired or rebuilt following the Picture 9.3 The design and scale of this street light are totally out of sympathy with its sensitive historic flood location.

Modern dormers and roof lights in historic and highly visible buildings. The potential for overuse of modern slate hanging Poorly designed signs in the public realm and signage clutter

Picture 9.5 Post flood rebuilding and repairs are still being carried out in the Harbour area.

The historic river revetments could be under threat from proposed flood defence schemes The conservation area boundary at present does not include some historically important areas of the town

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal There are some significant historic buildings and structures which are not listed The town has undergone a great deal of development in recent years, which on the whole has not affected the historic core. However, too much further development could compromise the overall character of the town.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal 10 Recommendations

Street lighting should be designed to Windows in buildings in sensitive and reflect the character of its highly visible locations should be of surroundings. Boscastle is a small traditional materials and design. settlement and does not require the Historic windows should be repaired level of street lighting appropriate for where possible or replaced to match a major through route. The design of originals the lighting should be sympathetic to the different character areas and should be sensitively sited. Boscastle has an admirable survival of original rag slate roofs which contributes greatly to the town's character. In order to preserve this asset, and taking into account the high visibility of the roofscape, the insertion of further dormer windows, rooflights and the replacement of rag slate coverings should be limited. There are a growing number of buildings throughout the town that Picture 10.1 Historic windows greatly add to the have been slate hung. Although quality and historical integrity of buildings. historic slate hanging does exist in Boscastle it should be avoided on Commercial signage should reflect in buildings where it did not previously its scale, materials, colour and siting exist. the sensitive nature of its surrounding historic environment. Fluorescent, Reassess the current signage to plastic or perspex signs should be ensure any redundant or over-scale avoided signs are removed. New signage should be restricted to the minimum Extensions and garages should be of necessary, of good quality materials appropriate scale and their design and design, and should be sited should reflect the characteristics and sympathetically. quality of the surrounding historic environment Efforts should be made to replace the trees lost during the flood and a full Consideration should be given to survey of the existing trees and serving an Article 4 Direction to control ornamental landscapes should be the demolition of walls and hedges, undertaken to ensure their contribution especially for the creation of hard to the townscape on both private and standings public land is recognised and protected Overhead cables should be where necessary. appropriately sited in order to impact The lower bridge is a listed building less on the surrounding historic and that was partially destroyed during the natural environment. flood. Ideally the bridge should be

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal restored but if this is not possible due to flood prevention requirements a well designed good quality modern replacement should be considered rather than a pastiche. Any buildings still to be repaired of replaced following the flood damage should follow the recommendations listed in the Cornwall County Council Historic Environment Service report ‘Boscastle, Cornwall Characterisation and recording in the aftermath of the August 2004 floods’. Any further flood prevention measures should respect the narrow, stone-revetted vertical walled river as a key element of Bridge and Quaytown’s character. Consideration should be given to extending the conservation area boundary to include Paradise Farm, Windrush and Barn Park to the Picture 10.2 Features such as this slatestone drain south-east and the older cottages on Old Road should be recorded on a local list to along Potters Lane including Briar help ensure their preservation. Cottage. Further development on the outskirts There are a number of historic of Boscastle and within the historic buildings, some have parts dating to core should be avoided or limited in the seventeenth century, which whilst extent and, where necessary, fully not listed, could be included in a Local integrated into the historic topography List. and settlement form. New buildings should be sited with reference to their surroundings, either to cause minimum impact on the surrounding landscape or to reflect existing historic street patterns, and be of appropriate design, materials and scale. Such is the diverse nature of Boscastle that each character area should be considered separately when new works are proposed. Street lighting or signage that is appropriate for Quaytown would not necessarily be the best solution for Upper Town. There should be an avoidance of ‘one

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal hit’ solutions such as ‘heritage’ pattern street furniture.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal 11 Opportunities

In addition to protecting the special character of Boscastle by addressing its current problems and pressures, consideration should be given to a programme of regeneration measures. In this way the town’s particular character, based on its setting and the distinction and diversity of its historic environment, can be further enhanced and protected. This will ensure that the quality of Boscastle is preserved and it remains a popular place to live and visit. Picture 11.1 A sensitive landscaping scheme could Shopfronts. There should be a make the main car park opposite the Cobweb Inn co-ordinated policy for the conversion, a far more attractive environment - in keeping with restoration, retention and/or re-use of its delightful landscape setting - whilst also giving shops and shopfronts. They should be a good first impression to visitors arriving in the of a design and materials that reflect village. the overall quality of the area without The castle site and the industrial quay being a pastiche of traditional styles. area. At present many visitors to New shopfronts could use traditional Boscastle are unaware of the castle local shopfronts as a source of site, and those who do visit it are inspiration. provided with very little information. Street surfacing. Surface treatments The castle site should be better could better reflect the individual interpreted and better signed from the character of the different character Bridge and Quaytown areas. The areas. For instance a less formal harbour area should be interpreted and approach could be considered for the presented in such a way as to Quaytown area such as sealed gravel emphasise its historic and industrial rather than tarmac. Road markings in importance. Interpreting these key sensitive areas such as Upper Town sites would enable Boscastle to should be kept to a minimum. reassert its historic quality and The main car park. The Cobweb car significance, which have become park currently has a temporary surface somewhat subsumed by its treatment following the flood damage. metamorphosis into a seaside resort. As it is many visitors’ first impression of the town and is sited in such a sensitive natural and historic location it is important that its design and landscaping should be of the highest quality.

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal treated as a major road with over-scale lighting and utilitarian street furniture. An enhancement scheme could include an attractive bus shelter and more human scale street lighting. The highways throughout the historic town should be designed as streets in which people move, live and work, rather than simply as roads for vehicle traffic. This could be achieved through sympathetic street lighting, surface treatments and by keeping road markings to a minimum.

Picture 11.2 At present the ‘No dogs’ sign is of greater prominence than the sign indicating the site of the castle.

Picture 11.4 Consideration should be given to an enhancement scheme for Doctors Hill and its inclusion in the conservation area.

The green on the high street. This green has traditionally been an open space in a high quality historic streetscape. At present however it does not add to the character of the area and has an unresolved, neglected feel. It should be re-landscaped with reference to the surrounding historic Picture 11.3 Better interpretation is required at the environment, and its constituent parts castle site in order to encourage visitors. (bench, signs) more thoughtfully sited. If the above extension to the conservation area were approved there could be a scheme to enhance the junction between Doctors Hill and New Road. At present the whole of Doctors Hill and Barn Park Road is

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal 1 Sources

Published sources Cornwall County Council Historic Environment Service, 2005, Boscastle, Cornwall Characterisation and recording in the aftermath of the August 2004 floods

Strategic, policy and programme documents North Cornwall District Local Plan 1999

Historic maps Tithe Map (1843)

Ordnance Survey 1st edn 1:2500 (1884)

Ordnance Survey 2nd edn 1:2500 (1907)

Cornwall County Council Historic Environment Record Sites, Monuments and Buildings Record

1994 Historic Landscape Characterisation

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan

Endorsed August 2007

Contents dummy

1 Introduction 4

2 General guidance 5

3 Roofs 6

4 Walls 9

5 Joinery 11

6 Enclosure and space 14

7 Townscape features 16

8 Guidance by location 18

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan 1 Introduction

This Conservation Area Management Plan (CAMP) is intended to stand alongside the Character Appraisal. The structure relates directly to that document for easy cross-reference. Firstly there is general guidance on the conservation and enhancement of the key elements that contribute to the quality of the townscape. At the end of key sections is a list of best practice bullet points to aid retention of historic character and architectural quality. Secondly there is guidance and recommendation by location following the same order as the Appraisal.

It is hoped that the document will act as a reference for all who make decisions which may impact on the special character of Boscastle– property owners, planners, developers, designers, local authorities and statutory undertakers. To this end it will be available via the internet and in print form through the library, Town Council etc.

Special character is derived from the overall effect of many components and is dependent for its survival on a great number of individuals making informed choices about the management of their own piece of the jigsaw. Some control may be applied by the Local Planning Authority through Article 4(2) directions – these bring certain types of permitted development, such as replacement of windows or roofs, under Council jurisdiction.

It is of fundamental importance that owners and contractors recognise that their actions can and do have a significant impact on the quality of Boscastle. Good decisions and sympathetic works take more thought and often cost more; but the rewards are great and will be appreciated in decades to come by future generations.

Article 4(2) directions Under Article 4 of the General Permitted Development Order 1995, a local authority may bring certain permitted development rights under their control. There are two routes to serving such notice – the more usual relates specifically to conservation areas and is covered by Article 4(2).

There are a range of works that may need to be the subject of an application after as Article 4(2) direction – the most usual are alterations to windows, doors, roofs, chimneys and the like. Controlling the removal of enclosure that may otherwise be vulnerable to alteration, or the painting of certain buildings, are other examples which may be relevant in Boscastle.

If an LPA is minded to serve such notice they must specify the buildings that have frontages facing an identified location. That application needs to have been assessed and reasons for the Article 4 direction identified. The document and the Appraisal go some way to identifying issues and locations where Article 4(2) could be usefully employed to protect the special character of Boscastle It is, however, beyond the scope of this document to actually specify exact buildings and areas that need to be covered.

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan 2 General guidance

This guidance must be considered in conjunction with the NCDC Design Guide, which may be viewed at Council offices.

Archaeology The history and nature of Boscastle means that there is archaeological potential virtually everywhere. Consequently any works that involve excavation may reveal interesting finds. Where work is subject to the planning process it will be considered within the context of the PPG 16 and may be subject to relevant conditions.

If work is being carried out by private owners they should be alert to pieces of artefacts, wall footings and changes in the colour of the earth. If such finds are made they should contact the Council for advice. Significant finds ought to be recorded to add to our understanding of historic Boscastle.

Statutory undertakers carrying out trench work ought to seek advice before starting and agree a watching brief where appropriate – for example if cable undergrounding is carried out.

Where there are conditions attached to any planning, listed building or conservation area approval or any other relevant approval requiring archaeological investigation and recording then this work shall be funded by the applicant as it is not supplied by the local planning authority or County Council. Similarly outside the planning system any investigation will require funding.

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan 3 Roofs

The topography and development pattern of Boscastle are such that the roofscape is of tremendous importance to the overall character of the place. There are so many sensitive views that they cannot all be identified, but the Appraisal highlights some of the principal ones.

Roofscape character is based on the quality and patina of the materials; the form, pitch and orientation of the roofs themselves. Sometimes there is order but most of the attractive roofscapes are more jumbled and dynamic – changing depending on the vantage point.

Chimneys punctuate the roofscape and other quality details, in the form of rainwater goods etc, add richness on closer inspection.

Slate Slate is the prevailing roofing material and a good deal of locally sourced historic roofing slate is in evidence. There are fine examples of rag slate roofs and others using smaller slates but also in random widths and diminishing courses.

Today there are a much wider variety of products available. Artificial slates should always be avoided as they inevitably cause serious harm to the quality of the roofscape. With natural slate being imported from Spain, South America and China, great care is needed when specifying real slate. Some of these are suitable replacements on non-prominent buildings or new-build, but they are never a satisfactory replacement for historic slate roofing. New slate ought to be fixed using nails – clips are usually specified to compensate for poor slate that splits when holed as using a correct lap will prevent windlift.

Owners of buildings with rag slate must be aware that the slate will actually have a lot of life left in it but may be suffering from nail rot. Opportunistic contractors will often offer such owners an amazingly cheap price to re-roof in artificial or imported slate, knowing that the rag or random slate they reclaim can be sold on or re-used on much more lucrative work elsewhere.

Chimneys Loss of chimneys is nearly always detrimental to the character of the roofscape. It is seldom necessary and ought to be resisted. Repair or reconstruction must be the first aim unless there are extenuating circumstances such as serious structural concerns.

Alterations can rob chimneys of their distinctive character by the application of smooth, crisp render that hides stonework or flattens a pleasingly uneven substrate. Removal of drip slates and historic pots also detracts from the area.

Rainwater goods Most of the historic rainwater goods in the town are cast iron. Traditional gutter profiles – mostly half round or ogee add to the appearance of individual buildings and collectively enrich whole streetscenes. With proper maintenance these items can offer good service for well over one hundred years. When replacement is needed there are plenty of suppliers

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan of historic profiles - many are available factory finished and some in cast aluminium. Plastic is an inferior product which will not last as well or look as good – especially if it has a modern box profile. It doesn’t take paint well but unpainted it soon develops a coating of algae. Like other plastic building products, when it is replaced it has to go to landfill where it will not break down for centuries, so the environmental costs deserve consideration.

Ridges, hips, eaves and verges Traditional ways of edging roofs are easily lost when roofing work is undertaken. Clay ridge tiles may be replaced by concrete, mitred slate or mortar fillet hips covered by tiles, box soffits replace open eaves or moulded fascias and slated or mortared verges can be lost to boards. All of these apparently slight changes have a cumulative impact that is far greater than each individual act would suggest.

Lead details such as hips ought to be retained and where lead flashings have never existed they should only be added if that can be executed with subtlety. All new leadwork must be treated with patination oil to prevent oxidisation and leaching.

Dormers and rooflights In order to preserve Boscastle’s admirable and highly visible roofscape, the insertion of dormer windows should only be agreed where they are well justified and on roofslopes where the visual impact will be minimal. They must always be very well designed and carefully proportioned.

Rooflights can allow the use of valuable roofspace and there are good modern interpretations of low profile metal units available. Where they can be inserted with little impact to townscape views, especially on screened or rear roofslopes, this is acceptable. The smallest unit needed should be used and it ought to be a quality metal unit with a slender frame. In groups or terraces neighbours should try to use rooflights that are complementary in their size, type and location.

Solar Panels Whilst the District Council clearly would wish to promote sound, sustainable energy systems, the choice of such systems can seriously erode the historic integrity of listed and unlisted buildings in conservation areas. Therefore careful consideration should be given to their positioning to avoid compromising the character of the historic environment. Very often there are alternative locations away from the historic building where solar panels can be fitted. This may indeed result in such equipment being fixed to less sensitive buildings which are part of the curtilage. Alternatively there are less obtrusive solutions available such as ground source heat pumps. Although solar panels can be reversible they can be most damaging to historic roofscapes.

Roofing: A summary

Note and record detailing before starting works to enable reinstatement. If traditional details are missing look to similar buildings for inspiration. Repair local historic rag and random slate roofs or re-use in situ. Maintain or recreate authentic details to ridges, hips, eaves and verges.

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan Repair chimneys and retain historic pot or cowl details. Repair or reinstate metal rainwater goods in traditional profiles. Avoid dormers unless there is strong justification. Only use rooflights and solar panels sensitively and consider impact on views.

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan 4 Walls

The palette of materials used to construct and finish the buildings of Boscastle is varied and they combine to form interesting elevations and streetscenes. The choice of materials and how they are used is usually indicative of the age of construction and the status of the building.

Great care and understanding is needed in the repair of all traditional materials in order to prolong their useful life and protect them from decay. Careful appraisal of prevalent materials in a particular locality ought to inform and inspire the designers of new buildings so that contemporary additions enrich the area.

Choice of colour is a matter of taste, but it is worth remembering that plain limewash was almost ubiquitous in the past and only natural pigments were available. Bolder colours like blues and greens were beyond the reach of all but the most wealthy; consequently these colours often seem unsuitable on humbler dwellings.

Stonework The unifying factor of most buildings in Boscatle is the use of local stone in construction. From the grandest buildings like the church, chapel and New Road villas, through to the humblest 19th century outbuildings – all are built of slatestonestone.

Although most of the stone used in Boscastle is durable, these walls are still vulnerable to damage if poorly treated. All stonework must be pointed using lime mortar that flexes with the walls and allows them to breathe. Pointing should also be flush or slightly recessed, especially on wider joints, and should never project in front of the faces. A well-graded sand free of ‘soft’ (or fine clayey) particles is best for most work.

Render Render covers rubble stone on a variety of buildings. Traditionally this render was always lime based and that remains the only sensible choice as cement based renders are incompatible with all of these building types.

Generally speaking the finish of render is a reflection of the status of the building and/or its function. So functional buildings, humble cottages and the rear elevations of some higher status dwellings have roughcast or float finished render that follows the unevenness of the wall beneath. These renders were hand-thrown to achieve a better key and texture is derived from the coarse aggregate; modern ‘tyrolean’ type finishes take their texture from cementitious droplets and have a fundamentally different character. Grander and more aspirational buildings have smooth render, sometimes fine stucco; these renders may be lined in imitation of ashlar stonework below. Considerable skill is needed to achieve this type of finish.

The coating of lime renders with modern masonry paint will trap moisture over time and can cause failure of the render. This is often interpreted as the failure of an inferior old fashioned product, but it is in fact the result of conflicting technologies. Where possible

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan historic renders ought to be repaired and retained, with masonry paint removed using specialist stripping products. Limewash remains by far the best and most effective surface coating on old buildings, but it is pointless applying it over paint.

Slate hanging Slate hanging does occur on a number of buildings in the town usually where the building is in an exposed location where penetrating damp has been a problem or on elevated side elevations of attached buildings where access is difficult and a durable, low maintenance solution was essential.

Brickwork There are no historic buildings in Boscastle constructed from brick, but it is used extensively on the later buildings in the form of lintels, decorative window surrounds and quoins. The use of lime mortars for repair is equally important for brickwork.

Walls: A summary

Traditional finishes should be repaired whenever possible, not replaced. Compatible materials and finishes are essential on historic walls. Authentic finishes should not be removed or covered. Where traditional finishes have been lost, sympathetic reinstatement is desirable. Limewash allows old walls to breathe; masonry paint traps moisture.

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan 5 Joinery

Authentic joinery adds to the historic character and visual quality of any Conservation Area. The extent of survival is often indicative of the percentage of listed buildings; but also of the value local people place on the historic fabric of their town. Like many other places Boscastle has a mix of original joinery and replacements, some sensitive but much that is poorly detailed.

At present the replacement of windows and doors is not controlled on unlisted buildings. The Local Planning Authority (LPA) will consider Article 4(2)* directions to prevent harmful alterations in the future. It is always preferable, however, for owners to recognise that sensitive maintenance adds value to their own property and contributes to the sense of place.

Historic joinery ought to be seen as antique furniture that changes hands as part of a larger deal and can easily be overlooked. It only takes one inconsiderate owner to destroy the historic appearance of a building by ill-considered renovation; with property changing hands as frequently as it does today there is a steady stream of buildings whose luck has run out. There are few people who would throw a two hundred year old chair or table in a skip – their potential value is usually appreciated – yet it happens to windows and doors regularly. These artefacts are a finite resource that embodies the craftsmanship of earlier generations and records the materials and techniques they used.

Unless badly neglected over a long period of time, traditional joinery is rarely beyond repair. In many cases the timber used was so well sourced and seasoned that it is far more durable than any modern alternative. Detail may have been lost by years of painting but great care needs to be taken when stripping paint though as historic paints contained lead. If repair is not possible, replica replacement is the next best thing; though replacement requires the use of primary resources and energy that makes it a less sustainable option. The use of imported hardwood from unsustainable sources ought to be avoided and PVCu has significant ecological issues in production and disposal.

There is no product that is maintenance free. Timber needs painting every few years, but each time the result looks fresh and new. After a hundred years or more sash cords or hinges may need renewal; this is quite easily done and gives the unit a new lease of life. When modern opening mechanisms or double glazed units breakdown the answer is replacement of the whole unit – hence the piles of PVCu windows accumulating at recycling centres in the absence of satisfactory means of disposal.

Windows The size, type and design of the windows in an historic building reveal much about its age or development, its use and the status of its occupants in the past. Humbler buildings often have casement windows that vary in design according to age, use and local custom. Sash windows also vary in size and detail according to age and use. The enduring popularity of sash windows reflects their versatility in providing controlled ventilation.

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan The intrinsic value of the view through an historic window is appreciated by many sympathetic owners. They enjoy the elegance of the glazing bars and enthuse about the distortion and play of light in imperfect historic glass. With care, old glass can be salvaged and re-used; where it has been lost, modern equivalents can be sourced from specialist suppliers.

When new windows are needed there are a number of issues to consider:-

Proportion and subdivision – The glazing pattern of the original windows ought to be retained, (or restored if lost), as that is a critical part of the whole building. It indicates the size of glass available or affordable at the time of construction. Mode of opening – The introduction of top hung or tilt-and-turn opening lights is always visually jarring and harmful to historic character. Overlapping ‘storm-seal’ type details are an entirely modern introduction and are unnecessary if flush units are properly made. Spring loaded sashes are an inferior replacement mechanism compared with properly weighted double-hung sashes. Glazing – Traditional glazing bar profiles, properly jointed and glazed with putty, (or glazing compound), rather than beading, will give a genuine appearance. Thermal insulation – Double glazing cannot be achieved within traditional multiple pane designs without bars being either much too thick or fake. Beading is nearly always added which further detracts from the appearance. Attempting to introduce double glazing into a traditional design usually means a small air gap that hugely reduces the insulation properties anyway. The use of shutters and/or insulated curtains can greatly reduce heat loss without the need for window replacement. Draught-proofing – The most significant heat loss through old windows is due to poor fitting and lack of draught-stripping. There are proprietary systems that retro-fit draught excluders and greatly reduce the amount of air changes and so heat loss. Sound insulation – In noisy locations people often replace windows with modern double glazed units to reduce the problem. In fact secondary glazing is more effective than double glazing and allows retention of traditional windows. Sills – Traditional sills should be retained unless beyond repair.

Doors Doors are just as vulnerable to insensitive replacement as windows. The conservation principles summarized above can be applied equally to doors. Most traditional door types allow for individual expression by painting and attractive ironmongery etc. Unfortunately many owners choose to express their individuality by replacing a serviceable vintage door with an off-the-peg unit in stained hardwood or PVCu.

Shopfronts The survival of historic shopfronts around the town is a reminder of how economic activity, shopping and employment patterns have changed over the years. Although many are now redundant the memory of these local shops needs to be retained – adaptation may not always be easy but it is seldom impossible.

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan Although most of the current shops in Boscastle are in buildings which have been converted from former uses and there are no historic shopfronts as such, there still remains a number of issues that can have a profound impact on the character of the place:-

Signage – There was a time when the emphasis was on quality, legibility and illustration of function. Somehow the approach to shop signage has slipped towards achieving the cheapest, largest, brightest and most prolific advertisement. Over large fascias draw attention in the wrong way and detract from neighbouring businesses. Design – New shopfronts and signage require planning permission and the LPA will expect these elements to be competently designed to suit their context. Shopkeepers cannot expect to go to a shopfitting contractor with a budget and expect that approach to achieve an acceptable outcome.

Joinery : A summary

Historic joinery items add character and quality to the town and ought to be retained and repaired if at all possible. When replacement is necessary, this ought to be in exact replica. Where joinery has been lost in the past and reinstatement is desirable, look at similar properties in the vicinity for inspiration. Design, mode of opening and colour of finish are the most important considerations on unlisted buildings

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan 6 Enclosure and space

In the past enclosure was about demarcation and also keeping out passing animals. Historic enclosure is threatened with change by the desire for greater privacy – leading to the addition of timber fence panels for example. Alternatively it may be removed to provide parking. In areas such as Quaytown where the buildings were originally accompanied by spaces for storage of materials and industrial activities it is especially important that, if the historic industrial character is to be preserved, these plots are retained. Many walls and garden boundaries in the Bridge and Quaytown areas were lost during the 2004 flood, but in the main these boundaries have been re-instated.

Walls or other means of enclosure more than 1m high fronting a highway (and 2m elsewhere) cannot be demolished without Conservation Area Consent. New walls of those dimensions cannot be erected without Planning Permission.

The tendency towards close-boarded fencing is one that is having a very tangible visual impact. Apart from being a characteristically modern approach, these fences are quite expensive, require regular maintenance over the years and make it difficult to establish planting due to overshadowing and wind damage. Timber fences also tend to be stained in eye-catching colours that are often unsympathetic to an historic setting.

Garden structures can also be jarring elements if poorly located, badly designed or brightly coloured.

Walls Stone walls are the most common means of enclosure in the town. Appearance varies with age and function but the consistency of material gives a unity to the townscape that can be easily taken for granted. Dry stone banks with slate laid in vertical or chevron patterns is a distinctive feature of the area. Mortared rubble stone walls are more commonplace and usually have a simple copings of granite or spar stone.

For new enclosure in much of the town stone walling is likely to be the most suitable option, provided the height and style relates to any established local trend.

There are no historic brick walls in Boscastle and brick should not be used on new work.

There are a few rendered but these should not be seen as justification for rendered block walls.

Railings Whilst not abundant there is clear evidence that cast or wrought iron railings were historically a more significant element of the townscape than today. Like so many places, a lot of ironwork was removed during wartime.

There are some buildings and locations which would benefit considerably from the re-introduction of railings. As well as being attractive items in their own right they also offer definition to the streetscene and can be a real enhancement to some types of property.

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan The most common application is on properties with a minimal front garden or yard; in these locations they offer demarcation without visual weight and avoid shading windows or planting.

Hedges In the more rural parts of the town and where property adjoins farmland, hedges are characteristic. A mixed deciduous planting of hawthorn, field maple, hazel, holly, beech and other indigenous species is most traditional. Within a few years such a hedge can be laid to form a dense and effective boundary that is a wildlife resource that can draw insects, birds and small mammals into gardens.

Single species plantings of beech, yew, laurel or box may be appropriate in some circumstances but are not a practical solution for most places and they demand more maintenance than a rustic mixed hedge.

Modern coniferous hedges support little wildlife and can often be unattractive and not very neighbourly.

Hurdles The traditional approach to fencing is making something of a comeback in recent years. Hazel hurdles would have been a familiar site in the past and can now be purchased in ready-made panels for quick and effective enclosure. Hazel and willow can also be bought bundled for the more enthusiastic person to weave their own fence.

As well as being made of more sustainable materials without chemical treatment and keeping an old craft alive, these fences are more permeable to wind making them less likely to blow over and allowing plants to establish more readily.

Garden structures The siting of sheds, summerhouses, decking, gazebos or other structures should be sensitively located. If visible locations are unavoidable, good design and naturally painted materials should be used to make the structures less jarring.

Garden structures nearly always need planing permission within the curtilage of a listed building. There are also size restrictions for permitted development within the conservation area so it is wise to consult the LPA when considering such works.

Enclosure : A summary

Retain historic enclosure wherever possible. If enclosure has been lost, consider the locality and use an appropriate replacement.

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan 7 Townscape features

In addition to the buildings and walls that give Boscastle its special character there are other items that make a significant contribution to the overall appearance. There are attractive items that need to be cherished and retained; others are in need of repair or enhancement.

Floorscape The traditional cobbled gullies bridged by slate slabs greatly enhances the character of Dunn Street, Fore Street and High Street. Other areas of traditional paving include the gullies in Churchtown and the very attractive cobbled surface of Valency Row, which has recently been re-laid following flood damage.

A large part of the town has no pavements reflecting its semi-rural/ semi-industrial nature such as along Penally Hill, Old Road, Gunpool Lane, Mount Pleasant, Paradise and Quaytown. Where large numbers of visitors congregate around Bridge area there are modern pavements of tarmac with concrete kerbs. Tarmac in this location forms a neutral surface, but if funds were available the replacement of the concrete with granite kerbs would add to the quality of the area.

Carriageways are blacktop and it is better to use this honest and established surfacing rather than introduce manufactured paviours or similar. However in the Quaytown area, in order to blend in with the natural setting a more informal surface treatment should be considered such as sealed gravel. Road markings in sensitive areas should be kept to a minimum.

Seating There are some thoughtfully located seats around the town where the pedestrian can stop a while and enjoy the place. Unfortunately many of these are old and broken or at least untidy. There is a need for enhancement of these minor spaces and renewal of seats where necessary.

Opportunities for informal seating on steps, dwarf walls and the like should also be considered.

Signage Business signage has been covered under shopfronts, but directional signage is also an issue in the town, for pedestrians as well as vehicles.

At present the pedestrian signage is limited and poor quality. This is a great pity as it discourages visitors from exploring the town by foot and from visiting the upper town and church in addition to the Bridge and Quaytown areas. A well designed system of signs would help visitors to make the best of their time in Boscastle and experience all its historic buildings and sites in addition to the stunning natural features. This could take the form of a town trail with self-guided walks described in leaflets available from local outlets.

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan The road layout is such that it is difficult for drivers to attain speed in many locations. This is obviously beneficial for pedestrians, but it also means that directional road signs can be smaller and less assertive. There is also a need to avoid undue repetition of signs. It would be beneficial if parking control could be exercised without a plethora of yellow lines and signs.

Planting Trees and hedges are an important element of many significant views and their retention is often of considerable importance. Work to trees in conservation areas is controlled and owners or contractors must contact the LPA for advice before embarking on felling, topping or lopping works.

Decorative planting has its place in the public realm, but needs to be well planned and maintained to be a positive feature. On private land owners can enhance their little bit of the town with suitable planting – it can often be the finishing touch that makes a location really special.

In the Quaytown area it is important that the historic sense of a working place is maintained and an over manicured approach to the public realm along with formal flower beds should be discouraged.

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan 8 Guidance by location

The ideas offered here are intended to provoke discussion and debate. It is hoped that many more ideas will arise from local groups and individuals for inclusion in future versions of this document. Some may be obvious, others may be out of the question for a variety of reasons; a few may take years to achieve. It is important, however, for any ideas that may enhance the town and its economic well-being to be aired and considered.

Proposals are rated as follows:-

*** High priority for action

** Medium priority

* Long term aim or possibility

At the end of the day though, it is crucial that any proposals that are taken forward have been the subject of open public consultation and enjoy broad support.

Bridge

The Bridge area is now the commercial heart of Boscastle and is also the site of the town’s only car park. As a result the area is heavily used and gives the visitor their first experience of the town. It therefore faces the challenge of providing services whilst maintaining its historic integrity and creating a good impression. At present utilitarian requirements have been allowed to take precedence and as a result the historic and natural character of the area has become compromised.

Penally Hill i. *** The car park at present is a wide open space with poor quality street furniture and ticket machines set in a stunning natural setting opposite a number of significant historic buildings. The area needs to be redesigned in line with necessary flood prevention measures and any new layout should include landscaping fitting to its natural setting and better quality street furniture. ii. ** The street lighting is very utilitarian and better suited to a bypass than the rural fringes of an historic settlement. New street lighting should be well designed and on a more human scale. iii. ** The tourist information centre post flood is currently housed in a portacabin and there is an opportunity here to create an exciting new building designed to a high standard in keeping with the surrounding historic fabric. iv. ** There should be well designed signs from the car park indicating the direction of the old village centre and castle as well as the harbour. Guided walk leaflets should be available at the tourist information centre. v. ** The former coal stores are now a row of garages and have become somewhat dilapidated. These buildings require repair in the near future in order to ensure their

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan survival and to improve the first impression of visitors at they enter the town from the north.

Valency Row i. * The cobbles on half of the street have recently been repaired and relayed. At some point it would be desirable for the rest of the cobbles to be repaired.

The Central Bridge Area i. *** In order to raise the quality of the area business premises need to ensure their shop fronts, displays and signage are all of a high standard. ii. *** Yellow lines and parking signs are visually intrusive in this area. iii. ** Street lighting is again utilitarian and over scale. iv. * Street furniture in the form of bollards are of the ‘heritage catalogue’ design and out of keeping with their surroundings. v. * The electricity cables at the foot of New Road next to the bridge are visually intrusive and should be considered for undergrounding.

Lower Old Road i. *** At the foot of Old Road there is a plethora of signs, mis-placed ‘heritage catalogue’ bollards and a poorly designed seat. This whole area needs to be de-cluttered and better designed. A good quality sign indicating the old village centre should be more prominently sited to encourage visitors to explore further. ii. * The electricity posts and cables along Old Road are very dominant and should be considered for undergrounding.

Quaytown

In this part of the town the preserving of the stunning natural setting is of the utmost importance in addition to maintaining its historic industrial nature. The area has been fortunate in the high survival of historic structures, but it is essential post flood that in carrying out repairs and reinstatements the more subtle features of the historic landscape are not lost. Like Bridge this area has a high number of visitors and it is important that the historic and industrial character of the buildings is not subsumed by commercial signage and visitor attraction whimsy. i. *** Repairs and reinstatement of individual buildings and other features in the area should be based on a detailed understanding of what was damaged and lost. Design for the replacements of minor buildings should take account of historic examples in terms of form, mass and location. Salvaged materials should be used wherever possible and where not feasible materials of essentially similar characteristics should be sourced. ii. *** Again in order to raise the quality of the area business premises need to ensure their shopfronts, displays and signage are all of a high standard. iii. *** An over manicured approach to the public realm should be avoided.

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan iv. *** The stone revetted vertical walled river is a key element to the character of the area and should be maintained in any future flood alleviation measures. v. *** If it is deemed necessary to replace the lower bridge any new structure should be of the highest quality design and materials. vi. ** The street lighting on New Road as it sweeps around the bend is highly visible from Quaytown and less utilitarian better designed lighting solutions should be sought. vii. * The harbour area and historic buildings could be interpreted and re-presented in order to emphasise their historic significance.

Upper Town

Formerly the market and site of the castle this area is now predominantly residential and has a far more tranquil atmosphere compared to the hub of tourist activity at the foot of the hill. In this area the issues are mainly of a classic conservation nature (dealt with in the general section), but there are a few further concerns that should be addressed.

Dunn Street i. ** There is a loss of enclosure outside the Community Centre which could be reinstated by enclosing the parking area with a wall. This should be of local slatestone and of the same construction as the surrounding garden walls. ii. ** The electricity posts and cables are quite dominant in this area and should be considered for undergrounding.

Fore Street i. *** The castle site should be better signed and interpreted to encourage visitors into this part of the town. ii. *** The yellow lines either side of the road in such a sensitive historic location are extremely visually intrusive and should be replaced with single small-scale no parking signs. iii. ** The electricity posts and cables detract from the quality of the streetscape. iv. ** The lighting on the eastern side of the road whilst a standard ‘heritage’ solution does fit into the location in terms of scale. However on the western side of the road there are standard highways light fittings which are utilitarian and over-scale. Similar well designed and carefully placed light fittings should be used throughout the area.

Gunpool Lane

There are no priorities for action here.

High Street i. ** The signage on the small green at the junction with Mount Pleasant should be more thoughtfully placed. ii. ** Consideration should be given to the undergrounding of overhead power lines.

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan Mount Pleasant

There are no priorities for action here.

Paradise i. ** Consideration should be given to including the western end of this road in the Conservation Area.

Barn Park Road i. ** Consideration should be given to including Barn Park Road from its junction with Paradise in the Conservation Area. ii. * If Barn Park were included in the Conservation Area the treatment of the highway should be reconsidered in order to make it more pedestrian friendly. This should include a reduction in the scale and improvement in the design of the street lighting.

Doctors Hill i. *** This junction should be made more pedestrian friendly and the signage clutter rationalised. There could be a well designed bus shelter on the northern side of the road.

Churchtown

One of the earlier parts of the settlement, in recent years Churchtown has extended significantly to the south. Within the historic core the fabric is in the main well preserved, but there are a few general conservation issues to be addressed. i. ** Consideration should be given to the undergrounding of overhead power lines.

New Road and Forrabury Hill

Apart from a few new houses on Forrabury Hill this area has altered little since Victorian times. Although New Road is the main route into the settlement the nature of the engineering and architecture is robust enough not to be compromised by the heavy usage. i. *** Further development along Forrabury Hill should be discouraged in order that the essentially pastoral nature of the road is retained. ii. ** As mentioned above, the street lighting on New Road needs to be rethought as it is so visible from the Quaytown area.

Boscastle Conservation Area Management Plan