Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal

Boscastle Conservation Area Appraisal 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 1 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. 2 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

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