Darwen Town Centre Conservation Area

Supplementary Planning Document

Adopted August 2013

Part I Darwen Town Centre Conservation Area Appraisal

August 2013

Contents

Part I Conservation Area Appraisal

1.0 Introduction 5

2.0 Location and setting 9

3.0 Historical Development and Archaeology 10

4.0 Character and relationship of Spaces 18

5.0 Open Spaces Views and Vistas 23

6.0 Historic Buildings and features 26

7.0 Issues Threats and Opportunities 38

8.0 Suggested boundary Changes 43

Part II Management Plan 45

Part III Guidelines for Development. 57

1. Introduction.

The Darwen Town Centre Conservation Area was designated in 1996 and extended in May 2005. Darwen is a Victorian working town with dignified stone buildings and terraced dwellings in a dramatic setting in the West Pennine landscape.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is legally obliged to protect and enhance each of its Conservation Areas under Section 69 of the Town and Country Planning (Listed Buildings and conservation Areas) Act 1990 and to review from time to time its conservation area designations and consider any new areas, and under section 71 of this act to formulate and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of these areas.

This document is called a ‘Conservation Area Character Appraisal’ and has been produced following a study of the Darwen Town Centre Conservation Area. The study identifies the area’s special interest, sets out a brief summary of its historical development and archaeological significance, identifies important buildings and features, and also considers issues and threats to the area’s character and significance. It also establishes the ‘significance’ of the area which applicants and the Planning Authority are required to understand and how development Figure 1 Turrets of Belgrave Chapel proposals will impact on the significance of the area. A Management Plan and Guidelines for Development are included in Parts II and III. They will inform the preservation and enhancement of the conservation area in accordance with the Borough’s statutory duties.

This character appraisal has been prepared in accordance with English Heritage guidance on the production of Conservation Area character appraisals. It provides more detail than policies set out in the Local Plan, and will be used as a material consideration by the Council when making decisions on applications for Planning Permission, Listed Building Consent and Conservation Area Consent. It is also hoped that it will inform the people who live, work and build in Darwen and help them appreciate the town’s historical and architectural significance.

Whilst every effort has been made to highlight those features that contribute to an areas character the appraisal is not intended to be fully inclusive and any omission of any particular feature must not be taken to imply that there is no visual or historic interest to the conservation area.

1.1 Planning Policy Context.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)’ sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how they are expected to be applied. The Council is required to prepare a positive strategy for the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment in their Local Plan. In doing so should take into account the desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets and putting them to viable uses consistent with their conservation; the wider social, cultural, economic, and environmental benefits that the conservation of the historic environment can bring; the desirability of new development making a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness; and opportunities to draw on the contribution made by the historic environment to the character of place. When considering the impact of a proposed development Local Planning Authorities should weigh the harm or loss to significance against the Figure 2 Column detail to tram shelters public benefits of a proposal (policies 133 and 134, NPPF). Policy 141 of the NPPF requires Local Planning Authorities to make information about the significance of the historic environment publicly accessible. Publishing this character appraisal will comply with this requirement.

The Core Strategy for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is the Local Strategic Planning Policy Document for the Borough and requires in Policy CS17 for new development to identify and take opportunities to integrate and promote the Borough’s cultural assets. More detailed policies relevant to development management decisions are set out in the saved policies from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Local Plan.

1.2 Summary of Special Interest and Heritage Significance.

Darwen is located in a deep river valley of the Pennines and is characterised by stone terraced housing and a distinctive Victorian architectural heritage surrounded by moorland. On either side of the valley steeply sloping hills surround the town creating a dramatic setting for the buildings. Long views are terminated by distant hilltops punctuated in westerly views by Jubilee Tower and to the south by India Mill chimney. The development of the textile industry in the late 18th and 19th centuries saw the rapid expansion of the town in this period. Mill development followed the line of the river for water power. Coal mining, quarrying for sandstone and papermaking were other important industries. The coming of the railway further stimulated growth. By the end of the 19th century, Darwen had become a busy industrialised town surrounded by terraced workers’ housing. A range of public buildings had been built, the most important being the Town Hall in 1882. A focal point was established at the junction of Market Street, Bridge Street and Church Street known as the Circus and fronted by imposing banks and a hotel. Linked with this the Market Square contained the Municipal buildings. The addition of public parks and a tram link to Blackburn for which the terminus shelters of 1902 still survive completed the Victorian town.

Many mills survived into the twentieth and twenty first centuries but have become redundant, and many others have been demolished leaving gap sites. The recently completed Townscape Heritage Initiative has successfully restored twenty five buildings in the commercial core and a complementary scheme in the St Peters’ Housing area carried out significant facelift improvements to heritage standards. The construction of the new leisure centre and Darwen Figure 3 Imposing bank building on the Circus Aldridge Community Academy at the edge of the Conservation Area have added imposing new landmarks, but the town essentially retains its distinct Victorian character.

Figure 4 Location of Darwen Conservation Area 8

2. Location and Setting.

Darwen lies four miles south of Blackburn and is positioned to the upper end of the valley formed by the River Darwen. The urban area has countryside to the east, west and south with upland moors between it and the Manchester conurbation. The valley is typical of the deeply entrenched valley bottoms of the Pennines with development spreading along the valley sides below the moorland tops.

The conservation area is centred on the junction of the main route from Blackburn to Bolton and an east west route leading to Hoddlesden. The town developed on the banks of the river Darwen which lies to the east of the Blackburn to Bolton route (A666), with the built up area making use of the narrow space between the hills either side of the river valley. The River Darwen is culverted for a significant proportion of the route through the town. The hills on the western side are steeper and more rugged in appearance than those to the east, rising to their highest point on Darwen Moor. As Figure 5 View of moorland from Conservation Area a consequence the gentler slopes on the eastern side of the valley were able to facilitate more development.

The conservation area comprises the commercial core of the town with the railway line forming the eastern boundary. Sudell Road forms the southern boundary and the northern boundary follows a small section of Union Street and then continues behind properties in Duckworth Street. The western boundary weaves behind the Leisure Centre and the primary school and then incorporates Belgrave Chapel prior to joining Bolton Road. The conservation area comprises two distinct areas, the eastern terraced dwellings and grid iron streets of the St Peters area, and the remainder of the commercial core incorporating the market and town hall, the shopping streets of Duckworth Street and Bridge Street, and the terraced street of mixed commercial uses of Railway Road. The area includes the three listed churches St Peter, Belgrave Chapel and the former Wesleyan Chapel on Railway Road, Figure 6 The Circus at junction of Bolton Road and Market also listed are two tram shelters on Bolton Road. Street

3. Historical Development and Archaeology.

The name Darwen is of British origin and derived from ‘Derventju’ meaning ‘river where the oak trees grow’. It was later applied to the settlement that was established on the banks of the river where it flows through a narrow cleft through the moors. The name evolved and is first recorded as Derewent in 1208. ( Source: Darwen Historic Town Assessment 2005)

3.1 Roman and Medieval Roots

There is little prehistoric activity in the area other than a bronze age barrow which was investigated during the construction of Ashleigh, a mid nineteenth century villa built in the grounds of Low Hill Figure 7 View of church Street in 1879 (photo from house to the west of Bolton Road (Source: Darwen Historic Town Assessment 2005). Three well preserved Darwen Library) intact collared urns were recovered from the burial and are on display in Darwen library.

There is little evidence of Roman settlement, or any post Roman or early medieval settlement within the defined urban area of Darwen, although a Roman road was established to link Manchester and Ribchester. The Roman road is still surviving and follows the higher land on the eastern side of the town. It was not until the post medieval period when there is likely to have been a fair or a market centred on the Green. Around this were three public houses, The White Lion, the George and Dragon, and the Red Lion. The layout of the green was subsequently altered in 1797 with the construction of Market Street, part of the Bolton and Blackburn Turnpike Trust. This new toll road was the making of the town of Darwen as it speeded the time for goods to be taken to market. (Source: The Darwen Area in the Industrial Revolution 1987) Figure 8 Bury Street prior to demolition when Green Street was reconfigured 1900s. (Darwen library)

Figure 9 The Circus, 1900 with view of Belgrave Chapel and Belgrave Mill in the background. (photo Darwen Library)

3.2 Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century.

By 1786 Darwen comprised two clearly defined settlements, the larger clustered round the crossroads of the main Blackburn to Bolton Road known as Over Darwen, and the second to the northeast around Darwen Chapel. The extent of the built up area was very small around this time as can be seen from the 1849 map. There were a few public buildings and people would have had to travel to Darwen Chapels for church services.

The growth of settlement in post medieval Darwen had been partly the result of the woollen textile industry for which Darwen was known for by the sixteenth century. By the 18th century woollen cloth was being replaced by hand loom weaving of checked cotton cloths and calicoes. Factory settlements were beginning to emerge such as at Lower Darwen where Thomas Eccles opened a cotton spinning factory in 1774.

Darwen’s population grew steadily throughout the nineteenth century and by 1870 Darwen was larger than most townships in the Parish of Blackburn which coincided with the growth of a number of industries. The focus of the settlement shifted to the south end of the Green to an area known as the Circus. To the east of the centre a series of new streets were laid out on a grid iron pattern near the new Holy Trinity church which was built in 1827. Darwen had developed a number of factory based interests at this time including calico printing as well as spinning and weaving. Terraced houses were increasingly being built to house mill workers. The centre of the town was well established along the market street axis by the middle of the century extending from George Street in the north to Sudell Road in the south. There was also significant ribbon development consisting of cotton mills Figure 10 1849 area map of Darwen with Chapels extending along Duckworth Street to Livesey Fold, and along Bolton Road southwards to Bowling in the right hand corner, note early mill Green Mill. Growth was encouraged by the establishment of a number of textile mills, paper development along north south route. manufacture also became an important local industry.

Fig 11 Showing growth of Conservation Area from 1840‐1929.

Most of the early mills were widely dispersed in the river valleys surrounding Over Darwen in order to allow for reservoirs to be built for the storage of water for finishing processes and to drive water wheels. Steam power was quite slow to arrive in Darwen and water power would have still been used for weaving. Paper making developed out of the bleaching and calico printing machine and became nearly as important as the textile industry in Darwen. From this grew wall paper making and Harold, Potter and Sons patented the first mechanised wall paper production which subsequently developed a paper printing process. They established wall papermaking at Belgrave Mills in the 1840s which then became one of the largest in the country. (Source:The Darwen Area during the Industrial Revolution 1897) By the early nineteenth century coal mining was also emerging as an important Figure 12 Market Hall built 1882 with Town Hall industry and coal pits were widespread throughout the Darwen area. entrance on left. (photo Darwen Library)

In 1878 Over Darwen was incorporated as a borough and the name officially altered from Over Darwen to Darwen. The railways were introduced in the mid nineteenth century with the opening of the Blackburn to Sough section in 1847. The completion of the Sough tunnel in 1848 allowed passengers to travel between Blackburn and Manchester. 1867 saw the construction of the spectacular India Mill which is described as the ‘single most important textile building in Darwen, and possibly North East Lancashire’ and whose campanile chimney remains the most striking architectural feature that dominates the town. As a consequence of the establishment of the railway and industrial innovation, Darwen grew substantially in the second half of the nineteenth century and saw the completion of the municipal core of the town with the building of the Market Hall/ Town Hall in 1882 around the Market Square.

By 1855 there were 120 grocers and shopkeepers in Darwen which grew to around 300 in 1900. The first library was established in the Mechanics Institute, but then a library was opened in 1871 next to Figure 13 Former Theatre Royal on Railway Road now the local board offices in Church Street. In 1904 the council obtained a gift from the Carnegie demolished. (photo Darwen Library) foundation which enabled them to build a new library which opened in 1908.

Figure 15 Market Street early C20th

Figure 16 Tram shelters on Bolton Road.

Figure 14. Aerial view of the Circus 1930s, note the Cooperative store to the rear of the market hall, now demolished, and construction of Burton building on the Circus. Extant mills can be seen in the foreground. (Photos Darwen Library) 15

3.3 Twentieth Century

By 1907 there were 57 weaving mills and 8 spinning mills within the Darwen area. The damp climate allowed for the development of 10 paper mills. Quarrying slowly died out. The cotton industry experienced a brief boom in the 1920s, thereafter the twentieth century saw the progressive decline of textile manufacture and with it the demolition of many mills. In 1931 following India’s threat to reduce cotton imports Darwen was visited by Ghandi to listen to local views. Some of the consequent infilling redevelopment has been less sympathetic to the distinctive Victorian character of the town.

Wall paper manufacturing however continued to expand and combined into Crown Paints which is still a thriving business.

3.4 Present Figure 17 View of Circus early C20th, showing tram and tram shelters to left. (Photo Darwen Library) Regeneration efforts in the early twentieth first century have seen significant investment within the Town Centre such as the building of a new leisure centre and the Darwen Aldridge Academy. Refurbishment of housing stock in the St Peters area to historic details, and Heritage Lottery funding to the commercial area has seen repair and reinstatement of traditional architectural features. Highway improvements and clearance such as at Belgrave Mills have eroded some the historic interest and the economic downturn has left a number of vacant sites.

Figure 18 New Darwen leisure centre.

3.4 Archaeology.

The excavation of a prehistoric barrow and a roman cinerary urn suggests activity within the urban area of Darwen but its extent and nature remains undefined. There is no evidence to what degree medieval settlement in Darwen was nucleated and it probably comprised scattered farms and hamlets. The corn mills of Lower and Over Darwen were later rebuilt and developed as extensive paper mills and it seems unlikely that there are any extensive remains. There is little surviving above ground pre dating the nineteenth century, the main areas of survival are the former rural folds such as Bury Fold. Wellington Fold is one of the last surviving elements of the original town centre, and some of the houses there, although greatly altered were also used by handloom weavers (source: Historic Town Assessment 2005). Below ground evidence is likely to survive in the Town centre where areas of twentieth century clearance have been left as open spaces. There is considerable potential Figure 19 Wellington Fold today, a small cluster of for the survival of industrial remains and many mills have surviving above ground evidence though buildings that form the pre‐industrial core of the most of the early sites have been redeveloped. Conservation Area.

Although there has been redevelopment of the town centre Darwen is still largely characterised by its considerable stock of late nineteenth century terraced housing. The importance of the housing lies in its definition of settlement character.

Figure 20 Wellington Fold, circa 1900 (Darwen Library)

4. Character and relationship of spaces.

The overriding character and significance of Darwen Town Centre Conservation Area is associated with the quality of its townscape, and its unique position contained within the steep slopes of the Darwen river valley. The distinctive setting of the town allows for panoramic views from the higher valley slopes into the conservation area and breathtaking glimpsed views of the moorland landscape from the town which forms a backdrop to the stone built buildings.

The location of the town along the valley bottom gives the area a linear character, widening at the circus where the five point crossroads meet. This is the main focal point in terms of activity and architecture and is echoed in the surviving nineteenth century and Edwardian buildings such as the banks. Great play is made of corners with curved facades, cupolas and conical shapes crowning the buildings to create a lively skyline, the overall composition is very striking. Rising to the east from the Figure 21 View from Church Street with hills Circus on Church Street, the former Holy Trinity church dominates the space and draws the eye. The beyond distinctive turrets of Belgrave Chapel dominate vistas to the west. The skyline is an important characteristic that gives interest and legibility to views from higher land.

The main core of the conservation area has a compact urban character with strong building enclosure and a tight grain of streets. Buildings are set to the back of pavement but there is the occasional set back and open space which break the visual enclosure and create unexpected serial views. This is especially true of the Market Square which opens up from the Circus and gives the Conservation Area a civic quality. The turrets of Belgrave Chapel can be viewed from Railway Road. The sweep of the Green and subsequent clearance of sites has reduced the tight grain and enclosure to this section of the Conservation Area.

Figure 22 View along Market Street

Figure 23 Map showing character areas 19

4.1 Character areas.

There are three distinct character areas within the Conservation area, namely the terraced streets that surround St Peter’s church, the commercial area focused around the Market square and circus, and a small cluster of buildings on Wellington Fold and around the Green which represent the earlier pre industrial settlement. Each character area is described below.

4.2 St Peter’s

This area forms part of a wider area of bye‐law terraced housing for mill workers and was built in the second half of the nineteenth century. The housing is laid out in a grid iron arrangement in an east‐ west alignment with streets rising with the contours of the sloping valley sides. The terraces are laid out in regular rows built to standards laid down by bye laws. The terraces comprise rows of two Figure 24 Terraced housing St Peters storey stone built housing constructed from ashlar or pitch faced coursed stone. The houses front directly onto the street and share a common roof line. The ridge lines rise in line with the contours of the land. The frontages generally have vertically proportioned openings set in a regular rhythm comprising 4 panel doors, one bay width with sliding sash windows to ground and first floors. Stone sills and lintels surround the window openings and doors. Roofs are in natural grey slate, and with moulded stone eaves, and cast iron down pipes.

The rear areas have a more mixed appearance, with rear extensions, and in some cases rendered finishes. Rear yard walls are mostly built in random stone. Common alleyways access rear yards.

There are small variations in detail, most notable are the terraces adjacent to St Peters Church which are set back from the street and front areas defined by dwarf stone boundary walls and small front areas.

In 2006‐9 the terraced dwellings in the St Peters area underwent refurbishment that reinstated sash windows, timber doors, and cleaned facades as wells as repaired roofs. The area thereby has a very homogenous character with similar colour doors and windows in a 4 pane sliding sash style.

4.3 Commercial Area.

This forms the main part of the conservation area and contrasts from the tight grid iron arrangement of terraced houses. Larger buildings of some three to four storeys front onto streets and spaces and there is a more open character. Highways and traffic dominate Bolton Road and the Green. The pedestrian areas of Market St, Duckworth St and Bridge Street have a quieter feel.

The commercial heart of the town is focused on the circus where five roads meet. The area is Figure 25 Town hall and market hall. dominated by late nineteenth century Victorian and Edwardian buildings mostly banks and public houses, and the grain has a more open character. The buildings have a mixed pallete of materials some are in red brick with stone dressings and include turrets and cupolas to corner features but most buildings are built in a grit stone. This area also incorporates shops on Bolton Road and along Bridge Street, which have subsumed the earlier eighteenth century development. There are some surviving earlier buildings such as the Saddlery on Bolton Road. At the west end of Bridge Street there are a small number of back to back dwellings with cellars.

The commercial area extends along Railway Road which developed following the opening of the railway in 1848, and railway house is still standing at its northern end. Railway Road is lined with stone built two storey terraces with ground floor shops, facades are constructed of ashlar stone Figure 26 Bridge Street, pedestrian shopping Street which meant to provide an impression of good quality buildings to visitors arriving by rail. Duckworth Street has a smaller scale feel characterised by modest stone built two storey buildings with ground floors shops which predate the railway. Many have been altered with modern shop fronts and new windows and bear little resemblance to their former early Victorian character.

The civic centre is centred on the market hall which forms an extension of the circus. The two storey stone built market hall with central clock tower was built to house Council chamber and offices as well as shops and stalls. The building forms the northern edge of an open civic space which includes a twentieth century concrete built hexagonal market building and car park. Streets rise from the circus and the civic centre to the elevated positions of St Peters Church and Belgrave Chapel which dominate views from the core area.

4.4 Wellington Fold

This small cluster of stone built buildings facing the Green represents a pre 1849 earlier settlement that was centred on the Green. The Green was twice the size it is now and around it were three public houses the White Lion being one which still forms the focus of the area and was possibly a loom house originally. A cross once stood in the centre of the Green in 1791 which suggests it may Figure 27 Wellington Fold, an early cluster of buildings have been a market place.

This area has a more organic character and buildings are clustered round courts. Buildings are constructed in random and coursed stone and have modest openings. Wellington Fold is a setted street. At the entrance to it lies the New Inn which predates the new road of 1797 and what is now the front was the back. From 1829 it was the venue for the Manor Court and auctions were held here. The building was substantially rebuilt in 1961 when it was reduced to three stories with a new facade onto Duckworth Street.

5.0 Open Space, Views and Vistas.

5.1 Views and Vistas

The approaches to Darwen Town Centre are important from main routes but the best views are at high level from the elevated residential streets that surround the conservation area. Darwen’s position in the steeply sided valley of the river Darwen restricted the planning of any vistas or panoramas in the town.

To the South, Belgrave Square, the Chapel and Tram shelters along Bolton Road and leading into the Circus is one of the most interesting ‘gateways’ and an important view into the Conservation Area. Belgrave Chapel set on an elevated site above Bolton Road was clearly built to dominate its Figure 28 View of India Mill chimney from Market Street surroundings. Its turrets can be glimpsed from Railway Road and other surrounding streets.

The northern approach to the Conservation Area from Blackburn is less attractive but the former Congregational Chapel at the gateway to the conservation area helps give this gateway some prominence. The pinch point in the highway and vista along the frontages in Duckworth Street has some visual interest. Clearances and vacant sites detract at present but have the potential to improve vistas into the Conservation area.

Within the Conservation Area St Peter’s Church forms an important focus and terminates the view along Church Street and draws the eye from the circus.

India Mill chimney dominates views from the whole town and is the focus of views along many streets. Jubilee Tower on the western hill top also dominates views from the Conservation Area.

Views of the moorland ridges are glimpsed through gaps in buildings and along streets to give the area a dramatic setting. Figure 29 Holy Trinity/St Peter’s Church dominates vista of Church St

Fig 30 Townscape Analysis map

5.2 Open spaces.

Darwen Conservation Area has a compact townscape, but includes a variety of incidental open spaces, which open up the tight grain and soften the urban area . Green spaces are limited but compensated for by the high quality parks on the edge of its boundary such as Bold Venture Park to the west and Shorey Bank to the north.

The circus, where Bridge Street and Bolton Road meet Railway Road and Market Street is an important focal point in terms of activity and architecture. The scale and quality of nineteenth century and Edwardian buildings have retained the Circus as the commercial and civic role of the Conservation Area although it is compromised by excessive traffic noise and vehicle movements.

The most significant townscape space is at the Market hall, and forms the commercial focus to the area. The market hall provides a distinctive architectural backdrop on the northern edge of the Figure 31 The Green adjacent to Market St space, and the sweeping rise of Railway Road gives drama to the space. The less attractive 3 day market however detracts from the appearance. Recent improvements and resurfacing with stone flags and setts give the area a civic quality and have successfully integrated bus stands.

The green space next to Wellington Fold provides a village setting to the older historic cluster of buildings and gives a softening to the townscape. The White Lion pub dominates here as it would have done in the eighteenth century. The recently erected spitfire sculpture adds a new focal point to this part of the Conservation Area.

The graveyard around St Peter’s Church with a number of mature trees to its perimeter is an important green space and breaks up the tight grain of terraced housing and softens the streetscape.

A stone boundary wall helps contain the space and its steps and gates terminate the vista from Church Street. Figure 32 Garden Square, rear of Tram Shelters

The garden square rear of the tram shelters is another important green space enclosed with railings. 25

6.0 Historic buildings and features.

The significance of the conservation area is derived from its collection of buildings and spaces. Those buildings considered to be of high significance are described in detail below.

6.1 Listed buildings and features

St Peters Church, formerly Holy Trinity Church.

Originally built as Holy Trinity church in 1827‐9 and paid for by the Church Building Commissioners, who were established in 1818 to provide new churches for the increasing populations in the industrialised towns and cities. The church is listed Grade II*. It is designed by Rickman & Hutchinson, in the perpendicular style in a reddish stone. It has a square crenellated west tower with clock face and centre pinnacles. Adjacent to the entrance are long two light transomed windows with tracery and an ornate South west Porch.

It was built above the town centre on a slight hill in a prominent position to dominate the town. The churchyard is surrounded by a stone wall made from large rock faced stone blocks, surmounted by smooth faced triangular shaped coping stones. The church yard contains a number of mature trees, but most of the gravestones have been removed and the area laid to grass.

Figure 33 St Peters Church, former Holy Trinity Church

Belgrave Chapel, Belgrave Square.

Belgrave Chapel is a large Gothic building on an elevated site above Bolton Road. An independent chapel was first built on the site in 1808 and replaced by the present building in 1847 by Edward Walters. It has been converted into residential apartments in the late twentieth century. It is listed Grade II, constructed of sandstone rubble with ashlar dressings, with a slate roof and is aligned on a north south axis. Elevations have a strong vertical emphasis with long paired lancets and buttresses. The high west porch which is open on all sides rises from a plinth with steps to the main entrance. The gable is flanked by short octagonal pinnacled turrets, the inner wall has a massive doorway and continues above the roof line as a very prominent arcaded screen finished with three gablets and flanked by octagonal turrets terminating in pinnacles creating a fantastic sky line. Aisles have parapets and two windows in each bay. It is an early and dramatic example of Gothic architecture by Non‐conformity. The church graveyard is sited to the front on lower ground and enclosed by a stone wall.

Figure 34 Imposing entrance of Belgrave Chapel

Wesleyan Chapel, Railway Road

The Wesleyan chapel on Railway Road is a Grade II listed methodist chapel built in 1864‐6 by Ernest Bates of Manchester in the Classical style. The frontage is very imposing with three widely spaced bays divided by giant Corinthian columns and pilasters and centre pediment. There is an upper central venetian window to the first floor, segmented headed windows to ground floor and round headed windows to first floor. The side walls have plain pilasters and matching round headed windows. Roof is hipped laid with grey slate, and two chimneys in rear wall.

The front entrance has been altered when it was converted to be used as a bargain store in the twentieth century. There is also a ramped entrance from the street.

Tram shelters and attached railings enclosing centre of square, Bolton Road. Figure 35 Weslyan Chapel

The shelters were built in 1902‐03 by the Borough engineer R.W Smith Saville and are Grade II listed. Darwen’s Steam powered tram system started in 1881 and was taken over by the Corporation in 1898. It was one of the first tramways in the country worked entirely by steam and extended over 5 miles.

The two tram shelters are constructed in a smooth sandstone in the Edwardian Baroque style with large arched windows, bulging upper demi columns balustrade parapets and copper domed roofs. The three sides to the street all have large round headed openings. On the south side wall of the south shelter is an attached bronze plaque lettered in relief. Iron railings enclose the square to west and south sides and have knobbed bars with stone piers. Two tram shelters were built in order to provide one for the ladies and one for the gentlemen.

Figure 36 Tram shelter 28

Boer War Memorial, Bolton Road.

Grade II listed and a memorial to the South African war 1899‐1902. It comprises an ashlar sandstone pedestal with moulded plinth upon which stands a roaring lion in bronze with one paw resting on a ball. Lettering on the plaque states that the memorial was erected by the Mayor “ in remembrance of all the Darwen men who fell”, listing 14 names and the words; ‘ Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die”. The memorial is enclosed by curved and ramped iron railings between 4 carved stone piers in a low curved wall.

Figure 37 Boer War Memorial 29

Fig 38 Map of Heritage Assets and Heritage Significance 30

6.2 Notable unlisted buildings and features.

There are also many notable unlisted buildings that add distinctiveness and character to the area and are linked to the historic development and significance of the town as well as notable architects. These heritage assets are considered to have high significance and are described in detail below.

Market hall and former Town Hall

The market hall was constructed in 1881‐2 by Charles Bell and is an interesting example of combined uses with the municipal element subservient to the market element. The building attracted interest in the architectural press partly because it was built over the River Darwen. The building is of

Italianate style, two storeys high, featuring a central bay with a large arched entrance, paired pilasters to the upper floor and gabled top. A clock turret rises above the entrance which forms a Figure 39 Market Hall distinctive landmark viewed from the surrounding streets. The two storey front incorporated shops and the municipal offices. The structure of the market hall is clearly expressed from the east side where there are paired gables. The market hall interior incorporates an impressive array of ironwork springing from a central spine. Galleried walkways to the front perimeter on the first floor give access onto offices.

Library and Theatre, Knott Street.

The library was built by funds donated by Lord Carnergie in 1907‐8 and is designed by Haywood and Harrison. It incorporates a lecture hall to the lower floor which was converted to a theatre in 1971. Designed in the Baroque style out of sandstone with a rounded frontage, and has paired columns to the front elevation. A tall dome rises over the main space. The main library has a lantern supported by cast iron columns. The building holds the corner of Knott St and School Street where the main entrance is accessed. Cast iron railings turn the corner with the street and provide a barrier to the light well below. Figure 40 Library Knott Street

Technical school, Knott Street.

Built in 1894‐5 by J.Lane Fox of Dewsbury, and is a striking three storey and basement building arranged in an L‐shaped footprint of coursed stone in the gothic style. There are some fifteenth century motifs and lobed entrance portal with attached shafts flanked by octagonal piers. Window openings are cusped and flat headed beneath ogee hood moulds.

The library moved into the building in 1895 until the new library was built in 1908. A wooden gymnasium was added in 1928. It remained as the grammar school until 1939 and then reopened in 1945 as the secondary technical school. In 2000 work started on renovation and conversion to Figure 41 Technical School gables become apartments.

Congregational School, Duckworth Street.

The former congregational School is sited on the east side of Duckworth Street and dates from 1883. It is stone built comprising two and three storeys in the gothic style. The school has an asymmetrical plan with mullioned and transomed windows and a very tall stair window with plate tracery. It is currently used for retail.

National Westminster Bank, The Circus. Figure 42 Congregational School

The bank building is situated on the corner of the Circus, and is constructed from ashlar sandstone. It was built in 1896‐8 by Mills and Murgatroyed in the renaissance style with a nicely rounded corner. There is rustication to windows, stone parapet and curved dormer details. Inside there is an attractive tiled vestibule with a little plaster dome.

Figure 43National Westminster Bank at Circus

Former Provident Cooperative shop, the Green.

Designed by Sames and Green in 1900 in red brick and terracotta with an attractive curved frontage. It forms a distinctive landmark when viewed from the road. It is now occupied by a beauty salon, hairdressers and cafe but was built originally as a ‘Tory Coop’ set up in opposition to the towns more radical co‐operative movement. It closed soon after the First World War.

Belgrave Square 1‐3 Figure 44 Former Provident Coop

A terraced group of three Georgian town houses facing Belgrave Square dating circa 1850. Two of them have a paired frontage with a three column double entrance. Windows have been altered. The houses are built in coursed sandstone three storeys in height and face on to the railed garden area behind the tram shelters. The buildings enclose the west side of Belgrave Square.

Holker House, Church Street Figure 45 1‐3 Belgrave Square A distinctive villa style house in the centre of the town, built by George Wightman of Darwen in 1871 for the local medical officer of health, Dr Hindle. He named it after the family home of the Hindles in Hoddlesden which was built in 1591. It subsequently became the Divisional Education Office for Darwen until 1974 and more recently used by Blackburn College. It is now privately owned and used as offices. Holker house is constructed in the Italianate style, with ashlar stone and rusticated quoins. It has a two storey gabled porch and a bold cornice runs below the parapeted eaves. There are paired windows with curved heads with one projecting stone bay either side of the porch.

Figure 46 Holker House Railway Rd

Post office, Green Street. 33

The distinctive curved facade to this stone building follows the sweep of the Green. Built in 1926 by the Office of works in the Classical style, the stone parapet hides the flat roof. An emphatic cornice and Doric columned central door case complete the facade.

Former Public halls, Church Street.

The public halls were erected in 1879 to the design of William Perry and are two storey built from coursed stone. The ground floor was originally the Conservative Club with a hall at first floor level. It Figure 47 Post Office, Green Street opened on 17th July 1880 and magic lantern shows were given. A later extension onto Bank Street was built in 1919/20 when it became the Ritz Cinema with the stage at the opposite end. It has since been used as a bar.

Former Station building, Railway Road.

This building is built in a buff brick and originally formed part of the railway station. Likely to have been constructed at the time the railway came to Darwen in 1844. Three windows to ground floor and pedimented half dormer windows project above eaves at first floor. The building terminates the Figure 48 Former Public Halls Church Street vista to Railway Road and is currently outside the Conservation Area boundary. The proposed boundary review changes have recommended the boundary is amended to include the building.

Figure 49 Former Station House

6.3 Character buildings and features.

In addition to the contribution that key individual buildings make to the Conservation Area, the vast majority of unlisted buildings within the Conservation Area that were constructed in the late eighteenth and nineteenth century make a positive contribution to the special historic character of the conservation area. The consistency in building materials, scale and rhythm to the street scene gives the area its special character. The richness of detailing in some of the buildings contrasts with the simplicity of the terraced buildings to give a rich and varied townscape typical of a nineteenth century market town. The buildings are of medium significance as individual buildings but Figure 50 Corner Building Knott St/Railway Rd collectively have greater significance.

The terraced buildings of Railway Road, and in the St Peters area are of interest since they contrast with the grander scale of the commercial buildings in the Circus. Collectively they help to support the areas special character as they provide a built record of the transition of Darwen from a small scale settlement through to a more planned pattern of development following industrialisation and the erection of textile mills, and terraced houses.

The terraced developments in St Peters area are constructed in a coursed ashlar and textured stone and roofed in a blue grey slate. The two storey terraces display consistent building lines and rooflines, and building plots of uniform size and shape.

Figure 51 Rhythm and detail along Railway Road

6.4 Prevalent Construction Materials.

Darwen is primarily a stone built town as a result to good proximity to supplies of building stone. The stone is known as a grit stone and is a robust sandstone. It was not until the end of the nineteenth century that supplies of factory made brick became readily available, as is evident on the former provident Cooperative building on the Green. Until the middle of the nineteenth century most vernacular residential and commercial buildings were either built of random rubble or constructed Figure 52 Setts in Wellington Fold using water shot techniques. From the middle of the century this was replaced by the use of pitch faced stone blocks which left a rock like protruding face and which did not require stone of the same quality. There are also a considerable number of terraced properties in Darwen constructed from a smooth faced ashlar.

The traditional roofing material was sandstone flags, however this was replaced in the second half of the nineteenth century with Welsh slate as railway expansion enabled the high quality flags to be exported and the cheaper slate to be imported. Most buildings in the Darwen Conservation Area have roofs in natural Welsh slate. Figure 53 Pitch faced coursed stone wall

Many footways still retain sandstone flags however most of the original setted streets have been covered by tarmac. At Wellington Fold the setted street still survives and setted streets can also be found in the St Peters area.

Boundary treatments would have traditionally been stone walls either random or regular coursed with a variety of capping details such as curved or dog tooth capping. Holker House is enclosed by coursed ashlar stone walling, pitch faced blocks enclose St Peter’s Church. Railings would have often been used to enclose residential dwellings set on dwarf walls, very few survive however ornate cast Figure 54 Stone boundary wall with railings iron railings can be found around the library and the Technical School. Chimney stacks are predominantly in stone and rise tall above the ridge line breaking up the continuous ridge lines of the buildings. Terracotta pots to chimneys vary in style 36

prevalent along Railway Road are the crown shaped pots. The stacks form an important sky line feature to Railway Road and the St Peter’s area, but make a contribution to the character of the area generally.

Windows would have predominantly been timber double hung sliding sashes, however many original have been replaced by inappropriate UPVC styles. There is evidence of multi‐paned sliding sashes along Bridge Street, and a Yorkshire sash to the rear of 19‐21 Bridge Street. The prevalent window type is either four or two paned sliding sash with horn details to the middle transom. More ornate variations on window styles can be seen at the National West Bank, and the library. Window surrounds vary, heads and sills are predominantly in stone and can be curved or squared headed.

Doors are typically four or six panelled timber doors, with surrounds in stone, projecting canopies are Figure 55 Sliding sash window evident on some terraces. Note the ornate porch detail at Holker House. with decorative stone surround

Figure 30 crown shaped pots on a stone Chimney Stack Figure 56 Decorative railings to technical school

7.0 Issues, Threats and Opportunities.

7.1 Unsympathetic Development and buildings of Little Architectural Merit.

One of the main threats to the area is the insertion of unsympathetic infill developments and buildings of little architectural merit adjacent to listed or other notable unlisted buildings. Developments constructed with little regard to the scale, massing, form or materials of existing Figure 57 Cooperative building Church Street buildings can have significant impact on the visual and physical character of the conservation area.

One such building is the two storey flat roofed building situated between Holker House and the Weslyan chapel on Railway Road (fig 58). Constructed in the 1960s from concrete and glass, its siting, appearance and horizontal emphasis does little to enhance the character of the conservation area. The set back from the footway breaks the established building line and is cluttered by taxis. The present building replaced a substantial Victorian theatre building (Fig 13) of grander appearance and more in keeping with rhythm and massing of buildings in the Conservation Area. Figure 58 Gap building Railway Road The Cooperative store on Church Street is also a two storey flat roofed building (Fig 57) constructed in the 1960s; the first floor has a blank frontage built in a dark brown brick. The two storey scale of the building contrasts with the three storey building adjacent, and the blank frontage and inappropriate material detract from the Conservation Area and fail to reflect the vertical rhythm of window openings that form an important aspect of the street scene and animate the frontage. The continuous fascia further emphasises the horizontal which is at odds with the vertical proportions of the Victorian prevalent building styles in the area.

Figure 59 Modern infill market Street

The octagonal three day market in the market square built in the 1960s detracts from the square as it obscures the unique form of the space and vistas of Holker House and the Wesleyan Chapel. Traditionally the space would have had an open market and stalls are still evident in the retaining wall below Railway Road. (Fig 60)

Issues of scale, appearance and materials are also evident at number 40 Market Street (fig 59) and 1 Duckworth Street. Probably also of sixties construction, built in brick and with limited openings which give an unattractive frontage to the street.

The cumulative impact of illuminated box fascias, shutter grilles and boxes, and modern shop fronts Figure 60 Three Day Market detracts from the Market is most notable on Duckworth Street and impact on the heritage significance of the conservation Square area.

Figure 61 Unsympathetic shop fronts and shutters on Duckworth Street

7.2 Threats

One of the greatest threats to the area is the dilution of the character of the Conservation Area by the cumulative impact of inappropriate alterations and features. Erosion of character is especially marked on Duckworth Street where alterations to windows and insertion of modern shop fronts and fascias have detracted from the Victorian appearance of the street frontages. Other features at risk are:

• Losing architectural detailing/materials through low quality repair, replacement and removal such as shop fronts. • Insensitive alterations that might obscure or cut across original features. Figure 62 Large illuminated fascias over dominate the building • Inappropriate materials or non‐heritage finishes for walls such as cement pointing and inappropriate renders.

• Replacement of front doors with inappropriate designs or materials.

• Replacement of timber sliding sash windows with UPVC frames with different window bars and inappropriate styles.

• Loss/ removal of chimney stacks and pots.

• Erection of satellite dishes to frontages.

• Erection of illuminated and garish fascias and signage. Figure 63 Inappropriate development detracts from the • Dominance of cars and car parking. appearance of the conservation area

The THI investment has helped to reinstate some of the above features to some of the buildings, and further detailed guidance produced in the accompanying development guide should help guide owners towards the appropriate materials and alterations. The Management Plan in Section 9 recommends actions required to preserve and enhance the character of the area.

Figure 65 Four panel door reinstated by THI grant aid.

Figure 66 Corbel detail to shop front reinstated to reflect Figure 64 THI investment has refurbished and reinstated architectural details to 33‐39 Railway Road. historic detail.

7.3 Opportunities.

It will be necessary to address issues and threats in order to secure the Conservation Area’s long‐ term character and viability as an important heritage asset. There is therefore considerable opportunity to:

• Address existing buildings which erode character and quality.

• Prevent the threat of unsympathetic new development.

• Prevent the gradual erosion of special character

• Encourage the re‐use of vacant and underused buildings. Figure 67 Plastic windows in terraced properties • Protect key views and vistas.

• Enhance public realm with appropriate materials.

• Promote appropriate techniques of repair.

• Enhance interpretation of the historic interest of the area, in particular the distinction between the pre‐industrial standing buildings as at Wellington Fold and industrial expansion.

• Encourage recording of heritage assets and structures to improve heritage understanding of their significance

• Reduce the effects of street clutter in the street scene Figure 68 new shop fronts reinstated in the market • Reduce dominance of the car and car parking. Hall

8.0 Suggested Boundary Changes.

The Conservation Area was extended in 2005 to include the St Peter’s Area. Some additional boundary changes are suggested below to either take account of recent development, to exclude buildings or areas which do not contribute to the Conservation Area, or include buildings and features that are significant to the Conservation Area or contribute to the overall setting.

8.1 Railway Station Building Railway Rd.

The coming of the railway was an important development that contributed to the growth of Darwen in the nineteenth century. It is therefore considered appropriate to include the former station house at the northern end of Railway Road. The building is constructed in a buff brick which is unusual for the town but the elevations retain nineteenth century characteristics. The building also terminates the vista to Railway Road and contributes to the setting of the street. It is thereby suggested that the Figures 69 and 70 Extension to Railway Road and boundary is extended to include the building and follow the line of the railway to include the car park removal of industrial buildings (above) realignment rear adjacent to the station. This is an important space surrounded by trees that is considered to of leisure centre below. contribute to the setting of Railway Road.

8.2 Rear of Leisure centre.

It is suggested that the western boundary is amended to follow the rear building line of the new Leisure centre. Presently the boundary cuts across the building, having been drawn around the original leisure centre that was demolished early 2000.

8.3 Holy Trinity Primary School, Bank Bottom Road.

Holy Trinity Primary school is a collection of predominantly twentieth century buildings which have little association with the conservation area and are sited on higher land concealed by boundary walls. It is considered that the site and vacant sites adjacent contribute little to the character of the conservation area . It is thereby suggested that the boundary be amended to exclude the primary school and follow the line of Bank Bottom.

Figure 71 Change to boundary to exclude Holy Trinity Primary School and follow Bank Bottom Road.

Part II Management Plan for Darwen Town Centre Conservation Area

9.1 Introduction

Under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 Local Planning Authorities have a statutory duty to designate as a Conservation Area any area of ‘special architectural or historic interest’ whose character or appearance is considered worthy of preservation or enhancement. Conservation Area designation is the primary means by which Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council can safeguard valued distinctive places that help to define the individual historical, architectural and cultural identity of its communities. However designation alone will not secure the preservation and enhancement of these areas and active management is vital to ensure that they can adapt and develop in a positive way. Figure 72 There is a duty to enhance the character of the Conservation Area, the newly erected spitfire sculpture This section is called a ‘Management Plan’ and it has been produced in line with English Heritage provides a new focus and celebrates an important event. Guidance. The primary aims are to:

• Provide the basis for the proactive management of the Darwen Town Centre Conservation Area by informing future Council policy and decision making for the next 5 years. • Act as a material consideration in the determination of applications for planning permission and Conservation Area consent. • Fulfil the Council’s statutory duty in regard to section 71 and section 72 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. • Illustrate the Council’s compliance to the provisions in the National Planning Policy Framework. • Support the development of the future local planning policy and the emerging Development Plan Document for the Local Development Framework. • Inform the development of projects and bids for external input relating to townscape and the historic Figure 73 The Management Plan can help guide the environment in Darwen Town Centre. quality of development as in this reinstated shop front. The Management Plan is a complimentary document to the Conservation Area Appraisal and should be read together.

9.2 National Policy and Legislation

When taking development management decisions within the conservation area the Council will have Policy CS17: Proposals for new development should identify and take advantage of regard to the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, which provides the opportunities to integrate with and promote principal legislative policy base for the conservation of the historic environment. National Policies on the Borough’s cultural assets. These assets will Conserving and enhancing the historic environment are set out in the National Planning Policy include but are not limited to: Framework clauses 126‐141. Policy 131 states: i) Features signifying the history of the Borough In determining planning applications, local planning authorities should take account of: ii) Landscapes • the desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets and putting them to iii) Views viable uses consistent with their conservation; iv) Cultural facilities. • the positive contribution that conservation of heritage assets can make to sustainable communities Where important buildings or features including their economic vitality; and exist in areas of change, new development will be required to be • the desirability of new development making a positive contribution to local character and designed with the buildings or features as distinctiveness. a focus. Ways in which this might be Policy 133 seeks to resist harm or loss to significance of designated assets unless substantial public achieved include but are not limited to: benefits outweigh harm or loss, or where there is less than substantial harm to significance this i) Retaining, reusing or converting should be weighed against the public benefits of the proposal under Policy 134. Local Authorities are key buildings. also required by policy 141 of the National Planning Policy Framework to make information about ii) Enhancing the setting and views the significance of the historic environment gathered as part of plan making or development of buildings through appropriate management publicly accessible. layout of new development and design of the public realm. 9.3 Local Policies iii) Designing new development to The Core Strategy 2011 is the Local Strategic Planning Policy Document and Policy CS17 relates fit and strengthen urban grain specifically to the Built and Cultural Heritage. created by historic buildings.

Saved policies from the Local Plan are also directly relevant to the preservation and enhancement of listed buildings and conservation areas. The relevant policies are;

• Policy HD11 Development in and adjacent to Conservation Areas • Policy HD 12 Alterations to unlisted buildings in conservation areas. • Policy HD 13 Alterations to Listed buildings • Policy HD14 Demolition of listed and demolition of unlisted buildings in Conservation Areas. (www.blackburn.gov.uk)

9.4 Implications of Conservation Area status.

Conservation area status is not intended to stifle new development nor preserve areas as museum pieces, but conservation areas should evolve to meet changing demands. The council is however legally obliged to ensure that the special architectural and historic characters of their Conservation Areas are not eroded when taking planning and development management decisions.

Within a conservation area the Council has extra controls on the following:

• Extra publicity must be given to planning applications affecting conservation areas by advertising in the local newspaper (s.73 TCPA (listed buildings and Conservation Areas) Act Figure 74 New shop fronts require planning permission 1990.

• Material change to the appearance of most buildings requires planning permission. There are some permitted development rights to residential properties. See Section below.

• Conservation Area Consent is required for the demolition of most buildings or structures in a conservation area over 115 cubic metres.

• It is an offence to cut down, top, lop, uproot, wilfully damage or destroy a tree in a conservation area without having given six weeks notice to the Council.

• There are also more restrictions on the display of advertisements than elsewhere. The Council will encourage advertisements to be designed to higher standards and to be made of materials that do not detract from the character of the area.

• Telecommunications operators have more onerous obligations placed on them.

• Not all satellite antennae in conservation areas need permission however the council tries to ensure that they are carefully sited so as not to detract from the appearance of the area.

• New shop fronts generally need consent and the Council seeks to promote the retention of traditional shop fronts. Where replacements are necessary or desirable great care must be taken to ensure compatibility with the building and the street scene.

• The Council or Secretary of State can take steps to ensure that a building in a conservation area is kept is good repair through the use of urgent work notices and Amenity of land Notices (s54 and s76 of TCPA (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Figure 75 Satellite dishes normally require permission Blackburn with Darwen Council is expected to adopt appropriate policies and commit adequate when situated on the front elevation in a conservation area. resources to support these statutory duties.

The Council should also ensure that local communities are informed about the implications of conservation area designation to encourage the collective benefits of conservation area designation by those who live, work and build in them. It is important that owners, residents and developers are well informed of the qualities of the conservation area and understand the need to take a contextual view of development proposals and not in isolation.

Some degree of change is inevitable in conservation areas and the issue is often not whether change should happen but how it is carried out. Owners and residents should employ skilled advice when preparing development proposals to ensure that change is sympathetic to the character of the area.

The Council is one useful source of advice as are amenity societies and stakeholders.

Figure 76 Darwen Town Centre Conservation Area.

9.5 Permitted development

Planning permission is usually required for material changes to the appearance of buildings and includes alterations such as shop fronts or changes to the appearance of windows on commercial properties. Certain works may be undertaken without the need for planning permission and are known as ‘permitted development’. Within conservation areas permitted development is more restrictive in particular for extensions and alterations to houses. Details of works that are permitted development can be found on the Planning Portal or the Council web site. An Article 4 direction can be applied by the Council to remove Permitted Development Rights within Conservation Areas where the cumulative impact of such alterations are considered to damage the character of the conservation area. It is advisable to contact the Planning Authority when building works are being considered for a building in a conservation area.

9.6 St Peter’s Article 4 Direction

In the St Peter’s area of the Conservation Area the permitted development rights for dwellings have been withdrawn by an Article 4 (2) Direction and most works and alterations that affect the frontages of buildings fronting a highway require planning permission. For more information see the Councils web site. (www.blackburn.gov.uk) Figure 77 Plastic windows can be permitted development on a dwelling house unless permitted development has been withdrawn by an Article 4 Direction.

9.7 Issues

The character appraisal for Darwen Town Centre identified a number of issues which detract from and/or are threatening to harm the town centres historical and architectural character and its important features. These are:

• Buildings of little architectural merit mostly on later infill sites. • Unsympathetic development. • Inappropriate features and loss of architectural details.

• Vacant and underused buildings. • Existence of gap sites. Figure 78 Modern shop fronts, shutters and • Poor quality or inappropriate public realm. various signs detract from the historic characteristics of Duckworth Street. • Poor quality shop fronts and garish signage. • Dominance of car parking . • Poor interpretation of pre‐industrial history and loss of industrial heritage.

9.7 Opportunities for Protection and Enhancement.

The following section identifies the opportunities for the protection and enhancement of the Darwen Town Centre Conservation Area and suggests a series of actions as to how this can be achieved.

9.8 Promoting Appropriate Design.

There have been a number of recent developments which have been constructed with little regard to the special historical and architectural character of Darwen Town Centre. Careful consideration will need to be given to the treatment of height, scale, massing form and quality of all future development, alterations and extensions within and adjoining the town’s conservation area. In particular a number of gap sites following the demolition of buildings visually undermine the special character and where opportunity arises to develop them the Council will only encourage the highest quality schemes. The development guide in Part III provides detailed guidance on how new development can respond positively to the historic setting and fully accord with planning policy. Figure 79 Conversion of historic buildings to a high Action 1: The council will apply the principles set out in the accompanying development guidelines standard design will be encouraged. to ensure that all new development within the Conservation Area preserves or enhances the appearance of the conservation Area and conserves its heritage significance.

9.9 Additional Control

Not all works in a conservation area require planning permission, and in Darwen Town Centre it can be seen that the cumulative effect of inappropriate changes to windows, doors, chimneys and roof materials can have a major adverse affect on the overall character of the area. For commercial properties planning permission is normally required for the material change to the appearance of a building, such as a new shop front or new windows in a different style or material (see GPDO 1995).

The appraisal identifies the aspects of the area that contribute to character and significance and Figure 80 Gap site on corner Duckworth St, would alterations which adversely affect the historic integrity and appearance of buildings will generally be benefit from high quality development that creates a treated as material changes requiring planning permission. corner feature. 52

The Development Guide gives advice on the details that will constitute a material change, some works such as painting of the exterior of a building or removing a boundary wall however are permitted development. The Council will explore the option for withdrawing those classes of development on commercial properties that are permitted by applying an Article 4 Direction.

However for residential properties in conservation areas there are some permitted development rights that enable some alterations to be carried out without permission. These works include changes to doors, windows, roof materials and constructions of minor extensions.

In the St Peters area however the permitted development rights have been removed by an Article 4

Direction for works that generally affect the frontages and the Article 4 Direction will continue to be Figure 81 The painting of the exterior of a building is applied. This does not necessarily prevent alterations but it does mean that planning permission is normally permitted development, but could be removed required. with an Article 4 Direction.

Action 2: Explore the possibility of extending the application of an article 4 Direction to the rest of the conservation area to remove permitted development rights for minor works such as painting the exterior of buildings.

9.10 Compliance and Monitoring.

The incremental erosion of character from inappropriate alterations is a significant threat to the conservation area. Effective monitoring and compliance is required to maintain standards and protect investment. A photographic audit of the conservation area will be carried out as a baseline record for measuring change and a proactive enforcement strategy be adopted. The council will also take steps to make use of Repairs Notices, Urgent Works Notices and Amenity of Land notices where applicable to enhance the conservation area.

Action 3: Use photographic audit and adopt proactive enforcement strategy. Figure 82 Changes to the frontages of dwellings need permission in the St Peter's Area.

9.11 Shop Front Guidance.

Shop fronts are an important element in the historic streetscape, and there has been a significant loss of historic shop fronts and their replacement with inappropriate modern replacements. Where possible existing traditional shop fronts should be retained or good quality timber shop fronts reinstated. Heritage lottery funding has successfully reinstated shop fronts to historic styles in the Townscape Heritage Initiative Area, good examples can be found at 33‐39 Railway Road and on the Town Hall. Specific guidance on shop fronts has been included in the attached development guidelines.

Action 4: Alterations and replacement shop fronts and signage should adopt principles in the attached development guidelines. Figure 83 Traditional Corbel and cornice detail to shop front on Bridge Street. 9.12 Maintenance.

To ensure that buildings which currently contribute to the areas special interest, character and appearance are sustained in the future it will be necessary to create awareness of appropriate and regular maintenance regimes. Guidance on maintenance will be distributed or posted on the web for owners and could be launched seasonally to remind owners the need to prepare for the winter months.

Action 5: Raise awareness of the importance of regular maintenance and adopting appropriate techniques.

Figure 84 Regular maintenance can prevent decay, such as regular painting of timber windows and clearing gutters.

9.13 Public Realm.

Retaining historic features within the public realm gives streets individuality and helps create a sense of place. Public realm works should generally have regard to the historic context of the area, and retain historic features where possible. It is also important to reduce the impact of street clutter on the historic streetscape such as road signs and guard rails. New works should generally be carried out in traditional good quality materials: Stone flags, granite setts and granite kerbs.

Action 6: Blackburn with Darwen Council will liaise closely with its partners to ensure works to the public realm preserve the character of the Conservation Area and reduce the impact of street clutter.

9.14 Promotion. Figure 85 Dropped kerbs in Market Street and traditional materials contribute to the character of the conservation Engaging with the local community and key stakeholders to enable them to understand Darwen’s area. past and the value of its future is vital to secure a more sustainable approach to conservation area management. Through education and promotional events, greater understanding of the value of the historic environment in securing sustainable growth can lead to increased sense of civic pride and stewardship. Some progress has been made through the THI scheme, and the launch of historic trails. Regular events in collaboration with historic societies and schools should be considered to ensure that a lasting legacy is maintained and there is scope to engage with local groups to promote participation in the national Open House event.

Action 7: Explore Opportunities for raising awareness of Darwen’s Heritage, promoting events and engaging with local community groups to participate in the historic environment.

Figure 86 The historic open market in the Market Square can give an understanding how we used the space prior to its development. 55

Part III Development Guidelines.

10. Aims of the Development Guide.

The purpose of the development guide is to outline how the buildings, streets and places within the Darwen Conservation Area can be conserved, improved and developed to enhance the areas special qualities. The development principles outlined in the subsequent sections are intended to give building owners and development professionals an appreciation of the historic characteristics of the area and how it can be enhanced.

It is essential that changes are well considered and of high quality in order that Darwen’s attractiveness and sustainable growth is maintained. Planning permission is required for material changes to commercial buildings and prospective applicants are encouraged to enter into pre‐ application discussions with the Council’s planning service as early as possible. Development proposals will be required to have an understanding of the ‘heritage significance’ of the area and the assets within it, and demonstrate how proposals will impact on significance. The Conservation Area Appraisal in Part I, sets out the general heritage significance of the area.

The special interest of the Darwen Town Centre Conservation Area is derived from its collection of nineteenth century buildings which are set around the historic north south axis of Bolton Road and Market Street, and to the east along Railway Road/ Church Street. There are individual buildings of Figure 87 Entrance to market hall special interest but also large groupings of buildings that together create a noteworthy street scene. The character of the Conservation Area has been strongly influenced by the diversity of functions that have occurred within it and its unique position in a steeply sided River valley with the Pennine moors to the east and west providing a distinctive setting.

Meaning of Significance : The sum of the cultural and natural heritage values of a place. (Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance; English Heritage April 2008)

10.1 Urban Grain Principles to be adopted The introduction of the railway on the eastern boundary separates the area from the residential • Conserve, improve and enhance areas beyond. the distinctive qualities of the The urban blocks vary in size and shape but there is a clear distinction between the grid iron uniform buildings within the conservation area. blocks that define St Peters area and Railway Road and the variable shaped blocks to the west of • Respect the size of urban blocks, Bolton Road and Market Street. Building plots vary from narrow terraced and commercial properties and plots in new developments, to a mix of larger retail and civic complexes. do not amalgamate smaller blocks to form large blocks where this The character of the eastern portion of the Conservation Area is defined by Railway Road and the would compromise the east ‐west orientated terraced streets that form the St Peters Area. Plot widths of the terraced permeability of the area. dwellings are relatively consistent and there is a consistent rhythm that is reinforced by sloping roof • Infill developments shall reflect lines. the consistent rhythm of the urban block facades. The convergence of streets at the Circus gives rounded corners to plots which are then expressed at • Gaps to the edges of the urban roof level with conical shaped roof features. West of this the sweep of the Green and irregular blocks shall be repaired to present shaped plots gives rises to varying plots and sweeping frontages. The small cluster of buildings at a defined building line at the back Wellington Fold have variable plot widths and create a tight grouping of buildings. of pavement or established building line. Set backs should be The rhythm of building frontages reflects the variety of plot widths within the Conservation area. avoided. There is a pattern of repetitive window openings and entrances and interest is created when rhythm (refer to saved Policy HD11 of the Local is interrupted by contrasting facades such as the library building on the corner of Knott Street. Plan)

10.2 Density and Mix.

The Conservation Area is densely developed. Buildings front onto the back of footpath and small rear yards are accessed by narrow back alleys. There are some gap sites created by clearance to the northern fringes, also at the western edge of the Green, and just outside the Conservation Area on the former site of Belgrave Mills. Some plots are used for surface car parking. Road widening along the Green and some clearance has resulted in a more fragmented area, in addition to the formation of a traffic island adjacent to the White Lion and the enlargement of the green open space.

Market Street, Duckworth Street, and Bridge Street have active street frontages with retail uses Figure 88 Active frontages on Borough Road. concentrated in these streets. There is less activity along Railway Road, where there are more office uses and some takeaways.

Principles to be adopted.

• The development of gap sites shall be encouraged with uses that provide active street frontages. • Proposals for development should re‐use and convert existing buildings that make a positive contribution to the character of the area. • Development proposals shall enhance the use of the public realm. (Refer to saved policies HD1 and HD11 of the Local Plan)

Figure 89 Shop fronts on Bridge Street

10.3 Height and Massing.

The majority of buildings within the Conservation Area are two storeys. Around the Circus however there is a collection of three storey buildings, such as the Millstone Public House, and some have a storey in the roof space. Georgian terraced buildings on Belgrave Square are three storeys. The tram shelters and 3 day market are single storey.

As the town centre is located in the valley bottom surrounded by the moorland hills, distant views of the town centre place significant emphasis on roofscape. Predominantly the roofscape is a collection of double pitched slate roofs. The buildings generally have consistent height with their neighbours Figure 90 Skyline interest on the Circus. with continuous eaves line, but there are step changes to accommodate the rising topography. Changes in height are usually no more than one storey but can be greatly emphasised by the topography. At corners skyline emphasis is exaggerated by creating a contrasting roof profile or feature. Views and vistas are terminated by landmark buildings such as Trinity Church, and the whole area is dominated by India Mill chimney.

Principles to be adopted.

• Reinforce the predominant 2/3 storey building height at street frontages. • Increases in storey heights could be accommodated at important street

corners and on main routes. • Development proposals shall take advantage of opportunities to provide visual interest at roof level. Figure 91 Belgrave Chapel turrets can be viewed from • Enhance and exploit existing vistas, particular towards India Mill chimney, many view points. Belgrave Chapel, Jubilee Tower and St Peters Church. (refer to saved policy HD11 of the Local Plan.)

10.4 Façade and Interface.

The majority of buildings within the conservation area are of stone built construction with simple repetitive punched hole vertical proportioned openings. Facades are generally flush though some buildings do have projecting bays, corner details and canopies that give visual interest.

Eaves are mostly continuous and predominantly lead lined moulded stone eaves cornice details.

The roofscape is mostly of dual pitched roofs with few dormer interruptions, land mark buildings are an exception and domed roofs as at the tram shelters and the library give visual contrast. Chimney stacks are still clearly visible above the roof line, are predominantly in stone with crown shape pots, and form an important aspect of the Conservation Area’s character.

Figure 92 Vertical proportioned sash windows and doors Principles to be adopted. contribute to the distinctive stone facades.

• New developments shall reflect the prevailing rhythm, pattern and proportion of the building facades within the conservation area. • New developments shall follow established front building line.

• Entrances to new or converted buildings shall be accessed from the street, and respect proportion and rhythm of existing buildings.

• Missing or under‐developed frontages shall be repaired and infilled with good quality facades that respect, pattern proportion and rhythm of traditional buildings. • Features characteristic to the area such as chimney stacks and pots, moulded cornice eaves and distinctive roofscape details shall be retained or reinstated. (Refer to saved policy HD11 of the Local Plan) Figure 93 Rhythm of window openings is an important element of the facade.

10.5 Shop Fronts. Principles to be adopted. Shop fronts are an important element in the facade and make a significant contribution to the • Shop fronts shall be good quality, character of the street scene. The quality of shop fronts and associated signage within the well proportioned, constructed in Conservation Area is not particularly high but has seen some recent improvements with the timber and relate to the building reinstatement of traditional shop fronts with Heritage Lottery grants along Railway Road, Bridge above and to the side. Street, Bolton Road and on the Town hall. • Within the conservation area original timber shop fronts shall Traditional historic examples are well proportioned and relate to the feature of the building they are be retained and restored. on. Good quality shop fronts have timber pilasters which frame the window display, a modest sized • New shop fronts shall incorporate fascia and a stall riser. Corbles and cornicing to the framing add decorative elements that contribute the architectural elements that to the distinctive characteristics of the area. Signage should generally be hand painted and it is not contribute to a good shop front acceptable for corporate signage to overwhelm a shop front on a historic building. Most high street and include stall riser, modest sized fascia that is proportionate shops now recognise the importance of a sensitively designed shop front that reflects the quality of with the size of the unit, and the building they choose to trade from. An appropriate balance has to be struck between creating a pilasters to frame the window strong identity for the trader and contributing to the street scene as a whole. display. • Fascia signs shall be painted or Colour schemes should clarify the architectural form of the frontage and should have regard to the applied vinyl/metal lettering. adopted colour study for the Borough. Most successful colour schemes employ one or two colours. • Lighting shall be discrete and Dark or muted colours, generally work best for timber shop fronts. signage externally illuminated. • External Shutter grilles and Lighting or shop signs should be discrete and not overpowering. Neon or backlit fluorescent box signs shutter boxes shall be avoided but should not be used. Where security shutters are unavoidable they should be open grilles set behind if required be open grilles set glazing allowing shop displays to be visible out of trading hours and to prevent bulky shutter boxes behind the glazing. dominating the shop front. Also refer to saved Policy R16 of the Local Pan.

Figure 95 Corbel detail on Railway Road,. Figure 94 Traditional timber shop front with stall riser, pilasters and fascia.

10.6 Details and Materials.

All the older properties in the town centre were built using the local Pennine Sandstone which was quarried at locations around Darwen. This was often in the form of good quality smooth faced ashlar blocks laid in courses about 200mm wide. There are also buildings finished with a much rougher rock faced or pitch faced finish with similar size blocks. In some cases the stone has been painted such as on buildings along Duckworth Street. Painting of stonework should generally be avoided to prevent damage and retain the distinctive characteristic of the stone facades.

Roofs are generally dual pitched with Welsh slate covering. Gutter details are generally hidden behind a moulded stone eaves detail. Gables at roof level are predominantly simple verges with a flush mortar detail. Stone flags can be found along the dividing ridges and some important buildings have parapets. Rainwater hoppers and down pipes are predominantly cast iron and exposed on the Figure 96 Four panel door and decorative stone facade. Many however have been replaced by poorer equivalents such as plastic. surround.

There is some surviving ornamental ironwork much has been lost where it survives it adds significantly to the character of the area such round the library and the tram shelters.

Mortar pointing would normally have been in a lime, sand, cement mix to allow the buildings to breathe. In many instances this has been replaced with a hard sand cement mix which can cause damage and does not allow for the evaporation of moisture. All pointing repairs should aim to use the lime based mortar mix.

Figure 97 Ornate window framing at National Westminster Bank. 64

Openings

Window and door openings are set back within masonry walls and are dressed in stone. Window Principles to be adopted. surrounds are predominantly stone with flat stone lintels and sills, but many of the important buildings have decorative stone ornamentation as on the former Technical school and on the facade • The sensitive repair and restoration of the National Westminster Bank building. of existing buildings using local traditional building techniques and materials shall be encouraged. Windows are generally single or double pane timber sliding sash frames. Few originals survive and • Proposals for new development shall many having been replaced with plastic windows. Multi paned sliding sashes can be seen on some be in natural stone unless specific buildings such as on the upper floors of Bridge Street. Replica sliding sashes have been installed to context requires otherwise. some buildings as part of the THI grant scheme as at 33‐39 Railway Road. The vertical proportion and • The use of crafted building rhythm of sash windows is an important characteristic of the conservation area and should be techniques in new developments shall be encouraged. retained or reinstated. On Victorian buildings windows were often painted a darker colour such as • Obtrusive interruptions in the dark green. It has now become the norm to paint window frames white or off white and this roofscape shall be avoided. approach has been applied to refurbishment of terraced houses in the St Peters area. Alternative • Replacement windows and doors window colours are acceptable in the commercial area and darker colours can provide good contrast should follow established traditional styles which are predominantly to the stone facades. timber sliding sash windows and 4 panel timber doors. Principal entrances to buildings are often decorated in stone with elaborate lintels to the more • Chimney stacks and clay pots shall be important buildings. Doors are predominantly 4‐6 timber panel doors. retained and reinstated to match established traditional styles. Street Clutter • Building materials that are alien to the character of the town shall not be In many cases, items such as ‘to let’ signs, security alarms, satellite dishes, TV aerials, extract permitted. ventilation plant and grilles have been added to principal street facades. The cumulative impact of • Clutter on building facades should be kept to a minimum and if such items can harm the visual character of the street scene and their positioning handled sensitively unavoidable locate discreetly in and discretely. In many cases planning permission may be required and should consult the planning accordance with planning guidance. department for general advice. • Colour finishes shall harmonise with the building materials they relate to. (refer to colour study). 65

10.7 Demolition.

Demolition of buildings and structures greater than 115 cubic metres in Conservation Areas require Conservation Area Consent. The demolition of buildings that result in loss or harm to significance to the character of the conservation area will not be permitted, unless it can be demonstrated that the loss of the building is necessary to achieve substantial public benefits that outweigh the harm or loss. Alternatively the tests set out under Policy 133 of the National Planning Policy Framework are complied or the relevant Local Plan Policy. The Conservation Area Appraisal and in particular the map of heritage significance will form key evidence in determining such applications.

Bibliography.

Darwen and its People, J.G Shaw 2nd Edition 1991. Darwen Town Centre Masterplan, Draft fro consultation BWDC Feb 2006 A look at Old Darwen, Lancashire County Council 1978

The Darwen Area during the Industrial Revolution. 1987 Darwen W.E A Local History Group Lancashire Historic Town Survey Programme, Darwen Historic Town Assessment Report May 2005,

LCC and Egerton Lea Consultancy. Understanding Place: Conservation Area Designation: Appraisal and Management; English Heritage March 2011. National Planning Policy Framework; DCLG, 2012 Blackburn with Darwen Council Core Strategy Adopted 2010. Clare Hartwell and Nikolaus Pevsner; The Buildings of England; Lancashire: North. 2009

Sources of Further Information

For further information about Darwen Conservation Area please contact:

Strategic Planning Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Town Hall King William Street Blackburn BB1 7DY Tel. (01254 585846) Email: [email protected]

Appendix 1.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Supplementary Planning Document: Darwen Conservation Area Appraisal, Management Plan and Development Guidelines.

Statement under the Town and Country Planning, (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012: Regulation 12

Introduction

This statement sets out the information required by Regulation 12 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 relating to Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs).

Regulation 12(a) requires local planning authorities to prepare a statement setting out:

i) who has been consulted during preparation of the SPD ii) the main issues raised by the consultees iii) how these issues have been addressed in the SPD Regulation 12(b) requires that this statement is made available when the draft SPD is published for consultation. i. The persons the local planning authority consulted when preparing the supplementary planning document

The Council is carrying a Conservation Area Appraisal, Management Plan, and Development Guidelines to be adopted as SPD.

The draft SPD has been informed by the following Stakeholders which are;

• The Darwen Town Centre Partnership Board • English Heritage. • County Archaeologist, Lancashire County council.

The Darwen Town Centre Partnership Board consists of:

• Councillors. • Business representatives • Council officers • Residents.

ii. A summary of the main issues raised by those persons

At a meeting of The Darwen Town Centre Partnership Board on 14th March 2012 a presentation was made outlining the draft purpose and structure of the Darwen Town Centre Conservation Area Appraisal and comments were invited from the Board. The issues raised are summarised below:

• Impact of roller shutters and signage on the conservation area. • Flaws in the enforcement system to adequately deal with planning breaches. • Lack of heritage awareness and need to give information on Dos and don’ts in the Conservation Area. English Heritage has made the following suggestions.

• To explore the option of identifying strategic enabling land for site allocations. • To establish a few levels of ‘significance’ when undertaking the Conservation Area Appraisal and to colour code these on the maps. This will help when determining ‘harm’ and ‘loss to significance’ against current NPPF Policies. • Suggested it would be useful to cross check guidelines in Development Guidelines section with the local plan and its Development Management Policies.

iii. How those issues have been addressed in the supplementary planning document

The SPD has accommodated guidance relating to the issues raised above as outlined below:

• In relation to shutters and signage specific guidance has been set out in the Development Guidelines Part III of the document under the principles for shop fronts. These require that fascia signs should be painted or applied lettering with discrete lighting externally illuminated. External shutter grilles and shutter boxes shall be avoided but if required be open grille type and set behind the glazing. • In relation to enforcement a specific action has been set out in the Management Plan to adopt a proactive enforcement strategy based on a photographic audit. This will provide a base line for taking action and set out operational procedures to meet the need for effective enforcement. • The implications of Conservation area status are clearly set out in the Management Plan under section 9.4 and also an explanation of permitted development is given in Section 9.5. A “dos and don’ts” leaflet as suggested by the Partnership board will be considered for distribution following the adoption of the SPD. • Gap sites have been identified in the SPD for site allocations, there is little scope for enabling development in respect to heritage assets given the tight built form around most assets. • Levels of significance have been identified and presented on a map of Heritage significance which identifies high, low and medium significance. Cross references to relevant policies in the NPPF are set out n the main body of the text under sections 1.1 and 9.2. • The principles adopted in the Development Guidelines have been cross referenced against the relevant local plan policy.

Planning Policy

Regeneration Department

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

January 2013

Appendix 2: Summary of Responses To Public Consultation May 2013.

Consultee Response Comment

1. Darwen Catholic WM Club, Wellington Fold, 1. Wellington Fold is a setted street and 1. The setts are identified as an important Darwen would like to see it improved, and historic surface in the document and when resetted to modern standards. It can get resources become available will seek to repair slippery and difficult for pedestrians to them. navigate. 2. A large piece of land behind the New

Inn which is unkempt, overgrown and unused, and can this be designated as 2. The land is already indentified as a gap site in a gap site and owners encouraged to improve it. the document. If the site merits use of untidy land notices will be pursued through enforcement powers.

2. Cllr David Smith Land to rear of New Inn to be flagged up for Same as above. potential development and possibility of funding for repairing setts in Wellington Fold.

3. Cllr Brian Taylor In agreement with the content of the document.

4. Anthony Rifkin, partner Allies and Generally comprehensive, and suggested that Buildings on South side of Green Street are Morrison/Urban Practitioners, 85 Southwark there were some good buildings on South side already indentified as being of merit. Gap sites St, London. of Green Street. Also would be worth thinking will be monitored and tested against about what would happen to gap sites. development guidelines and through Action 1 of the Management Plan.