Eskbank and Ironmills Conservation Area Midlothian ESKBANK and IRONMILLS CONSERVATION AREA
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Eskbank and Ironmills Conservation Area Midlothian ESKBANK AND IRONMILLS CONSERVATION AREA Midlothian Strategic Services Fairfield House 8 Lothian Road Dalkeith EH22 3ZN Tel: 0131 271 3473 Fax: 0131 271 3239 www.midlothian.gov.uk 1 Eskbank and Ironmills Conservation Area Midlothian Eskbank and Ironmills CONTENTS Preface Page 4 Planning Context Page 5 Location and Population Page 6 Date of Designation Page 6 Archaeology and History Page 6 Character Analysis Eskbank Setting and Views Page 9 Urban Structure Page 10 Architectural Character Page 10 Key Buildings Page 13 Landscape Character Page 14 Issues Page 15 Enhancement Opportunities Page 15 Ironmills Setting and Views Page 15 Urban Structure Page 16 Architectural Character Page 16 Key Buildings Page 17 Landscape Character Page 17 Issues Page 18 Enhancement Opportunities Page 18 General Issues Page 19 Character Analysis Map Page 20 Listed Buildings Page 21 Conservation Area Boundary Page 27 Conservation Area Boundary Map Page 28 Article 4 Direction Order Page 29 Building Conservation Principles Page 30 2 Eskbank and Ironmills Conservation Area Midlothian Glossary Page 32 References Page 36 Acknowledgements Page 36 3 Eskbank and Ironmills Conservation Area Midlothian PREFACE Midlothian Council to pay special attention to the character and Conservation Areas appearance of the area when exercising its powers under planning 1 It is widely accepted that the historic legislation. Conservation area status environment is important and that a means that the character and high priority should be given to its appearance of the conservation area conservation and sensitive will be afforded additional protection management. This includes buildings through development plan policies and townscapes of historic or and other planning guidance that architectural interest, open spaces, seeks to preserve and enhance the historic gardens and designed area whilst managing change. This landscapes, archaeological sites, and does not mean that development will ancient monuments. These contribute be prohibited but that proposals to the distinctive character of the should be of an appropriate urban and rural environment, are a character, scale and appearance to valuable part of our heritage and have the area. an important role to play in education, recreation and the wider Additional Powers economy. 5 The additional powers automatically 2 The Planning (Listed Buildings and conferred by designation of the Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act conservation area extend only to the 1997 requires that local authorities demolition of unlisted buildings and determine if there are “areas of to the protection of trees. Minor special architectural or historic developments, such as small interest, the character of which it is alterations to unlisted buildings, still desirable to preserve or enhance”, do not require consent. The and if so, to designate these as cumulative effect of such changes can conservation areas. greatly erode the character and appearance of the conservation area. Character Appraisals Midlothian Council therefore intends to make a Direction under Article 4 of 3 A Character Appraisal is an effective the Town and Country Planning tool in defining the character and (General Permitted Development) appearance of conservation areas and (Scotland) Order 1992 which will their special interest. The appraisal bring these small alterations under sets out the main characteristics of planning control. This control is set the area, identifies where out in greater detail in paragraphs 42- enhancement is required and where 48. Before carrying out any tree work stronger controls over certain types of within the conservation area prior development are necessary. The written notice must be given to appraisal forms Supplementary Midlothian Council detailing the nature Planning Guidance and will be a and extent of the proposed work and material consideration in the identifying the trees. Failure to notify determination of development the Council is an offence under the proposals. 1997 Town and Country Planning Act. 4 Once a conservation area has been designated it becomes the duty of 4 Eskbank and Ironmills Conservation Area Midlothian PLANNING CONTEXT until 2015 and contains a policy (ENV1D) that seeks to protect and 6 The character appraisal is important enhance the character of to the formulation and information of conservation areas. Policy ENV1D planning policy and proposals for the states development affecting conservation, protection and positive conservation areas or their setting will management of the natural and built only be permitted where it can be heritage. Management is achieved demonstrated that the objectives and through non-statutory and statutory overall integrity of the designated planning policy, enhancement area will not be compromised, or the schemes and Article 4 Direction social or economic benefits to be Orders. gained from the proposed development outweigh the National Guidance conservation or other interest of the site. 7 National Planning Policy Guideline 18: Planning and the Historic 10 The Adopted Midlothian Local Plan Environment requires conservation (2003) seeks to guide development area character appraisals to be while protecting the environment. prepared when local authorities are The Plan seeks to protect the reconsidering existing conservation character and appearance of the area designations, promoting further natural and built heritage. The Plan designations or formulating envisages no further development enhancement schemes. Article 4 other than the new development of Direction Orders will not be confirmed brownfield / infill land and / or by the Scottish Ministers unless a conversion of buildings within the character appraisal is in place Conservation Area (RP20). The Plan (NPPG18, 1999, para 40). allows for sensitive alteration and/or extension of existing properties in the 8 Planning Advice Note PAN 71: conservation area. Outwith the built Conservation Area Management up area, the remaining part of the complements existing national policy conservation area is covered by the and provides further advice on the Protection of the Countryside policy management of conservation areas. (RP1), the Protection of the Greenbelt policy (RP2) which limits Statutory Policies development. Other policies apply. 9 The Edinburgh and the Lothians 11 Areas of Great Landscape Value Structure Plan 2015 (ELSP) provides (AGLV) may be designated under the strategic context for development S.D.D. Circular 2/1962. 5 Eskbank and Ironmills Conservation Area Midlothian Eskbank and Ironmills Conservation Area Mitchell Street LOCATION AND POPULATION the Eskbank and Ironmills Conservation Area. 12 The Eskbank and Ironmills conservation area lies immediately to Elginhaugh, Roman camp, native the south west of Dalkeith town fort and palisaded enclosure. centre. The population of the area is approximately 1,100 persons. 15 There was a Roman temporary camp site straddling the Lasswade Road DATE OF DESIGNATION which covered some 66 acres. The camp was set in a strategic location its 13 The Eskbank and Ironmills northern boundary protected by the conservation area was originally steep scarp above the Esk. designated by Midlothian District Council in January 1981 and re- History designated by Midlothian District Council on 28 March 1996. 16 Eskbank. The first house to be built was Eskbank House in 1794 in what is ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY now Glenesk Crescent. This was built for Thomas Brown the minister of Ancient Monuments Newbattle Parish Church. The house was used by the Liberal politician 14 A small part of the following extensive William Gladstone during his ancient monument is situated within successful Midlothian campaign. With 6 Eskbank and Ironmills Conservation Area Midlothian the opening of the Eskbank railway station in the 1840s substantial villas began to be constructed. These tended to be occupied by Dalkeith and Edinburgh merchants and professionals, the air at Eskbank being regarded as extremely beneficial and healthier than the smoky atmosphere of Auld Reekie. Ancrum Road 18 The red brick water tower is thought to be the oldest of its kind in Scotland. It was built from engineering brick with stone facings in 1879. The tower (33 metres high) housed a water tank in the top timber clad section. Water was pumped to the tank from artesian wells in the valley and then distributed to houses in Eskbank and Glenesk Crescent Dalkeith by gravity. A basement of the same depth as the tank would have 17 In 1826 the horse-drawn Edinburgh contained any accidental overflow. A and Dalkeith Railway was large gauge (remaining) on the incorporated by Act of Parliament. internal wall indicated the quantity of One branch ended at Dalhousie and water in the tank. the other in Dalkeith town centre. Coal from Newtongrange was taken Red Brick Water Tower by cart to Dalhousie to be hauled to the main depot at St Leonard’s in Edinburgh. The railway was later extended on a three arch iron viaduct over the Esk. In 1845 the North British Railway Company acquired the line, converted it to steam traction and constructed the present Glenesk viaduct. Before the building of the houses in Ancrum Road, Park Road and Abbey Road area much of the land was market gardens, the southern slopes suitable for the growing of berries - Strawberry Bank is evidence of this. 7 Eskbank and Ironmills Conservation Area Midlothian 19 At Eskbank Toll, formerly known as facilities and Dalkeith was the first in Gallowshall, the Justinleees public Scotland