Delph Conservation Area Character Appraisal

DELPHDELPH CONSERVATION AREA CHARACTER APPRAISAL

Delph Conservation Area

Delph Conservation Area was first 5 kms east of Oldham town centre and is designated by Saddleworth Urban District based around the confluence of Hull Brook Council and West Riding County Council in and the river Tame in a typical south 1972. It covers 18.6 hectares and was Pennines valley.The aim of the des- extended to its present size following a ignation is to preserve or enhance the review of Conservation Area boundaries in character or appearance of this area of the late 1980s. It is located approximately special architectural and historic interest. What is a Character Appraisal?

All conservation areas have specific component of any bid for external funding architectural or historic interest which was as well as in the formulation of identified when the areas were designated. conservation area enhancement schemes. The Oldham Unitary Development Plan (UDP), which guides development in the An assessment of the character or Borough, recognises that the aim of distinctiveness of an area may come from conservation area designation is more much more than its appearance. It may likely to be fulfilled if there is detailed draw on other senses and experiences agreement and understanding of the such as sounds, uses, open spaces, particular characteristics of an area which historical associations and views. contribute to its special identity. The Protecting and enhancing the varied phys- Council has therefore undertaken, as ical elements of a place’s character can resources permit, to draw up character help promote the activities and uses which appraisals for all the conservation areas in occur within it. Even quite small conser- the Borough. Character appraisals are of vation areas may include several overlap- particular importance for development ping and contrasting characteristics. control purposes and will be a key

Historic Significance

The name of Delph is derived from “delf”, with the water power provided by Hull meaning a quarry and referring to the Brook and the Tame to make Delph an bakestone quarries to the north of the ideal location for the development of the village which provided stone on which food cottage-based woollen industry. was cooked. The settlement initially grew up as a hamlet around the fording point at The building of the Wakefield-Austerlands the Hull Brook/Tame confluence, close to Turnpike toll road in 1758 and New Delph the current road bridge, where the Roman railway station in 1851 fuelled the growth of road linking Chester to York probably Delph as a centre for a factory-based crossed the river. By medieval times, textile industry. Increasing prosperity and Saddleworth was divided into four estates population resulted in the development of or “meres”, and the boundaries of community facilities such as churches, Friarmere, Shawmere and Lordsmere met schools, a bank and library. at Delph. From the 16th century (C16) onwards, this strategic location combined Plan of Delph Conservation Area

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ROSE HILL 1 Uses and Layout The outer part of the conservation area is characterised by linear and predominantly The historic mix of uses in Delph has residential terraced development along four resulted in a variety of building types and of the main roads into the village: gives the village much of its character. Two Stoneswood Road, Grains Road, Denshaw distinct phases of development have Road, and Delph Lane. These corridors of produced two predominant patterns of development generally date from the C19 development, both characteristic of and C20 and are separated by areas of Pennine valley settlements which open space, which define and preserve the expanded during the Industrial Revolution. small scale and rural character of the village centre. The exception to this is the The central part of Delph is focused on Valley Mills complex on Millgate which lies King Street and bounded by the Tame to partly within the conservation area, linking the north and east. It is the oldest part of it with New Delph. The large-scale the village and, with the exception of King character of the complex contrasts with the Street, it is a dense grid of streets and much smaller scale of development alleyways. It includes a mix of shops, hous- elsewhere in Delph. es, workshops and community facilities, and the building types and sizes reflect this Setting variety of uses. The combination of uses, often within the same building, comprise an The conservation area is based around important element in the character and level ground south of the Hull Brook/Tame vitality of the village core and should be confluence, where the valley narrows encouraged. between Delph Hill and Knott Hill. The setting of the village is dominated by Delph Hill to the north-east and Knott Hill to the south-west. Other important views are westwards to Badger Edge and north from King Street towards Heights Chapel, the former view unfortunately marred by pylons along the ridge. The Council has recognised the visual importance of the hills in Saddleworth by designating them as a Special Landscape Area.

Delph is north of the A62 Huddersfield to Oldham road, to which is is connected by The Sound, and is linked to New Delph Conservation Area on its southern boundary. The growth of the village during the C20 has been largely outside the conservation area, involving standard post- war residential developments along Delph Fig 1 : Shopfront on King Street Lane and Denshaw Road. Architectural Qualities

There are 12 listed buildings in the usually punctuated by windows. There are Conservation Area: few eaves overhangs, fascias or barge- boards whilst many of the gutters are either Shore Mill Grade II* stone, or timber which is supported on stone corbels or cast iron brackets. Some 8 King Street Grade II ornamentation can be found on the cast 20 King Street Grade II iron rainwater heads which often surmount 25 King Street Grade II downpipes. Doorways are recessed, some K6 Telephone Box (20 King St) Grade II opening directly onto the footway and most 1,2 & 3 Bridge End Grade II with relatively plain stone surrounds. Delph Bridge, High Street Grade II Ornamentation is usually restricted to the 9 & 11 High Street Grade II lintel and the window above, which may be 1 Delph Lane (White Lion PH) Grade II rectangular or arched. Springwood House, Lodge Lane Grade II 9 Grains Road Grade II There are two main types of windows in 24,26 & 28 Stoneswood Road Grade II Delph. Both types are always recessed from the front face of the building with There are many buildings in the unpainted stone cills and lintels, and timber conservation area which although unlisted frames which are normally painted white. are of historic interest and make a The lintels above sash windows are significant contribution to the character of occasionally decorated, either as a carved the area. Delph Independent Chapel, at the single block or as an arch, whilst the cills junction of Delph Lane and Hill End Road, below the windows usually project. is one of the most important unlisted buildings and together with the old Sunday In contrast, many of the windows on older School and adjacent cottages forms a buildings are the characteristic “weavers landmark group at the north end of Delph. lights”, in rows of varying length. The cills Other important groups are at either end of and lintels of these windows are usually King Street, where buildings such as Delph flush with the wall, with stone mullions Library and the pubs terminate views along dividing the windows into two or more lights the street and provide local character. The being either flush or recessed. Windows on bank building on King Street together with the oldest properties may also have the Victorian terraces of shops are secondary cills and lintels. The mullions are important in defining the commercial core often straight sided but many are cut away of the village. at an angle, or “chamfered”, in order to maximise light penetration into the room. Older properties are usually roofed with Weavers lights have been incorporated in local stone flags whilst those which have new properties on Stoneswood Road to been refurbished or built within the last 150 good effect. However, the character of years generally have Welsh slate roofs. many buildings in Delph has already been Most of the roofs are pitched and slope detrimentally affected by the replacement quite steeply, though some of the larger of original timber window frames with buildings on King Street have shallower uPVC. hipped roofs. Dormer windows are very uncommon. Chimneys are on the ridge and Most properties in Delph are two or three do not project at the gables, which are storey, although some take advantage of sometimes capped by a stone coping and the slopes to add additional understoreys. Outbuildings are normally single storey open character of the street is its most with simple lean-to roofs. The two most important feature, and previous improve- common building types in Delph are ment schemes have already removed visu- traditional south Pennine houses and al clutter such as street lighting columns workshops, typified by mullioned and and overhead wires, as well as improving deeply recessed windows, quoins and the paving materials. relatively little ornamentation, and Victorian terraced houses and shops with sash The land east of King Street was windows and considerably more developed in the late C18 and early C19 decoration around doors or windows. The as a mixed residential and industrial area. Victorian shop fronts on King Street make St. Ann’s Square and Lawton Square are an important contibution to the character the only clearly defined streets, as the and vitality of the village, and should be other spaces in this area are more informal retained even if the use of the property and irregularly shaped. To the west of King changes. Street, plots were developed later in the C19 in a more structured manner. Throughout the core area, a strong sense of enclosure is created by buildings being generally closely spaced and built up against the footpath in a manner which should be followed by any new development.

Fig 2 : Sash window (upper left) and stone mullion weaver window (upper right)

Spatial Qualities

The central and outer parts of the conservation area have different char- acters, although they are closely integrat- ed and have in common the feature of relatively small terraced blocks of properties.

The centre of Delph comprises three parts Fig 3 : Roofscape & Knott Hill with different characteristics, namely King Street and the areas to its east and west. Most routes into Delph are characterised King Street forms a single, unified space at by an open aspect, providing varied views the heart of the conservation area. It is the into and over the village core. The unspoilt widest street in the village and is and varied roofscape of the centre is terminated at each end by buildings which therefore an important characteristic of the end views down the road as it bends conservation area.The roads into the vil- eastwards to Millgate and Delph Lane. The lage are lined with development from all periods which is generally located adjacent been introduced relatively recently, but to the front of the plots. Only Hill End Road should be kept to a minimum as they can is predominantly undeveloped, providing create unnecessary clutter. The floorscape particularly good views of the village. In in much of the conservation area is contrast, Millgate is very enclosed in unremarkable, being generally tarmac character and the south of the village is although there are places where stone dominated by Valley Mills which prevents setts remain, as on Lawton Street, links through to the Tame. or where improvements have been undertaken. Many roads have no foot- Hard & Soft Landscape waysat all, but most pavements and kerbs in the core of the village are stone. Tarmac Features is an appropriate footpath treatment outside the conservation area. As indicated previously, the fields and hill slopes included within the conservation area form an essential part of its character as a rural settlement, since they extend almost to the village core. Hull Brook and the Tame also provide links to the origin of the village, although subsequent development has largely turned its back on both rivers. The few formal open spaces are all adjacent to the Tame and are well used, namely Swan Meadows, Chapel Gardens and the path beside the Tame. The informal open spaces in the conservation area are of lower quality, some including public seating which is in a poor state of repair.

There are important groups of trees along the river corridors, most notably in and around Chapel Gardens, Hull Brook mill pond and on the slope below Hill End Fig 4 : Victorian railings on King Street Road. These help to blend the village into the surrounding countryside when viewed Objectives from west and north, and contrast with the dense built form of the village core. The The primary objective is to protect, restore group around Delph Chapel is also and enhance the character of Delph important, further enhancing the approach Conservation Area. into the village from the north. The group along Millgate softens the approach from Regard will be given to maintaining the the south. There are relatively few trees in historic and visual relationship between the the core of the village. core of the Delph and the open spaces which surround it. The Council will seek the Boundary walls are normally constructed of use of traditional materials, styles and stone, with stone copings either set proportions when considering proposals vertically or horizontally. There are also a for the restoration or alteration of existing, number of Victorian iron railings, most of or the erection of new, buildings in the which are relatively simple. Bollards have conservation area. Landscape features such as walls, trees Undergrounding of overhead wires and and traditional floorscape materials which poles, particularly along Delph Lane and are important to the character of Delph Holland Close. should be retained and the Council will exercise its powers to protect these. Refurbishment of Delph Chapel for a suitable use, including retention of trees The Council will encourage the location of in this area. rooflights and satellite dishes to the rear of buildings and as unobtrusively as possible. Redevelopment of the vacant sites on The purpose of conservation area St. Ann’s Square and Delph Lane. designation is not to prevent all change, but to ensure that any alterations occur in a Upgrading of the unsympathetic public manner which enhances the character of toilet block and its surroundings at the the area. In this context, the Council will junction of Hill End Road and High continue to fully consider the economic well Street. being and development needs of Delph in managing future change. Dissuading householders from the installation of uPVC windows, promoting It is the intention of the Council to progress the use of painted timber frames and these objectives and the identified other traditional materials. Design enhancements in liaison with property guidance leaflets are available from the owners, the Parish Council, amenity Council on a range of building features groups, developers, residents and other and techniques. interested parties. This will be done mainly through the processes of statutory Planning Policies development control and the Council’s own maintenance programmes but additional The policies which control development improvements will be encouraged by within the conservation area are contained grants, where these are available. in the Oldham UDP (adopted 1996). Copies are held in all local libraries and are also available directly from the Council’s Enhancement Environmental Services Department. Opportunities Further Information There are few obvious detractors from the character and appearance of Delph other For further information or clarification of than the properties on Holland Close, built any point in this document, please contact: in the 1970s, which are entirely out of keeping with the style of area. However, the Department of Environmental Services following improvements would help to Oldham MBC, Civic Centre PO Box 30, West Street enhance the Conservation Area: Oldham OL1 1UQ Tel: 0161-911 4105 Rationalisation of signs, and repainting and replacement of street furniture, Acknowledgements especially public seating, street lights and litter bins. Saddleworth Civic Trust Saddleworth Historical Society Replacement of unsuitable paving Saddleworth Parish Council materials and review of public area maintenance.