NORTHUMBERLAND GARDENS CONSERVATION AREA CHARACTER STATEMENT Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement Page CONTENTS Number

1. INTRODUCTION 2 1.1 Terms of reference: conservation areas evaluation. 2 1.2 Northumberland Gardens - purpose of designation, principles of character 3 and boundaries.

2. CONTEXT OF NORTHUMBERLAND GARDENS 6 2.1 Historical Development . 8 2.2 The original concept of Northumberland Gardens. 8 2.3 Recent Changes. 11 2.4 Surrounding recent development. 11 2.5 Landscape context - surrounding, before and after within the conservation area. 13

3. SETTLEMENT ASSESSMENT - landscape and built character assessment 14 3.1 Sub-area 1: North Walbottle Road 15 3.2 Sub-area 2: Northumberland Gardens 19 3.3 Sub-area 3: Coronation Road - between North Walbottle Road and Northumberland Gardens 28 3.4 Sub-area 4: Coronation Road - the earlier Development Nos 10 to 24 31 3.5 Northumberland Gardens Summary 34

Acknowledgements 36

Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 1 1 INTRODUCTION Value of the Appraisal The value of the appraisal is two-fold. First, its publication will improve the 1.1 Terms of Reference understanding of the value of the built This character appraisal has been heritage. It will provide property owners prepared in response to Government within the conservation area, and potential advice. developers with clearer guidance on Conservation Areas planning matters and the types of Conservation Areas were introduced by development, which are likely to be the Civic Amenities Cct 1967, and defined encouraged. Secondly, it will enable as being “areas of special architectural or Newcastle City Council to improve its historic interest the character or strategies, policies and attitude towards appearance of which it is desirable to the conservation and development preserve or enhance”. They depend on opportunities and priorities within the much more than the quality of individual conservation area. The appraisal will form buildings, and take into account features a sound basis for establishing effective such as building layout, open spaces, conservation area policies; support the boundaries, thoroughfares, the mix of effective determination of planning and uses, use of materials and street furniture. listed building applications, and form It is common for a conservation area to relevant evidence in planning appeals with include a number of buildings which are specific emphasis on those relating to the designated as ‘Listed Buildings’ because demolition of unlisted buildings. of their individual architectural or historic Evaluation Criteria value. Buildings and Development Sites Conservation Area Appraisals • existence of/proximity to listed The approach to conservation area buildings, scheduled ancient designation has altered dramatically in monuments, protected trees, recent years and it is now recognised that features of interest development plan policies, development • grouping cohesiveness, linkage/ control decisions, proposals for relationships to other buildings preservation or enhancement and the • period, style, materials, colour, ‘management’ of conservation areas can detail, proportion, status be best achieved when there is a clear and sound understanding of the special • uniqueness, distinctiveness, interest of the conservation area. PPG 15 consistency, inventiveness -“Planning and the Historic Environment” • local, regional or national urges Local Authorities to prepare importance detailed assessments of their • completeness, condition, conservation areas and states that “the construction more clearly the special architectural or • cultural, historical or ‘folk/popular’ historic interest that justifies designation is associations defined and recorded, the sounder will be the basis for local plan policies and • archaeological and industrial development control decisions, as well as archaeological value for the preservation and enhancement of • orientation, access, form, height, plot the character or appearance of an area”. shape

2 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement • relationship to topography and urban 1.2 Northumberland grain Gardens • density/proximity to other buildings Purpose of Designation • historical or planning precedents Northumberland Gardens is a small • opportunity for creative planned estate of 31 mainly semi- contemporary solutions detached houses lying between North Walbottle Road and North Walbottle • threat from unsympathetic Wagonway, on the western edge of the development City. It was designated a conservation Streetscape area in 1987 because this small suburb of • historic pattern the City is unique to Newcastle and • effect of proportion, alignment and probably Tyneside as a whole in being an topography on enclosure early 20th century creation contemporary • street furniture, signs and features with the Garden City Movement. This character had, immediately prior to • landscaping and surfacing designation, come under threat by • shopfronts and commercial development proposals. The area was treatment originally included in the Approved Green • period, style, materials, colour, detail, Belt and this effectively prevented new proportion, status development. The draft Newburn Local Plan and the Tyne and Wear Green Belt • relationship to urban grain Subject Plan excluded it due to the • relationship and hierarchy with adjoining land to the north and south being connecting spaces allocated for housing development in the • cohesiveness and relationship with local plan. The withdrawal of Green Belt buildings protection made this small area vulnerable to pressure for development which would • local, regional or national importance radically change its character and result in • completeness, condition, the loss of its special qualities. construction Specifically the sub-division of the garden • cultural, historical or ‘folk/popular’ plots into sites for new houses, raising the associations housing density of the estate and reducing • archaeological and industrial the dominance of the garden settings. archaeological value • uniqueness, distinctiveness, consistency, inventiveness • visual and physical activity • traffic and access • effects of differing lighting conditions

Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 3 Principles of Character trees, hedges and shrubs have resulted in The principles of character for a landscape dominated spacious Northumberland Gardens are these environment. These strong characteristics essential elements; the design of the of design are under threat from piecemeal houses, the garden setting and the low ‘modern’ alterations such as plastic density of the estate. These early 20th windows. century houses, although modest in size Boundaries are attractively designed. Both the use of Northumberland Gardens 1-15 (odd) materials and detailing provide an overall 2-24 (even) visual coherence. They are built throughout with good quality red facing North Walbottle Road 2-12 (even) brick, sandstone and concrete, with slate Coronation Road 2-24 (even) roofs. The unifying design features are Nos. 10-24 (even) Corporation Road were standard roof gable and hips, bay and built before the Northumberland Gardens sash windows, lintels and sills, door estate and were initially excluded due to canopies and chimneys. Each house was their high density which gave them a set in a large garden plot most of which different character from the rest of are half an acre in size. All the estate Northumberland Gardens. They were roads are private, and they are tree and included after public consultation due to hedge lined with wide grass verges. The residents requests. most significant aspect of this estate is the leafy semi-rural quality. The maturing

Natural stone, lintels, cills Central roof gable White painted sash windows and mullions details with glazing bars

Red brick chimney

Slate roof

Red brick

Door canopy

Wide hedge lined grass verge Bay windows

4 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement • Northumberland Gardens Conservation Area

Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 5 2 CONTEXT OF NORTHUMBERLAND GARDENS

• 2nd Edition O.S. map 1998, sheet 87SE

6 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement • Layout of Coronation Pit, c1900

Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 7 2.1 Historical Development 2.2 The Original Concept of The site upon which the estate was Northumberland Gardens constructed was open field until the i) In early 1910 F Temporley, Clerk of housing was built. Immediately to the Works to the Duke of north and east, however, was the site of Northumberland submitted plans the Coronation Pit and the line of the North (Copies of which are held by the Walbottle Waggonway. Historic Environment Section at the The Coronation Pit was opened by the Council) to Newburn Urban District Walbottle Coal Company in 1820 and Council for the construction of 10 named to mark the coronation of George semi-detached houses in a field due IV. Along with its nearby sister pit, Blucher, south of the North Walbottle Colliery the mine closed and opened on a number and next to the Colliery Wagonway. of occasions through the course of the The land was the Duke of nineteenth century and the first half of the Northumberland’s but the submission twentieth century. Throckley Coal was made on behalf of the Walbottle Company opened the Coronation Pit for Workman’s Association, most of the last time in 1925. It closed in 1954. whom were probably employed in the nearby North Walbottle Colliery. The mine was served by the waggonway which was constructed to serve the pit, ii) In June 1910 plans for the remaining laid upon the course of the disused houses were submitted. The overall eighteenth century Holywell Reins development is a unique example of Waggonway which broadly followed the garden city planning for that period same route to the Tyne. A continuous rope with the City’s boundaries. The tub way was built adjacent to the extent, quality and completeness of waggonway from Coronation Pit and ran the scheme being exceptional. The parallel to the Waggonway for Association, like similar self-help approximately a mile taking coal to agencies, wished to build adequate screens at Walbottle. The early nineteenth artisan houses with a generous century line became known as the North allotment of land to provide a Walbottle Waggonway when the North measure of self sufficiency in fresh Walbottle mine opened to the north of the food. The estate was laid out and Coronation Pit in 1892. The line was built with mostly paired modest brick worked partly by locomotive and partly as houses, large hedged gardens, a self-acting incline and closed in 1968. intended to use as practical small The line of the Waggonway survives as a holdings and linked by informal tree- public right of way. lined private (unadopted) lanes with wide grass verges.

8 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement iii) The development of Northumberland Within this planned development are two Gardens coincided with the main distinct architectural styles, the stream development of Garden cities predominant ‘Arts and Crafts’ style and in England. Lutyens wrote to Herbert the local Victorian style. The local Baker in 1909 ‘There is a boom Victorian style is essentially a semi- coming for Garden Cities’. detached version of the contemporary Architects of the time were terrace houses of the locality such as influenced by Ebinezer Howard’s Walbottle and Blucher. In contrast, the Arts treatise on the idea of Garden Cities and Crafts style was the height of ‘Tomorrow: A Peaceful path to real contemporary Garden City architectural Reform’ published in 1898 and the vogue, replicating strong rooflines Garden City Association formed in enlivened by sweeping gables, strips of 1899. There are many similarities multi-paned windows separated by between Northumberland Gardens mullions together with simplicity, honesty and the better known developments and unity of materials and detailing. by Parker and Unwin who were the Instead of lead, timber astragels were leading architectural exponents of used at Northumberland Gardens to sub- the Garden City Movement. These divide the window panes. Interestingly include new Earswick Model Village Parker and Unwin chose to incorporate 1902 on the outskirts of York, leaded light windows into their designs Letchworth Garden City, because of the inherent property of the Hertfordshire 1903 the first Garden attractive play of light rather than quaint City and Hampstead Garden romantic associations. Suburb, London 1907. The estate and dwelling layouts also embodies Garden City principles. Streets with wide grass verges and tree lined, the dwellings sit back a minimum of 6 metres from the road. The elimination of large rear extensions which was not only as an aesthetic consideration but also to ensure the maximum of natural light to each dwelling.

Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 9 • ‘Arts and Crafts’ Style

• ‘Local Victorian’ Style

10 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 2.3 Recent Changes 2.4 Surrounding Recent i) Over time the estate has been Development gentrified and now all the houses are i) The character of the landscape owner occupied. The gardens immediately surrounding this intended as private allotments have conservation area has changed to now become domestic gardens. the north, east and south, and it is The growth and extent of shrubs and only to the west that the open aspect trees have softened the estate into a over farmland remain. The view from desirable ‘arcadian’ suburb. Its North Walbottle Road westwards is special characteristic has become essentially uninterrupted to the early 20th century dwellings set in, distant horizon, the settlement and dominated by the lush garden pattern little changed in the last landscape. A considerable number century. of the houses now have altered window frames and external doors. ii) Since the 1970’s Northumberland Additionally a varied range of Gardens has in effect been extensions, some of which are quite subsumed by the suburban unsympathetic, have been added to expansion of the City of Newcastle these modest cottages, to meet the upon Tyne. The extensive Chapel spatial demands of their recent Park and subsequent Chapel House owner-occupiers. Therefore the residential developments which original unity in designs of these gained planning permission in 1970 cottages has been eroded, mostly to abuts the North Walbottle Wagonway. their detriment. Abbey Grange residential development to the north of ii) No 11a is the only house which post Coronation Road received planning dates the initial estate. The original approval in 1988 and Abbey Farm double plot of No 13 equalling one residential development to the south acre was halved to provide two half of Northumberland Gardens in 1992. acre plots. It is only the appearance All four of these developments are of the house that clearly stands out quite different in appearance. Their as a later addition. layouts and elevational treatment iii) Conservation Area Designation in representative of speculative house 1984 and an Article 4 Direction in developers style of that particular 1991. This legislation has increased period. The later two developments control over both the dwellings and appear to have an impact on the their landscape setting and has also character of Northumberland provided a basis for long-term Gardens rather more than the earlier maintenance and enhancement. Chapel Park and Chapel House estates.

Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 11 iii) Chapel Park and Chapel House vi) A more significant planting belt has estates are not visible from within been left between the southern Northumberland Gardens. The deep boundary of Northumberland and gently north east sloping Gardens and the most recently gardens of No. 10 to No. 24 developed Abbey Farm estate. Northumberland Gardens together Directly adjacent to the boundary and with the mature tree belt either side within the Abbey Farm estate a deep of the Wagonway appear to obscure tree belt has now been planted to these later residential developments. separate and screen the two It is only on plan form or from aerial developments from each other. The views that these three developments relationship between the orientation are visually linked. of the houses and the gardens for iv) Prior to the development of Abbey No. 2 to No. 8 Northumberland Grange and Abbey Farm, Gardens is different from all others Northumberland Gardens was very within the estate as designed by F visible in the surrounding landscape Temporley. All the other properties as viewed from North Walbottle have deep gardens to the rear of the Road. The peripheral semi houses whereas the four properties detached houses dominant above on the southern edge of the farmland hedges. Abbey Northumberland Gardens have wide Grange, Northumberland Gardens gardens set to the side of each and Abbey Farm are now seen in house. The rear of these properties succession along North Walbottle are as close as 5 metres to the rear Road. Northumberland Gardens is boundary, therefore the planting belt not only distinct in house design and is very necessary both to provide their location set parallel to the road privacy and visually isolate, paying but also because of the more token credence to the original setting spacious layouts, mature lush of Northumberland Gardens. gardens which are visibly evident with continuous hedging established at the back of the pavement and over hanging garden trees. v) During summertime when the continuous and established shrub and tree belt forming the hedge line on the north side of Coronation Road is in leaf, it screens No. 2 to 8 Coronation road from the rear aspect of the almost continuous row of detached houses in Abbey Grange.

12 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 2.5 Landscape Context Today one of the most striking features of The site of Northumberland Gardens lies just the landscape character of north of the ridgeline between the Tyne valley Northumberland Gardens is its overall and the Ouseburn on a gentle north-facing uniformity. This is re-inforced by the slope at around 300 foot (90m). The land landscape treatment, the grass verges, having risen fairly sharply from the Tyne here the hedges and particularly the 28 Lime is falling gently towards the northern trees that form the majority of the street boundary of the site along which is the line of ‘avenue’ trees in the Gardens. Hedges the Small Burn, barely more than a ditch, form the main boundary treatment for all which runs generally south and west to join the properties. Hawthorn predominates Walbottle Dene. To the east the land rises but Beech Privet, Holly, and Cypress are gently to the high point of Hillhead. The Coal also present. For the most part these are measures which are exposed to the north, well maintained and tidy and increase the here are overlain by boulder clay and glacial sense of privacy within the Conservation drift from which the soils are derived. area. The boundaries of the original field on which the site was developed still outline it today. The eastern boundary is formed by the line of the old North Walbottle Wagonway. The Wagonway forms part of the Percy Pit to St John’s Wood wildlife corridor. The old Hawthorn hedges which line it here being an important part of both the wildlife and landscape element. The original fields to north and south have been developed for housing but young mixed tree planting belts on the edge of the housing areas provide increasing definition for the Conservation Area. To the west, the North Walbottle road marks the edge of the green belt and the houses along this aspect retain their rural outlook.

Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 13 3 SETTLEMENT ASSESSMENT

i) Northumberland Gardens is quite iii) The estate essentially has four distinct from all the other presently different variations of character designated conservation areas [based on an access road within the city boundaries; because assessment]. the land is all privately owned, the - North Walbottle Road development as originally designed is for single use - namely residential - Northumberland Gardens and essentially single period build - Coronation Road - between North with the exception of no 11a Walbottle Road and Northumberland Northumberland Gardens, any house Gardens extensions and garages. It has the lowest density of all the designated - Coronation Road - the earlier residential areas and the only one development including nos 10-24. which could be described as iv) The assessment is based on three Arcadian. elements: ii) The character statement is - The character of the access roads essentially based on the areas and - The character of the dwellings views that the public have access to, which are three access roads and - Garden treatment. aerial views. North Walbottle Road on the western boundary is public highway whilst both Northumberland Gardens and Coronation Road is unadopted road and hence owned privately by the residents.

• Northumberland Gardens access from Walbottle Road

14 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 3.1 Sub-area 1: footpath providing a distinctive leafy edge, those set back within the North Walbottle Road garden are also apparent. The Character of the Dwellings The Character of the Access Road i) There are six semi-detached houses i) North Walbottle Road is a ‘C’ road fronting onto North Walbottle Road, linking the B6528 at Walbottle to the which are prominent as the land Stamfordham Road B6324 adjacent gently rises above the front hedge to Whorlton Hall. The east, west line. They are distinct from the views into the development and out adjacent housing estates Abbey over farmland has remained Grange and Abbey Farm, not only unchanged since first built, its the apparent density but also that perception from north to south has they are all aligned parallel to the changed from a stand alone road with an almost constant building development surrounded by farmland line with the minor exception of the to one of almost continuous gable projection of ‘The Croft’ and development forming the western they are all placed equally distanced edge of the city’s conurbation. apart. ii) The west side of North Walbottle ii) The elevational design for these Road has a 3m grass verge and properties is different and is clipped farmland hedge with arable representative of the variation of farmland behind. On the east side of design throughout the estate, the North Walbottle Road, the extent although they are similar in terms of of the estate is defined by the materials and detailing. Throughout concealed junctions with the the estate there is continuity in the unadopted roads, Coronation Road construction, and treatment of roofs and Northumberland Gardens. and window details such as cills and Coronation Road, the narrower of lintels. the two, has the appearance of a tree and hedge lined country lane. Northumberland Gardens is more apparent being the wider of the two and the gated entrance provides formality. These gates are clearly a later addition, the design alien to the spirit of the estate. iii) The footpath adjacent to the estate is surfaced with red tarmac, with a very narrow grass verge. The mixed species continuous hedge is reasonably tall and dense. This provides a strong and uniform frontage which is both attractive and of the local vernacular. Several mature garden trees overhang the

Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 15 iii) Northumberland House and Fircroft, set, angular projecting bay windows with the central shared gable at ground floor level. Unlike all the between the pitched roof, are other examples it is unique in the representative of the dominant use of brick soldier courses above design with the planned estate of the upstairs and one ground floor which there are 10 in total, although window. Additionally, unlike the other within this group there are several two examples in Northumberland variations. This group could loosely Gardens both front doors are linked be termed as Arts and Crafts style in with their respective bay windows by character. It is very similar to the a projecting canopy roof. The paired semis 14-16 and 22-24 original multi-pane windows have Northumberland Gardens with an been retained, and the only apparent asymmetrical front elevation and off loss is the original front doors.

• Northumberland House and Fircroft

16 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement iv) Devonshire House and The Croft dominated by the projecting gable together are unique in plan form to elevation. On plan form it appears to any other examples on the estate. It be the largest house on the estate is essentially ‘L’ shaped. Devonshire with the side elevation , treated as House is similar to the other main the main elevation with a central house types on the estate, gable. This side elevation is similar rectangular in plan form with a central to the front elevation of pitch roof running parallel to the front Northumberland House and Fircroft. elevation. This design is very much Both properties have been subject to in keeping with the local new build recent alterations and loss of original style of the era. The Croft is features. stepped-up above Devonshire House, with the front elevation

• Devonshire House and The Croft

Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 17 v) Westoe and Westholme are one of the four paired semis within the original planned estate which are much simpler in appearance than the other, Arts and Crafts influenced house style. This pair, together with 1-3, 5-7 and 13-15 Northumberland Gardens, are similar in design to terrace housing of the period in Blucher and Walbottle. They were built with slate pitched roofs, with a central ridge line, and simply brick clad. The turn of the century terraces in Blucher; Stephenson, Spencer, • Westoe and Westholme Simpson and Boyd Terrace had sash windows with a central vertical House and The Croft. The gardens glazing bar which was also the of Westoe and Westholme are more original window design for this group open. In common with many of the of dwellings in Northumberland properties in the Conservation Area, Gardens. The simplicity of the most of the gardens are laid out to original design of Westoe and lawn with shrub borders and trees Westholme has been subsequently creating an orchard feel to the rear of much altered. the properties. Drives, garages and Garden Treatment other outhouse buildings are also important features and there is some i) Along the North Walbottle Road the evidence that vegetables plots are line of properties are set quite close still cultivated though this is a very to the road and there is little minor part of the overall garden indication of the land and gardens usage. that stretch behind. These properties contrast strongly with the houses on the neighbouring new estates having access directly onto the main road. The high hedge lines retain privacy for the properties as do the number of mature trees in the gardens. The gardens of Northumberland House and Fircroft are particularly well treed with Ash, Beech, Lime and Sycamore being the prominent species. There are attractive Birch and Beech trees in the front gardens of Devonshire

18 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 3.2 Sub-area 2: Northumberland Gardens

The Character of the Access Roads i) This purpose built ‘L’ shaped unadopted access road has a constant character within the estate. The gradient follows the natural ground contours, parallel to North Walbottle Road it dips towards Coronation Road but is almost level at 90º to the main road. The • Northumberland Gardens unmarked tarmac road is edged with a three-course band of white tinged blue engineering bricks which gate which would seem to be separates the road from the wide appropriate for a rural location. clipped grass verge and regularly There are also examples of more spaced mature native trees. In recent gate designs, timber stained summer time the leafy tree canopies with a solid ship-lapped lower panel provide the effect of a pleasant semi and rail above, black and white enclosed avenue. There are several painted wrought iron gates, which is examples of replacement tree rather suburban for the location and planting which is reassuring. The a single example of a metal chain sense of enclosure is emphasised which, whilst appearing out of by the continuous established front keeping, is of a temporary nature. garden hedges most usually clipped For some properties there are no but to varying heights. It is only gateways at all, perhaps reflecting interrupted for drive entrances. security and neighbour consideration within the estate. The majority of ii) The concrete columned lampposts, gateposts are simple stained timber set in the grass verges are a similar uprights although there are several quality to the gated entrance to examples of plain square red brick Northumberland Gardens. They are piers. Both styles seen to be low-key typical of local authority period and sensitive to the location. standard supply, adequate but visually rather unsympathetic. The iii) The recently erected low metal individual driveways are either palisade fence preventing access surfaced with gravel as originally or from the Abbey Farm Estate is a very grey tarmac to match the road unsympathetic intervention. It has surface or more recently brick only limited visibility between Nos 7 paviours. The width appears and 10 Northumberland Gardens. A generally to be constant, limited to hawthorn hedge, planted along the single car access. Individual taste is line of the palisade fence, will also reflected in the variation of eventually mitigate the impact of the driveway gates. The predominant fence. style is the timber stained farmyard

Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 19 The Character of the Dwellings i) The house styles in this sub-area of the planned estate falls into two distinct groups, the simple Victorian house style and the Arts and Crafts style. The only exception being the later built No 11a, which is the only single width plot, all the others being paired for semi-detached development. The colour of the red brickwork and height of No 11a are the only elevational elements which relate to the planned estate otherwise it is a typical example of house design for that era.

• No. 11a Northumberland Gardens

20 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement ii) There are three examples of the Both have single storey side simple Victorian house style; Nos 1 extensions which are secondary and and 3, 5 and 7, 13 and 15 subservient. Both have replacement Northumberland Gardens. Nos 1 top hung casement timber windows, and 3 are the least altered example recent style six panelled front doors of this style, still retaining the and all the cills, lintels and bay have rectangular plan form, hipped roof been painted white. The impact of and front room slated bay windows. these alterations is reduced by virtue of being identical.

• Nos. 1 & 3 Northumberland Gardens

Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 21 iii) The design of Nos 5 and 7 front mono pitched roof extension Northumberland Gardens is more and the high front hedge. On the complex. The roof is asymmetrical, side elevations are identical flat roof Dutch gabled to the rear and partially garage extensions. Despite hipped to the front with two gabled replacement timber windows of dormer bedroom windows. From the differing styles, curved head side road the ground floor elevations are hung casement and top hung obscured by the later continuous casement the overall appearance of this pair is neat and well cared for.

• Nos. 5 & 7 Northumberland Gardens

22 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement iv) Nos 13 and 15 Northumberland bedroom windows which have two Gardens differ from the other two, vertical lights and a central stone because they were not designed as mullion. The ground floor is visually a matching pair from the outset. This separated from the first floor by a variation has been further lean-to extension which is continuous emphasised by later alterations. No along both the front and side 13 is slightly stepped above No 15 elevation also encompassing a with a front gable dormer over a wide carport. The fenestration is out of bedroom window. No 15 has two character with the original house smaller gable dormers over the front style.

• Nos. 13 & 15 Northumberland Gardens

Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 23 v) The remaining seven houses are windows have replaced the original examples of the Arts and Crafts style. sash window. They continuously line the south and east side of Northumberland Gardens. Nos 9 and 11 the only exception on the west side of the road. This group within the estate shows the total variation of design of this Arts and Crafts style. Now only Nos 22 and 24 have remained on the front and side elevations as originally designed. All the other pairs have had some or all of the windows replaced. Some or all of the astragals have been omitted, also in Nos. 2 & 4 some instances top hung casement • Northumberland Gardens

• Nos. 6 & 8 Northumberland Gardens

24 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement • Nos. 9 & 11 • Nos. 14 & 16 Northumberland Gardens Northumberland Gardens

• Nos. 10 & 12 Northumberland Gardens

Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 25 vi) Nos 18 and 20 are the only pair within the estate not only to have replaced windows in a pattern unrelated to the original design, but also to have removed the window mullions. No 20 additionally has a ground floor flat roof extension at the front which detracts from the original design.

• No. 20 Northumberland Gardens. • No. 18 Northumberland Gardens

26 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement vii) Within this group of seven houses viii) Variation of the window design is the variation of design on the front also discernible. The design of the elevation is quite subtle. Only Nos front bedroom windows set within the 22 and 24 and Nos 14 and 16 are of shared gable is either symmetrical the same design. It is reasonable to two or three bay, or asymmetrical assume that also Nos 9 and 11 and three and two bay. Nos 2 and 4 Nos 18 and 20 were also a matching Northumberland Gardens is a single pair. Whilst all the roofs are pitched example of a shared three bay the eaves line is broken at the window. At ground floor level both junction of the party wall with a Nos 22 and 24 and Nos 14 and 16 shared gable. For both Nos 2 and 4 have projecting bay windows whilst and Nos 6 and 8 the shared gable is all the others have two or three bay slightly raised above the eaves line windows. The front doors are and the side elevation gables are emphasised by the simple projecting partly hipped. slanted canopy on timber brackets.

• Nos. 22 & 24 Northumberland Gardens

Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 27 Garden Treatment 3.3 Sub-area 3: i) Along the west to east axis of the” L” Coronation Road of Northumberland Gardens, the between North Walbottle broad frontage means that the Road and gardens become more visible and the size of the plots more apparent. Northumberland Gardens Again there is evidence of some vegetable cultivation still but for the The Character of the Access Road most part lawns dominate the i) This road has the character and gardens with shrubs and smaller appearance of a narrow country lane, trees such as Birch, Rowan, Cherry unmarked grey tarmac, with a narrow and other fruit trees underlining the verge each side. Verdant in sense of an orchard. The Lime trees appearance lined with established in the street reinforce the Arcadian hedging and trees. The northern feel. A line of Cypress trees in the verge is overgrown with weeds, garden of No1 Northumberland concealing a narrow ditch. The Gardens provides a screen and established tree and shrub belt further privacy for the area to the rear mostly obscures the Abbey Grange of this large square plot. Estate from view in summertime. The municipal lampposts and ii) The south to north axis, which slopes telegraph poles are almost down to the north, is less open in subsumed by the established character, the gardens more planting. obscured by hedges and the narrower plot frontage. Trees are more dominant along this axis, both the street limes and several mature trees within the garden plots, particularly the mature beech trees in no 15. Garages and other structures are a feature of all the gardens as are the boundary hedges which divide all the gardens.

• Coronation Road

28 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement ii) Although none of the gated drive iii) The junction of Coronation Road and entrances have the original timber Northumberland Gardens is gates the three have replacement unkempt. The road surface is in a stained timber gates of varied poor state of repair. The gated designs and do not detract from the entrance into Northumberland setting. The concrete top brick pier Gardens with low concrete posts and and wrought iron gates to No 2 tubular metal and mesh fencing is Coronation Road are rather fussy. At detailed the same as the entrance present they are backed with fencing into Northumberland Gardens from wire mesh which detracts from the North Walbottle Road. design. A recent entrance onto Coronation Road has been created. This entrance has been uncharacteristically gated by a very tall close-boarded timber fence about two metres high.

• Coronation Road

• Entrance to Northumberland Gardens from Coronation Road Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 29 The Character Of The Dwellings i) No 2 and 4, and No 6 and No 8 are the only two paired semis within Northumberland Gardens Conservation Area which front onto this section of Coronation Road. They are of the Arts and Crafts style. The visible presence of these properties is reduced by virtue of the land gradient which slopes • No. 2 Coronation Road southwards from Coronation Road. The original design of these properties in principle does appear to be the same, the only obvious difference being replacement windows which do not match the original design. ii) No 4 and 8 Coronation Road have single storey side extensions which have minimal impact on the Conservation Area as they are subservient and respectful to the • No. 4 Coronation Road original design. No 6 Coronation Road has the only two storey side extension within the Conservation Area. Its impact on the character of the area is neutral by virtue of the fact that it is set back a sufficient distance from the front elevation not to overpower the original design and that the materials and detailing replicate the original design. iii) Generally all the windows in the estate are painted white. Where they are not • No. 6 Coronation Road they are a very visible departure from the rest of the estate. The barge boards are predominantly painted black or white. Whilst painting of architectural elements can be regarded as reversible, in a Conservation Area such as this where the unity of the design and detailing is an essential element of the character and appearance the extent of variation is an important consideration. • No. 8 Coronation Road

30 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement Garden Treatment 3.4 Sub-area 4: i) The relatively high hedges form a Coronation Road very effective screen for the majority of the gardens along the west part of - The Earlier Development Coronation Road and add to the feel - Nos 10 to 24 of a country lane along this stretch of the Conservation area. Vegetable The Character of the Access Roads cultivation is evident in one garden i) This cul-de-sac has a character and where there are also fruit trees but appearance which is quite distinct lawn and shrubs are the dominant from the later planned estate. It is treatment. The drives are quite enclosed and predominantly hard strong features. surfaced. To the north and east the road is bounded by a high red brick wall. Outside this continuous wall remains a mature tree belt which screens the conservation area from the later built Chapel Park estate. To the south the density of the houses forms a seemly almost continuous line of one and two storey development. Present day car

• Nos. 12 to 24 Coronation Road

Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 31 ownership has further increased the extent of hard surfacing of this road. Only three houses have retained small front gardens with low continuous hedging and a small grass verge separating the gardens from the tarmac road. The other properties have hard surfaced their front gardens with tarmac, gravel or brick paviours in effect increasing the width of the access road right up to the front of the houses. • Nos. 14 & 16 Coronation Road The Character of the Dwellings i) This group of dwellings consists of three paired semis and two detached houses. The use of red brick, slate and stone detailing to all openings is consistent with the later planned estate. The architectural style of the paired semis is typical for that area and location. The fact that they were semi-detached and that the detailing was embellished is an indication of the status for whom they were intended. The lintels are • Nos. 18 & 20 Coronation Road decoratively engraved and there are terracotta ridge tiles. Only one pair of semis appears to remain as originally designed. The others all have had front porch and side garage extensions of differing designs added. Their visual impact has been reduced where the materials and detailing replicate those of the dwellings. The detached No 12 Coronation Road visually belongs to groups of paired semis. • Nos. 22 & 24 Coronation Road

32 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement ii) No 10 Coronation Road appears to Garden Treatment be isolated by virtue of its orientation i) The short almost terrace nature of and design from both the earlier and this part of the Conservation Area is later developments within the very different in character. Nos conservation area. It is considerably 10,12 22 & 24 still have neat larger than Nos 12 to 24 Coronation hedging round the gardens but the Road and the principle axis faces front gardens of the intervening westwards onto the junction of houses are open and hard paved Northumberland Gardens and and for the most part have become Coronation Road. The first floor front parking areas. The most notable elevation is very similar in landscape element here is the line of appearance to No 15 Coronation mature trees, 10 Acer and I Ash, on Road. The property has subsequently the grass verge opposite the houses had a large ground floor extension which form screen between the which is stone clad with large Coronation Road properties and the openings. adjoining estate.

• No. 10 Coronation Road

Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 33 3.5 Northumberland Gardens Summary

Special Characteristics Key Issues • Garden City - Low density model • Restoration of original design development of 31 houses in large features to model housing mature garden plots. • Pressures of gentrification for • Earlier Coronation Pit cottages - Nos extended homes 10-24 Coronation Road • Retention of mature landscape • Victorian and Arts and Crafts style • Potential listing of unaltered Garden houses with unifying materials and City dwellings detailing Enhancement Potential • Northumberland Gardens and • Restoration of original design Coronation Road - private arcadian features to the dwellings access roads. • Replacement of municipal entrance Against the Grain gates and lamp posts in a • Municipal entrance gates and lamp sympathetic design posts • Replacement of palisade fencing • Palisade fencing at access to Abbey access to Abbey Farm in an Farm appropriate design • Loss of front gardens to increase off • Design guide for dwellings, garages road parking for the earlier and driveway entrances. Coronation Pit Cottages • Unsympathetic later house extensions and loss of original detailing ie alterations to windows • Ornate entrance gates to individual homes • Colour of joinery ie barge boards and window frames • Recently created access onto Coronation Road.

34 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Ordnance Survey map data used in this publication is provided by Newcastle City Council under licence from the Ordnance Survey in order to fulfil its public function as a planning authority.

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Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement 35 36 Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement Northumberland Gardens Consevation Area Character Statement ©Air Images

For further information contact: Historic Environment Section Urban Design & Conservation Group Planning and Transportation Division Regeneration Directorate Tel. No. 0191 2115625 Fax. No. 0191 2114998

This document was approved as Supplementary Planning Guidance on 23 March 2001 Printed April 2005 www.newcastle.gov.uk