WHAT THE LAW SAYS The legislation controlling Conservation Areas is found in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. The important points to remember are:  New development must accord with the area's special identity and visual qualities.

 A high standard of design for new development or extensions to existing buildings is expected, in regard to matters such as scale, proportion, materials and colour.  The demolition, in whole or part, of unlisted CONSERVATION buildings in Conservation Areas, requires special consent. AREA  Special care should be taken to ensure that views into and out of the Conservation Area remain unspoilt.

 Advertisements displays are subject to strict control.

 Anyone wishing to fell top, lop, etc. a tree within a Conservation Area must give the Local Planning Authority six weeks advance notice in writing. GRANTS

In certain approved cases, grants for enhancement or repairs in the Conservation Area may be available through the South Council or other sources.

For further information please contact: Senior Conservation Officer Council Planning, Transportation & Environmental Services, Civic Centre, High Street, Kingswood, South Gloucestershire BD15 2TR Tel: 01454 868686

Designed by Graphics and Mapping, Thornbury. 5/97 IRON ACTON CONSERVATION AREA POLICY OBJECTIVES FOR North ENHANCEMENT Conservation Area

Designated 30th.July 1975 The following objectives are set out in the Rural Areas Local Plan:-  To preserve individual buildings, groups of buildings, walls, open areas, natural features and trees and to retain the essential interrelationships upon which the character of the Conservation Area depends.  Development should preserve or enhance the existing character of Conservation Areas.  Large scale or comprehensive development schemes will not normally be permitted, the emphasis being on the selective renewal of individual buildings.

In addition, the following improvements will be encouraged:-

 The undergrounding of overhead wires  Visual improvements to the Lamb Inn, White Hart and village hall car parking areas including additional tree planting/landscaping  The refurbishment of the churchyard cross.  The repair of areas of dry stone walling.  Further boundary treatment of landscaping/tree planting along the by-pass to the north.

Leaflet produced by South Gloucestershire Council Printed on Environment friendly Paper

Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey map with the permission of the Controller H.M.Stationery Office. Crown Copyright Reserved. South Gloucestershire Council Licence No. 100023410/05 Another interesting feature is the elaborate early 15th Century churchyard cross, considered by SETTING some to be a preaching cross and by others a The village of Iron Acton lies approximately two memorial cross to one of the Poyntz family. The miles north west of and at original height was some 30 feet and the builder the junction of the B4058 to Wotton-under- was the first Sir Robert Poyntz who died in 1439. Edge and B4059 Chipping Sodbury to roads. The name of Iron Acton is derived from `tun’ or township timbered with `ac’ or oak where iron ore is dug. This suggests that oak woodland once characterised the locality while the suffix `iron’ is evidence of old workings for iron scoria or cinders.

The Blessing stone

The Old Rectory to the south of the church is set in splendid grounds and was rebuilt in the early 19th Century. Arched doorways and walls of the earlier house remain in the grounds to the west of the church and there is an interesting subway built by the parson to prevent a public footpath High Street towards White Hart Inn crossing the approach to his new house.

Expansive areas of open space surround the village effectively segregating it from the by-pass Iron Acton may be described as an example of to the north and Nibley Lane to the south. The ancient ribbon development. It is a village with a village green with its maypole also provides very regular plan which displays a probable another focal point to the west of the village, away planned origin of the middle ages. In earlier from the main street. These areas of open space centuries it comprised the two manors of Acton also contain numerous shrubs and hedges which Ilgar and Iron Acton, Acton Ilgar now known as form an attractive setting and provide a network of Algars Manor, situated to the south of the Iron footpaths well used by local people. Acton village. HISTORY CHARACTER Shortly after the Norman conquest, the family of The character of the village derives from its layout Acton held the . It descended and form as well as containing some impressive through several generations to Sir John Acton buildings. The narrow High Street is flanked by who died in 1344. His estates passed to his terraces and groups of buildings many of which cousin Maud and it is here where the Poyntz are interesting and individual in their architectural connection begins. Maud was the second wife of design and form. The buildings, exhibiting different Sir who had died in 1312. He had styles, scale and use of colour, further add to the been dead for many years and Maud was an interest of the street scene. elderly women when the estates were passed into the family. The Iron Acton Estates then passed to her son Sir John Poyntz and from 1344 continued, son succeeding father until the death of Sir John Poyntz in 1680. He was the last of the family to be Lord of the Manor and after his death the manor was split up, Acton Court being sold to William Playes Esq.

Acton Court is an impressive and striking building which, although it has suffered from years of The Nook neglect, is now being restored to its former glory by English Heritage. It is a large, mainly tudor The buildings, high stone walls and mature building, formerly the medieval manor house of overhanging trees create a sense of enclosure to the Poyntz family. Its main features include large the High Street accentuated by the curvature of brick diagonal chimneys and moulded stone the road. The Public House at the eastern end of doorways. The gate-way to Acton Court is late the street serves as a visual stop and completes 16th Century and forms a notable entrance way to the feeling of enclosure. The focal point of the the Court. It is highly decorative with shields and High Street is the Church of St. James. It is of foliage adorning the spandrels. The Poyntz family perpendicular style with Saxon origins and was related to the Tudors and it is said that Henry dominates the street scene from many points, VII, Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Walter Raleigh being built on raised ground above the road. were all entertained at Acton Court. There are some splendid views from the church, the most notable being the unobstructed view of Acton Lodge clearly visible to the north.