East Pennard Conservation Area Appraisal

Conservation Area Appraisal East Pennard

May 2008

www.mendip.gov.uk CustomerCustomer Services Services 0300 3038588 0300 3038588 This appraisal aims to identify the essential elements that give an area its character. It is, therefore, a ‘snapshot’ in time. Elements and details of an area may be important even if they are not specifically referred to in the text.

Any comments, observations or suggestions relating to this document should be sent to:

Customer Services Mendip District Council Cannards Grave Road Shepton Mallet Somerset BA4 5BT

Tel: 0300 3038588 Fax: 01749 344050 Email: [email protected]

www.mendip.gov.uk

May 2008

Thanks are due to Mr A.V. Pearse and the residents of East Pennard for their contribution and help in researching the historical facts and social history included in this appraisal. Reference has also been made to the East Pennard Village Trail leaflet published by Mendip District Council.

All photographs © Mendip District Council

2 www.mendip.gov.uk Contents

1. Introduction 4

2. Location and Landscape Setting 5

3. History and Development 6

4. Spatial Analysis 8

5. Character Analysis 10

6. Local Building Patterns 13

7. Synthesis of appraisal 24

8. Summary of Key Characteristics 25

Customer Services 0300 3038588 3 1. Introduction

1.1 The East Pennard 1.3 Planning authorities developing initiatives to Conservation Area was also have a duty to protect improve the area. It will first designated in 1993 by these areas from also enable the Mendip District Council. development which would development of a robust harm their special policy framework for the 1.2 Section 69 of the architectural or historic future management of the Planning (Listed Buildings character and this is area, against which and Conservation Areas) reflected in the policies applications can be Act 1990 imposes a duty contained in Mendip considered. on Local Planning District Council’s Adopted Authorities to determine Local Plan. 1.5 This appraisal has from time to time which been produced in parts of their area are 1.4 The purpose of this accordance with guidance ‘areas of special appraisal is to define the contained in English architectural or historic qualities of the area that Heritage’s ‘Guidance on interest, the character or make it worthy of Conservation Area appearance of which it is conservation area status. Appraisals’ (August 2005). desirable to preserve or A clear, comprehensive enhance’ and to designate appraisal of the character 1.6 This appraisal was these areas as of a conservation area endorsed by the Council conservation areas. provides a sound basis for in May 2008 as a material development control planning consideration, decisions and for and will be taken into account when assessing local planning applications. East Pennard

Home Farm

Pennard House

Church of All Saints Batch Farm

4 www.mendip.gov.uk 2. Location and Landscape Setting

2.1 The village of East north to approximately 2.4 The northern edge of Pennard lies a short 70m above sea level in the village is distance from the Fosse the south. The geology of encompassed by the Way, about 6 miles south the area is that of a middle 18th/19th Century parkland of Shepton Mallet, and 7 lias strata of inferior oolite and mature trees miles east of Glastonbury. stone and clay. associated with Pennard House, giving way to 2.2 The village is 2.3 The ancient orchards that mark the situated on the southern settlement pattern of the village’s western edge of the Pennard parish is one of dispersed boundary. To the south, Ridge which runs east to farms and small hamlets, the land falls away to west from West Pennard with a nucleated area allow expansive views out to Ditcheat. It occupies a situated close to the over the Brue Valley position in a natural church and manor house. Moors. amphitheatre formed by The village is surrounded the higher land to the by predominantly pastoral 2.5 A single road cuts east, west and north of the farmland and meadows through the heart of the centre of the village. Land enclosed in the 17th and village from north to south, levels in the village fall 18th Centuries. connecting the village to from approximately 95m the roads that run east to above sea level in the west along the upper and lower slopes of Pennard Ridge.

Customer Services 0300 3038588 5 3. History and Development

3.1 East Pennard was 3.4 Earthworks, including 3.5 Major changes in the known as the manor of a hollow-way, in the field 19th Century saw the Pennard during the Middle to the west and northwest remnants of the medieval Ages. The first of the church provide good and later village layout documentary reference to evidence of the former transformed by the Napier Pennard occurs in a extent of the medieval family at Pennard House. charter of King Eadred of settlement, with other As part of their 955AD, when Aelgitha, a development believed to gentrification of the nun, bestowed the estate have taken place along the landscape, the Napiers of Pengeardmunster upon road to the north by Home dramatically reordered the the abbey at Glastonbury. Farm, and also along the village, removing the Poor The Domesday Book, one road to the east to Little Houses (which were hundred and thirty years Pennard. Only a handful of almost certainly medieval later calls the place the more substantial buildings belonging to the Pennarminstre. medieval buildings survive Church) and replacing old from this period, notably cottages with ‘model 3.2 The ‘minster’ Home Farm which is cottages’ set amongst element of the place name believed to be a high ordered allotments in the indicates that there was quality medieval building area known as ‘The an early church here. with 15th Century origins. Gardens’. Saxon minsters housed colleges of priests, whose duties included the provision of religious services to a large surrounding area.

3.3 The East Pennard of today is essentially a shrunken village, reduced to a core around the church, with the odd outlying farm marking its original extent. The churchyard has also been reduced in size to the rather small rectilinear plot found today; early maps suggest that there was at one time a large curvilinear enclosure surrounding the church.

c.1840 Tithe Map showing village layout prior to redevelopment by the Napier family

6 www.mendip.gov.uk 3. History and Development

3.6 Pennard House, 1841 by the Rector society. This stratified which may be of 17th Thomas Garrett who order of the village was Century origin, was arrived in East Pennard to reflected in the church similarly altered, being find the old rectory where the different social significantly enlarged and premises in an almost groups were segregated refaced. The 18th Century ruinous state. He also into different types of pew emparked land originally built the original school – large box pews for the associated with the house which has since become gentry, with pews for the was also extended and the church hall. servants behind, box replanted, and a new pews for farmers and stable block erected to the 3.7 The construction of a open pews for the rest of north west of the main village school and church the population. house, the original fittings hall by the Napier family of which still survive. in the latter half of the 19th Additional evergreen Century provides further planting was introduced to evidence of the family’s screen the village from desire to create the Pennard House and a Victorian ideal of a new Rectory built around structured and controlled

c.1900 Ordnance Survey Map

Customer Services 0300 3038588 7 4. Spatial Analysis

4.1 The peaceful village creating a strong sense of 4.5 Occasional gaps in of East Pennard remains enclosure and an avenue the hedges along the one of the most unspoilt in like approach into the southern edge of the the Mendip District, with village. Glimpses of the conservation area afford its distinctive blend of open parkland and views of the low lying Brue estate buildings, historic meadow to the north are Valley Moors to the south parkland and farmland, all afforded through gaps and and fleeting glimpses of presided over by the gates in the hedges, whilst the classical façade of formal Pennard House. the historic carpenter’s Pennard House in its yard buildings and strong elevated position to the 4.2 The predominantly lines of the walled garden north. In the southwest 15th Century church provide a solid built edge corner of the conservation marks the historic core of to the southern side of the area, a narrow green lane the village, with the 19th road. follows the line of the Century estate cottages, stream and spring line vicarage and church hall 4.4 The entrance to the back up to Home Farm clustered around it. To centre of the village is and a Right of Way leads the north and west, the defined by a wide via a series of stone expansive gardens and sweeping drive, with low pavements back to the parkland of Pennard stone walls and tall estate cottages. House form an attractive evergreen hedging on both landscaped setting to the sides. There are no village, reinforcing its rural landmark buildings character. A stream runs immediately visible and northeast to southwest the imposing boundary through the village, treatment imparts an forming a natural divide almost private and between the village centre enclosed feel to this area. and the working farmland Entering the village centre, and buildings that the chancel of the church dominate the southern with its distinctive cross is half of the conservation the first building that can area. be seen, emphasising its importance at the heart of 4.3 The approaches to the village. Despite its East Pennard are defined obvious historical and by traditional country social importance, lanes, lined with tall Pennard House is only hedges that restrict any visible from a limited views of the countryside number of vantage points beyond. From the east, within the village. the hedges are replaced with dense tree cover either side of the road,

8 www.mendip.gov.uk 4. Spatial Analysis

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© Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100019309 2008 Key Conservation Area Boundary Listed Building  Trees of landscape value  Unlisted positive building Areas of negative value  Important views Area of landscape value

Customer Services 0300 3038588 9 5. Character Analysis

5.1 Within the Pennard House, Estate and Parkland boundaries of East Pennard Conservation Area, it is possible to chart the physical and social development of an historic rural settlement from the early Medieval period straight through to the present day. Other than a few modern farm structures, the virtual absence of new 20th century development 5.2 Occupying virtually character which contrasts (other than extensions) the northern half of the with the traditional has helped to create an village, the estate of agricultural hedge-lined important physical record Pennard House and its pastures and field of the settlement’s history associated parkland give systems that surround it. and has protected the this area its distinctive To the east, the walled unique characteristics of character and garden and former individual areas of the appearance. The workshops define the village. magnificent specimen extent of the estate trees in the northern area grounds. of open parkland provide the first indications of an 5.4 At the entrance to important estate in the the village is Garden village, despite the fact Cottage, an unpretentious that the house is virtually dwelling in a classical concealed from view. style, with rendered rubble This is reinforced by the walls, slate roof and stone presence of the estate cruciform windows. It is Estate setting to Pennard railings that surround the understood that this House adjacent fields and the building is actually the continuation of the tree truncated remains of the planting that is traditionally Jacobean mansion of the associated with estate Phelps family, so reduced parkland. after purchase by the Napiers. Opposite is the 5.3 The extensive gated entrance to landscaped grounds and Pennard House, flanked parkland, which are by two rusticated ashlar included in Mendip District gate piers with modern Council’s Local List of ornamental urns and Historic Parks and inscribed with the house Gardens, give this area an name. Landscape parkland open, gentrified, rural

10 www.mendip.gov.uk 5. Character Analysis

The Rectory, Church and The Gardens

View across the allotments 5.5 This area of the almost private feel, village marks the historic accessed via the narrow core of the settlement and stone paved lane contains most of the alongside No. 9. residential dwellings in the village. Extensive planting 5.7 The clipped box around the Old Rectory hedge and southern and an absence of boundary to Pennard buildings to the south House give this entrance means the church sits and churchyard area a proud in the landscape, manicured and managed emphasizing its character which contrasts importance within the with the very organic community. The war nature of the allotments, memorial, a grade II* with their mix of cottage- Entrance to The Gardens listed 15th Century garden planting, vegetable restored cross occupies a patches, hedges and prominent position in the greenhouses. The sense churchyard in front of the of privacy continues in this church tower. important open space where the narrow path 5.6 The estate cottages leads past the pairs of to the west are somewhat identical Victorian estate offset from the centre, workers cottages that separated from the church provide physical evidence by the allotments that help of the planned nature of extend the rural character this part of the village into the heart of the centre. village. The entrance to The Gardens has an The Gardens

Customer Services 0300 3038588 11 5. Character Analysis

Area to the south of The Old Post Office and surrounding Pastures

Batch Farmhouse

5.8 To the south of the farm houses, through to stream, the character of the 19th Century brick and View into village from south the conservation area slate villa of Yew Tree changes dramatically. House, the 19th Century The tranquillity and calm coursed lias and tile of Old of the centre of the village School House and the 20th is replaced by the activity Century metal and and noise of the farm, its blockwork farm buildings. equipment and the stream. The modern 5.10 Immediately to the agricultural buildings sit in south of the Old School a cluster between the House, the built element historic buildings on either of the village comes to an side of the road, and the abrupt stop and is View across Brue Valley Moors regular vehicular replaced with open movements and pastures and fields background sounds of occupied by cattle. This running water, cattle and agricultural periphery machinery give this area a extends along the more dynamic southern edge of the atmosphere. village and returns north along its western side 5.9 Being outside the where it begins to merge gentrified ‘estate’ centre, visually with the open this area is characterized parkland of Pennard by a wider variety of House. The extensive building styles and belt of trees marks the line materials, from the 17th of the small valley. Century rubble and thatch View of church tower from Home Farm

12 www.mendip.gov.uk 6. Local Building Patterns

6.1 Many of the School House draw on 6.5 This structure is of buildings in the particular architectural cob construction, patched conservation area are two styles of their respective with stone and timber storey structures, periods, indicating an frame areas, and the sole occasionally with evidence increase in the wealth of survivor of a once of attic accommodation. their owners or the estate, common type of cottage in Pennard House stands and introducing a degree the village itself. It is one out amongst the rest of refinement into this of only two complete cob because of its higher rural setting. buildings left in the Parish. status, more refined architectural appearance 6.4 The fine Flemish 6.6 The estate cottages, and grand scale that bond brickwork of Yew however, incorporate a reflect its historic and Tree House, for instance, mix of styles, combining social importance in the with its dressed stone the robustness and village. quoins, rendered gables, simplicity of the brick stacks and timber vernacular, with strong 6.2 The redevelopment sash windows suggests gables and vertical of the centre of the village that it was a building of emphasis to give them a removed many of the pre- some status in the village distinctly Victorian 19th Century buildings although it is now heavily character. The majority of including some potentially screened from view by the buildings are set back medieval structures. A vegetation. In its grounds from the edge of the road, handful of vernacular and similarly concealed separated from the public buildings survive from view is a much spaces by walls and/or unaltered, characterized earlier thatched building, hedges that maintain the by their typical robust, possibly of 17th Century sense of privacy in the simple appearance and origin, which is likely to village. horizontal emphasis. have been the principal dwelling on the site prior 6.3 Later 18th and 19th to the erection of Yew Century buildings such as Tree House in the 19th The Garden House, Yew Century. Tree Villa, The Old Rectory and The Old

Home Farm Pennard House

Customer Services 0300 3038588 13 6. Local Building Patterns

Walls. 6.8 The golden brown 6.9 The Victorian coloured rubble appears development in The 6.7 Walling material in to have been the more Gardens uses an the conservation area common material used in attractive combination of comprises two forms of construction of buildings the rubble and lias without limestone; golden brown and boundary walls before differentiation between coloured limestone rubble the 18th-19th Centuries formal and informal and the more regular and was commonly known elevations. This may be blocks of blue lias as ‘Pennard Stone’. It an indication that the limestone. The blue lias was extracted close to higher quality lias was limestone is likely to have where it was used, in this becoming more readily been a higher status case from shallow available or it may be building material, being quarries immediately north evidence of the re-use of restricted in the early east of the village. The demolition material from buildings to principle use of Pennard Stone earlier buildings on the elevations of high status does not extend far below site. The final transition to buildings such as the the lower slopes of the hill. blue lias is seen in the late church. 19th Century Old School House which is constructed entirely of regular coursed blue lias.

Pennard Stone

Mix of materials used in The Gardens Church of All Saints — Blue Lias construction

14 www.mendip.gov.uk 6. Local Building Patterns

6.10 The different use of constructed from coursed unfortunately, tends to the two building materials blue lias. The nearby Old look quite stark against can often give an Post Office also has a the stone walls. A cement indication of different later extension built render has also been phases of alteration in entirely of blue lias in applied to the gable of buildings. The intriguing contrast to the Yew Tree House which combination of Pennard predominantly rubble could be concealing a Stone and blue lias in the construction of the main brick construction to construction of Batch house. match the formal front Farmhouse points to at elevation. least two, or even three, 6.11 Render is also used different phases of in the conservation area, 6.12 The majority of construction. The entire although only on a handful buildings have large stone end gable is constructed of buildings. Pennard quoins of Doulting Stone in coursed blue lias, House is predominantly forming the corners of the suggesting that it may finished in what appears building. These are have been rebuilt at some to be a cement based mostly well dressed stage, whereas the front render, whilst The Garden regular blocks in the 19th elevation comprises Cottage appears to have a Century buildings, regular courses of blue lime based render. Certain whereas the earlier lias at ground floor level dwellings in The Gardens structures tend to use overlain by irregular honey have extensions that have large rubble quoins of coloured rubble. This in been finished in a painted varying dimensions. Lias turn supports the gables cement render which, blocks are occasionally that are used for quoins although this appears to be limited to low status service or agricultural buildings.

Different materials used in construction of Lime render used on Garden Cottage Batch Farm

Customer Services 0300 3038588 15 6. Local Building Patterns

Windows & Doors. stone labels, whereas the Old School House and 6.13 There are a variety The Old Rectory have far of window styles in the more emphasized stone conservation area. In labels and step-chamfered most cases, traditional surrounds. materials of timber, metal, glass and stone are used 6.16 Stone mullions have although there are now also been used in The instances of modern Gardens although here, uPVC windows being the labels have been introduced as removed and just a plain replacements. chamfer used in the surrounds. This important 6.14 A common window variety relates in part to style to the conservation the hierarchy of the status area is the stone of individual buildings, but mullioned window. The also illustrates how glass in these windows is vernacular detailing has often directly glazed into been adapted and the stone surround, with modified over time. one or two slender horizontal glazing bars 6.17 Elsewhere, many of separating the window the vernacular properties into individual panes. incorporate the traditional Where windows are painted timber casement opening, these usually window, as found on The employ a narrow metal Old Post Office. These frame which is hinged into tend to be flush fitting, the stone jamb. Windows side hung, paired tend to be either two or casements with 2 panes three ‘lights’ wide. The per casement and slender metalwork and glazing glazing bars. They are bars are usually painted. mostly set beneath timber lintels. 6.15 There is a range of stone mullioned windows 6.18 In the more ‘polite’, within the village, classically proportioned reflecting the differing properties such as styles and adaptations Pennard House and Yew that have been used over Tree House, the timber time. The 17th century windows take the form of Batch Farmhouse for balanced, vertically sliding Adaptation of the mullion instance, retains its ogee timber sash windows. window, from top; Batch Farm, moulded frames and the Old School House & The Gardens

16 www.mendip.gov.uk 6. Local Building Patterns

These windows, for the Roofs. The roofs in The Gardens most part, comprise are finished with a painted timber sashes, 6.21 Roofs are distinctive ‘double roman minus horns, with 6 panes predominantly constructed ridge tile’ which continues in each sash separated by in traditional materials. the tile rolls over the apex slender glazing bars. Thatch, clay tile and of the roof. natural slate are all 6.19 A number of modern present in the village, 6.24 Plain clay tiles with replacement casement although clay and slate horizontal bands of windows have been are by far the most decorative ‘club’ tiles and installed in some predominant roof trefoil crested ridge tiles buildings. These tend to materials. Roofs tend to are used on the Old be off-the-peg ‘storm- be steeply pitched (40 School House although proof’ casements that sit degrees or greater) and this is the only example in proud of, rather than flush are nearly all contained the village and is very with, the window frame. within natural stone coped characteristic of this age Their modern detailing, gables with profiled of property. appearance and kneeler stones. The occasionally stained finish exceptions to this are Yew can often appear out of Tree House and the Old keeping in an historic School House, both of context, especially when which have over-sailing used to replace traditional verges and exposed casement windows. purlins.

6.20 Doors are 6.22 Slate is generally predominantly painted associated with the higher timber plank or panelled status, ‘formal’ buildings in doors. Many of the estate the conservation area, cottages have small such as Pennard House, diamond-shaped glazed Yew Tree House and The Clay double-roman tiles insets. There are one or Old Rectory. It is laid to and profiled ridge tile. two examples of mock regular courses, and is Georgian-style doors with generally finished with integral arched fanlights stone ridge tiles. which have no historic or architectural precedence 6.23 Clay tiles are used and do, therefore, appear on the majority of the incongruous in the vernacular buildings in the conservation area. conservation area. These are predominantly the traditional orange-red/ brown double roman tiles, possibly from Bridgwater.

Decorative plain clay tiles

Customer Services 0300 3038588 17 6. Local Building Patterns

6.25 All buildings in the range from mature hedges 6.29 Metal railings are conservation area, save lining the edges of the used to define the for the church, have surrounding fields, to northern and western chimney stacks. These stone boundary walls and boundaries of the are predominantly square extensive areas of parkland associated with or rectangular in plan and planting that are used to Pennard House, providing located on the ridges of conceal many of the an immediate visual clue the buildings, although buildings in the village of a formal estate within some secondary stacks from public view. Walls the conservation area. are positioned at eaves tend to be of rubble These are replaced with level. The majority of construction, built to a the characteristic wall and stacks are constructed in uniform height using a laurel hedges in the more brick or ashlar, usually mixture of the two types of private areas of the with emphasised stone limestone employed in grounds. banding, moulded caps or general building oversailing brick courses. construction elsewhere. Plain clay chimney pots are used around the 6.28 A variety of copings village but a lot of stacks can be found in the are unadorned. conservation area, including mortar, stone 6.26 Many buildings in the slabs and “cock and hen”, conservation area retain although not one their traditional, painted particular type prevails. cast-iron rainwater goods, Most walls in the centre of supported by gutter pins the village are heavily driven into the mortar concealed by ivy growth joints in the face of the and substantial mature wall. There is, however, a laurel hedges that provide clear trend towards year round privacy Traditional stone wall and replacing historic gutters screening. hedge boundary treatment with inferior quality uPVC guttering, often attached to overly deep timber fascia boards that detract from the appearance of the buildings.

Boundaries.

6.27 Boundaries form strong defining features in the conservation area and are an important part of its character. Boundaries Estate railings to north of Pennard House

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6.30 Modern timber panel The mature planting and 6.33 Dense tree cover fencing is pleasantly landscaping continues along the line of the absent from most of the around the west of stream valley provides a conservation area Pennard House, where strong southern boundary although it has started to the more formal grounds to the village, and creep in around certain provide an attractive separates the designed properties in The landscaped setting to this and ‘managed’ village Gardens, alongside important listed building. core from the activities hedges of varying species and structures of the and heights that have 6.32 The adjoining field predominantly agricultural been used to define forms an important rural area. boundaries in the boundary to the centre of allotments. the village, with two large 6.34 The stream and the oak trees effectively sound of running water Trees, Green Spaces extending the estate are important components and Watercourses. planting beyond the formal of the character of the ha-ha boundary wall. The conservation area. The 6.31 Trees and open churchyard, along with the remains of an old water green spaces form a gardens of The Old wheel can be seen behind fundamental part of the Rectory to the south and the Old Post Office, character of the the gardens/allotments of although it is now conservation area, making The Gardens to the west becoming overgrown with a significant positive together form an important vegetation. The contribution to its green space within the waterwheel was used to appearance and setting. centre of the village, pump water to a reservoir To the north, the presence whose predominantly from which a consumer of majestic veteran trees open character is in supply system fed creates a strong open marked contrast with the Pennard House and The parkland and estate ‘hidden’ gardens of Gardens. setting to the village, Pennard House. including a number of veteran Wellingtonias (Sequoiadendron giganteum). These, along with many of the other trees, appear on the 1880 OS map and are likely to have been planted to commemorate the death of their namesake, a common Victorian tradition from the mid 19th Century onwards.

Victorian landscaped parkland to north of Pennard House

Customer Services 0300 3038588 19 6. Local Building Patterns

Surfaces. 6.37 The remains of further pavements and 6.35 A key characteristic stone steps can be found of the conservation area is in the stream valley to the the presence of the south west of the village, network of stone flag and once extended for pavements which link considerable distances buildings and spaces across the parish to the within the village. These south and west (in living historic stone pavements memory) and acted as make a positive ‘church paths’. In The contribution to the Gardens, the stone flag character and appearance pavements are replaced Stone pavement in village of the conservation area with tarmac laid between and were possibly stone edging. intended to provide a relatively mud-free route 6.38 Road surfaces are to and from certain finished in tarmac. buildings for the gentry. Contribution of unlisted 6.36 At the church, the buildings. remains of a pavement cross the road to the 6.39 Notwithstanding gardens of Pennard agricultural buildings and House, whilst another outbuildings, there are pavement connects the only a handful of unlisted chancel of the church to buildings in the the rear gardens of The conservation area; the five Old Rectory, providing a estate workers cottages in Stone pavement leading to The quick and convenient The Gardens (9 dwellings Old Rectory route for the rector. The in total), the church hall, pavements extend from The Old Post Office, the the Garden House in the Old School House and the north to the Old Post carpenter’s yard buildings. Office in the south, and a All of these are of historic single pavement runs interest and most are west past The Gardens up considered to make to Home Farm. Only positive contributions to partial remains can be the character and seen beyond the Old Post appearance of the Office, although the 1880 conservation area, albeit OS map appears to show to varying degrees. a pavement extending as The Old School House far down as Yew Tree House.

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6.40 The Old Post Office attractive planned group is a charming 18th Century of historic buildings in the vernacular cottage, conservation area, extended in the early 20th employing local traditional Century, which nestles materials in a distinctively amongst the surrounding Victorian style. trees and vegetation alongside the stream.

6.41 The Old School House and attached schoolmasters house is a key Victorian building marking the entrance to the village from the south. Built in the 1870’s, it is immediately identifiable as a typical Victorian educational building, with tall mullion and transom windows lighting the internal halls and the original school bell still in situ. A central projecting bay has two opposing entrances, presumably the separate entrances for boys and girls. Apart from some inappropriate uPVC windows, it is essentially unaltered externally. The Old Post Office

6.42 Numbers 1 & 2 The Gardens terminate western views from within the village with their prominent gables, symmetrical façade and use of traditional materials. The buildings are also of 19th Century construction, although they differ in design from the adjacent cottages. The identical pairs of estate workers cottages form an No.s 1 & 2 The Gardens

Customer Services 0300 3038588 21 6. Local Building Patterns

Extent of intrusion or village, and is having a damage. harmful effect on the character and appearance 6.43 The largest visual of the conservation area. intrusions in the The multitude of wires and conservation area are the poles throughout the agricultural sheds and village create visual clutter buildings associated with which spoils views and the the dairy farm and cheese skyline in a number of key production facility. These locations. large, industrial-scale structures, constructed Existence of Neutral from modern materials, Areas. represent the only substantial 20th Century 6.46 Neutral areas are Unattractive wirescape has a development in the generally defined as areas detrimental impact. conservation area, or buildings that neither occupying land that was enhance nor detract from formerly open fields. They the character or are prominent structures appearance of the in this part of the conservation area, but conservation area and where there might be tend to dominate views of potential for the historic buildings. enhancement. Number 9 The Gardens is an historic 6.44 The grass bank at building that occupies a the centre of the village is defining position at the an historic feature, entrance to The Gardens, appearing on OS maps as in the setting of the church a landscaped ’island’ as and churchyard. It is the Grass bank at centre of village early as 1880. Its only building in this area deteriorating appearance, coupled with the build up of road grit, does not make a very positive contribution when entering the village from the north and could potentially be improved with some sensitive maintenance and modest landscaping.

6.45 The wirescape is one of the more widespread modern Industrial scale agricultural structures dominate the intrusions across the southern half of the conservation area.

22 www.mendip.gov.uk 6. Local Building Patterns to have survived the 19th such as satellite dishes Century re-planning of this and cables on the part of the village. It is, principle facades of however, currently buildings (notably the compromised by the estate cottages) and the modern garage extension piecemeal introduction of and lean-tos that fail to uPVC windows and respect traditional building guttering are starting to forms and, as a result of gradually erode the the materials used, historic character and appear incongruous in this appearance of individual historic context. buildings and the area as a whole. These modern Condition of built fabric introductions appear Damaged pavement opposite incongruous in an historic the Church 6.47 The majority of the context and the inferior buildings in the quality of the modern conservation area are materials often gives them kept in good condition. a clumsy and alien The stone pavements vary appearance. However, in their condition and in such features could be some areas of the village, easily managed out over sections of the pavements time if owners can be have become damaged or encouraged to use more have been entirely lost . sympathetic materials This is very apparent at during repair/replacement the entrance to the and to consider less churchyard opposite intrusive locations for Pennard House, and in external cabling and other Satellite dishes and modern the area south of The Old fittings. materials detract from the Post Office. Elsewhere, historic character of buildings the tarmac road surfaces 6.49 The use of fence have been insensitively panels as boundary laid over the edges of the treatments is also out of stone flags, creating a keeping with the potential cause of future traditional character and damage that could worsen appearance of the area. every time a new surface Although this is is applied. predominantly localised in the village, it fails to 6.48 Given the generally respect the traditional unspoilt nature of the forms of boundary conservation area, the treatment that are so gradual introduction of prevalent in, and typical modern paraphernalia of, the conservation area. Timber fencing panels

Customer Services 0300 3038588 23 7. Synthesis of appraisal

7.1 East Pennard is an evidence of the efforts of and the ‘organic’ character attractive, virtually unspoilt the Napier family to create of the allotments and example of a traditional an idealised Victorian farmland to the south and rural village which, patriarchal society, albeit west. following its reduction to a on a small scale. core area focused on the 7.5 Most buildings in the church, has then 7.3 The village has a conservation area are in undergone a period of pleasant rural character, good repair but there are gentrification and with the churchyard, a number of detrimental replanning by the Napier allotments, gardens, features and sites that family of Pennard House. parkland and surrounding detract from the overall pastures intertwining to character and appearance 7.2 The conservation create attractive open of the conservation area, area retains evidence of spaces that bring the including the large many aspects from countryside right into the industrial scale buildings different phases of the centre of the village. A in the south, the village’s physical and strong sense of privacy increasing levels of social history. At the does, however, pervade in modern clutter on the periphery of the village, areas of the conservation estate cottages, and the the vernacular area, created by the high network of poles and farmhouses of the walls and evergreen wires. The impacts of medieval and post hedges that channel incremental permitted medieval periods provide visitors through the village development on unlisted an indication of the former and restrict views of many buildings need to be extent of the settlement, of the principle buildings. carefully monitored and with the parish church considered. situated at its heart. The 7.4 In areas, the polite architectural styles impression of the village 7.6 No changes are of the 18th and early 19th being part of a wider proposed to the boundary Centuries are also found estate is reinforced by the of the conservation area. in the village in buildings traditional boundary such as Pennard House, treatments; the planned 7.7 The conservation Yew Tree House and nature of the cottages; area appraisal is to be Garden House, and point and the generally well read in conjunction with to increasing levels of kept and ‘manicured’ the local planning policies wealth and changing appearance of the and the proposed fashions in architecture. landscaping. There is, Conservation Area The reorganisation of the however, a clear Management Plan. village, including the distinction between the creation of a small ‘managed’ character of planned development of the grounds around housing for the estate Pennard House, the Old workers and a new Rectory and the church, school, also provides

24 www.mendip.gov.uk 8. Summary of Key Characteristics

 A strong rural character defined by areas of estate parkland and gardens, working farmland, orchards and pastures enveloping a reduced residential core.

 An interesting archaeological context, with traces of a shrunken medieval settlement still visible as earthworks in surrounding fields. Historic outlying farmsteads identify the former extent of the medieval settlement.

 A sense of privacy and enclosure on the approach into village. Important areas of open space contribute to the rural character of the conservation area and bring the countryside into the heart of the village.

 Well defined boundary treatments of Pennard Stone rubble and coursed lias, topped by evergreen hedging and trees. Historic lias flagstone pavements provide ‘clean’ routes between buildings and across fields.

 Attractive range of vernacular and classically proportioned buildings superimposed with a planned, small-scale Victorian development of estate workers cottages and school house. Centre of village dominated by the church. Limited views of Pennard House.

 Buildings are predominantly of two stories, with steep pitched roofs contained between stone coped gables. Buildings are usually positioned away from the roadside behind hedges or walls.

 Traditional side-hung, painted timber or metal casements. Windows are predominantly single glazed with slender glazing bars. Stone surrounds with drip moulds; non opening windows are usually directly glazed into surrounds. More formal dwellings have vertically hung timber sashes.

 An interesting variety of roofing material, including slate, thatch, and clay double roman tiles with distinctive ridge tiles. Brick, stone and rendered chimney stacks positioned on the ridge create a traditional silhouette against the skyline.

 Predominance of coursed blue lias and golden-brown Pennard Stone rubble in wall and building construction.

 Important individual and groups of trees throughout the village; an important parkland setting to the north with majestic specimen trees, and the landscaped gardens of Pennard House provide attractive views from limited vantage points.

Customer Services 0300 3038588 25 www.mendip.gov.uk 26 www.mendip.gov.uk Customer Services 0300 3038588