Ribble Valley Borough Council - Downham Conservation Area Appraisal 1 DOWNHAM CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL This document has been written and produced by The Conservation Studio, 1 Querns Lane, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1RL Final revision 25.10.05/photos added 07.12.06 The Conservation Studio 2005 Ribble Valley Borough Council - Downham Conservation Area Appraisal 2 CONTENTS Introduction Purpose of the appraisal Summary of special interest The planning policy context Local planning policy Location and setting Location and context General character and plan form Landscape setting Topography, geology, relationship to surroundings Historic development and archaeology Origins and historic development Spatial analysis Key views and vistas The character of spaces within the area Definition of the special interest of the conservation area Activities/uses Architectural and historic character Listed buildings Buildings of Townscape Merit Building materials, methods and local details Floorscape and public realm Green spaces, trees and other natural elements Local details and features Issues Strengths Weaknesses Threats Recommendations Downham Conservation Area boundary review Article 4 Direction Monitoring and review The Conservation Studio 2005 Ribble Valley Borough Council - Downham Conservation Area Appraisal 3 DOWNHAM CONSERVATION AREA APPRASAL Introduction Purpose of the appraisal This appraisal seeks to record and analyse the various features which give the Downham Conservation Area its special architectural and historic interest. The area’s buildings and spaces are noted and described, and marked on the Townscape Appraisal map along with listed buildings, buildings of townscape merit, significant trees and spaces, and important views into and out of the conservation area. There is a presumption that all of these features should be “preserved or enhanced”, as required by the legislation. This appraisal builds upon national policy, as set out in PPG15, and local policy, as set out in the Local Plan 1998, and provides a firm basis on which applications for development within the Downham Conservation Area can be assessed. Old Well Hall dates from the 17th century and is one of the oldest dwellings in the village Summary of special interest The Downham Conservation Area was designated on 3rd March 1978. The special interest that justifies designation of the Downham Conservation Area derives from the following features: • Hillside location with stunning views of the village and Pendle Hill, especially from the porch of St Leonard’s Church; • Downham Beck, ducks and stone bridges; • Downham Hall and parkland to the west; • Architectural and historic interest of the conservation area’s buildings, including 32 listed buildings; The Conservation Studio 2005 Ribble Valley Borough Council - Downham Conservation Area Appraisal 4 • Remarkable surviving historic appearance with almost complete lack of 20th century alterations and accretions; • Historic appearance enhanced by complete absence of TV aerials and overhead wires; • Spacious layout devoid of 20th century infill; • Prevalent use of local building stone; • Widespread use of timber joinery for windows and doors; • Rural setting of the village; • Three grade II* listed buildings: Downham Hall, St Leonard’s Church and Old Well Hall; • Trees, both in the surrounding landscape and beside the road; • Areas of stone floorscape; • Local details such as the stocks, two old wells, stone boundary walls, GR PO box and telephone kiosk; • Village green beside the brook. Lidgett House (rear) The planning policy context Conservation areas are designated under the provisions of Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. A conservation area is defined as “an area of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance”. It is the quality and interest of an area, rather than that of individual buildings, which is the prime consideration in identifying a conservation area. Section 71 of the same Act requires local planning authorities to formulate and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of any parts of their area which are conservation areas. Section 72 specifies that, in making a decision on an application for development in a conservation area, special attention shall be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of that area. The Conservation Studio 2005 Ribble Valley Borough Council - Downham Conservation Area Appraisal 5 This document should be read in conjunction with national planning policy guidance, particularly Planning Policy Guidance Note 15 (PPG 15) – Planning and the Historic Environment. The layout and content follows guidance produced by English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the English Historic Towns Forum. Local planning policy Local planning policies for the preservation of scheduled monuments and conservation of historic parks and gardens, listed buildings and conservation areas are set out in the Ribble Valley Local Plan which was adopted in June 1998 (Policies ENV14, ENV15, ENV16, ENV17, ENV18, ENV19, ENV20, ENV21) and the Joint Lancashire Structure Plan 2001- 2016 which was adopted on 31st March 2005 (Policies 20 and 21, supported by draft Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) entitled ‘Landscape and Heritage’). Looking north up Main Street Location and setting Location and context Downham lies 5 kilometres north east of Clitheroe. The main route through the village, known as Main Street, runs from Chatburn in a south-easterly direction down the slope to the valley bottom before ascending the eastern slopes of Pendle Hill. The village lies on the Lancashire cycleway and is in the Pendle Hill outlier of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, an area of national and international significance because of its unspoiled and richly diverse landscape and wildlife. General character and plan form Downham is a small rural village that has been in the ownership of one family for over 400 years. The village is scattered beside a minor road descending a south facing slope. Its current form reflects the settlement’s agricultural origins and a single landowner’s control The Conservation Studio 2005 Ribble Valley Borough Council - Downham Conservation Area Appraisal 6 of development. The landowner, in successive generations, carried out limited building programmes in the 19th and early 20th centuries and, by sensitive management, has preserved and enhanced the village’s historic character and appearance into the 21st century. Landscape setting Topography, geology, relationship to surroundings Downham lies on and beneath a limestone ridge between Pendle Hill and the River Ribble. The ridge, along which ran a Roman road, runs in an east-west direction and Downham at c. 140 metres overlooks a rural vale, well tree’d in places, that rises gently at first and then more steeply over Downham Moor to the top of Pendle Hill at 532 metres. Narrow lanes run east to Twiston and west to Worston, below the ridge. The protuberance of Worsaw Hill west of the village is prominent in views from the Gisburn Road. Downham’s location on the south side of the ridge gives the village a tranquil atmosphere which belies its close proximity to Clitheroe, the railway and the busy A59 to the north. St Leonard’s Church was substantially rebuilt in 1910, designed by Sir Mervyn McCartney Historic development Origins and historic development There is evidence of Roman occupations at Downham. A large stone by the entrance to Downham Hall is thought to mark the final resting place of two legionaries who died on the nearby Roman road during trouble with the Brigantes although it may be an eroded medieval cross base. Although Lancashire's climate proved too inhospitable for the Romans to establish a permanent settlement, the area was a military zone. The Ribchester to Ilkley Roman Road, a paved construction enabling the swift movement of men and materials, runs along the ridge north of Downham Hall. The road is believed previously to have been part of a 112 mile 'Gold Road' spanning Britain and used by Irish traders travelling to trade with the Danish. The Conservation Studio 2005 Ribble Valley Borough Council - Downham Conservation Area Appraisal 7 Downham means ‘the habitation on the hill’ and the settlement can be traced back to before 1066. The church is recorded in 1283 from an inventory of the chapelries in the patronage of the Rector of Whalley. When the church was rebuilt in 1910, traces of what were thought to be Saxon or early Norman foundations were found. The church has been rebuilt many times, notably c1800 and 1910 but the 15th century tower and bells remain. A stone sundial in the churchyard dates to 1808. The 16th century font may be the one which was presented by John Paslew, the last Abbot of Whalley, who was executed for treason in 1537. The manorial family of Downham is the Asshetons and successive generations of the Assheton family have lived at Downham Hall since 1558. Several Assheton men held political posts, notably Sir Ralph of Whalley and Downham who was MP for Clitheroe in several parliaments of the 17th century. William Assheton, born in 1758, and a second William Assheton, born in 1788, were both involved in much rebuilding, both of Downham Hall and the cottages in the village. The first William began alterations to the hall and later to the drive and layout in front of the hall during which time the bodies of what were thought to be two Roman soldiers were found near the present front gates. At about this time the road that runs past the post office was constructed. Stone walls, stone roof tiles, stone boundary wall The second William Assheton employed the architect George Webster of Kendal to rebuild Downham Hall in 1835. William’s son Ralph continued with building improvements on the estate, particularly the farms, many of which were rebuilt or improved in the second half of the 19th century. Wesleyan Chapels were built at Downham, Bashall Eaves and Stopper Lane in 1815.