Report No: 2004R090 Cornwall Industrial Settlements Initiative LUXULYAN (Hensbarrow Area) 2004 CORNWALL INDUSTRIAL SETTLEMENTS INITIATIVE Conservation Area Partnership Name: Luxulyan Study Area: Hensbarrow Council: Restormel District Council NGR: SX 05249 58016 (centre) Location: South-east Cornwall, 7 miles Existing No south of Bodmin, 5 miles CA? north-east of St Austell Main period of 1840-1900 Main Granite quarries; transport industrial settlement industry: growth: Industrial history and significance In many ways Luxulyan appears to be a traditional rural churchtown, with subsidiary farming and milling settlements at Atwell and Bridges, whose economy was based around agriculture, with artisans’ cottages grouped around the central church. However, typical industrial settlement features such as the Bible Christian Chapel, public house and working men’s’ institute are also prominent, as are the remains in the wider landscape of the tin streaming, quarries and tramways which added a whole separate layer of activity to this ancient farming landscape. Always on the edge of the great industrial areas to the west and to the south, Luxulyan none-the-less was affected by their presence, creating all the range of services and building types normally associated with much larger and more entirely industrial settlements. The main local industry, granite quarrying, did not require a huge workforce or associated housing provision, nor was the scale of the railway or the 20th century china clay dry sufficient to affect the settlement much. Undoubtedly some of the local quarry and railmen lived in the village, but its main importance would have been as a provider of services rather than accommodation. In this it is reminiscent of a class of churchtown found elsewhere on the fringes of the major industrial areas, like others ringing the Hensbarrow china clay area, although less affected even than them by the industry. Other comments The overall historic character of the settlement still remains, with the majority of granite walls and slate roofs surviving unaltered. There have, however, been two major modern developments within the village, and if the intrinsic character of the settlement is to survive any future development should be small-scale and piecemeal and appropriate to the historic character of Luxulyan. Recommendations Historic areas • Designate a Conservation Area • Prepare a full Conservation Area appraisal • Designation of Open Areas of Significance or similar designations together with management and enhancement proposals • Article 4 Direction to control alteration and partial demolition of walls in CA • Article 4 Direction to control PD on single dwelling houses and alteration and partial demolition of small buildings in CA Historic buildings • Revise Statutory List. • Prepare list of locally significant buildings 1 Policy and management • A full survey of archaeological potential • Proposals affecting areas of derelict land to be based on a thorough understanding of the unique historical and archaeological importance of the sites • Limit or restrict development in the outskirts • Recognise back-land areas and rear lanes as an important aspect of Luxulyan’s character • Further develop interpretation of the village and its connection with Luxulyan Valley, and other promotional initiatives • Further study to promote other aspects of Luxulyan’s history, in particular the history of the holy well, and the historic ownership of the cottages and mills. • Site-specific design guidance for the village • Full survey of existing trees and ornamental landscapes with appropriate protection measures • Restoration/enhancement schemes to enhance some of Luxulyan’s important focal points 2 Conservation Area Partnership Cornwall Industrial Settlements Initiative LUXULYAN (Hensbarrow Area) Bridget Gillard, Historic Environment Service and The Cahill Partnership 2004 Report No: 2004R090 3 Acknowledgements This report presents the results of an assessment carried out by Bridget Gillard (HES) advised by Nick Cahill of The Cahill Partnership following desktop research by Bryn Perry Tapper (HES). Assistance was also provided by Terry Clarke, Restormel District Council. The report text and map drafts were prepared by Bridget Gillard, advised by Nick Cahill and edited by Nick Cahill and Pete Herring (CISI Project Manager HES). The report maps were produced by John Brinkhoff (CCC Planning Directorate Technical Services Section) from roughs prepared by Bridget Gillard. Front cover illustration: Luxulyan from the air (CCC – 1995/96 – 95-46-056) ©Cornwall County Council 2004 Historic Environment Service, Planning, Transportation and Estates, Cornwall County Council, Kennall Building, Old County Hall, Station Road, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3AY. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the publisher. 4 Contents Page 1 Introduction.........................................................................................................7 1.1 Background................................................................................................................................7 1.2 Project aims................................................................................................................................7 1.3 Project methodology ................................................................................................................7 1.4 Date of assessment ...................................................................................................................7 2 Location and setting...........................................................................................8 2.1 Geographical location ..............................................................................................................8 2.2 Landscape setting......................................................................................................................8 3 History and physical development....................................................................8 3.1 Pre-1809 .....................................................................................................................................8 3.1.1 Economic activity.................................................................................................................8 3.1.2 Extent of settlement.............................................................................................................9 3.2 1809-1840.................................................................................................................................10 3.2.1 Economic activity...............................................................................................................10 3.2.2 Extent of settlement...........................................................................................................10 3.3 1840-1881.................................................................................................................................11 3.3.1 Economic Activity..............................................................................................................11 3.3.2 Extent of settlement...........................................................................................................11 3.4 1881-1905.................................................................................................................................12 3.4.1 Economic activity...............................................................................................................12 3.4.2 Extent of settlement...........................................................................................................12 3.5 1905-1947.................................................................................................................................13 3.5.1 Economic activity...............................................................................................................13 3.5.1 Extent of settlement...........................................................................................................13 3.6 Post 1947..................................................................................................................................13 4 Current character (Figs 3 & 4) ..........................................................................14 4.1 Built environment ...................................................................................................................14 4.1.1 Public/ecclesiastical buildings ..........................................................................................14 4.1.2 Commercial buildings ........................................................................................................14 4.1.3 Engineering structures.......................................................................................................15 4.1.4 Housing................................................................................................................................15 4.1.5 Materials and local details..................................................................................................15 4.1.6 Paving/street ephemera.....................................................................................................15 4.2 Views, vistas and green space................................................................................................16