HERITAGE ASSESSMENT Baughurst House, Wolverton Townsend, Baughurst Hants, RG26 5SS Proposed Re-alignment of Entrance Drive November 2016 PREPARED BY: PRO VISION PLANNING & DESIGN FOR AND ON BEHALF OF: Mr & Mrs S Hall HERITAGE ASSESSMENT BAUGHURST HOUSE, WOLVERTON TOWNSEND, BAUGHURST, HANTS RG26 5SS PROJECT NO. 2179/DRIVE PREPARED BY: ANDREW PATRICK DiplArch(Portsmouth) DipTP RegdArcht CONSULTANT CHECKED BY: JAMES CLEARY DIRECTOR DATE: NOVEMBER 2016 PRO VISION PLANNING AND DESIGN GROSVENOR COURT WINCHESTER ROAD AMPFIELD WINCHESTER HAMPSHIRE SO51 9BD COPYRIGHT: The contents of this document must not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written consent of PV Projects. CONTENTS Page 1.0 Introduction & Summary 1 2.0 Overview 2 3.0 Driveways: Existing, Proposed and Heritage Impact Assessment 7 Appendices Appendix A: Site Plan As Existing Appendix B: Site Plan as Proposed Appendix C: Photographs 1 1.0 Introduction & Summary 1.1 Pro Vision Planning & Design are instructed by Mr & Mrs S Hall to assess the potential heritage impact of the proposed re-alignment of the main entrance drive to Baughurst House, Wolverton Townsend, Baughurst, Hants. Wolverton Townsend is the name of the lane from Pound Green to Townsend and Wolverton. 1.2 This Heritage Statement therefore:- a) Outlines relevant information on the overall complex of buildings and grounds at Baughurst House, as the context for the assessment; b) Describes the existing driveways; c) Describes the proposed re-alignment; and d) Assesses the proposed change in light of the listed status of the house and the relationship of the existing and proposed drives to its special architectural and historic interest and its setting. 1.3 This Heritage Statement has been prepared by Andrew Patrick DiplArch (Portsmouth) DipTP Rgd, Archt., a one-time Conservation Officer. Professionally trained in the South of England, he has developed a particular interest in the traditional and historic architecture, patterns of development and traditional materials of the region over several decades. 1.4 Baughurst House stands in open countryside 500m west south-west of Baughurst Parish Church. Approached from Pound Green to the east there is first the main drive at oblique angle leading to the stables and former farmyard, then a former farm manager’s house. This is followed by a gated drive at right angles to Wolverton Townsend. The main house follows, with its front elevation facing south towards the lane, but partly screened by heavy hedging and trees. 1.5 The proposal is to change the main drive. The reason for doing so is the lack of sight lines for vehicles emerging onto the public highway and the location of the access in relation to the horizontal alignment of the highway. This requires vehicles entering from the west to swing onto the wrong side of the road on the inside of a bend. 1.6 The proposal is to reconfigure the existing access onto the highway so vehicles enter and leave at right angles to the highway. The re-aligned drive would then swing north of The Lodge through the open field, to re-join the existing drive just off the north east corner of the main house. 1.7 It is concluded that the proposed relocated drive would have no unacceptable Heritage impact because: a) The relocated driveway would not open up any inappropriate views or remove any landscaping which appears to be of any historic interest or have any special (rather than general) relationships to the architecture of the house; b) The open gravelled drive, the same as the existing, would be typical of this size of country house, and would be an appropriate approach to it, and form an appropriate element of its setting. Heritage Assessment 1 PRO Vision Planning & Design 2179Drive November 2016 2 2.0 Overview 2.1 Historically, the focus of most villages in the rolling claylands between the Hampshire Downs and Thames Valley tended to comprise just a church, a glebe or manor farm, and only a few cottages. The rest of the population of each parish lived in a wide spread of small farms, manor houses, and small country houses, scattered along a network of straggling oak-lined lanes. Prior to extensive 20thCentury development, Baughurst was typical of this pattern, and that part of the Parish around the Church and Baughurst House still is. 2.2 Baughurst House stands in open countryside 500m west, south-west of Baughurst Parish Church (St Stephen’s). It is approached from the Parish Church along a winding lane called Wolverton Townsend. At one bend, the lane veers to the left, but a long drive leads straight ahead towards the stables and other buildings at the rear of Baughurst House. It is assumed this drive was primarily to serve the Home Farm. 2.3 In the long narrow acute angle formed by this drive and Wolverton Townsend stands a Victorian house of red and blue brick, architecturally closely related to the main house. It was converted to 2 dwellings many years ago. It may have been the farm manager’s house. It is marked “L” on the OS extract, now being known as The Lodges. 2.4 Continuing westward is a small clump of trees, followed by a second drive, once the main drive to the House itself. Unlike the first drive, this is at right angles to the public highway, and is gated. It allows a glimpse of the long east elevation of the house. 2.5 Further westward still is substantial hedging behind which the main south elevation of the House can be seen to some extent. This elevation is of red brick with blue salt- glazed headers. It has two main gables either side and a central subsidiary gable, with narrow recessed bays between the gables. Although there are some classical details eg dentil courses, the south and east facing windows of the original house are of the large casement type typical of a country rectory of the mid Victorian era. However the rear (north) elevation has a large round-arched window to the main staircase. 2.6 It would appear that the house was built in 1847 to replace an earlier (18thC?) one. The long east elevation results from a north-running wing being added c 1880. Unlike the 1847 house it has multiple-paned sash windows in the classical style. Such windows are now also a feature of the west elevation. The dates in the main gables are 1698 and 1847. It is thus assumed to be an 1847 house replacing one of 1698. 2.7 Projecting from the north west corner is a single-storey Edwardian extension forming a Billiard Room. Although the south elevation was designed to be seen, the west and north elevations are utilitarian and without windows. The north elevation is particularly ugly, and the deep red (Fareham?) brick is not in keeping with the 1847 or c1880 parts of the house. 2.8 It has a flat roof with plastic domed skylights. It is thought to have been built in free- standing form. However, over the years it has been joined to the main house with a hodge-podge of single storey extensions, also flat roofed, or roofed in translucent corrugated plastic. They incorporate an integral garage complete with up and over door. 2.9 North of the main house stands the former farm yard. From south to north this comprises: Heritage Assessment 2 PRO Vision Planning & Design 2179Drive November 2016 2 Stable Block “S” L-shaped, of red brick under a slate roof, this is a pleasant agricultural-style building, although in itself of no special architectural or historic interest. Barn “F1” Timber framed and timber clad, this has an unusual corrugated iron roof, and was presumably originally thatched or tiled. The space between “S” and “F1” is occupied by a swimming pool. Staddle-Barn “F2” A small timber-clad granary on stone staddles, gabled under a tin roof – presumably originally tiled. Large Steel Barn “F3” This occupies a substantial footprint and is equivalent to two storeys in height. It is obtrusive and out of keeping with the traditional buildings and the open countryside. Dairy “F4” Red brick under a tiled roof. U-shaped with a yard walled in the same brick. Although not of sufficient architectural or historic interest to warrant listing in its own right, it makes an attractive contribution to the overall group of traditional buildings. Small Barn “F5” Brick and timber clad, adjacent to the Dairy. Cartshed “F6” Utilitarian modern timber framed tractor and implement shed. Agricultural Shed “F7” Not inspected 2.10 North west of the house is a partly walled kitchen garden (“K”) with glasshouse (“G”) and tennis court (“T”) 2.11 Baughurst House was listed on 10 January 1953, although correspondence dating from 1964 indicates that there is some question mark as to whether it should have been listed. A letter from the County Planning Officer, dated 21.12.1964 advised a prospective purchaser of Baughurst House that it was included on the 1953 Statutory List. However, that was an interim measure based on documentary evidence only. Subsequently Mrs HLG carried out a more detailed survey of the area resulting in a provisional list issued in 1960. “It would appear that Baughurst House was not then considered of sufficient interest to warrant inclusion and has been omitted from this Provisional List”. It is understood to have been placed on the Statutory List after representations from the then owners. This indicates that the special interest of the House is not such as to prohibit carefully considered alterations. The English Heritage building ID is 137977. The listing description reads: “Early C19.