Heritage Statement Beeston Hall, Beeston Park, Norwich Rev A 10/09/18 CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION 4.0 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE APPENDICES 1.1 Purpose of the Report 4.1 Assessing Significance A Listing Descriptions 1.2 Scope of the Study 4.2 Summary Statement of Significance B National Planning Policy Framework 1.3 Existing Information and Gaps in Knowledge 4.3 Assessment of the Heritage Value C Norfolk Heritage Explorer Ref 1.4 Authorship D Beyond Green Vision E Future Beeston Application Area 2.0 UNDERSTANDING THE SITE 5.0 LEGISLATION AND GUIDANCE 2.1 Site Location 5.1 National Planning Policy Framework 2.2 Site Description 5.2 Local Planning Policy 2.3 Setting and Context 5.3 Heritage Guide 2.4 Heritage Assets 3.0 HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT 6.0 HERITAGE RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Early History of the Site 6.1 Overview 3.2 Beeston Hall: 20th & 21st Century 6.2 Proposed Alterations 6.3 Conclusions 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose of the Report This report has been based on what little evidence is 1.4 Authorship available, in addition to site visits and a review of the This report has been prepared as a Historic Building various listing references available. This report has been prepared by Brown & Co, a firm Statement to support the proposed New Housing to of property and land professionals, which includes a the North and West of Park Farm and adjacent to Chartered Architectural Practice. The key Beeston St Andrew Hall. The report aims to provide a 1.2 Scope of the Report contributors are: thorough understanding of the history of the site and the buildings which surround the development site. The scope of the report is confined to the buildings, Fraser Hall BA(Hons), BArch, PgDip ARB RIBA The proposed site does not have any buildings on it, immediate curtilage and the land which surrounds Ian Knowles Bsc(Hons) however there are some existing 19th century the proposed development site. See page 4 for a site brickwork garden walls. Neither the site nor the plan indicating the scope of the report. structures are listed separately or as part of a curtilage listing. The report makes brief reference to the overall history of the site and Beeston St Andrew, but will The proposed development site sits between Beeston primarily focus on the existing walled garden area, St Andrew Hall and Park Farm. The site is not located proposed site and the buildings which are within a Conservation Area, but sits within the context immediately adjacent to the proposed development. of Beeston Park, Beeston St Andrew, which is recorded as a Historic Parkland on the Norfolk County Council Inventory of Parks. The Park has not been 1.3 Existing information and Gaps in included in HBMC Register of Historic Parks and Knowledge Gardens. A desk-based assessment was carried out in The Hall and Farm buildings are not listed, however, preparation of this report, Norfolk Historic the curved brickwork walls to the south of the Hall Environment Record (NHER) as well as searching are Grade II listed (Entry ref. 1050935). Listed relevant online databases. This search has provided buildings are of special architectural and historic some information on the site but sections of its interest which make up England’s historic history are unrecorded. The Heritage Context section environment. They are protected under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 for the report has been compiled from desk-based and alterations or demolitions to them require Listed research. Building Consent from the local planning authority before they can proceed. 2. UNDERSTANDING THE SITE 2.1 Site Location The site is located to the north-east of Beeston St Andrew Hall and to the north and west of Park Farm. A residential access road bisects the proposed site and both pieces of land are surrounded by mature trees and hedgerows. The buildings are not within a Conservation Area, nor are they adjacent to one. 2.2 Site Description The proposed site is separated into two sections of land, either side of a residential access road, running north-south. Both sections of land are rectangular in shape with the piece to the east being larger. Contained within the larger section of land exists two sections of historic walls and an enclosed walled garden, which enclose one large space and one smaller space (to the south). These sit to the north- west corner of the site. This site is bounded by mature hedgerows and large sections of mature trees on the south and west boundaries. To the south east, where the existing access is made, sit a range of traditional red brick barns which are currently used commercially however they have permission for conversion into residential units. Slightly to the north of the barns, sits Park Farm House. 1. Estate House—Circa 1920 2. Beeston St Andrew Hall - 1897 3. Pool House – Post 4. Stable Building 5. Bungalow 6. Park Farm House 7. Park Farm Barns 8. Estate Houses—Semi-detached Circa 1920 9. Estate Houses—1893 2.2.1 Beeston St Andrew Hall The Norfolk Heritage Explorer provides the following summary: “A building is marked on Faden’s map of 1797 as New Hall, but the present building is in fact a replacement building of 1897, New Hall having been demolished in 1846. The existing building is of red brick and three storeys high. It is however set between two curving walls that partly date from the 17th century, which were part of a building that predated the demolished New Hall.” A full description can be found under Appendix C. 2.2.2 Beeston St Andrew Hall Walls The walls to the south of the Hall are listed Grade II, under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest. The walls are curved 18th century red brick garden walls with stone copings. There are a series of blind semi-circular arches forming an arcade with piers, capped with stone urns at either end. The Listing Description can be found in Appendix B. 2.2.3 Beeston Park The Norfolk Heritage Explorer provides the following summary: “An estate map of 1722 shows Beeston Park as a geometric landscape around an E-plan hall. The main feature was a long, north-northwest to south- southeast, avenue. The geometric landscape survived until the early 19th century but by 1824 had been redesigned in a 'picturesque' manner with winding paths, clumps and irregular tree belts. The long avenue from the geometric landscape was retained to the north and can still be traced in the present day landscape.” A full description can be found under Appendix C. East of the Hall, looking west. Looking north towards Beeston Hall. Beeston Lane 2.2.4 Park Farm Barns The barns represent a good example of a traditional range of brick built agricultural buildings. They should be read in conjunction with Park Farm House, as together these form a typical grouping of farmhouse and ancillary buildings. The barns currently benefit from an approval for their conversation from commercial to residential use. 2.2.5 Park Farm House A traditionally built red brick farm house which runs east-west, with a range of smaller outbuildings to the west. The farmhouse faces due south and overlooks a courtyard style arrangement of gardens and an Looking towards Park Farm House through the farmyard Park Farm House and farmyard existing pond. Approaching Park Farm Park Farm House Park Farm House 2.3 Setting & Context 2.3.1 Setting The development site is situated to the north-east of Norwich (approx. 4 miles from the inner ring road). The sites immediate setting is of enclosed paddock, set within a wider parkland and farm land landscape. There are a number of houses which are dotted around the wider area. The proposals are approx. 40m from an adjacent bungalow (fig.1), 20m from a stable block (fig.2) and Fig 2. Stable block 60m from a pool house (fig.3). These three building are considered to sit within the immediate curtilage of Beeston St Andrew Hall. Beyond this, the site wraps round Park Farm and the associated barns to Fig 1. Bungalow the south (fig.4). The associated plans reference the varying elements which are considered to make up the curtilage and setting of the Hall, along with it association with the site. The wider land which surrounds the Hall, House and Barns, forms the remnants of the Country Park landscape referenced previously, however the majority of this has been converted to agricultural land or has permission for housing development. The parkland has been bisected by the NDR. Fig 4. Barns to the south To the north-west corner of the proposed site, sits a large fully enclosed walled garden with arched pedestrian gate access from the East and West, with a larger gated access to the West. In the south-west corner of the walls there is a small brick built potting shed, raised up with a stepped approach. Internally, some evidence of timber shelving is evident and the original brickwork floor remains in situ. Further to the south, sits an overgrown brickwork structure, which appears to be a lower version of the larger walled garden. Access into the centre of this structure was unfortunately not possible and so it is not possible to report on it further. 2.3.2 Views Views into and out of the proposed site are limited. The associated site plan indicates Looking towards Park Farm from Beeston Road where these exist generally, from a wide context and specifically into and out of the site.