Ashbourne Conservation Area Appraisal

Ashbourne
Conservation Area Appraisal
May 2008
Ashbourne
Conservation Area Appraisal
Contents
page
Summary
1
1.
Ashbourne in Context
2
2.
Archaeological Significance
4
3.
Origins & Development
5
4.
•
Topography
•
Historical Development
Architectural & Historic Quality
•
10
Materials and Details
5.
Setting of the Conservation Area
60
6.
Landscape Appraisal
63
7.
•
Planning Context
•
Landscape Character
Analysis of Character
•
Character Analysis – Zones 1-4
•
Yards and Gennels
•
Surface Audit – Zones 1-4
75
8.
Negative Elements
118
9.
Neutral Factors
127
10.
Justification for Boundary
128
11.
Conservation Policies
133
•
National/Regional Local Planning Guidance
•
Legislation
•
Other Strategies
Appendix 1 – Listed Buildings and Buildings at Risk
Appendix 2 – Regionally Important Geological Sites
Ashbourne
Conservation Area Appraisal
List of Figures
After page
Fig.1 Aerial Photograph
3
Fig.2 Ashbourne in the Derbyshire Dales
3
Fig.3 Ashbourne Conservation Area – Designations
3
Fig.4 Ashbourne circa. 1550
5
Fig.5 Ashbourne – 1830
6
Fig.6 Ordnance Survey Map – 1880
7
Fig.7 Ordnance Survey Map – 1900
7
Fig.8 Burgage Plots
9
Fig.9 Conservation Area Appraisal Zones
10
Fig.10 Building Chronology
40
Fig.11 Landscape Appraisal – Planning Designations
63
Fig.12 Landscape Appraisal – Trees & Woodlands
64
Fig.13 Character Analysis – Zone 1
82
Fig.14 Character Analysis – Zone 2
84
Fig.15 Character Analysis – Zone 3
91
Fig.16 Character Analysis – Zone 4
96
Fig.17 Yards & Gennels
102
Fig.18 Surface Audit – Zone 1a & 1b
106
Fig.19 Surface Audit – Zone 2
107
Fig.20 Surface Audit – Zone 3
115
Fig.21 Surface Audit – Zone 4
117
Fig.22 Proposed Boundary Amendments (a, b & c)
132
Fig. 23 Conservation Area Boundary as Approved May 2008
132
Summary
One of the most fundamental characteristics of
Ashbourne is its wealth and quality of historic
buildings. Within the Conservation Area alone there
are 183 listed structures which range from the grand
and fashionable Georgian town houses to smaller
cottages of a more vernacular scale and appearance.
Milestones, telephone boxes, historic street paving,
trees and open areas of pastoral land, all contribute
to the quality of the environment.
Ashbourne displays a unified and holistic character,
predominantly Georgian, but with remnants of its
Mediaeval past within its core and later Victorian
properties of note on the periphery of the town.
The building development is tightly knitted into the
framework of the town, generally along the main
arterial routes of Church Street, St John’s Street, the
Market Place and Buxton Road Coupled with this
are the intrinsic details rife throughout the area,
which demonstrate the nostalgia of earlier ages.
Victorian shopfronts, decorative iron-work such as
railings, boot scrapers, lanterns and door knockers
and other forms of décor abound in the streets and
on the buildings, and thus the history and the social
status of the town can still be observed.
Panoramic views spread out from the higher
vantage points, across the rooftops and chimneys
and gardens of the town to the valley and hills
beyond. Many of the short range views are
contained within the confines of the built fabric and
some open out across the mediaeval burgage plots
to the rear of the fine buildings along Church Street
and St. John’s Street. Coupled with these are
glimpses into the ‘secret’ and often unnoticed
passages and gennels, some of which lead to rear
yards which have been developed over the centuries
as the town expanded.
•
Mainly three storey buildings displaying a
vertical emphasis
•
Survival of mediaeval burgage plots which form
large rear gardens to many of the town houses.
•
A number of historic pedestrian alleys/ gennels.
•
A substantial amount of historic surfacing
remaining.
•
Remaining plan layout - main arterial route
running east to west and historic ‘triangular’
shaped market place.
•
Attractive historic shop fronts
•
Interesting array of roofs, chimney stacks and
pots which can be viewed from many vantage
points.
•
Landmark and prominent buildings in the
street-scene which form focal points from
around the area
•
The topography of the land has shaped the
development of the core of the town, with the
Henmore Brook at its southern extent
•
Numerous remaining decorative details and
features.
•
High brick walls forming garden boundaries
and enclosures to roads/streets. Private gardens
are a distinctive feature
•
Historic tunnel now used as pedestrian route –
part of the Tissington Trail.
•
Henmore Brook has restricted development
encroaching on the town from the south.
•
Contemplative and discrete spaces such as
Spaldens Almshouse, Coopers Gardens, and St
Oswald’s Churchyard.
•
The development within the conservation area
is predominantly comprised of historic
buildings.
•
A balanced mix of residential and commercial
property
The distinctive characteristics of Ashbourne
can be summarised as follows:•
High quality architecture throughout the
Conservation Area. Many of the buildings are
nationally recognised by their listed status.
•
Formal ‘polite’ architecture in contrast to
smaller vernacular cottages/service buildings.
•
Uniformity of building material, predominantly
brick.
•
Many buildings especially along Church St/ St
John Street display an individual character
within the greater whole and display the social
status of Ashbourne at its Georgian peak.
1