Harpole CA Report_3 , item 23. PDF 4 MB

Harpole is a place of special character and
historic interest.
This appraisal and management plan set out
the features that contribute to its
distinctiveness and identify opportunities for
its protection and enhancement.
Harpole
CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL
Adopted July 2012
1
Summary
Summary of special interest
Change is inevitable in most
conservation areas and it is not the
intention of the designation to
prevent the continued evolution of
places.
The challenge within
conservation areas is to manage
change in a way that maintains,
reinforces and enhances the special
qualities of the area.
Harpole’s origins are as a rural
working village of some age with
evidence suggesting that there has
been settlement within the parish
since at least the time of the Roman
occupation.
The village of Harpole is situated on
a flat terrace of land above the River
Nene in the West Northamptonshire
Uplands. This is an area of
undulating hills and valleys underlain
by intractable Lias Group Clays
capped locally by the ironstone
bearing Marlstone Rock and
Northampton Sand Formations. The
geology of the area helps to
contribute to the special character
and appearance of the settlement
and its conservation area.
Key characteristics of
conservation area include:
the
Summary of issues and
opportunities
• A
predominantly linear
development with an intimate
enclosed character derived from
its location and the surrounding
topography which restricts views
into and out of the conservation
area from and to the surrounding
countryside.
The protection and enhancement of
the special character of the
conservation area will owe much to
positive management. In addition to
the existing national statutory
legislation and local planning controls
the following opportunities for
enhancement have been identified:
• Building types influenced by the
• Establish a list of locally significant
settlements agricultural origins
and later association with the
Northampton Boot and shoe
industry and the Co-operative.
buildings and policies for their
protection.
• A sense of enclosure created by
the positioning of buildings and
walls close to the edge of the
highway.
• A
dominant
use
of
Northamptonshire Ironstone in
both buildings and other features
and structures giving visual unity
to building groups regardless of
age.
• Soft landscaping that positively
contributes to the area. Trees and
the small pockets of open green
land that are found in both private
gardens and the public realm
significantly add to the sense and
character of the village.
The Conservation Area Boundary
Harpole’s Conservation Area was
designated in June 1991. The
boundary was once again altered in
July 2012 to include four further
areas of the settlement which were
considered to be of significant
interest and remove some areas of
land and buildings of limited
architectural and historic interest.
• Encourage the protection of
surviving historic detail and the
reinstatement of appropriately
detailed fittings in buildings
considered to be of significance to
the character and appearance of
the conservation area.
• Ensure that all new development
is sustainable, high quality, well
designed and responds to its
context in terms of urban and
architectural design.
• Promote
the sympathetic
management of open space within
the conservation area, including
verges and to work with the
highway authorities to avoid the
insertion of inappropriate kerbing
and footpaths which would have a
harmful urbanising affect.
2
Summary
3
Figure 1: The boundary of the Harpole Conservation Area.
Copyright Bluesky World International Ltd.
1. Introduction and Planning Policy Context
1.1
What is a conservation area
Conservation Areas were introduced
under the Civic Amenities Act of
1967. That Act required Local
Planning Authorities to identify areas,
as opposed to individual buildings, of
special architectural or historic
interest and to designate them as
conservation areas.
Since 1967 some 9,100 conservation
areas have been designated in
England, including 54 in the South
Northamptonshire District to date.
The Harpole Conservation Area is
one of those 54 areas having
originally been designated in June
1991.
1.2
Planning Policy context
The Planning (Listed Buildings and
Conservation Areas) Act 1990 is the
act of parliament which today
provides legislation for the protection
of the nation’s heritage of buildings
and places of architectural and
historic interest.
Section 69 of the 1990 Act defines a
conservation area as:
“an area of architectural or historic
interest the character and
appearance of which it is desirable to
preserve or enhance”.
The 1990 Act also places a duty on
Local Planning Authorities to
consider revisions to the boundaries
of their Conservation Areas “from
time to time”.
This document is an appraisal of the
Harpole Conservation Area and is
based on a standard format derived
from advice contained in English
Heritage's 2006 guidance
‘Conservation Area Appraisals’ and
the 2011 English Heritage
consultation draft document
“Understanding Place: Conservation
Area Designation, Appraisal and
Management”.
By updating the conservation area
appraisal for Harpole the special
character and appearance of the
area can continue to be identified
and protected. The conservation area
appraisal and management plan
provide the basis for making
informed, sustainable decisions in
the positive management, protection
and enhancement of the
conservation area.
The appraisal provides a clear
understanding of the special interest
of Harpole by assessing how the
settlement has developed, analysing
its present day character and
identifying opportunities for
enhancements.
This appraisal has been the subject of
public consultation and was adopted
by the South Northamptonshire
Council in July 2012. At that time it
became a material consideration in
the planning process to be used
amongst other things in the
determination of planning applications
within the conservation area and its
setting. The appraisal is not intended
to be comprehensive and omission of
any particular building, feature or
space should not be taken to imply
that it is not of interest.
This appraisal should also be read in
conjunction with the wider national
and local planning policy and
guidance including the National
Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
under which a conservation area is
deemed to be a Heritage Asset.
The South Northamptonshire Local
Plan was adopted in 1997 and
resaved in part on 28 September
2007. It designates Harpole as a
Restricted Infill Village with policy H5
of the plan restricting development
within such villages to the infilling of a
small gap in an otherwise built
frontage; or a small group of
dwellings; or the conversion of an
existing building.
Policies EV10 and EV11 continue
and state that: “The Council will seek
to preserve or enhance the special
character or appearance of
conservation areas.” and that
“Planning permission will not be
granted for any development
proposals outside of a conservation
area which have an adverse effect on
the setting of the conservation area
or any views into or out of the area.”
1.3 What does conservation area
status mean?
Conservation area status provides
the opportunity to promote the
protection and enhancement of the
special character of the area.
Designation confers a general control
over development that could damage
the area's character. The details are
complex but can be summarised as:
•
•
•
•
Most demolition requires
permission and will be resisted
if the building makes a positive
contribution to the area.
Some minor works are no
longer “permitted development”
and will require planning
permission. Examples include
external cladding and satellite
antennas.
Most works to trees have to be
notified to the Local Planning
Authority for its consideration.
Generally higher standards of
design apply for new buildings
and alterations to 4existing
ones.
2. Location, Topography and Geology
Figure 2:
Harpole is located to the north of the A45
and to the west of Northampton.
© Crown copyright.
All rights reserved. South
Northamptonshire Council. LA 100022487 2012.
5
2. Location, Topography and Geology
2.1
Location
To the south of the settlement the land remains relatively level with its dominant land use being that of arable farming and
The village and parish of Harpole are
located to the north of the busy A45
and approximately 3 miles to the
west of Northampton on the north
eastern edge of the district of South
Northamptonshire, close to its border
with Daventry District.
ironstone bearing Marlstone Rock
and Northampton Sand Formations.
This results in well defined features
such as steeply sloping prominent
hills which contrast with softer
landscapes where capping by a thick
mantle of boulder clay has occurred.
At the time of writing the village had a
population of approximately 1,594
and although the economy was once
dominated by agriculture and then
‘outworking’ for the thriving boot and
shoes industry of nearby
Northampton it is now very much a
dormitory settlement with a
population that out commutes for
employment.
The pattern of fieldscapes in the area
around Harpole present a
background of 18th century
parliamentary enclosure with areas
that have been altered in the 19th
century. In addition to this there are
also some surviving areas of
pre-parliamentary enclosure on land
belonging to the deserted medieval
village of Glassthorpe a short
distance to the west of Harpole.
perception of a human scale, intimate
landscape.
A dense network of narrow winding
country lanes also contributes to the
area’s character. These are often
bordered by hedgerows linking the
wide distribution of villages, hamlets
and small farms which contribute to
the sense of a long settled landscape
focused on agricultural production.
Village morphology varies with both
compact nucleated and linear
villages of varying sizes evident in
the area.
approximately 80
mean sea level.
metres
In its more immediate context
Harpole lies on a flat terrace just
above the River Nene at
2.2 Topography and Geology
The Northamptonshire Environmental
Character and Green Infrastructure
Strategies were published by the
River Nene Regional Park CIC in
2009. These strategies included
environmental, landscape and
biodiversity character assessments
for the county.
In relation to Harpole the
assessments concluded that the
settlement is located in the West
Northamptonshire Uplands. This is
an area of undulating hills and
valleys underlain by intractable Lias
Group Clays capped locally by the
Overall these factors combine to
present a land cover that is primarily
improved agriculture with arable and
pastoral farming evident in equal
measure. Field layouts are semi
regular in pattern and mostly
subdivided by straight hedgerows.
Such hedgerows and other small
areas of tree planting surrounding
farmsteads are important locally and
contribute to the local landscape
character and the perception of a
well treed landscape. Trees and
woodlands also limit views and
combine with landforms to add to the
6
above
3. History and development
3.1
History
Research suggests that Harpole is a
place of great antiquity with evidence
indicating that Neolithic, Bronze and
Iron Age settlement occurred within
the parish.
Roman settlement is however more
certain with the area around Harpole
being known to form part of a wider
Roman landscape dominated by villa
estates.
The former Roman road from
Bannaventa to Duston passes to the
north of the settlement on the rough
alignment of the current Duston,
Nobottle, Brington Road that drives
west out of Northampton. Notable
Roman buildings have also been
recorded at Barn Close to the
northwest of the present day
settlement and to its south on a site
at Harpit adjacent to the A45 dual
carriageway.
A record for the village also occurs in
the Domesday book of 1086. There
it is named as Horpol with ‘Hor’ being
the Saxon word for bound or limit and
‘Pol’ that for pool. This is probably
derived from one of the boundaries
adopted by the original settlers.
At the time of the Domesday survey
Harpole is recorded to have a
population of 27 with 14 villagers, five
smallholders, seven slaves and one
priest. The tenant in chief was
William Peverel who held two and a
half hides in Harpole with the total
amount of arable land within the
parish being six carcuates (’Hide’
and ‘Carcuates’ are
historic old
English measurements of land used
for the purposes of taxation).
Two of the carcuates were held by
the lord of the manor, and the
remainder by the rest of the
population. Other resources included
ten acres of meadow land and ten
acres of woodland.
The Domesday records provide
evidence that by the time that the first
Rector of Harpole was appointed in
1224 that there must have been a
well established church within the
settlement.
The presence of the 12th Century
Church of All Saints (Figure 4)
provides further evidence of the early
establishment of the church and
settlement in the surrounding area.
Today the church has been Grade II*
listed in recognition of its special
architectural and historic interest.
The building retains a number of
interesting Norman features including
a finely carved font and south access
door and arch to the priests doorway
on the south side of the chancel.
Figure 4: The 12th Century Church of All Saints is the settlement’s oldest surviving building.
The settlement of Harpole continued
to grow throughout the medieval
period during which time Harpole is
considered to have had two manorial
settlements one of them is known as
the St Hillery Manor (later the Vaux
Manor) and the other Tanfield Manor.
The second of these is thought to
have had links to the priory at
Chacombe whose monks are
believed to have established a cell or
grange in the parish under the name
of Balaam’s Abbey.
In the 17th century Harpole
experienced a rush of building activity
typical of much of the countryside at
that time. This was referred to as
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‘The Great Rebuilding’.
3. History and development
century to 1950’s still had its related
sandstone buildings still standing.
It is also believed that the site of the
Tanfield Manor was possibly located
on the field to the current agricultural
field to the south of Grange Farm,
with the stone from that building
having been used in the construction
of No.56 Upper High Street.
This was followed in the 18th century
by the Enclosures Act when the
manorial lands that had up until then
been farmed on the open field
system were enclosed. The remains
of the previous open field system can
still be seen on many of the fields on
the village margins today.
The enclosure award in Harpole was
made in 1778 and amongst other
things made provision for the
establishment of a school. It was
however not until 1835 that a
purpose made building was
constructed.
The village continued to grow as a
thriving agricultural community in the
17th and 18th centuries and several
buildings from that era remain today.
Figure 5: Ironstone and thatch are the traditional building materials of the village’s older properties. This
property dates from the middle of the 18th century.
Many of the older buildings that
remain within the village can be seen
to date from that time and are typified
by their stone walls and thatched
roofs.
Also at this time the Tanfield and
Vaux manors which had controlled
the village for centuries were
purchased by local yeoman.
The location of these important
manorial sites within the village has
not been identified for certain but it is
believed that the Vaux Manor could
have been located on what is known
as Rolfe’s Farmor The Old Farm on
School Lane. This is a site with the
field at the rear, known as Knights
Close, which is believed to be the site
of a medieval garden with possibly a
post mill.
This was an ancient farmstead with
large stone threshing barns and a
dovecote and including a field known
as the Mottes, or possibly Moat
Close, dating from before the
Enclosure Award. It may be the site
of the Vaux Manors and from pre 18th
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Figure 6: Working farms within the village help to maintain the historic use of Harpole
3. History and development
Agriculture’s influence on Harpole
dominated until the 1860s when the
booming boot and shoe industry of
nearby Northampton made its way to
the settlement. The idea of better
working conditions and a degree of
control over their own destiny lead to
a subtle but infectious change in
those who had previously been
reliant upon working on the land.
This movement also corresponds
with the period of red brick
construction within the village as
many small workshops and
outbuildings were constructed by the
boot and shoe home workers (Figure
7). Evidence of these buildings and
therefore the important
socio-economic change to have
befallen the village at that time
remains today.
It was also at that time the
Co-operative movement began in
Harpole and along with the boot and
shoe industry had a significant
impact on the settlement helping to
shape the village that we see today.
Ten years after it opened the Co-op
is reported to have had 193 members
and during the later part of the 19th
century the Harpole Co-op can be
seen to have had a great influence
on the village.
Prior to the 1850s almost all of the
houses within the village had been
built of local stone and thatched.
However with the coming of the
canals and railways and the advent
of local brick making the
development of red brick properties
accelerated.
This included the now demolished
premises of the Co-op store itself on
the corner of High Street and Larkhall
Lane (Figures 10 and 11).
Many other remnants of this building
programme still remain however and
these include cottages that were built
by the Co-op in Upper High Street,
Larkhall Lane and what is now
Garner’s Way.
The construction of twelve new
dwellings of modest proportions in
the form of ‘New Row’ or Co-op Row
(now known as Mount Pleasant) had
a significant impact on the village
(Figure 13).
Other larger houses were also
constructed and included Lyndene
and Lyndhurst on Upper High Street
(Figure 12). These display the date
stone of JWH 1899 which reflects the
fact that they were built by Joe
Haynes an important figure in the Cooperative. They were lived in by the
Butcher and Grocery department
manager of the Harpole Store.
Figure 7: Evidence of a former shoe working building on the Upper High Street.
Figure 8: A photograph of the
same site taken from the south
over 100 years earlier. Here the
occupants of the building can
clearly be seen to wear their shoe
makers aprons. (Source: Harpole
Heritage Group)
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3. History and development
Figure 9: A map showing the scale of the former Co-op site at the corner of Larkhall Lane and Upper
Figure 10: A postcard from 1915 with the Co-op buildings on the left. (Source: Harpole Heritage Group ).
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Figure 11: The now demolished Co-op buildings of the 1940s.
Figure 12: Lyndene and Lyndhurst on Upper High Street. Built
in the 1890s by Joe Haynes of the Co-op.
Figure 13: Mount Pleasant (previously New Row or Co-op)
3. History and development
11
Figure 14: Map of Harpole 1893
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. South Northamptonshire Council. LA 100022487 2012.
3. History and development
3.2
Archaeological
The archaeological record for the
parish of Harpole is far from
complete and although it does
contain a number of entries there is
clearly room for further investigative
work.
There are however a number of
recorded find spots/sites listed for the
area with one relating to a Scheduled
Ancient Monument.
3.3
Scheduled Monument
There are two Scheduled
Monuments within the vicinity of the
settlement. One is listed as Roman
villa North of Road Hill Farm (Glebe
Farm) close to the Nobottle Road at
the north of the parish. It has the
scheduled monument reference
number of NN113.
The second is located in the field
known as Harpit opposite the current
Red Lion Inn on the Weedon Road.
This was first discovered in 1846
with a mosaic pavement being
uncovered at a later date.
3.4 Non-Designated Assets
In addition to the recognised and
scheduled land mentioned above
Harpole contains a wealth of non
designated heritage assets and sites
which are considered worthy of
12
Figure 15: Harpole is an area rich in archaeology (the broken green lines indicate find areas).
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. South Northamptonshire
Council. LA 100022487 2012.
3. History and development
comment in this appraisal. These
include the area of land to the south
of the village stretching from Hall
Farm on Glassthorpe Lane to the
bottom of park lane which whilst not
included within the conservation area
is of interest.
Central to this particular area are the
Hall Farm Barns on Glassthorpe
Lane, the only surviving remnants of
a huge working farm once the
property of the Watts-Manning family,
Lords of the Manor of Harpole, who
built Harpole Hall in the early 19th
century, having developed the
profitable Castle Brewery on Black
Lion Hill from their agricultural
enterprises in butchery and grazing.
The Manning landholdings were
scattered over many neighbouring
parishes.
The buildings contain some fine
stonework of great quality and show
evidence of ancient documented
human occupation, from possibly
being a cell of the monks of
Chacombe Priory pre the Dissolution
of the Monasteries to a 16th century
farmhouse occupied by the Starmer
family and known as Baalam’s Abbey
to later additions of the 1700s which
establish a Georgian residence which
later became the Farm Manager’s
house. However by the middle of the
last century it had been relegated to
farm workers’ cottages, and latterly a
machinery store.
Figure 16: Aerial showing ponds in south west of village.
It was the Manning family who
developed the Parkland in the fields
to the south behind the barns which
stretches to the A45. This Parkland
contains the remains of some fine
trees, interesting ridge and furrow
evidence, the remains of a carriage
drive for the use of the tenants of the
Hall who were mainly commandants
at Weedon Barracks, the remains of
Tom Horton’s cricket pitch (first
president of Northampton Cricket
Club who tenanted the Hall from
1898 – 1912), the ancient route to
Harpole Mill (now demolished) but
still one of Harpole’s connecting
walks to the River Nene and the
Nene Way. The two lakes which
were probably the man made stew
ponds created by the monks of
Chacombe Priory to supply their
Friday fish. Immediately to the east of
these at the bottom of Park Lane the
village pound was once located.
However the only indication of this
today is the high stone walls which
are, in the main, still extant and
delineate the residential boundaries
13
of today’s settlement.
4. Spatial Analysis
4.1
Land Use
With the exception of its places of
worship, school, two public houses,
former school hall, village shop and
surviving farms Harpole has an
almost entirely residential land use.
4.2 Street pattern,
means of enclosure
footpaths,
A winding linear route makes its way
through the historic core of Harpole
with one main road running north to
south through the entire length of the
village. Although other roads branch
off from this at various intervals the
historic village remains strongly
clustered around this spine road.
All roads are surfaced in tarmacadam
and with the exception of the lower
part of Park Lane, the Upper High
Street to the north of Garners Way
and the eastern end of School Lane
all benefit from two footpaths. These
run alongside the carriageway and
are of varying widths and heights.
They are however generally all
surfaced in modern materials and
with very few exceptions edged with
modern kerbing materials.
There is a strong sense of enclosure
throughout the settlement. This is as
a result of the positioning of buildings
in close proximity to the highway and
also to the construction of a number
of linking stone boundary walls.
In the main these walls are mostly
constructed of coursed ironstone at
varying heights and with a variety of
different capping treatments. This is
largely the same material as the
surrounding buildings and provides
visual unity to the building groups
regardless of age.
A few red brick walls are also present
and further contribute to the sense of
enclosure. They are generally
associated with the 19th century
housing related to the boot and shoe
industry and the power of the Co-op
in the 19th century.
Overhead wires are present
throughout the village as is street
lighting. In the upper part of the
village this presents itself in the form
of a lamp projecting from the side of
a building or off of a telegraph pole
and in the lower part of the village in
the form of modern lamp standards.
Although there is a strong sense of
enclosure within the village buildings
are not overbearing. This is as a
result of the width of the highway,
the presence of footpaths and a
surprisingly large amount of
vegetation.
14
Figures 17 to 22: Ironstone walls of varying heights are an important and dominant feature in the
settlement which contribute to the sense of enclosure that is present throughout the village.
4. Spatial Analysis
4.3 Trees,
Spaces
Hedges
and
Open
Harpole gives the impression of a
green settlement with trees, hedges
and other forms of soft landscaping
forming an essential element in the
village which helps to define its
character.
The nature and impact of these
green features vary as you move
through the village and mainly take
the form of planting in the gardens of
domestic properties which help to
soften what would otherwise appear
as a hard natural built environment.
To the north of the village on the
Upper High Street, a wide grass
verge to the front of No. 54 and
some well established planting within
the front garden of No. 56 and other
surrounding properties make a
positive contribution and create an
attractive area.
Further south the road narrows but
the softness is still present in the
form of planting in the gardens of
properties including Lyndene and
Lyndhurst.
A sense of enclosure is also a key
feature within the village and one
which owes much to its vegetation.
A particular example of this can be
seen when considering the trees that
surround the Old Rectory and All
Saints Church.
These mainly
deciduous trees provide a backdrop
to the imposing church tower and
help to reinforce a sense of
enclosure.
Further mature trees are also present
on the High Street around the Baptist
Church and reinforce the sense of
enclosure created by the boundary
walls in that area.
As a result of the pattern of the built
development the amount of open
space that exists within the village is
limited. Publicly accessible green
open spaces within the conservation
area are therefore restricted to the
church yard of All Saints Church, the
green at the junction of Glassthorpe
Lane and the High Street and the
small area of green land to the front
of No. 53 High Street.
Figures 23-25: Trees, hedges and open spaces have an important role to play in the significance
15 of
Harpole.
4. Spatial Analysis
Figures 26 and 27:
The historic core of Harpole still retains the
linear arrangement of its past, derived in part
from the settlements manorial and agricultural
origins.
The countryside around the settlement displays a
strong footpath network radiating from the village
in all directions. This is displayed on the map
opposite by the broken purple lines.
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved.
South Northamptonshire Council. LA 100022487
2011
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved.
South Northamptonshire Council. LA 100022487 2012.
16
4. Spatial Analysis
4.4
Scale and massing
Most older properties within the
settlement have two internal floors of
accommodation although there is
some slight range in scale to include
the grander properties, where a
steeper roof pitch and higher ceiling
heights create greater presence and
also some use of the roof space, it is
the smaller scale vernacular cottages
which dominate.
There are however a number of
buildings set at an angle to the road
and this helps to create a varied
series of building compositions as
you travel through the village.
Most older properties are of a narrow
depth with a wide frontage and this
contributes to their mass and
compensates for their vernacular
scale. Others of narrower width form
terraces which enhances their visual
impact. Accretions and rear
extensions are single and two storey
in height and often of differing
materials denoting their later date of
construction.
All Saints Church is the key built
landmark within the conservation
area. It is located on raised ground
at the intersection of High Street, and
School Lane. The Church occupies
a key position within the village and
has done so for over eight hundred
years. It does not however provide
the focal point that many other
churches provide as a result of the
enclosed nature of the village and the
layout of the highway.
A second landmark comes in the
form of the green and tree at the
junction of the High Street and
Glassthorpe Lane in the centre of the
historic village. This is an important
location within the village as it marks
the junction of two roads and
provides green open space to an
area generally lacking in such land.
The provision of a tree of such a
scale also allows for a sense of
intimacy and enclosure to be retained
in what would otherwise be, for the
village, a large open space.
The green and tree are important to
the village and indicated on a number
of historic maps. The current tree
arrived sometime during the second
half of the last century following the
removal of a most impressive elm
tree that had acted as a landmark for
many years.
4.5 Landmarks
Figure 28: Built in 1878 Mount Pleasant Cottage is
one of the very few three storey buildings within the
conservation area.
The built environment is generally of
a fine grained domestic scale with
most buildings located close to the
highway’s edge with ridge lines that
follow the road alignment and assist
in creating a coherent street.
17
Figure 29: The 12th Century Church of All Saints
is the settlement’s oldest surviving building and a
landmark within the conservation area.
Figure 30: Tree Green on the junction of High Street and Glassthorpe Lane is a
further landmark.
4. Spatial Analysis
4.6 Views
The location of the settlement and
the surrounding topography limits
views into and out of the village and
contributes to its intimate enclosed
character. This character is further
enhanced by the form and layout of
the development and the positioning
of the buildings and boundary walls
which constrain most views to the
public realm.
These views are progressive and
follow the linear nature of the public
realm. Key views from the High
Street towards All Saints Church are
particularly important as are
glimpsed views of the open
countryside beyond the confines of
the village. These accentuate the
rural setting of the village and
enhance its character as a rural
settlement.
Proposed Conservation Area
Listed Building
Other Significant Building
Important Wall
Tree Preservation Order
- Single/Group
Important Tree or Tree Group
Important Open Space
Important View
Figure 31: Important Spatial Features in the Harpole
Conservation Area.
18
Public Right of Way
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. South Northamptonshire Council. LA 100022487 2012.
5. Architectural Analysis
5.1
Building age, type and style
With the exception of the 12th
Century Church of All Saints the
oldest of the properties within the
conservation area date from the
middle part of the 17th century.
Where it has been used in buildings
and walls the ironstone can be seen
to be squared and laid in courses
with fine mortar joints.
The second most common building
material is red brick with nearly all of
the 19th and early 20th century
buildings associated with the boot
and shoe industry and the
dominance of the Co-operative
Agricultural origins influence many of
the building types in the settlement
which include farmhouses, their
barns and outbuildings, vernacular
farm workers’ cottages and buildings
such as places of worship which
served the needs of the villagers. In
recognition of these modest origins
most of the settlement’s historic
buildings are an unassuming local
vernacular.
Both red brick and ironstone are also
used in the construction of the
boundary walls which make such a
positive contribution to the character
of the area. As with the buildings,
the grander of these walls are
constructed of coursed squared
ironstone with the lesser walls
constructed of rubble stone that has
been brought to course.
The traditional roofing material of the
area was long straw thatch with a
flush ridge although there are very
few surviving examples of thatching
within the conservation area. Where
these do remain they are now
predominately of combed wheat
straw with block cut ridges.
Other important influences are the
Northampton boot and shoe industry
and the Co-operative.
Buildings
associated with these two major
employers date from the middle of
the 19th century and are mostly
constructed of red brick to a modest
domestic scale.
The advent of the railway and canal
network in the 18th century ensured
that Welsh slate made an
introduction to the village and this is
now the predominant roofing material
on older properties. Although plain
clay and concrete tiles are also in
evidence in a handful of locations
with pantiles also being seen on the
roof of the barn at Church Farm.
5.2 Materials
The predominant building material of
the conservation area is locally
quarried ironstone, which has a
warm orange colour and a fairly fine
texture. The dominant use of this
material lends a strong sense of unity
to the built environment within the
conservation area.
constructed from this material and
coursed in Flemish bond.
19
Figures 32-35: Brick, Stone and slate are the dominant materials of construction within the village.
5. Architectural Analysis
5.3 Roofscape
With a few exceptions rooflines are
generally simple and uncluttered
without gables, dormer windows and
roof lights. This tends to reinforce
the strong building line along the
street. Gables are traditionally plain,
with mortared verges and no hips,
often topped with a row of red bricks.
Eaves are open with no gutter
boards.
Older properties have multiple
chimney stacks, invariably on the
ridge at the gable although some
properties have central stacks too.
Most chimneys are constructed of
red or blue brick to modest
proportions although one or two are
more substantial structures that have
Figure 36: A traditional building with chimneys on
the ridge at the gable and across the roof.
Most of the 18th and 19th century
red brick housing was constructed
with openings for sash windows.
None now appear to have retained
their original windows which have
been replaced with a variety of
modern alternatives.
been constructed of ironstone. These
add significant interest to the skyline.
5.4 Windows
Window openings on the vernacular
ironstone constructed buildings
generally respect the proportions of
traditional two/three light casement
windows although limited examples
of original windows remain with many
having been replaced by later
reproductions.
A small number of buildings have
leaded light windows and fewer still
stone mullions. On an unfortunately
large number of occasions modern
UPVC windows have found their way
into some of the settlement’s older
buildings causing harm to their
character and appearance.
Of the windows that do exist most
are constructed of white painted
timber and benefit from multiple
glazing bars. The positioning of the
windows vary and at first floor level
most sit either directly beneath the
eaves or a short distance from them.
This may often be at a low level
within the room.
5.5 Porches and Doors
There is not a tradition of enclosed
porches on the front elevation of
buildings within the area with only a
handful of examples existing. A
surprising number of buildings do
however have projections over the
front door usually in the form of gable
roof canopies.
The lintel and cill detailing of the
windows varies from building to
building with timber lintels appearing
most frequently and often in
conjunction with stone cills. Timber
cills are however also prevalent and
on some of the grander buildings
stone cills are used in conjunction
with stone lintels.
These later
buildings often benefit from timber
sashes too.
Nearly all properties have either solid
timber plank or panelled doors. Very
few of these appear original with the
doors to many properties having
been repl aced with modern
alternatives even on occasion with
20
UPVC.
Figure 37-39: A variety of window types exist
within Harpole.
5. Architectural Analysis
5.6 Positive Buildings
Figure 40 opposite identifies
buildings which make a positive
contribution to the character of the
conservation area. This contribution
may be in one or more of the
following ways:
• Landmark buildings
• Buildings which provide evidence
•
•
•
•
of the area’s history and
development
Buildings of architectural merit
Buildings with local historical
associations
Buildings which exemplify local
vernacular styles
Groups of buildings which
together make a positi ve
contribution to the streetscape
There should be a presumption in
favour of their retention in all but
exceptional circumstances.
A number of these important
buildings are listed as they are of
national importance because of their
historic or architectural interest. It is
an offence to undertake alterations to
a listed building without first gaining
permission to do so from the Local
Planning Authority.
Figure 40: Significant buildings in the Harpole Conservation Area
including those listed buildings of architectural or historic interest.
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved.
South Northamptonshire Council. LA21
100022487 2012.
6. Boundary Justification
6.1 Boundary justification background
Section 69 of the Planning (Listed
Buildings and Conservation Areas)
Act 1990 places a duty on Local
Planning Authorities to designate as
conservation areas any “areas of
special architectural or historic
interest the character and
appearance of which it is desirable to
preserve or enhance”.
It is the quality of the area rather than
the individual buildings which should
be the prime consideration in
identifying conservation areas. It is
also important that the concept is not
devalued by designating areas
lacking any special interest. These
considerations have been recognised
in the adoption of the current Harpole
Conservation Area the boundaries of
which are defined as follows.
With few exceptions the boundary of
the conservation area can be seen to
closely follow the rear boundaries of
the plots which line the side of the
Upper High Street and High Street as
it makes its way north to south
through the village.
In the south of the village the
boundary extends southwards along
Park Lane, in the west along the
northern side of School Lane as far
as the Old School Hall and in the
east a short distance along the
southern side of Larkhall Lane to
Figure 41: Harpole Conservation Area
Nos. 18-22 which sit adjacent the
Live and Let Live Public House.
Further north but still on the eastern
side of the Upper High Street the
boundary continues along Garners
Way to include the red brick
buildings on Mount Pleasant. At the
very north of the settlement the
boundary encompasses a large
proportion of the farmyard and
residential land surrounding the
Grade II listed Grange Farmhouse
and extends eastwards to include
the building and front garden22at No.
59 Upper High Street.
7. Management Plan
Policy Context
The Planning (Listed Buildings and
Conservation Areas) Act 1990 places
a duty on Local Planning Authorities
to formulate and publish proposals
for the preservation and
enhancement of its conservation
areas. Conservation area
management proposals should be
published as part of the process of
area designation and review. Their
aim is to provide guidance through
policy statements to assist in the
preservation and enhancement of the
conservation area.
Such development and the
incremental urbanisation and
extension of existing properties
could, if not handled sensitively, pose
a significant threat to the character
and appearance of the Harpole
Conservation Area one which could
lead to the erosion of its special
character.
enhance the character and
appearance of the conservation area.
Another threat is the cumulative
impact of the numerous and often
small scale alterations that occur to
unlisted traditional buildings within
the village.
Figures 42- 46 Threats to the conservation area
come in a variety of forms.
It is not just inappropriate alterations
to private buildings which pose a
threat, ill-considered alterations to
the public realm can also result in the
loss of an area‘s special character
and appearance.
Threats
Harpole is an attractive settlement,
however, there are a number of
threats and issues which have the
potential to detract from its special
character. Addressing these now
offers the opportunity to enhance the
conservation area. Positive
conservation management will
ensure the ongoing protection of the
village’s special character.
Harpole was designated as a
Restricted Infill Village in the South
Northamptonshire Local Plan
adopted 1997. Policy H5 of that plan
(resaved on 28 September 2007)
restricts development within such
villages to the infilling of a small gap
in an otherwise built frontage; or a
small group of dwellings; or the
conversion of an existing building.
These changes include works such
as the replacement of traditional
windows, doors, roofing materials
and pointing with unsympathetic
modern alternatives.
Such alterations to unlisted
residential properties are for the most
part permitted development and
often beyond the control of the Local
Planning Authority with Planning
Permission not being required for the
works.
However they can result in the
erosion of the historic character and
appearance of the conservation area.
The aim of management proposals
suggested below is not to prevent
changes but to ensure that any such
changes are sympathetic to and
23
7. Management Plan
Management Proposals
1.
Sensitive new development
in the conservation area
To be successful, any future
development within the conservation
area needs to be mindful of the local
character as appraised above, while
at the same time being distinctly of
the 21st century and addressing
contemporary issues such as
sustainability.
Successful new development in
historic areas should:
• Relate well to the geography and
history of the place and the lie of
the land,
• Sit happily in the pattern of
existing development and routes
through and around it,
• Respect important views,
• Respect the scale of neighbouring
buildings,
• Use materials and building
methods which are as high in
quality as those used in existing
buildings,
• Create new views and
juxtapositions which add to the
variety and texture of their setting.
(Source: CABE & English Heritage
publication
2001,
‘Building
in
Context: New development in historic
areas’)
Action 1:
New development must respond
sensitively and creatively to the
historic environment.
2.
Protect surviving
architectural forms
historic
As a result of the quality of buildings
within the village and the limited
number of buildings that are subject
to statutory protection, there has
been some incremental loss of
traditional architectural detailing in
the cons erva tio n are a. Th e
replacement of windows, doors and
roofing materials with inappropriate
materials and designs is a negative
feature that affects both individual
buildings and the wider area.
Owners of all historic properties, not
just those which are listed, should be
encouraged to replace inappropriate
modern materials with appropriate
traditional materials. Materials such
as UPVC and concrete tiles would
and do look out of place in the
Harpole conservation area and their
use is discouraged.
The imposition of Article 4 Directions
on unlisted buildings of significance
to the character and appearance of
the conservation area would ensure
that the highway fronting elevations
of building are protected from
unauthorised
alterations.
and
inappropriate
The establishment of a list of locally
significant buildings and policies for
their protection within the
forthcoming Local Development
Framework would also assist in the
protection of the conservation area.
Action 4:
Boundary walls which make a
positive contribution to the
character of the conservation area
will be retained. New boundary
treatments should fit with the
character of existing boundary
walls.
4.
Action 2:
Consider the imposition of Article
4 Directions on buildings of
significance
across
the
conservation area to ensure that
positive architectural features are
retained and any replacement
doors or windows do not harm the
character of the conservation
area.
Action 3:
Establish a list of locally
significant buildings and policies
for their protection as part of the
Forthcoming Core Strategy.
3.
Boundary walls
Stone boundary walls are a
significant element of the character
of Harpole. Any new boundary walls
should be constructed of suitable
stone and be of an appropriate
height and coursing to fit well with
existing walls.
Paving and surfacing
Opportunities should be taken to
enhance areas of paving and to
retain historic paving materials
whenever possible. Careful design
and sensitive use of materials will be
expected in any future re-surfacing
works that take place in Harpole.
Street furniture and signage affect
the appearance of a conservation
area. Unnecessary clutter will have
an adverse effect on the character
and should be resisted.
Action 5:
Encourage statutory undertakers
to rationalise and remove
unnecessary clutter within the
conservation area and replace
with appropriate solutions.
Also work with the highways
authorities to avoid the insertion
24
of inappropriate kerbing and
footpaths which would have a
harmful urbanising affect.
7. Management Plan
5. Open spaces
There are limited open spaces within
Harpole. Opportunities should be
taken to preserve and where
possible enhance the character and
appearance of these spaces.
Action 6:
Promote the sympathetic
management of areas of open
space within the conservation
area, including verges.
6.
Renewable Energy sources
Whilst the Council is supportive of
the sustainability agenda it also
recognises that many sources of
renewable energy and micro
generation have the potential to harm
the character and appearance of the
conservation area. Care therefore
needs to be taken to balance the
needs of climate change with the
preservati on of th e histori c
environment.
Action 7:
Encourage the sympathetic
location of solar panels, wind
turbines and other sources of
micro
generation
to
inconspicuous roofslopes and
building elevations where they will
not have a detrimental impact on
the character and appearance of
the conservation area.
7.
Satellite Antennas
Satellite and radio antennas are non
traditional features which have the
potential to disfigure the appearance
of traditional buildings. Care must be
taken to ensure that they are located
where they will not impact on the
significance of heritage assets and
the character and appearance of the
conservation area.
Action 8:
Require the location of satellite
antennas in inconspicuous sites
to prevent harm to the historic
character and visual appearance
of the area.
8.
Telegraph poles, lamp
standards and overhead cables.
The visual impact of overhead wires,
telegraph poles and lamp standards
has the potential to dominate and
disfigure the character and
appearance of the Conservation
Area. Action is needed to ensure
that this situation does not occur.
Action 9:
Create a dialogue with service
providers to encourage the
undergrounding of cables to
reduce the visual pollution caused
by overhead lines and their
supporting structures within the
conservation area.
9.
Tree management
Conservation area designation
affords protection to trees from
unauthorised felling or lopping. The
full canopies of large mature trees
have a significant impact on the
character of the conservation area.
The variety of tree species offers
interest and amenity throughout the
year.
Action 10:
Large mature trees should be
retained wherever possible in
order to preserve the character of
the
conservation
area.
Opportunities should be taken as
appropriate to plant young trees in
order to ensure the continued
existence of mature trees in the
future.
10.
Development affecting the
setting of the conservation
area
It is important that development
around the conservation area does
not harm its setting. Any
development in or around Harpole
which affects the setting of the
conservation area should have
regard to views into and out of the
conservation area, the setting of
positive buildings and the character
of the landscape. Appropriate design
and materials should be used in
development adjacent to the
conservation area.
Action 11:
The impact of development on the
character and appearance of the
conservation area should be
considered. This applies equally
to development outside the
conservation area if it is likely to
affect the setting of the
conservation area.
11.
Protect
remains
archaeological
Harpole has been inhabited for
many centuries and buried
evidence of past occupation may
survive in the village. Development
with the potential to disturb
archaeological remains may require
a watching brief to ensure the
preservation of archaeological finds.
Action: 12
Development which involves
below-ground excavation must
have regard to the potential for
archaeological finds.
25
8. Sources of Further Information
• The consultation will be advertised
References
Internet Sources
Georgian Group
Bridges, J. (compiled Whalley, P.)
The History and Antiquities of
Northamptonshire 1791 Oxford
•
•
•
www.georgiangroup.org.uk
Interested in the study and
conservation of 18th- and early 19thcentury buildings.
Baker, G. The History and Antiquities
of the County of Northampton (182241)
CABE 2001, ‘Building in Context:
New development in historic areas’
Department of Communities
Local Government (2010)
and
Planning Policy Statement 5:
Planning for the Historic
Environment.
English Heritage, (2006), Guidance
on Conservation Area Appraisals.
English Heritage, (2006), Guidance
on the management of Conservation
Areas.
English Heritage (2011)
Understanding Place: Conservation
Area, Designation, Appraisal and
Management.
Harpole Heritage Group (2001) A
Glimpse at Harpole Memories
Harpole Heritage Group (2001)
Harpole Childhood Memories 19001945
Royal Commission on Historical
Monuments England (1982)
County of Northampton,
Archaeological Sites Volume 4,
South West
www.british-history.ac.uk
www.imagesofengland.org.uk
www.rnrpenvironmentalcharact
er.org.uk/
How to find out more about
historic buildings and local history
Northampton Abington Street
Library, Northamptonshire Records
Office and Brackley Library have
local history collection which includes
books on historic buildings.
There are a wide range of national
societies devoted to the study and
conservation of historic buildings.
Many of these national bodies have
regional groups in this area.
Society for the Protection
Ancient Buildings (SPAB)
of
www.spab.org.uk
A good source of practical
information about looking after
buildings of all periods.
Ancient Monuments Society
www.ams.org.uk
Devoted to the study and
conservation of ancient monuments,
historic building and fine old
craftsmanship, with a particular
interest in church buildings.
with local press coverage and a
leaflet drop to residences in the
conservation area.
Copyright
Victorian Society
www.victoriansociety.org.uk
Interested in the appreciation and
conservation of 19th and early 20th
century buildings of all types.
The following websites are a useful
source of local history information:
• http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/
- national
archaeological data service.
• http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ historic public records online.
• http://www.britishhistory.ac.uk/ digital library of local history
resources.
Community
adoption
involvement
and
A draft version of this appraisal will
go through a public consultation
process. A six week period of public
consultation will include:
• A presentation of the appraisal
and discussion forum at a public
meeting;
• Identified stakeholders and
interested parties will be directly
notified;
• The appraisal and response form
will be made available through the
Council’s website;
All Ordnance Survey maps are
reproduced under licence. Ordnance
Survey maps may not be copied or
reproduced without the permission of
Ordnance Survey.
The text and photographs in this
report may not be reproduced for
profit and must be appropriately
referenced if reproduced.
Acknowledgements
Mr J Calderwood and the members
of the Harpole Heritage Group for
their valuable help in the research of
this document.
Contact Details
Alan Munn
Planning Policy and Conservation
Officer
Planning Policy and Heritage
South Northamptonshire Council
Springfield's
Towcester
NN12 6AE
heritage@southnorthants.gov.uk
26
Telephone: 01327 322249
27
Published in July 2012 by the South Northamptonshire Council. Council Office, Springfields, Towcester. NN12 6AE
Tel 01327 322 249
email: heritage@southnorthants.gov.uk
website www.southnorthants.gov.uk