Moreton Pinkney Adopted

Moreton Pinkney is a place of special
character and historic interest.
This appraisal and management plan sets
out the features that contribute to its
distinctiveness and identifies
opportunities for its protection and
enhancement.
Moreton Pinkney
CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL
AND MANAGEMENT PLAN
Adopted November 2012
1
Summary
Summary of special interest
Key characteristics
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.
The main characteristic of Moreton
Pinkney is the use of the local
ironstone in both the buildings and
other structures, the dominant use of
this material gives a visual unity to
the village.
The village of Moreton Pinkney can
be dated to at least 1086 when it was
recorded in the Domesday book,
however it is thought that its history
can be traced further back into the
Saxon period.
The settlement is found on a hillside
overlooking agricultural landscape,
some 9 miles north of Brackley. The
layout of the village suggests that it
was originally composed of two parts
each grouped around a village green.
This layout suggests that the village
is a polyfocal type, which is where a
village plan is based on two or more
different settlements.
Most buildings are vernacular in style
and constructed in locally sourced
ironstone, however there are also a
number of properties which utilise a
lighter limestone alongside the
ironstone to create a distinctive
banding pattern incorporating both
types of stone.
Although there are variations in the
ridge heights, age and size of
properties, an attractive and
harmonised streetscene is created
due to the continuity of the building
materials and style.
Open spaces also form an essential
element in the village which helps to
define its character. Moreton Pinkney
has two registered village greens
situated at opposite ends of the
settlement. These spaces are open
and airy and create an informal feel
with buildings scattered around them.
Away from the greens, the
positioning of buildings along the
streetscape create a sense of
enclosure. This is amplified in some
places where buildings are found set
up on banks. These banks have most
likely been created as a result of the
local geology and the roads sinking
due to the traffic of people, animals
and vehicles in the previous
centuries.
Views within the conservation area
are interesting but are limited to
those seen down roads and
footpaths and across the two greens.
Most views are short and channelled
owing to the winding nature of the
roads and the positioning of the
buildings and boundary walls, adding
to the intimate enclosed character of
the conservation area.
Trees also form an element of the
character seen in the conservation
area, as they create a backdrop to
the open spaces and help enforce
the sense of enclosure down
connecting roads.
Summary of
opportunities
issues
and
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:
• Establish a list of locally significant
buildings and policies for their
protection.
• Encourage the protection of
surviving historic detail and the
reinstatement of appropriate
architectural details in buildings
considered to be of significance to
the character and appearance of
the conservation area. The use of
Article 4 Directions which remove
the permitted development rights
of dwelling houses will help to
achieve this.
• 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.
The Conservation Area Boundary
Moreton Pinkney was designated a
conservation area in March 1978 and
revised in 1987 to exclude certain
peripheral areas which were not
considered to be part of the historic
core.
The boundary was once again
modified in 2012 in order to exclude
some areas of modern development
and conversion and to rationalise
boundary lines which did not follow
any visible lines that were easily
defined on the ground.
2
Summary
3
Figure 1: An aerial view of the Moreton Pinkney 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 9,770 conservation
areas have been designated in
England, including 55 in the South
Northamptonshire District to date.
The Moreton Pinkney Conservation
Area is one of those 55 areas having
originally been designated in March
1978.
1.2
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”. It was considered an
appropriate time to review the
Moreton Pinkney Conservation Area
in order to define its key
characteristics.
This document is an appraisal of the
Moreton Pinkney Conservation Area
and is based on a standard format
derived from advice contained within
the English Heritage guidance
“Understanding Place: Conservation
Area Designation, Appraisal and
Management” published in 2011.
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”.
By updating the conservation area
appraisal for Moreton Pinkney 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 Moreton Pinkney 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
November 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 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 Moreton Pinkney
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 of the same
document 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/ structure makes a
positive contribution to the area.
Some minor works are no longer
“permitted development” and will
require planning permission.
Examples include external
cladding, satellite antennas and
some extensions.
Most works to trees have to be
notified to the Local Planning
Authority for its consideration.
Generally higher standards
of
4
design apply for new buildings
and alterations to existing ones.
2. Location, Topography and Geology
2.1
Location
parliamentary enclosure origin but
have been fragmented by the
presence of modern fields which
have had their boundaries removed
in the 20th century.
The Moreton Pinkney parish,
covering 990 hectares, lies across
the valleys of several small streams
generally flowing north to join a
tributary of the River Cherwell. The
village is an attractive settlement
surrounded by an agricultural
landscape.
The settlements in the catchment are
of a mixed pattern. Along the Nene
Valley and its tributary streams at the
north of the area there is a group of
villages whose 19th century form are
of a linear form. Elsewhere nucleated
villages predominate but there are
also a number of villages, mostly
associated with the River Tove and
its tributaries including Moreton
Pinkney which have more dispersed
forms.
The village has a population of
approximately 415, at time of writing,
and although the economy was once
dominated by agriculture it is now
very much a settlement with a
population that out commutes for
employment.
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 Moreton Pinkney the
assessments concluded that the
settlement is located within the
Environmental Character Area of
West Northamptonshire Uplands.
This is an extensive area stretching
from Aynho in the south to
Wilbarston in the north with an
elevated landscape of hills and
Today the land cover around
Moreton Pinkney is typically a
combination of arable and pastoral
farming with fields defined by
hedgerows and trees.
Figure 2: West Northamptonshire Catchment (River Nene Regional Park)
valleys that act as the major
watershed between some of the
region’s principal rivers systems. The
landscape is underlain by the
intractable Lias Group Clays, which
are capped locally by the ironstone
bearing Marlstone Rock and
Northampton Sand Formations.
These result in well defined features
such as steeply sloping prominent
hills that contrast to softer
landscapes where capping by a thick
mantle of Boulder Clay has occurred.
The area comprises fieldscapes
w h i c h a re p re dom i na nt l y o f
A network of narrow winding country
lanes exist around the village and
also contribute to the character of the
local area. These are usually
bordered by hedgerows and link
Moreton Pinkney to the surrounding
villages including Culworth, Eydon
and Canons Ashby.
Ridge and furrow exists on the
5
ground and can be traced in areas in
the parish.
2. Location, Topography and Geology
Figure 3: Location of Moreton Pinkney
Moreton Pinkney lies 9 miles (14km)
to the north of Brackley on the former
main road, the former B4525,
between Northampton and Banbury.
The village is surrounded by Eydon
to the West, Canons Ashby to the
north and Culworth, Sulgrave and
Weston by Weedon to the south
east.
© Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100022487
6
3. History and development
3.1 History
Moreton Pinkney is an attractive
irregularly shaped village composed
of two parts each grouped around a
village green. This layout suggests
that the village is a polyfocal type,
which is where a village plan is
based on two or more different
settlements. The principle road
through Moreton Pinkney twists and
turns on a gentle slope which creates
interesting groupings of cottages and
larger houses.
There is evidence that Moreton
Pinkney has shrunk over time due to
the existence of several empty plots
within the village, where houses are
thought to have formerly stood. The
largest of these areas lies
immediately west of Middle Green
(also known as Lower Green) where
long narrow plots which are bounded
by shallow ditches can be found
extending down towards the stream.
It has been suggested that these
earthworks may identify a possible
previously unrecorded deserted
Medieval village, however further
work would be required to confirm
this. (www.pastscape.org.uk, 2012)
The name Moreton is a mixture of the
Old Norse word mór meaning a
marsh and the Old English word Tūn
meaning an enclosure, farmstead,
village, or an estate. The village was
held by the family of Pinchengi from
1199 and during the 13th century
was known as Geldenmortone, from
the Old English gylden (golden),
suggesting the village had a notable
amount of wealth at this time. The
word Pinkney is a family name and
was added when Henry de Pinkney
became Lord of the Manor in 1236.
(www.kepn.nottingham.ac.uk, 2012)
It is thought the village has Saxon
routes due to the remains of an
ironstone Anglo-Saxon cross in the
south-east corner of the church yard.
This Grade II Listed structure
suggests that a wooden church may
have occupied the site from an early
period. However, one of the first
substantial pieces of evidence to
date the village is the Domesday
book of 1086 which refers to the
village as ’Mortone’ and records it as
having 14 villagers, 3 small holders
and 5 slaves at this time.
When the Domesday survey was
undertaken the village had an
established farming community which
was the main industry and the
leading source of employment. It is
most likely that the open field farming
system was used at this time which
meant under their commoner's rights,
each villager was allocated a set
number of strips in each field which
they would cultivate. These strips
would be widely scattered throughout
the fields surrounding the village to
ensure no one farmer would have all
good or bad land. Clear ridge and
furrow remains illustrate this practice
Figures 4: St Mary’s Church
and can still be seen within the
village as well as the wider parish,
maintaining and expressing the
agricultural roots of this village.
This method of open field farming
was used up until 1760 when the
common fields of the parish were
enclosed by an Act of Parliament.
This was mainly due to a rise in
population which increased the
pressure on the amount of strips that
had previously been allocated,
however this brought a certain
amount of hardships for peasant
farmers who no longer had an area
to cultivate their own crops and now
relied on labouring as their main
source of income.
There are a number of buildings
within Moreton Pinkney which are of
a significant historic or architectural
importance, and have therefore been
awarded a grade listed status. In total
there are 26 listed buildings and 7
listed structures within the core of the
village, clearly indicating the quality
of Moreton Pinkney. Buildings
of
7
particular note are St Mary's Church
(Figure 4) which is Grade II* listed,
and the Manor and the Old Vicarage
3. History and development
down between steep tree lined banks
is also found within the garden and is
used to cross the narrow lane leading
to Weston. The Manor, its entrance
lodge and gateway were designed by
the architect Edmund Francis Law in
a distinctive Scottish baronial style
for Edward Sempill and his family
who originated from Scotland.
both Grade II listed, which form an
impressive group around the Middle
Green as you enter the village from
the south-west.
St Mary’s Parish Church is one of the
oldest buildings found within Moreton
Pinkney originating from the
12th/13th century. The Church has
had several alterations since that
time including the addition of a
Gothic Perpendicular porch to the
south side in the 16th/17th century.
The Chancel was rebuilt in 1846 due
to structural issues, but was rebuilt
using original stone. The south
arcade and clerestory were also
rebuilt at this time. In 1893 the tower
suffered fire damage when a
stovepipe over heated, destroying all
woodwork in the tower as well as 4
out of the 5 bells which were hung
there at the time. The tower was
restored and the bells replaced,
however the replacements were too
heavy causing more remedial work to
be carried out the following year.
Figures 5: Entrance Lodge to Manor
Figures 6: Manor entrance arch
Located to the east of St Mary’s
Church is the Manor House which
dates to 1860 and is constructed
from coursed squared ironstone and
is believed to incorporate an earlier
farmhouse thought to date back to
the Elizabethan period.
It is set within attractive landscaped
gardens with many fine examples of
mature trees. An iron footbridge set
Figure 7: Fire Station
Scottish Baronial is a style of
architecture that originates from the
16th century drawing its features
from Medieval castles, tower houses
and the French Renaissance
châteaux. It became popular in the
19th century as part of the Gothic
revival, the use of this style of
architecture within the village is a
stark contrast to the vernacular style
of cottages and houses that are seen
elsewhere. This style was most likely
chosen due to the family’s link to
Scotland. The Sempill family
therefore had quite an impact on the
village and its character, the entrance
lodge (Figure 5) is one of the
standout, most impressive,
landmarks of Moreton Pinkney and
has a significant effect on the
streetscape of the village. In 1871
Edward Sempill also commissioned
the construction of the Moreton
Pinkney Fire Station (Figure 7),
which is Grade II listed, in order to
protect both the Manor and the
village from fire damage. On the
death of Lady Sempill in 1884, the
Manor came into the possession of
Figures 8: Augustus FitzRoy, 7th Duke of Grafton by
Leslie Ward, 1886.
Augustus Charles Lennox Fitzroy,
the 7th Duke of Grafton, who died in
1918. The last owner of the entire
estate was Colonel John Trelawney
Upton, who lived in the Manor with
his family in the 1930s. (Inf. 8provided
by his son Pat who now lives in
Dorset). During the Second World
3. History and development
War, the Manor was let to Fox Films.
It was split into four apartments, its
present form, in 1947.
Most historic buildings within Moreton
Pinkney date to either the 17th or
18th century, suggesting this was a
time of prosperity within the village
which is most likely to be associated
with farming. Good examples of
buildings from this period are the
17th century Village Farmhouse,
which was altered during the
19th/20th century, the 18th century
Old Vicarage situated north of the
Church, the 17th century Grange, as
well as the 18th century Old School
House, all of which have been given
a Grade II listed status as an
acknowledgement of the standard of
their quality as historic buildings.
earliest roads to cross the county and
helped connect the area to both
Evesham and Bristol which were
important settlements. It is also in
close proximity to the historic Welsh
lane which was a well known Drovers
Road also connecting the area to
Wales and London. The existence of
these ancient routes meant that
many travellers and drovers would
pass through the village of Moreton
Pinkney on their way to various
markets, towns and cities. This
therefore created a demand for inns
located on the main routes in order to
accommodate these travellers.
Figure 9: 17th century Village Farm House
At one time 3 inns could be found
within the village. The high number of
inns in comparison to Moreton
Pinkney's size in the 18th century is
an indication that the Banbury Lane
was well utilised and brought many
visitors through the village. The 3
inns also provided a social area and
meeting space for the villagers to use
for their day to day business. These
inns were known as; The Crown
(Figure 10) located on Brook Street
and the Dun Cow and the Red Lion
(formerly known as the Old House at
Home and the England's Rose,
respectively) both located on the
Upper Green.
was built around 1778 and is thought
to have been a brewhouse as well as
an inn. This closed in the early 1960s
and is now also a residential
property. The Red Lion was the
oldest surviving public house, built in
the early 18th century, and was still
in use into the 21st century. The
building is Grade II listed and located
in a prominent position within the
village and dominates its
surroundings.
Unfortunately after it was closed the
building fell into disrepair and began
to degrade. It is now, at the time of
writing, currently under repair and is
to be re-opened and utilised as a
public house for the village and will
once again be reinstated as a
landmark feature of the Upper Green.
This will allow it to be utilised by not
only the villagers but other people
travelling through the district as was
the case in the 17th/18th centuries.
The village is located on the former
main road between Northampton and
Banbury, previously known as
Banbury Lane. This was one of the
The Crown was built in the 18th
century and was remodelled in the
19th century and is now used as a
residential property. The Dun Cow
The Red Lion was eventually closed
in 2004 bringing an end to the long
standing operation of public houses
within Moreton Pinkney.
Due to the rise in public houses seen
9
within the village, a temperance
coffee house was established close
to the Upper Green in 1889, in order
Figures 10: The Old Crown now a residential property
3. History and development
to teach youngsters the dangers of
alcohol. It offered refreshments at a
moderate charge and also helped
educate people by holding classes
and “Penny Readings”. Opposite this
building was also a small bakery that
also sold meat, the building which
hung the meat can still be found
within the garden (Frewin, 2005).
During the 19th century Moreton
Pinkney saw a significant change not
uncommon in many villages around
the country due to the advent of the
railway. Alternative building materials
became more widely available, in
particular hard and engineering
bricks as well as Welsh slate,
changing the way in which the village
was built in terms of its appearance
and design. Moreton Pinkney had 2
stations within close proximity.
The first station, known as Moreton
Pinkney Station, opened in 1873 just
north of the village and was part of
the East and West Junction Railway.
The station was not heavily utilised
and in 1913 was re-branded ‘Moreton
Pinkney for Sulgrave’ in an attempt to
attract the tourists that would be
travelling to the ancestral home of
George Washington in Sulgrave. The
station eventually closed in 1952,
although the line through remained
open for the use of freight trains
between Woodford West junction and
Blisworth until 1964. The second
station was Culworth Station on the
Figure 11: A 1911 Railway Clearing House map of railways in the vicinity of Moreton Pinkney
Great Central Main Line. Although
named after the adjacent village of
Culworth the station was in fact
closer to Moreton Pinkney. It was
opened in 1899 about a mile
southwest of the village,
unfortunately this station was also
closed in 1958 but remained as a
coal depot until 1962. Today most of
the original site has been demolished
and is now occupied by a farm.
“Hunting was an important activity
within the area and a special gated
crossing was created near the station
for the use of local huntsmen, for
which the local Master of Foxhounds
held a key. The huntsmen clearly had
significant power in the community
as, in 1912, the Stratford-upon-Avon
and Midland Junction Railway, which
had amalgamated with the East and
West Junction in 1908, agreed to
cover all the drains along the line and
to replace barbed wire fencing with
ordinary wire in order to minimise the
risk of injury to both horses and
10
hounds.” (www.moretonpinkney.info/
village-history.html, 2012)
3. History and development
Figure 13 shows a historic map dated
between 1843-1893. Many farm
buildings and associated
outbuildings can be seen, especially
to the west of the village. The
Moreton Pinkney Station can also be
seen to the north of the village on the
East and West Junction Railway.
Many of these farm complexes still
exist and have been converted into
residential units. By retaining the
farm buildings as well as the
outbuildings, Moreton Pinkney’s
history as an agricultural village can
still be clearly read.
An interesting feature of note within
the village is a water pump found at
the top of Brooke Street which would
have been used to supply water to
the village prior to mains water being
provided.
Figures 12: Water pump on Brooke Street
Figure 13: Moreton Pinkney 1843 - 1893
© Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100022487
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3. History and development
3.2
Archaeological
A small number of archaeological
finds and items of interest have been
noted within the parish of Moreton
Pinkney including some settlement
remains around the village and a
possible deserted settlement.
“The deserted hamlet lies south west
of the village on the west side of the
road to Culworth. Nothing is known
about the history of this site and no
name can be attributed to it. Only
excavation could establish whether it
is an abandoned settlement.”
(RCHM, 1982)
Also of interest is a possible
medieval fishpond or mill pond which
is found to the south east of the
village. It is a sub-rectangular pond
which is measured to be 50m by 20m
and was formed by cutting away the
valley and constructing a dam of
around 2m. (RCHM, 1982)
Figure 14: Moreton Pinkney archaeological finds (red
triangles enclose find areas).
© Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100022487
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4. Spatial Analysis
4.1 Land Use
With the exception of the village hall,
the Red Lion Public House (currently
not in use), St Mary’s Church and a
small number of agricultural
buildings, Moreton Pinkney is
predominately of residential land use.
4.2
Settlement form
Moreton Pinkney has a fairly linear
settlement form. At the northern
entrance to the village, coming in
from Canons Ashby, there are a
number of modern brick and
rendered dwellings which are not
within the conservation area, as the
road turns a sharp corner the first of
the village’s registered greens comes
into view. The green, known as
Upper Green, is enclosed by a varied
collection of individual buildings and
cottages as well as terraces, the Red
Lion Public House is also located
here.
As the main road turns again the
buildings are set closer to the road
and slightly elevated, creating a
strong sense of enclosure. This
enclosure continues along Banbury
Road past the Grange (Figure 15)
until the archway entrance (Figure 5)
to the Manor comes into view.
Beyond the lodge and archway the
second of the registered village
greens, Middle Green also known as
Lower Green, comes into view
relieving the sense of enclosure.
On the south side is the former
village school and Old Vicarage, as
well as the Parish Church, although
this can only be glimpsed from the
road. On the west side is a row of
attractive ironstone cottages. This
row of buildings leads onto Brook
Street, which runs downhill towards a
ford crossing a small stream,. The
ford is one of the very few examples
remaining in the district. West of the
green the road leaves the village
passing a scattering of modern
buildings and some farmhouses.
4.3 Street pattern,
means of enclosure
footpaths,
Moreton Pinkney has an irregular
layout consisting essentially of one
main street which takes a twisting
course through the village along
natural contours creating attractive
and varying streetscapes.
Access to Moreton Pinkney is via 3
main highways; Banbury Road which
runs southwest from the village
towards Culworth, Weston Road
running southward from the village to
connect with Weston and Weedon
villages and Canons Ashby Road to
the north.
All 3 roads are surfaced in
tarmacadam and on the whole only
benefit from a single footpath,
although there are some areas with
Figures 15: The Grade II listed Grange with tall linking boundary walls
either 2 footpaths or none at all. The
footpaths run alongside the
carriageways with some being raised
above the road.
Overhead wires are present
throughout the village and make a
significant impact on the vistas
throughout the streetscape. Street
lighting is however limited and
usually found attached to telegraph
poles.
In the sections leading away from the
registered greens the streetscape
becomes more enclosed. This is due
to the houses and terraces forming
tight building lines as well as a
number of buildings being set up on
banks enforcing the sense of
enclosure.
13 been
These banks could have
formed due to the roads sinking over
time, most likely due to the local
4. Spatial Analysis
geology and the erosion of the roads
caused by the traffic of people and
animals, and in more modern times
vehicles. These sunken roads are
also known as hollow ways.
On the whole buildings are set close
to the edge of the highway with ridge
lines running parallel to the road.
Where on occasion a building is set
back, linking boundary walls are
constructed close to the highway in
order to maintain the sense of
enclosure and positioning seen
elsewhere. This is particularly true for
The Grange located on Banbury
Road which has a tall boundary wall
set close to the road.
Although there is a small amount of
fencing and hedgerows present
within Moreton Pinkney, boundary
walls still remain the main means of
enclosure for the conservation area.
The countryside around the village
has a strong footpath network
particularly to the south and east
illustrated in the adjacent figure.
Figure 16: Map of Moreton Pinkney showing public right of ways
© Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance
Survey 100022487
14
4. Spatial Analysis
4.4 Open
Hedges
Spaces,
Trees
and
Open spaces form an essential
element of the conservation area
which helps to define its character.
Moreton Pinkney has 2 registered
village greens, Upper Green covering
5 pieces of land in the north of the
village and Middle Green covering 4
pieces of land in the south of the
village.
banks help to reinforce the sense of
enclosure seen along these
connecting roads and add to the
character of the conservation area.
These banks may have been created
due to the roads sinking over time by
the traffic of people, animals and
vehicles along them.
One particular tree of interest, which
is found in the northern part of the
conservation area, is located next to
the Old Chapel, Gravel Hill. This tree
makes a significant, positive
contribution to the area and has
therefore been given a Tree
Preservati on Order. A Tre e
Preservation Order or a TPO is a
type of legal protection that can be
placed on important trees by the
Local Planning Authority. This
protection means that before any
works are carried out to the tree, for
example pruning or felling,
permission from the Local Planning
Authority must be sort first.
These greens create open and airy
sections of the conservation area
which are at a strong contrast to the
more enclosed connecting streets in
between the 2. As well as the 2
greens, other important open spaces
include the area of land around the
church currently used for grazing
livestock. This area along with the
land surrounding the Manor creates
pleasing breaks from the village
environment linking the area to its
agricultural past.
Another area of significant open
space is the land adjacent to the
village hall where views of the
countryside can be seen. Although
limited by tree lines and fences,
these views are still important as they
help to maintain the connection
between Moreton Pinkney and its
rural beginnings.
There are also a number of raised
banks within the village which add
significantly to the character. These
The area around St Mary's Church
also has a number of large mature
trees located within the public realm
which make a strong contribution to
the character of the area. There are
also a number of trees found within
private gardens which help to enforce
the sense of enclosure whilst also
complimenting the built environment.
Figures 17 to 20: Trees, hedges, green verges and open spaces all add to the character
Trees within a conservation area also
have a similar level of protection
where the Local Planning Authority
must be informed prior to any work
being carried out. This however, only
applies to trees that have a stem
15 when
diameter of 75mm or above
measured at 1.5m above ground
level.
4. Spatial Analysis
4.5 Scale and massing
The built environment of the
conservation area is of a relatively
domestic scale with a mixture of
terraced and detached houses with
varying eave and ridge heights,
forming an important part of the
character. The built environment is
relatively fine grained with most
buildings set on the pavement or
road edge or up on banks.
Throughout the conservation area the
spacing between buildings varies
with properties more spaced out
along Banbury Road and Brook
Street. On the whole most properties
are located relatively close to the
highway edge with ridge lines
following the road alignment. The
properties that line the main roads
are principally of 2 storeys in height
or 2 storeys with an attic.
The domestic scale of the buildings is
also reflected in their massing with
most footprints being fairly linear.
These linear buildings usually have a
fairly narrow footprint with a wider
frontage. Other buildings which have
a narrow frontage width form groups
of terraces which help to enhance
their visual impact. Some buildings
are also found set on banks, again
increasing their impact on the
streetscene. Other buildings of more
significance such as the Old Vicarage
and The Grange have a larger mass
than that commonly seen throughout
the village. These buildings, which
are all Grade II listed, are set back
within their own land and are
surrounded by boundary walls or
hedges continuing the sense of
enclosure.
Views of the countryside from within
the conservation area are limited to
those found in the graveyard and
sports ground however, the public
rights of way that lead away from the
village also hold views of the
countryside that surrounds Moreton
Pinkney. These views emphasize the
rural setting of the village and make a
positive contribution to the character.
4.6 Views
Views within the conservation area
are progressive and although short
they still remain important. Most
views are channelled due to the
winding nature of the roads and the
positioning of the buildings and
boundary walls, adding to the
intimate enclosed character of the
conservation area.
Modern intrusion is seen throughout
the village in the form of overhead
wires and vehicles parked along the
roadside, this disrupts the views seen
within the village and has a negative
impact on the significance on the
conservation area.
Figures 21: Row of terraces set on a bank
16
Figures 22 and 23: Views disrupted by overhead
wires and motor vehicles
4. Spatial Analysis
Figure 24 Important Spatial Features in the
Moreton Pinkney Conservation Area.
Proposed Conservation Area
Listed Building
Other Significant Building
Important Wall
Important Hedge
Tree Preservation Order - Area
Important Tree or Tree Group
Registered Village Green
Important Open Space
Important View
17
© Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100022487
5. Architectural Analysis
5.1
Building age, type and style
Many of the buildings in Moreton
Pinkney date from the 17th and 18th
centuries and have been constructed
in traditional methods using a variety
of squared and rubble ironstone.
Most properties are of a local
vernacular with a number of
properties constructed with high
gables resulting in steeply pitched
roofs.
5.2 Materials
The predominant building material for
the conservation area is the orangey
coloured ironstone which was locally
sourced. There are also a number of
properties which utilise a lighter
limestone alongside the ironstone to
create a distinctive banding pattern
incorporating both types of stone.
surrounding stone built houses and
are most probably a marker of when
new materials were made available
via the railways.
Both the ironstone and limestone are
found in the grander properties as
well as the smaller vernacular
houses and cottages. The stone is
laid in various ways from building to
building but is commonly seen as
coursed rubble stone.
Figures 27: Brick building
Brick, limestone and ironstone are
also used in the construction of the
numerous linking boundary walls,
this continuity of materials throughout
the conservation area creates a
harmonised appearance.
Figures 25: Example of a row of terraces with high
gables and steep roof pitches
The traditional roofing material of
thatch can still be seen around
Moreton Pinkney, including Pear
Tree Cottage on the Upper Green.
With a few exceptions rooflines are
generally simple and uncluttered, this
helps to reinforce the strong building
line along the street frontage.
Older properties within the
conservation area have multiple
chimney stacks, regularly seen at the
ridge on the gable end or as central
stacks. Most chimneys are
constructed of red or blue brick to
modest proportions and are
functional in appearance. The
Grange is a good example of a
building with a stone stack which
gives it a grander appearance. Some
buildings have a mixture of stone and
brick chimneys which create an
interesting and diverse roofscape.
5.3 Roofscape
Originally these properties would
have been thatched however, a
number have been replaced with
other roofing materials such as slate
and tile.
These traditional building materials
and design features help to create a
sense of unity throughout the
conservation area.
Figures 26: Example of the distinctive banding
There are also a number of red brick
buildings in the village, this gives a
contrasting element to the stone
more commonly used and creates an
interesting and alternating aspect to
Moreton Pinkney. These buildings
are of a later date than the
There are a mixture of roof types
within Moreton Pinkney, however
slate and tile seem to dominate.
Slate is likely to have replaced earlier
thatched or tiled roofs. This can be
seen in many buildings where the
gable ends have been raised to
accommodate a shallower pitch.
Other roofing materials include
artificial stone, cement and pantiles.
18
Figures 28: The roofscape of Moreton Pinkney
seen from Middle Green
5. Architectural Analysis
5.4 Windows
Casement windows are the most
common style of windows within the
conservation area and are typical of
the vernacular properties. There are
only a limited number of surviving
original windows, as most have been
replaced with modern alternatives.
These windows are constructed in
either timber, metal or uPVC.
Unfortunately modern replacements
have found their way into a number
of older buildings causing harm to
their character and appearance and
as such impacting on the significance
of the conservation area.
Figures 29: Timber flush fitting casement window
There are a number of sash windows
in the village (Figure 30) as well as a
small number of surviving stone
mullions, with either fixed or part
opening frames. Although dormer
windows are present within the
village they are limited to a very
small proportion of buildings and are
therefore not a characteristic feature.
Most upper floor windows in the
conservation area are set tight to the
eaves or just below and have a
mixture of either timber or stone
lintels with stone, tile, mortar or
timber cills. The amount and size of
windows seen in the conservation
area are typical of traditional
vernacular buildings. The emphasis
of the window being horizontal and
relatively small in comparison to the
amount of stone seen within the
elevation.
5.5 Doors and Porches
There is a mixture of both traditional
plank doors and panelled doors
found in the conservation area, most
of which are found centrally within
the main façade. In some properties
traditional doors have unfortunately
been repl aced with modern
alternatives and even on occasion
uPVC. This is not a traditional
material and can have a significant
impact on the character of both the
individual building and wider area.
A number of properties have
lightweight porches or small
projecting canopies above doors. On
the whole these are simple in
character and add to the variety seen
in the village; most appear to be later
additions and therefore not
considered to be a traditional feature
of Moreton Pinkney.
Figures 30: Example of timber sash windows, lightweight porch and a panel door
19
Figures 31 and 32: Plank and panelled doors found in Moreton Pinkney
5. Architectural Analysis
5.6 Positive Buildings
Figure 33 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:
• 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.
Listed Building/Wall
Other Significant Building
Figure 33: Significant buildings in Moreton Pinkney including
those listed buildings of architectural or historic interest.
20
© Crown copyright and database rights 2012
Ordnance Survey 100022487
6. Conservation Area Boundary
6.1 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.
Moreton Pinkney was designated a
Conservation Area in March 1978.
The boundary was revised in 1987 to
exclude certain peripheral areas
which were not considered to be part
of the historic core. It was once again
revised in November 2012 to exclude
some areas of modern development
and conversion as well as to
rationalise areas that did not follow
any visible boundaries on the ground.
6.2 The Northern Boundary
The northern boundary of the
conservation area begins with the
Grade II listed Old Brooklands and
runs eastwards following the
boundary lines of the properties
along the north side of Brook Street
including Orchard Cottage, Oak
House and Walnut View. The
boundary then follows the boundaries
of Willow Bank and Malmsbury Toft
before turning northwards to run
along side The Cottage and The Red
Lion, excluding the village hall and its
grounds from the conservation area.
The boundary then crosses Canons
Ashby Road to include the Village
Farm and the Village Farm Barn.
6.3 The Eastern Boundary
From this point the eastern boundary
heads south along Plumpton Lane
before moving eastwards, following
the boundary line of Eydon View,
before once again heading
southwards to the rear of Framington
House and Eirene. The boundary
then continues southwards along the
rear of both the Old Farmhouse and
the Grade II listed Pear Tree cottage,
before meeting Virginia House,
enclosing the buildings around the
Upper Green.
6.4 The Southern Boundary
The southern boundary begins with
Virgina House and heads westwards
behind the Grade II listed Gravel Hill
Farm and adjacent Gravel Hill House
before turning southwards along the
boundary of the Grange and its
associated land until it meets the
Figures 34: Old Brooklands
lane heading to Weston close to the
iron footbridge.
The boundary then heads
southwards along this lane before
once again turning westwards to
encompass the Manor, it’s land, St
Mary's Church and grave yard, as
well as the adjacent Old Vicarage
and School House and the Lower
Green.
6.2 The Western Boundary
The western boundary heads
northwards following the boundary of
the School House to a row of listed
cottages on Prestige Row, facing
onto the Lower Green. From here the
boundary turns west and follows the
21
boundaries of the southern properties
on Brook Street until it reaches Old
Brooklands.
6. Conservation Area Boundary
Figure 35: The
Conservation Area.
Moreton
Pinkney
22
© Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100022487
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.
Threats
Moreton Pinkney is an attractive
village, 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.
Moreton Pinkney 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.
Such development and the
incremental urbanisation and
extension of existing properties
could, if not handled sensitively, pose
a significant threat to the special
character and appearance of the
Moreton Pinkney Conservation Area,
one which could lead to the erosion
of its significance.
The main threat to the area is the
cumulative impact of the numerous
and often small scale alterations that
occur to unlisted buildings within the
village. These changes include works
such as the replacement of
traditional windows, doors, roofing
materials and pointing with Figure 36: Example of both traditional and
unsympathetic modern alternatives uPVC windows
as well as the removal of traditional
bottom retains the original timber
features such as boundary walls.
frame and glass. The replacement of
Such alterations to unlisted the traditional sash changes the
residential properties are for the most character and appearance of the
part permitted development and out building by increasing the frame
of the Local Planning Authority’s thickness and creating a reflective
control with Planning Permission not surface. This has an overall
being required. These changes can detrimental effect on the aesthetics
result in the erosion of the character of the façade as well as a loss of
and appearance of the conservation fabric.
area.
It is not just inappropriate alterations
Figure 36 shows an example where to private buildings which pose a
the top windows have been replaced threat, ill-considered alterations to
with uPVC sash windows whilst the the public realm can also result in the
loss of an area of special character
and appearance. Shop fronts,
signage, street furniture, parked cars
and public utilities have a cumulative
and sometimes detrimental effect on
the quality of the streetscape.
The aim of management proposals is
not to prevent changes but to ensure
that any such changes are
sympathetic to and enhance the
character and appearance of the
conservation area.
23
Figures 37 and 38: There are various threats
to the conservation area including modern
kerbing materials and satellite dishes.
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
historic areas should:
in
• 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, 2001)
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 conservation area and the
limited number of buildings that are
subject to statutory protection, there
has been some incremental loss of
traditional architectural detailing in
the conservation area.
The 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 significant properties,
not just those which are listed,
should be encouraged to replace
inappropriate materials with
appropriate materials. Materials such
as uPVC and concrete tiles look out
of place in the Moreton Pinkney
Conservation Area and their use is
discouraged and removal supported.
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 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 alterations do
not harm the character of the
conservation area.
Action 2.1:
Establish a list of locally
significant buildings and policies
for their protection as part of the
forthcoming Core Strategy.
3.
Boundary walls
Stone and brick boundary walls are a
significant element of the character
of Moreton Pinkney. Any new
boundary walls should be
constructed of suitable stone and
brick, be of an appropriate height and
coursing to fit well with existing walls.
4.
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 Moreton
Pinkney.
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 4:
Encourage statutory undertakers
to rationalise and remove
unnecessary clutter within the
conservation area and replace
with appropriate solutions.
To work with the highways
authorities to avoid the insertion
of inappropriate kerbing and
footpaths which would have a
harmful urbanising affect.
Action 3:
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.
5. Open spaces
Open spaces are a key factor to what
makes Moreton Pinkney
Conservation Area special.
Opportunities should be 24
taken to
preserve and where possible
7. Management Plan
enhance the character
appearance of these spaces.
and
Action 5:
Promote the sympathetic
management of areas of open
space within the conservation
area, including verges and banks.
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 6:
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 7:
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 8:
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 and positive impact
on the character of the conservation
area.
Action 9:
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 Moreton
Pinkney 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
conservation area.
to
the
Action 10:
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.
Prote ct
remains
archae ological
Moreton Pinkney has been
inhabited for many centuries and
buried evidence of past occupation
may survive in the village.
Development proposals should take
into account the potential for
remains of archaeological interest.
Professional advice should be
sought, and the appropriate
assessment undertaken.
Action: 11
Development which involves
below-ground excavation must
have regard to the potential for
re mai ns of a rc hae olo gi c al
interest .
25
8. Sources of Further Information
Sources
Internet Sources
Baker, (1822) The History and
Antiquities of the County of
Northampton , Volume 1, London:
J.B Nichols And Son
•
www.british-history.ac.uk
•
www.kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/
search
Bridges, (1791) The Histories and
Antiquities of Northamptonshire
Volume 1, Oxford: T. Payne
CABE, (2001) Building in Context:
New development in historic areas
Department of Communities and
Local Government, (2012) National
Planning Policy Framework
English Heritage, (2011)
Understanding Place: Conservation
Area, Designation, Appraisal and
Management
Frewin, (2005), ...of Pigs and
Paupers: Bygone Days of Moreton
Pinkney, Sheila Frewin
Pevsner, (1973) The Buildings of
England, Northamptonshire, London:
Yale University Press
RCHM, (1982), County of
Northampton, Archaeological Sites,
Volume 4, South West, London:
HMSO
•
www.moretonpinkney.info/villagehistory.html
•
www.rnrpenvironmentalcharacter.
org.uk/
•
www.pastscape.org.uk
There are also a wide range of
national societies devoted to the
study and conservation of historic
areas and buildings, a few are listed
below:
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
Further Information
Further information on the local
history of Northamptonshire can be
found at:
• Northamptonshire Records Office
• Northamptonshire
and
Oxfordshire Libraries
South Northamptonshire Council
have also produced a guidance note
on conservation areas which
provides further information on what
designation means. This can be
found at the following address:
www.southnorthants.gov.uk/3891.htm
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.
Georgian Group
www.georgiangroup.org.uk
Interested in the study and
conservation of 18th- and early 19thcentury buildings.
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://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
- historic public records online.
• http://www.britishhistory.ac.uk/ digital library of local history
resources.
Copyright
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.
Contact Details
Planning Policy and Heritage Team
South Northamptonshire Council.
Council Offices, Springfields,
Towcester. NN12 6AE
heritage@southnorthants.gov.uk
Tel 01327 322 382
26
Please note that the information contained within this appraisal is correct at the time of publication. South Northamptonshire Council cannot be held liable for any changes that may have occurred since that time.
27
Published in November2012 by South Northamptonshire Council. Council Offices, Springfields, Towcester. NN12 6AE
Tel 01327 322 382
email: heritage@southnorthants.gov.uk
website www.southnorthants.gov.uk