Planning Policy and Design
Adopted March 2007
SupplementaryGuidanceto the City of
Leicester Local Plan 2006
CastleConservation Area
Character Appraisal
�
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
Cover images, from the top:
Castle Gatehouse.Castle Gardens.The Turret Gateway from The Newarke.Magazine Gatway.
�
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA
c h a r a c t e r a p p r a i s a l(Adopted: March 2007)
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CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
contents
1.0 Introduction 7
�.0 PlanningPolicyFramework 7
�.0 Definitionofthespecialinterest 8
�.0 Assessmentofspecialinterest 9
�.1 Locationandsetting 9
�.� Historicdevelopmentandarchaeology 9
Characteranalysis 16
�.�5 Purpose 16
�.�9 Prevailingandformeruses 17
Architecturalcharacterandkeybuildings 17
�.�� CastleGardens 18
�.��TheCastleYardandCastleStreetarea 18
�.�6 TheNewarkearea ��
�.55 Buildingsmaterialsandthepublicrealm �7
�.61 Greeneryandgreenspaces �9
�.65 Negativefactors �0
�.68 Generalconditionsoftheareaandbuildings �1
�.70 Problemsandpressures �1
�.71 Capacityforchange ��
5.0 Communityinvolvement ��
6.0 ConservationAreaboundary ��
7.0 ManagementProposals ��
8.0 Contactsandappendices ��
list of maps
Fig1 ReconstructionofthefirstNormancastle 10
Map1 CityofLeicesterConservationAreas 5
Map� BoundaryofCastleConservationArea 6
Map� MedievalLeicester 10
Map� Robert’smapof17�1 11
Map5 Fowler’smapof18�8 1�
Map6 OrdnanceSurveymapof190�/05 1�
Map7 OrdnanceSurveymapof1885 15
Map8 CharacterAppraisal �9
appendices
Appendix1 ListofbuildingsintheCastleConservationArea �5
Appendix� ListoflistedbuildingsintheConservationArea �5
appendix� ListofbuildingscoveredbyArticle�Directions �5
Appendix� ManagementandEnhancementProposals �6
Appendix5 RelevantLocalPlanandotherPolicies �7
Appendix6 Glossaryofarchitecturalterms �8
page
5
Map 1. City of Leicester Conservation Areas
6
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
Map 2. Boundary of Castle Conservation Area
7
1.0 introduction
1.1 Acharacterappraisalisthefirststepina
dynamicprocess,theaimofwhichistopreserve
and enhance the character and appearance of
each conservation area. It defines and records
thefactorsthatmakeconservationareasspecial,
therebyprovidingabaselinefordecisionsaboutan
area’sfuture.Italsoidentifiesfeaturesorproblems
thatdetractfromthespecialqualityandsuggests,
by means of management and enhancement
proposals,thewaysinwhichthespecialinterest
couldbesafeguardedorimproved.Anappraisal
alsoreviewstheboundariesofaconservationarea
and,whereappropriate,includesamendments.
1.� CastleConservationAreawasoneofthe
firstthreeconservationareastobedesignatedin
LeicesterinMarch1969asaresultofthepowers
todesignatesuchareas thatwereconferredon
localauthoritiesbytheCivicAmenitiesAct1967.
Virtually all the buildings in the area are on the
statutorylistofbuildingsofarchitecturalorhistoric
interest (‘listed buildings’) and a large part falls
withintheboundariesofaScheduledMonument,
(theCastle).ItisperhapsthemostimportantofLeicester’s�5conservationareas.The1969
boundary included the Jewry Wall and Museum, Vaughan College, St Nicholas Church,
TalbotLaneandtheeastsideofBathLane.TheappraisalproposedthattheareanorthofSt
NicholasCircleshouldbeexcludedfromtheconservationarea(section6.0refers)andthat
itberenamedtheCastleConservationArea.Theappraisalthatfollowswillbebasedonthe
revisedboundary.
1.� Thesurveyandappraisalwerecarriedoutduring�006followingthemethodology
suggestedbyEnglishHeritage.Toensurethatacompletepictureofthevalueandcharacter
oftheareawasbuiltuplocalpeople,includingthosewholivein,workinorvisitthearea,
wereaskedfortheirviewsaboutthearea,suchaswhattheylikeordislikeaboutthearea,
andhowtheythinkitcouldorshouldbeimproved.
2.0 planning policy framework
�.1 Theprotectionand/orpreservationofhistoricenvironments arenowextensively
recognisedforthecontributiontheymaketothecountry’sculturalinheritance,economicwell-
beingandqualityoflife.Publicsupportforconservationareasasplacesthatgiveidentitytopeople
andcommunitiesiswellestablished.Nationallegislationandregionalguidancereflectthis.
Aerial view of the conservation area from the 2005 survey
8
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
�.� Theconceptof‘conservationareas’wasfirst introducedintonational legislation
in1967intheCivicAmenitiesActwhichdefinedaconservationareaas“anareaofspecial
architecturalorhistoricinterestthecharacterorappearanceofwhichitisdesirabletopreserve
orenhance”.Itisnotthepurposeofaconservationareatopreventchangebuttomanage
changeinwaysthatmaintainand,ifpossible,strengthenanarea’sspecialqualities.
�.� CurrentlegislationissetoutinthePlanning(ListedBuildingsandConservation
Areas)Act1990.Thisplacesadutyonlocalplanningauthoritiestodeclareasconservation
areasthosepartsoftheirareathattheyconsidertobeofspecialarchitecturalorhistoric
interest [s.69(1)]. Italso imposeson themaduty toreviewpastdesignations fromtime
totime[s.69(�)].Conservationareastatusalsomeansthattherearestrictercontrolson
changesthatcanbemadetobuildingsandlandincludingtheneedforplanningpermission
todemolishabuilding,strengthenedcontrolsoversomeminorformsofdevelopmentand
theautomaticprotectionofalltrees.
�.� TheCouncilhasafurtherdutytoformulateandpreparefromtimetotimeproposals
forthepreservationandenhancementofitsconservationareas[s.71(1)].TheCouncilmust
alsopayspecialattentiontothedesirabilityofpreservingandenhancingthecharacterand
appearanceofconservationareaswhendeterminingplanningapplicationsforsiteswithin
suchareas[s.7�(1)];see(section6andAppendix�below).
�.5 The City of Leicester Local Plan (saved until January �009 in accordance with
theprovisionsof thePlanning andCompulsoryPurchaseAct�00�) contains a rangeof
conservationpolicies(seeAppendix5)toensurethatthemostimportantpartsofLeicester’s
builtenvironmentareprotectedandenhanced.Thereisageneralpresumptionagainstthe
demolitionofbuildingsthatmakeapositivecontributiontothecharacterorappearanceofa
conservationarea.Thesepolicieshelptoensurethatnewdevelopmentsandconservation-
ledregenerationreflectthecharacterandvalueofthehistoricenvironment.
3.0 definition of special interest
�.1 TheCastleConservationArea isperhaps themost importantofLeicester’s�5
conservationareas.Despitethelossofitshistoriclinkswiththecitycentrethatresultedfrom
the1960sroadschemetotheeast,thisareastillcontainsthebest,andmostextensive,
elementsof the city’s archaeology and its visible history.TheCastle area is sited in the
south-westcornerofRomanLeicester,anarearichinarchaeology,andincludesanextensive
ScheduledMonument(Map�).CastleYard,theoriginalinnerbaileyoftheNormancastle,is
auniquespacethathasimportanceforbothnationalandlocalhistory.Manybuildingswithin
theconservationareaarelistedbuildings,ofwhichfivehaveGradeI(one)statusandfour
haveGradeII*status.TheCastleHall(GradeI)isreputedtobeoneoftheoldestsurviving
aisledandbay-dividedmedievalhallsinEuropeandtheNormanCastlemotte(mound)is
anotherimportantsurvivalfromthe11thcentury.
�.� Thespecialinterestoftheareaalsoderivesfromthewidevarietyofbuildingmaterials
thatareusedinthearea,manyofwhicharetraditionaltoLeicester.Thiscreatesaparticularly
richvisualenvironmentthatisfullofcolour,textureandpatternwhichisfurtherenhancedand
The Trinity Hospital mosaic near to The Newarke Bridge.
The Newarke c1890. Just prior the building of the School of Art and Technology, (now the Hawthorn Building), the site is to the left of the picture.
John of Gaunt’s cellar shown in a 19th century engraving.
9
softenedbythegreenspacesalongthecanal,andinCastleGardens,thestreetandprivate
gardens.Thesefeaturesalsoprovidevaluablepublicopenspaceandleisureopportunitiesin
anotherwisehardurbanenvironment.Mostbuildingsintheconservationarearetaintheir
originalwindows,doorsandrainwatergoods,addingtothearea’sarchitecturalandhistoric
characterandappearance.
4.0 assessment of special interest
Locationandsetting
�.1 TheconservationarealiesontheeastbankoftheRiverSoar.Itcoversanareaof
about7hectares(17.�acres)andincludesmostofLeicester’sancientbuildingsandremains
suchas theCastlemound (theMotte) and itsbaileys, amedievalGreatHall, theTrinity
HospitalandaChantryChapel.
�.� Thelandonwhichtheconservationareastandsrisessteeplyfromtheriveronglacial
gravelterraces,afeatureseenmostclearlyfromCastleParkwheretheCastlemotteandthe
GreatHallstandsomemetresabovethelevelofthe‘made-up’landoftheparkitself.
Historicdevelopmentandarchaeology
�.� Gravelridgessuchastheoneonwhichtheconservationareastands,havealways
beengoodplacesto liveandbuildbecausetheyaredryandsafe fromflooding. It isnot
thereforesurprisingthatthereweresettlementsinthevicinityoftheconservationareafrom
averyearlydate.EvidenceofBronzeAgeburialsandartefactshasbeenfoundinnearby
HighStreetbutwhateverhumanactivitytheremighthavebeenthenwouldprobablyhave
beentransientincharacter.However,inlatetheIronAgeapermanentsettlementsprang
upontheeastbankoftheSoarandtracesofabuildingofthisperiodhavebeenfoundnorth
oftheconservationareaintheStNicholasCirclearea.Nothingcanbeseenaboveground
fromtheseerasbuttheconservationareaoccupieswhatwasoncethesouthwestpartof
theRomantownofRataeCorieltauvorum.ThereisalsomuchvisibleevidenceofLeicester’s
historyfromNormantimestotheMiddleAgesaroundthecastleanditsassociatedmedieval
buildings.
�.� ThedevelopmentoftheRomantownprobablystartedwithinafewyearsofthe
RomaninvasionofBritaininAD��whenanimportantroad,theFosseWay,wasbuilttolink
thelegionaryfortressesatExeterandLincoln.ThisroadcrossedtheSoarclosetoanexisting
nativesettlementwhichgrewrapidlyoverthenextdecades,becominga‘frontiertown’.One
reasonforitsgrowthmayhavebeenbecauseaRomanforthadbeenbuiltbetweentwoarms
oftheriver.Bythestartofthe�ndcenturyADthistown(thatwastobecomeLeicester)was
thecapitaloftheCorieltauvitribeandwasknowntotheRomansasRataeCorieltauvorum.To
reflectitsimportancethetownwascompletelyremodelledandlaidoutinagridpattern,and
theFosseWaywasdivertedsothatitranthroughthetown.Theconservationarealiesover
thesouth-westernquadrantofthattown.Someofthemostimportantfeaturesarealready
knownand,ofthese,themostimpressiveandimportantistheso-calledJewryWallbeyondthe
northboundaryoftheconservationareawhich,inrecognitionofitsnationalimportance,has
10
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
beendesignatedasaScheduledMonument,
along with the land occupied by Vaughan
CollegeandStNicholasChurch.
�.5 Thereisnoabovegroundevidence
ofRomanLeicesterintheCastleConservation
Area,althoughwhereevidencehasnotbeen
destroyedby laterbuildingworkspartsof
the Roman town may yet remain to be
discovered. Much of the visible history in
thecastleareadatesfromthe11thcentury.
AftertheNormaninvasionin1066,thenew
king,WilliamtheFirst,parcelledoutthelands
of the defeated Anglo-Saxons and one of
hiscloseallies,HughdeGrentmesnil,was
givenlargetractsoflandaroundLeicester.It
washewhobuiltthefirstCastlein1070in
astrategicpositioninthesouthwestangleof
theRomantowndefences,overlookingthe
river.AtthistimetheNormanholdonthecountrywastenuous,withrevolts
againstNormanrulebreakingoutinmanypartsofthecountry.TheNormans
thereforehadtostamptheirauthorityoverthepopulaceearlyonandthe
newcastlewasahighlyvisibleexpressionoftheirpower.Atthetimeofthe
Domesdaysurvey,therewere�77householdsinLeicester,plusamintfor
strikingcoinage.
�.6 Thefirstcastlewasofthemotteandbaileytype(Fig. 1),and,in
anagewhentherewerevery fewbigbuildings, itwouldhavedominated
thetown.Fromthecastlemoundanovaldefensiverampartwithatimber
palisadeandditchwouldhavestretchedtothenortheast.Withintherampart
wasthebaileywhichwouldhavecontainedawellandnumerousstructures
includingahall(theforerunnerofthecurrentGreatHall),achurch(anearly
versionofStMarydeCastro),anarmoury,stablesandakitchen.Atimber
tower(orkeep)wouldhaveoccupiedthetopofthemotte,andwouldhave
beenthecastle’slastlineofdefence.Notraceofthetimberkeepsurvives,
butthemottestillstands9mhighand�0mwideatthebase.
�.7 After Hugh’s death the castle was passed into a succession of
medievalmagnates,includingbothSimondeMontfort,fatherandson,inthe
1�thcenturyandJohnofGauntinthe15thcentury.Hugh’sheirsheldvarious
titles,theearliestbeingsimplyEarlofLeicester,althoughsubsequentlythey
acquiredtheprincipaltitleofEarlofLancaster.Inthe1�thcenturytheybecameDukesof
Lancaster.Manyofthesemagnatessetaboutremodellingthecastlefortheirownpurposes
butinitiallytoimprovethedefences.Asthethreatofthelocalsrisingupinrevoltreceded,
thecastlegraduallybecamelessofafortificationandmoreofthecomfortableresidenceof
powerfularistocrats.
Fig. 1. Artists impression showing how Leicester Castle might have looked in Norman times.
Map 3. Medieval Leicester: the Castle Conservation area is shown edged in brown.
11
�.8 In 1101 Robert de Beaumont, second Earl of
Leicester, set about rebuilding the castle in stone, partly
because it had been badly damaged during the rebellion
againstHenryI.Thisincludedthereplacementofthewooden
palisadeswith stonewalls built into theouter faceof the
ramparts,andreplacementofthechurchandhallwithstone
buildingsonsimilarsites.ThefirststonechurchofStMary
deCastro(literally‘StMaryoftheCastle’)wasconsiderably
smallerthanthepresentbuildinganditsearlyNormanform
wasveryrichlydecorated.Someofitsexteriordetailscan
stillbeseenasinteriorfeaturesofthepresentchurch.The
churchwasfurtherenlargedandalteredinthe1�th,1�th
and19thcenturies.
�.9 TheGreatHallwasalsobuiltatthistimeandwas
thecoreofthepresentCastleHall.Aswellasstonewalls
ithada largetimberroofsupportedontwolinesof large
timberpoststhatdividedthehallintothree;themainbody
ofthehallandtwoflankingaislesontheeastandwestsides.
Itisthoughttobeoneoftheoldestaisledhalls,andperhaps
oneoftheoldestresidentialtimberroofs,inEurope.Some
oftheoriginalstoneworkandfragmentsofthetimberposts
canstillbeseeninsidethepresentbuilding.Itisnotknown,
however,whetherthetimberkeepwasalsoreplacedinstone
becausetheheightofthemottewassignificantlyreducedin
the19thcenturyandallevidencehasbeenlost.
�.10 Asthecastlebecameamorecomfortableresidence
additionalsuitesofroomswereaddedtothegreathall,both
toprovideprivateaccommodationfortheEarl’sfamilyanda
servicewing.Allsurfacetracesofthesehavebeenremoved
butalargestone-linedstoragebasement,locallyknownas
“JohnofGaunt’scellar”,survivesbelowgroundtothesouth
ofthehallandclosetothenorthslopeofthemotte.This
could well have served as storage for the castle kitchens
whicharebelievedtohavebeenlocatedonthissite.
�.11 One of the changes brought about by the
downgradingofthecastlefortificationswasthedevelopment
of the area to the south. This process began with the
foundationbyHenry,EarlofLancasterandLeicester,ofa
hospitaljusttothesouthofthecastlein1��1.Hesetasidefouracres(justover1.5hectares)
southofthecastlemoundandthehospitalwasbuiltclosetothewalledenclosureofthe
innerbaileyofthecastle.Theproximityofthehospitaltothecastlewalls(withinarrowrange)
indicatesthat,bythisdate,anyassaultonthecastlewasfelttobeanunlikelyevent.Thebuilding
consistedofachurchattheeastendwithaccommodationadjoiningitonthewestside.What
wenowknowastheChantryChapelmaywellbetheremnantsofthischurch.Partofthe
Map 4. Robert’s map of 1741. The conservation area is shown edged in brown.
The interior of the Castle Hall before 1821
1�
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
Hospital’slandnowformsthesouthend
ofCastleGardensandrecordsshowthat
in1���itwasknownas‘ANewGarden’
wherevineswerecultivated.
�.1� Henry died in 1��5 and his
son, anotherHenry (soon tobecome
DukeofLancaster in1�5�),setabout
transformingthecastle.Inthemid-1�th
centurytheCastlewasattheheightof
itswealthandpower.Itisperhapsasa
demonstration of that power that the
soncontinuedtheworksstartedbyhis
father.Headdedanouterbaileyonthe
northsideoftheexistingbaileybuthis
mainworkswereplannedforthesouth
side.Henotonlyenlargedthehospitaltotwiceitsoriginalsize
butalsoturnedtheentireareasouthofthecastleintoareligious
precinct(see Map 3).Akeypartoftheplanwastheerection
ofanewgatewaywithaceremonialroadleadingthroughitto
alargechurch,theCollegiateChurchoftheAnnunciationofSt
Mary(oroftheBlessedVirginoftheAssumption).Thechurch
wastobeamausoleumfortheDukes.
�.1� Henrydiedin1�61beforetheprojectwascompleted
and,beingwithoutamaleheir,theDukedompassedtohisson-
in-law,JohnofGaunt.Hecompletedthechurchand,whenhe
diedhewasburiedthere.Hisson,HenryBolingbroke,became
King Henry IV in 1�99. Leicester Castle was, therefore, no
longer his principal residence (that having shifted to London),
butitcontinuedtobeusedforceremonialpurposes,suchasthe
knightingofthefutureHenryVinStMarydeCastro.Medieval
records show that therewere also adancing chamber and a
chapel.WorkalsocontinuedontheNewarkesite.Newgates
wereconstructedtothenorthandsouthofasomewhatsmaller
castleenclosure(thelatterremainsastheTurretGatewayand
datesfrom1���-��)andthereligiousprecinctwascompleted
withtheconstructionofanenclosingwallonitswest,eastand
southsideswithtwogatesintotheprecinctfromthesouthside
and east sides. Speede’s map of 1610 shows this particularly
well. Itwastheseimpressivedefencesthat ledtotheprecinct
being knownas the ‘new-work’, and thatwe know today as
TheNewarke.In1���-�5anewnortherngatewaywasbuilt
adjacenttoStMarydeCastrotoreplaceonethathadburned
down(knowntodayasTheGateHouse).
Engraving of Trinity Hospital from John Nichol’s “History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester”. It dates from 1796.
A view taken in the early years of the 20th century showing the Old Castle Inn located next to the Turret Gateway
The Newarke Gateway c1900.
1�
�.1� However, the castle’s importancebegan towane in
the15thcenturyasaresultoftheWarsoftheRoses.Nolonger
occupiedormaintained,itsapartmentshaddeterioratedtosuch
anextentthatRichardIIIchosetostayatalocalinnbeforethe
battleofBosworthin1�85.TheGreatHall,importantastheseat
ofLawinthecitysinceitwasfirstbuilt,wasgraduallyadaptedand
alteredthebetter toaccommodatethe legalproceedings that
becameitsprimaryfunction.Itwasextensivelyremodelledand
refacedinbrickin1695toprovide‘modern’LawCourtsforthe
town.Thegreatestdamagetothebuildingcamein18�1when
afirstfloorwasinsertedandanewwallerectedinplaceofthe
1�thcenturytimbercolumnsofthewesternarcade.Whenthe
newMagistratesCourtsinPocklington’sWalkwerebuiltinthe
1980s,theGreatHallbecamevacant.
�.15 The Newarke area fared somewhat better. The
CollegiateChurchhadbeenrichlyendowedbytheDukesand
continuedtoprosperforover�00years.TheChantryHouse
(now part of the Newarke Houses Museum) was added in
1511-1� by William Wygston, a prominent Leicester wool
merchant,toprovideaccommodationfortwopriestswhoprayed
forhiswell-beinginlifeanddeath.Anotherchantryhousewas
erectednearbyandsurvivesasthebuildingknownasStMary’s
Vicarage.SkeffingtonHouse,thecentralblockofthemuseum,
followedbetween1560and158�andisnamedafterThomas
Skeffington,sheriffofLeicester,whohadordereditsbuilding.It
is shownclearlyon JohnSpeede’smapofLeicesterof1610.
The house was substantially altered around 17�0 by William
Wright, Recorder of Leicester, when a grand staircase was
insertedandthehousewasredecoratedintheclassicalstyle.The
entrancegateandoverthrowalsodatefromthistime.However,
followingWright’sdeaththehousewasletandfellintodecline.
Thebuilding’sfortuneswererestoredinthe1790sbyWilliam
Oldham,aLeicesterAlderman,asaspeculativedevelopment.
Headded‘EastHouse’attherighthandendandalteredthefront
elevationstocreatethesymmetricalGothicappearancethatis
hastoday.Somesmall18thcenturycottagessurviveonthewest
sideofCastleView.
�.16 The Collegiate Church survived Henry VIII ’s
dissolutionofthemonasteries,althoughitwassurrendered
to the Crown in 15�5. Henry was reluctant to destroy
an institution so closely connected with his Lancastrian
ancestors so it continued to function and it was his son,
EdwardVI,whodissolvedthecollegein15�8,seizedthe
propertyandpensionedofftheclergy.Notlongafterwards
the building was demolished. The hospital, however,
Skeffington House, The Newarke: a view of the rear garden dating from 1867.
St. Mary’s Vicarage, The Newarke, showing the top two storeys prior to their removal in 1947.
Map 6. The Ordnance Survey Map of 1903/04: The Castle Conservation Area is shown superimposed. Crown copyright and Landmark Information Group Limited. All rights reserved, 2008. Map not scale.
1�
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
survivedtoberenamedTrinityHospital
after i t was granted a new charter in
1615.
�.17 Theprecinctthusbecameasecular
suburb with the dwellings being occupied
bypeopleunconnectedtothereligiouslife.
Fragmentsofthesesurvive,incorporatedinto
laterbuildings(seeAppendix�)andpartsof
thechurchwerestillvisibleearlyinthe�0th
century when an Arts & Technical School
was built on the site (now De Montfort
University’sHawthornBuilding).Twosmall
stone arches from the church remain,
incorporated intothebasement.Elements
oftheTrinityHospitalalsosurvive,although
afireandmajoralterationsinthe18thand
early�0thcenturies,includingthereplacementofthewestern
endatanangletotheoriginalbuildingline,havemeantthatonly
thechapelattheeasternendcontainsmuchmedievalfabric.
�.18 ThewallsoftheNewarkewerewellconstructedand
stillinreasonablerepairattheoutbreakoftheCivilWarinthe
16�0s.Theydefendedthegarrisonwhenitretreatedfromthe
towntothecastleandtheNewarkewheretheysufferedabrief
bombardmentfromthesouth.Realisingthattheirpositionwas
indefensible,thegarrisonsoonsurrendered.Althoughthewalls
surviveduntiltheearly19thcenturytheyhadbeenfallinginto
disrepair.Theywerethereforepartiallydemolishedtoleaveonly
twoupstandingstructures.Oneofthese,knownlocallyasPrince
Rupert’sTower,wassitedonBonnersLaneandprobablyformed
partofthesouthgateintotheNewarke.Itwasdemolishedin
19�5.TheotherwastheMagazineGatewaythat,bytheendof
thenineteenthcenturyhadbeen incorporated intoabarracks
andsurvivedmoreorlessintact.Anarchaeologicalinvestigation
intheHerbGardenbehindTrinityHospitaluncoveredamassgravewhichmayhavebeen
oneofthegravesinwhichthedeadofthe16�5siegewereburied.
�.19 Bythe18thcenturytheCastleMill,onasitedatingbackthe1�thcentury
andsituatednotfarfromtoday’sfootbridgeoverthecanal,hadbeentakenoverby
theFlowersfamily,oneofwhomwasJohnFlowers(born1795)thewellknownlocal
water-colourist.HispaintingsofLeicesterinthe18thcenturyevokeastrongsenseof
Leicester’scharacteratthattime.SomeGeorgianhouseswerebuilt inTalbotLane
andTheNewarkeduringthe18thcenturyatthesametimeassimilarlyfashionable
houseswerebeingbuiltintheFriarLaneandMillstoneLaneareaofthetown.The
smallcottagesonCastleViewalsodatefromthistime.Electionriotsin18��caused
extensivedamagetotheTurretGatewayandlater,theCastleGatehousewasconverted
The River Soar prior to the construction of the Mile Straight in the late 19th century.
Map 5. Fowler’s Map of 1828: the Castle Conservation area is shown edged in brown.
15
into a dwelling. The building that joined
it to St Mary de Castro was demolished
sometimearound18�8.
�.�0 Bybeginningofthe19thcenturythe
landnorthoftheGreatHallhadbecomea
garden(Map 7)andacanallinkingLeicester
to Loughborough was complete by the
18�0s,with a lock close to thepositionof
the new footbridge from Castle Park to
Westbridge Place. A new iron bridge was
built to replace the medieval West Bridge
acrosstheSoarin18�1.By18��,asLeicester
begantoindustrialiseanditspopulationgrew,
newstreetsoftinyhouseshadbeenbuiltin
thesouthquarterof theNewarkeprecinct
(Asylum Street, Middle Street, Gray Street
etc)andofficers’housesandaparadeground
hadbeenbuiltatitseastendaround186�.
ThePortlandShoesfactorywasbuiltin1889
onAsylumStreet(nowTheGateway)andon
CastleStreetafactoryforStrettonsLtdwas
built in189�,withanextensionat theeast
endin1901.
�.�1 Transportwasalsochangingasaresultof the Industrial
Revolution and the development of both the canal and railway
systemshadasubstantialeffectontheenvironsoftheconservation
area.TheconstructionoftheGreatCentralRailway(whichopened
in1899)notonlyrequiredthatitbedriventhroughanalreadybuilt-
uparea,italsorequiredmajoralterationstotheSoarandthemill
race.Thus,fromabout1890,theWestBridgelock,themillrace
andmillraceweirwereabandonedandfilledin,theruinousmill
buildingsweredemolishedandanew‘cut’builtin1889tocreatethe
MileStraight.TheNewarkewasextendedwestwardsoveranew
bridgethatwasopenedin1898.TothenorththeWestBridgewas
alsoreplacedin1891tofurtherimprovewest-easttrafficlinks.
�.�� InTheNewarke,partoftheTrinityHospitalwasdemolishedandrebuiltonanew
alignmenttoaccommodatetheextensionandwideningofthestreetaround190�.Several
Georgianhouses,includingSirLawrenceCarter’shouseof1777(therearpartofwhichdated
from1690)werealsodemolishedforthesamereasonandthefrontgardenofSkeffington
Housewasconsiderablyshortened,(Map 6).CastleGardenswerelaidoutandopenedin
19�6,replacingallotmentsandasmallergardentothenorth.AnewbuildingfortheSchool
oftheArtsandTechnologywasbuiltonthesiteoftheformerCollegiateChurchjustafter
theturnofthecentury,tobecompletedwiththeconstructionofanewwingfacingThe
Newarkeinthe19�0s.DuringtheSecondWorldWartheChantryHousenarrowlymissed
Artist’s illustration of the Portland Shoe factory originally drawn for a shoe box label. In the bottom right hand corner the artist has shown St. Mary’s Vicarage, (compare with images on pp 13 and 25).The former factory and offices now forms part of the De Montfort University campus and is known as The Portland Building.
Map 7. The Ordnance Survey Map of 1886: The Castle Conservation Area is shown superimposed. Crown copyright and Landmark Information Group Limited. All rights reserved, 2008. Map not scale.
16
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
destructionwhenabombexplodedinitsgardenin19�0.
Itwasrestoredbythe1950s.TheupperstoreysofSt
Mary’sVicarageonthecornerofTheNewarkandwhat
wasthenAsylumStreet(thenusedasastoragebuilding
fortheadjacentPortlandShoesfactory)wereremoved
in19�7.Aroundthattimeabusstationwasprovidedon
thesouthsideoftheNewarke.
�.�� However, it was the construction of the St
Nicholas Circle gyratory system and the Southgates
underpassthathadthegreatesteffect.Notonlydidthis
trafficschemeseverthearea’sphysicalconnectionswith
thetownthathadservedit formanycenturies, italso
introduced a barrier to movement between the city
centreandtheconservationarea.Themedievalstreet
layoutwassweptaway,togetherwiththemilitiacottages,
theDrillHallandtheparadegroundtothesouthwest
of the Magazine Gateway. The Gateway, saved after
considerablepublicoutcry,endedupasanisolatedisland
inthemiddleofthesenewroadsandthecottagesand
paradegroundsitewereredevelopedintheearly1970s
by the construction of the James Went Building. This
building,thathadusedasitsdesignthemethepunchcard,
thestate-of-the-artcomputertechnologyofthetime,is
itselfbeingreplacedbyanewacademicbuilding.Arow
oftownhouseswasalsobuiltin1969atthenorthendof
CastleStreet,andtheninestoreysofBosworthHouse
onSouthgatesdatesfromaboutthistime.
�.�� Most recently new student flats have been
built between Castle Street and Southgates and a
new academic building, the Centre for Excellence in
the Performance Arts, is under construction on The
Newarke.
CharacterAnalysisandcharacterzones
Purpose
�.�5 Theaimofconservationareadesignationisthepreservationandenhancementof
thecharacterandappearanceofanareaofarchitecturalorhistoricinterest.However,the
townscape,characterandappearanceofeachconservationareawillbeunique.Forexample,
thearchitecturalstylesandbuildingscalesmaynotbethesame,thestreetpatternsandspaces
mightbewideandopenornarrowandwinding.Theareasmayhaveadaptedtochangesin
fashionindifferentwaysandtheircharactermaybeinfluencedbylesstangiblefactorssuchas
thedifferentusesinthearea,orthesounds,smells,busynessortranquillityexperiencedby
The Newarke and Magazine Gateway photographed in the late 1960s when the area was still in use as a bus station by “Midland Red” services.
St. Mary de Castro and the Castle Hall seen from across the river c.1920. At this time the area was an allotment garden and some of the huts are visible in the picture.
17
thepasser-by.Itisimportant,therefore,thatthedifferentcharacters
aswellasthephysicalappearanceofeachconservationareaisdefined
anddescribedinorderthatinformeddecisionscanbemadeabout
anyfuturechangestothebuiltformortheusesofbuildings.
�.�6 Townscapeisoneelementofthecharacterofaconservation
area.Itiscreatedbytheweavingtogetheroftheelementsthatgo
to create the urban environment – the buildings, trees, spaces,
water,traffic,advertisementsetc.Thequalityofthattownscapeis
determinedbyhowwelltheseelementsfittogetherandtheeffect
that their combinedpowerhason the viewer.Good townscape
mightevokeasenseofdrama,anticipationorsurprisewhilepoor
townscapecanintimidateordisturb.
�.�7 Thetownscapeoftheconservationareaisveryvarieddue
tothemanychangesthathavehappenedtothebuiltenvironment
overtheyears.ItrangesfromthequietenclaveoftheCastleYard
dominatedbythespireandmassofStMarydeCastrotothelarge
academicbuildingsandbustlingcampusofDeMontfortUniversity
tothesouth.Theareaislinkedtogetherbyaseriesofdifferentopen
spaces–thearea in frontof theHawthornBuildingonMagazine
Walk,theCastleYardanditsnarrowapproaches,andCastleGardens.
�.�8 There are, however, threedistinct zonesor enclaves -CastlePark, theCastle
Yard/CastleStreetareaandTheNewarkearea.Theappraisalofthetownscape,architectural
characterandkeybuildingswillthereforebeundertakenforeachseparatezone.
Prevailingandformeruses
�.�9 ThebuildingswithintheconservationareaarethetangibleevidenceofLeicester’s
past.Manyhavebeenlostoverthecenturiesbut,ofthebuildingsthatsurvive,manyare
ofthehighestqualityintermsofboththeirsignificanceinthedevelopmentofLeicesteras
wellastheiroriginaldesigns.ThisisparticularlytrueoftheCastleHall,whichrepresentsthe
historicseatofLawinthetown.
�.�0 HistoricmapsofLeicestershowthattheappearanceoftheconservationarea
haschangedseveraltimes.FromitsearlydaysasthedenselydevelopedheartofaRoman
town,ithadsplitintotwobythe1�thcentury,withajumbleofmedievalstreetsinthe
northandeastand themorespaciouscastleenclave in thesouth.Wholestreets from
themedievalperiodhavebeenlost,suchasmostofCastleStreetandallofTheHollow,
BridgeStreet,ApplegateStreetandStNicholasSquare.Frombeingtheseatofpowerand
authorityoverthetownfromthe11thcentury,theCastleareabecameaquietenclave
withfewhousesbythe18thcentury.Bytheendofthe19thcenturyithadchangedagain,
becomingabustlingareafullofnarrowstreetsofhouses,shops,factories,publichouses
andplacesofworship.TheroleoftheancientCastleHallremained,however,astheseat
ofLawuntilthelate�0thcentury.
The Turret Gateway c.1900.
18
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
�.�1 Therearenowfewcluesinthetownscapetotheorigins
of The Newarke area as a religious precinct. It remained mostly
undevelopeduntil the19thcentury,barring theconstructionofa
fewhomesforwealthyresidentsofthetowninthe17thand18th
centuries. Following construction of the first College of Art and
Technologyin1897theareaisnowalmostentirelygivenoverto
educationuse.TheTrinityHospital,afterover600years,ceasedto
beusedforresidentialpurposesin1995whenitwasboughtbythe
DeMontfortUniversitytobeusedasoffices.Thechurch,however,
retain its ecclesiastical functions and forms the focal point for the
annualCastleParkFestivalthatcelebratesLeicester’shistory.
Architecturalcharacterandkeybuildings
Buildings and land that make a positive contribution to the
character and appearance of the conservation area are shown in bold.
If a building is not included it should not be taken to indicate that it is
not important to that character or appearance.
Castle Gardens�.�� ThelandnowoccupiedbyCastle Gardenswascreated
frommarshlandaroundthemillracethatservedthesiteoftheCastle
Mill.Inmedievaltimestheouterbaileyofthecastleranabovethe
righthandbankofthestream,andasmallfragment(GradeIIlisted)
canbeseennorthofthepondsandtotheeastof themainpath
throughthepark.MorethanhalftheparkformspartoftheCastle
ScheduledMonument(Map�refers).Themillracewasfilledinduring
thecanalisationoftheSoarattheendofthe19thcenturyandpart
ofthemadelandwasusedasallotmentsuntiltheparkwaslaidout
in the19�0s.Today, thetreeshavematuredandpathswindpast
rockeries,ponds,aswellasflowerandshrubbeds.Acommemorative
statuetoRichardIIIoccupiesaprominentpositionclosetothenorth
entrancetocommemoratethekingwholeftLeicesterforBosworth
FieldbytheWestBridgeandwhosebodywasreturnedtothecity
bythesameroute.
�.�� Many original flowerbeds, once planted with colourful
carpetbedding,arenowlessformallyplantedwithshrubsandbulbs.
Treesenclosetheparkonallsideswithdeepshrubbedsformingan
almostcontinuousboundarytothecanal.Thishastheunfortunate
resultofrestrictingaccessto,andviewsof,thecanal,itswildlifeandpassingnarrowboats.A
smallperformancespacehasbeencreatedtowardsthesouthendoftheparkwithtwolines
ofpleachedLimetreesplantedincurvinglinesoneitherside.Seatsarescatteredaround
theparkandthenorthandsouthboundariesaredefinedbydecorativefencing,thedesign
themeofwhichistakenfromEarlyEnglishpointedwindowarchesandaddstothevisual
patternsinthearea.Thecanalboundaryrailingswereerectedcirca.�00�.Thepedestrian
Statue of King Richard III by the sculptor Richard Butler located within Castle Gardens close to the St. Nicholas Circle entrance.
Castle Gardens from across the Mile Straight by West Bridge Place.
19
footbridgelinkingtheparktoWestbridgePlaceisundergoingextensiverefurbishment,including
fulldisabledaccess.ViewstothebackoftheCastleHallhaverecentlybeenopenedupby
judiciouspruningandreplanting.Partofthecanal‘MileStraight’formsthewestboundaryof
thepark,andanarrowboatlandingstage,popularduringthesummermonthswithboaters,
hasbeeninstalledbyBritishWaterways.
The Castle Yard and Castle Street area�.�� TheCastleYard is the coreof the conservation area and contains the largest
number of early buildings in any of the city’s conservation areas. Castle Yard, Castle
ViewandmostofCastleStreetformpartofthe‘LeicesterCastleandMagazineGateway
ScheduledMonument’site(see Map 2)inwhichallthebuildingsarealsolistedintheir
ownrightandalsohavesignificant‘groupvalue’.Thetownscapeandenvironmentareof
thehighestqualitywithbrick,stoneandhalf-timberedbuildingssetaround,andenclosing,
atranquilopenspacesoftenedbysurroundingtrees.Thereareexceptionalviewswithin,
andoutof,theCastleYardinanydirection.Thevarietyofbuildingmaterialsandstylesadds
visualandhistoricalinterest.Buildingsareoftwoorthreestoreysandclusteraroundthe
tallspireandnaveoftheStMarydeCastrochurch,creatingatightlygrainedtownscape.
Thechurchisanimportantlocallandmark,andriseshighaboveitswell-treedchurchyard
topunctuatetheskyline.TheviewsofthespirefromthenorthendofCastleStreetand
fromRichmondStreetareofparticulardramaandvalue.
The spire of St. Mary de Castro and the 15th century Turret Gateway framed by the former Chantry House to the right and the small terrace of late Victorian houses on the left.
The tower to the former Stretton’s Hosiery factory, Castle Street.
�0
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
�.�5 However,thequalityandlegibility
oftheapproachtotheareafromthenorth
are poor and give little indication of the
historicnatureofthearea.TheviewstoSt
MarydeCastro fromthewesthavebeen
partially obscured by the new bulk of the
student housing at Victoria Hall, thereby
breaking the visual link with other historic
citycentresites.FromwithinCastleStreet
the viewnorth to StNicholasCircle is of
discordantrhythmsofsteelandconcrete.At
thefootoftheslopeCastleStreetsweeps
round towards the ring road to the east
and the townscapebecomesmore tightly
grained,hemmedinbytallbuildingsoneither
side. However, the street and pavement
surfaces at the junction between Castle
Street,theeasterngatetoCastleGardensandthevehicleaccessto
CastleHouseareinpoorconditionandwouldbenefitfromrenewal
andredesign.
�.�6 Adjoiningtheeasternboundaryofthechurchyardisthetall
ArtsandCraftsstyleGradeIIlistedredbricktoweroftheformer
Stretton’sfactory.Itscorbelledturrets,trefoilwindowsandachateau-
styleroofmakeparticularlyeffectivefoilstoStMarydeCastrotothe
west.Thesetwobuildingsframethechurchyardwherecenturiesof
burialshaveraisedgroundlevelabout1.5mabovepresentdaystreet
level.Therowsof finelycarvedslateheadstonesgroupedamong
thetreesaddfurthervisualtextureandinterestandthelowashlar
boundarywallformsastrongedgetoenclosethespaceandseparate
it fromtheadjoiningpublicseatingarea.Theadjoiningfactory,61
Southgates,datesfrom189�isrobustlyconstructedinredbrick
withprojectingbrickpiersseparatingthewindowstocreateafaçade
withastrongverticalemphasis.Theeasternenddatesfrom1901
andacknowledgesitsimportantlocationonSouthgates(orSouthgate
Streetwhenitwasbuilt)withamoreClassicalstyledecoratedwith
gables,deepmouldedstonebands,circularandhalf-roundsecond
floorwindowsandstonecolumnswith Ioniccapitals.Thecorner
withCastleStreetisbuiltinacurveabovethemainentrancewhich
isfurtheremphasisedwithornatestoneframesaroundthewindows
andcolouredglassintheupperlightsofthefirstfloorwindows.The
nine,fiveandfourstoreymassofBosworthHousetothesouthdates
from197�.
�.�7 FromCastle Street a narrow roadway rises up topass
through an arch beneath the half-timbered first floor of20 Castle
Street,partofThe Gate House,22 Castle Street(GradeII*listed).
The Castle Hall, Castle Green. The brick facade was added towards the end of the 17th century.
Castle House dates from the mid 14th century and was extended to the north and west in the 18th century.
Castle House - the Georgian wing to the north.
�1
Thesebrick,stoneandtimber-framedbuildingswerebuiltasthegate
totheinnerbaileyofthecastleandwerealteredandextendedin
the18thcenturywhenthesashwindowswereinstalled.Therear
partisfacedwithbrickandtheboundarytoCastleGreenisbuiltin
randomrubbleandbrickwhilethefrontgardensitsbehindamodern
brickwall.Onthesouthsideofthearchwayasmallfrontgardenis
enclosedbyalowstonewallwithcastironrailingsandgate.
�.�8 TheGateHouseadjoinsanotherGradeIIlistedbuilding,
Castle House, 24 Castle Street.Thisisan18thcenturybuilding
inredbrickwithsashwindows,amouldedeavescornice,adoorcase
with a semi-circular fanlight anda small porch supportedon two
Tuscancolumns.Thehouseissurroundedbyahighbrickwallthat
ispiercedbymoderncastirongates,therebyofferingaglimpseof
thesecludedgarden.
�.�9 ThefirstbuildingthatisseenonenteringCastleYard(the
originalbaileyoftheNormancastle)isCastle Hall,aGradeIlisted
buildingandararesurvivalofamedievalaisledhall. It facesonto
CastleGreenandappearstobeasmalltwostoreyredbrickGeorgian
building.However,thisisoneoftheoldestbuildingsinLeicesterand
isthemainsecularbuildingintheconservationarea.Theoriginal1�th
centurybuildingwasatimber-framedhallforLeicester’snewNorman
overlord,whowouldhaveuseditforentertainments,feastingand
the administrationof justice.The timberhallwas replaced in the
1�thcenturybyanewhallbuiltinDaneHillssandstone,withwalls
1.�m(�.5ft)thick.Thishallwasdividedintothreeparts-acentral
naveand twosideaislesseparated fromthenavebyenormous
timberarcades.Itwouldhavehadafireinthecentreofthefloor
andanentranceatthesoutheastend,withserviceroomssuchas
kitchensandstoreroomsonthesouthside.Partsofthesesurvive
andone,knownlocallyasJohn of Gaunt’s cellarandGradeI
listed,remainvisible.
�.�0 Thehallremainedlargelyuntoucheduntilthe17thcentury
whenthefrontfaçadewasremodelledaround1695.Thiswaswhen
thebuilding gained thepresent brick façadeon theCastleGreen
frontagewith a grand central entrance surmountedby aClassical
pedimentandnewsymmetricalarrangedwindows.Anatticrangewas
alsoadded.The‘modern’LawCourtfittingsthatwerealsoinstalledat
thattimelefttheearlymedievalformofthehalllargelyintact.However,thegreatestdamageto
theinteriorspaceoccurredwhenthebuildingwasremodelledagainin18�1.Thespacewas
dividedbothhorizontallyandverticallyintosmallercourtroomsandofficesandthewestaisle
postsweretruncatedandreplacedinstone.Itisnotthereforeobvioustothecasualvisitorthat
heisenteringamedievalhallandthebuilding,nolongerinuse,israrelyvisited.Therearofthe
propertyisamixofrandomgraniterubbleandbrickworkandriseshighoverCastleGardens.
Thefaçadeispiercedbyshallowpointedarchwindowsandmockarrowslitswithdecorative
brickeavescourses,tallchimneysandwhiteclaychimneypots.
The rear elevation of the Castle Gatehouse seen from Castle Green.
The Castle Motte or Mound seen from the south west.
Part of the Castle Hall interior showing some of the original 12th century timbered rook structure.
��
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
�.�1 TothesouthofCastleHall,andhiddenbehindhigh
boundarywallsandotherstructures,standthesteep-sided
remainsoftheCastle Motte(Mound),partoftheCastle
and Magazine Gateway Scheduled Ancient Monument.
This is the locationof theoriginalcastlekeep (illustrated
atFig.�)andthemoundonwhichitstoodwasoriginally
higherthanitistoday,havingbeenreducedinheightand
levelledinthe19thcenturytoprovidespaceforabowling
green.Alltracesoftheoriginalbuildingthatstoodonthe
topofthemottehavethereforebeenlostand,asthesides
ofthemottearecoveredintrees,theconicalshapeofthe
motteisnolongerobvious.Theconstructionofhousesand
gardenstothenorthandeastinthe18thcenturyeffectively
severedtheintimaterelationshipbetweenthemotteand
itsbailey,andtoday,theonlyaccesstothemotteisfrom
CastlePark.
�.�� AlsoonCastleGreen stands the churchofSt
Mary de Castro,aGradeIlistedbuildingthathasseen
manyalterationsandextensionssinceitwasbuiltinthe1�th
century.Itisoneofthefewchurchesinthecountrythatstill
occupiesitsoriginalpositionwithintheouterbaileyofthe
castleitserved.Thehistoryofitsvariousrebuildingsand
alterations isvisibleacross itsexteriorwhereavarietyof
architecturalstylesfromNormantothe19thcenturycan
beseen.Thelocationofthisbuildingmakesitanimportant
featureinthetownscape–itpushesforwardintotheopen
spaceofCastleGreen,deflectingtheeyeandobscuring
what is beyond. The tall 1�th century spire introduces
a strong vertical element into the space and adds visual
interestwithaseriesofcrockets, lucarnes,acrenellated
parapetandtallcornerpinnacles.Thetraceryinthelarge
westwindowisjuxtaposedwithasmallNormandoorway
thatisdecoratedwithzigzagcarvingoveritsround-arched
opening.Asimilar,butmorehighlydecorated,doorway
provides access to the north aisle and, above that, an
arcadeofpointedarchesbreaksupthemassofthenave.
Thechurchand itsgroundsare tightlyenclosedbyhigh
random rubble and brick walls (GradeIIlisted)from
TurretGatewaytothewesttowerandbylowlimestone
ashlar walls with decorated pier caps and railings from
CastleGreen intoCastleStreet.Beyond isvisiblemore
zigzagdecorationaroundtherecessedNormanwindows
inthenorthwallofthechancel.
�.�� FromtheCastleGreenanarrowcobbledroad
leads past two groups of small 19th century red brick
St. Mary de Castro from the south east corner of the churchyard.
St. Mary de Castro; one of the Norman semi-circular arched windows to the south elevation.
��
houses known as 5,6,7,8 and 9 Castle
View(allGradeIIlisted).Thefirst,andlarger,
groupisformedofthetwohousesat5and
6CastleViewthathavecentralpaireddoors
with simplified Classical-styled doorcases
andsquaretraceriedfanlights,sashwindows
in segmental arched openings, moulded
eavescornicesandtallchimneyswithpots.
Separated by a small walled yard with a
gate,thenextthreetinyhousesformasmall
terracewhichstepsdowntheslopetowards
Turret Gateway. Built in the mid-late 18th
centurythesesimplebrickbuildingshavetwo
windowsandplaindoorways.Decorationis
kepttoaminimumwithonlyaplainbandof
mouldedbricksbetweenthegroundandfirst
floors.Outsideshuttersatgroundfloorlevel
areafeatureofallthesebuildings.
�.�� Theformerpublichouseat12 Castle Viewisbuiltinthe
GothicRevivalstyleinrandomrubblewithstonequoins,aslightly
jettiedwindow ina largegablewithplainbargeboardsandmock
timbering-framingatthenorthendandasmallgabledorielwindowat
thesouthend.Toeithersidepairsoflargegateshangfrommatching
randomrubblepiers,thegabledheadsofwhichechothoseonthe
piersaroundthenearbychurchyard.
�.�5 To the south lies the 15th century Turret Gateway
(GradeIlisted)thatmarkstheentrancefromtheinnerbaileyofthe
castletothenewreligiousprecinctcreatedbyHenry,firstDukeof
Lancasterinthemid-1�thcentury.Althoughinruinsthisfour-centred
stonearchwaycreatesadramatictransitionpointbetweenthebusy
DeMontfortUniversitycampustothesouthandthequietspaceof
theCastleYard.TheapproachtotheGatewayisdownanarrow
cobbledstreetwithgardenwallsoneitherside.Thegardenbehind
theNewarkeHousesMuseumcanbeglimpsedon theeast side
throughwrought irongates set in anarchedopening.Thenorth
boundaryofthegardenistheformedbythe�.5mhighstonewall
built in the15thcentury toseparateStMarydeCastro fromthe
religiousprecinct.Totheleftasmallgategivesaccesstoasmall,secret
herbgardenandareconstructedclockmaker’sworkshop,Deacon’s
Workshop(GradeIIlisted),completewithclockdated1771.
The Newarke area�.�6 Thetownscapeofthispartoftheconservationareaisvaried
withmanyinterestingviewsinto,outofandwithinit.Theviewfrom
TheNewarkeandRichmondStreettotheTurretGatewayframes
Deacon’s Workshop adjacent to Turret Gateway. This early 18th c building was possibly a store. It was reconstructed in the 20th century and used for a time to display Samuel Deacon’s clock collection.
Trinity Hospital (now Trinity House), showing part of the medieval chapel and hall with its distinctive14th century Gothic arches.
The former Trinity Hospital viewed from the restored Herb Garden to the rear. The original chapel is to the far left of the picture.
��
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
thespireofStMarydeCastro,whileacurveattheendofthetree-linedvistawestwards
alongTheNewarkeclosestheview.Beyondthecurvethetownscapeopensuptoreveal
avistatoBedePark,theMileStraightandthenewcanalsidehousingandcommercial
developmentsonWesternRoad. From theuniversity campus andMagazineWalk a
glimpsecanbehadoftheCathedralspire,framedbetweentallbuildings.Incontrast,and
greatlytoitsdetrimentandthatofthetownscape,thetruncatedupperportionofthe
MagazineGatewaycanbeseenisolatedabovetheretainingwallsofapedestriansubway.
Theprotectivebarriersaroundthetowerfurtherdamagethesettingofthisbuilding.
�.�7 ThetownscapeonthenorthsideofTheNewarkeisfinelygrained,withgroups
ofdomesticscaletwoandthreestoreybuildingsformingastrongbuiltedge.Publicand
privatespaceiswelldefinedbyfences,gatesandhedgeswhiletheskylineisbrokenby
gables,crenellationsandchimneys.Brick,stoneandstuccofacadesaddfurthervisual
interestandtexture.TheurbanformbecomesmoreopenonthesouthsideofThe
Newarke where the building scale also increases, reflecting the change in character
fromdomestictopurpose-builteducationfacilities.However,theenvironmentaround
BosworthHouseontheeastsideoftheNewarkeHousesMuseumdoesnotenhance
theconservationarea,beinglaidtoroadandcarparking.Italsohasarathergloomy
approachtothemaindoorandrearcarparkdownaslightinclinethathasahighretaining
wallalongitswesternedge.
�.�8 All the buildings on the north side of The Newarke are listed as being of
architectural or historic interest. They range in
date fromthe late1�thcenturytotheearly�0th
century and their varied scale, building materials
and roof heights create interesting visual rhythms
andpatterns.Theoldestfeaturesaretobefound
in the chapel (Grade II listed) attached to the
formerTrinityHospitalAlmshouseswherea1�th
century chancel arch, lancet windows and an
arcadesupportedonoctagonalpiers.TheTrinity
Hospital(GradeIIlisted),originallyaseventeenbay
hall,wasrebuiltin1901instonerandomrubbleand
redbrickwithanarcadedfaçade,deepbaywindows
withcrenellations,tallbrickchimneys,abell-coteand
amouldedeavescornice.Thegrandentrancehas
pairedpilasters,asegmentalpedimentandcarved
spandrelseithersideofthearchoverthedoor.
�.�9 AdjoiningtheTrinityHospital,andforming
thewest cornerofCastleView, four lateVictorian redbrickGothicRevivalhousesat15-21 The
Newarke sitbehindawell-keptprivethedgeandGothicrailings.Theirtallmouldedchimneystacks
punctuatetheskylineandthestreetfrontageisenlivenedbybluebrickdetailinganddormers.Thehouses
arecoveredbyanArticle�Directionthatrequiresthatplanningpermissionisobtainedforanyalterations
tothebuildingsortheirgrounds.TheeastsideofCastleViewisoccupiedbytheChantry House
of1511,aGradeII*listedbuildingoriginallybuiltbyWilliamWigston,awealthywoolmerchant,asa
chantrychapelfortwopriests.ThisthreestoreybuildingisnowpartoftheNewarkeHousesMuseum
The rebuilt wing of the the former Trinity Hospital dating from 1901.
Skeffington House, (Newarke Houses Museum) The Newarke: the fine rusticated piers and ornamental gates provide an imposing entrance to this fascinating building.
�5
andisbuiltinstonerandomrubblewithashlarquoinsandwindows,
mouldedbrickeavescourse,leadedwindows,aTudorarchdoorway
withfanlightandlabelsandtwostonebuttressesonthefrontfaçade.
Skeffington House (GradeII*listed)adjoinsitseastendandforms
therestoftheNewarkeHousesMuseum.Thisbuildingdatesfrom
around1600,although the frontwasaltered in the19thcentury
when,amongstotherworks,thewindowswere‘Gothicised’.The
palestuccofaçadestandsoutagainstitssurroundingsandthethree
centralgableswithballfinials,crenellatedparapetsandtallchimneys
addfurthervisualinterest.Thefrontgardenisenclosedbehindrailings
withacentralgateandrusticatedgatepiers.Theforwardprojecting
eastwingenclosesthegardenatoneendanddrawstheeyeback
intoMagazineWalk.
�.50 ThesouthsideofTheNewarkeis
dominatedbylargebuildings,mostofwhich
were built in the twentieth century. The
exceptionsaretheremainsofwhatisknown
asSt Mary’s Vicarage(GradeIIlisted)and
The Newarke and Richmond Street 1896
elevationsoftheHawthornBuilding,originally
the Municipal Technical and Art School. St
Mary’s Vicarage probably began life in the
16thcenturyasoneof thechantryhouses
connected to the 1�th century Collegiate
Church of St Mary (two arches of which
remain in thebasementof the latter).The
single storeyvicaragestandson thecorner
ofTheGatewayandTheNewarke,although
itsvalueasavisual‘stop’toviewswestwardswasdiminishedwhentheupperfloorswere
removedin19�9.However,themasonryfrontwall,centralpointedarchwayandnineteenth
century‘Gothic’windowscontinuetobeoftownscapevalueandanimportantvisuallink
withthearea’shistory.Thebuildingwasrefurbishedin�006bytheDeMontfortUniversity
toprovideamusicstudio.
�.51 The Hawthorn Building is built in bright orange Leicester bricks with stone
decorationintheformofwindows,mouldings,stonebands,mouldedstringcoursesandgate
pierswithdecorativepyramidalcapstones.Thecornersbreakforwardtoarticulatethefaçade
whichisenclosedbehindanoriginalcastironfence.Theimportanceofthemainentrance
offMagazineWalkisemphasisedbystepsleadinguptoandthroughalargedecoratedhalf-
roundrecessedarchwaythatishighlightedwithhorizontalstonebandsandcartouchesand
acorniceabovesupportedoncarvedstonebracketswithshellmotifsateitherend.Ornate
cast irongateshangunder thearchbeyondwhichsteps leadup to theentrancedoors.
Towardsthenorthernendadecorativestonecartouchecommemoratesthelayingofthe
foundationstone.ThebuildingwasextendedinbrickandPortlandstonetocoverthewhole
ofitssquaresitein19�1,theextensionbeingdesignedintypicalmassive19�0sstylewith
steelwindowsandstrippeddownClassicaldecorationonTheNewarkeelevationandina
The remaining single-storey section of St. Mary’s Vicarage; compare with the photograph shown on page 13.
Above: The 1931 extension to the Hawthorn Building, The Newarke and above left: part of the original Technical School on The Gateway, (formerly Gateway Street).
�6
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
stylesimilartotheoriginalTechnicalSchool
onTheGatewayelevation.Themassand
scale of this four and five storey building
dominatesthestreetsarounditandtowers
overthetreesandbuildingsnearby.
�.5� The building has many features
thataddinterest,patternandvarietytothe
streetscene.Therhythmsandpatternsof
TheGatewayelevationarecreatedbystone
frames around the ground floor windows
and strong vertical brick piers separating
thelargerectangularsteelwindows.There
arehorizontalstonebandsatfirstfloorand
thirdfloorlevelswithamouldedstringcourse
above. A full height bay feature with a
pedimented gableprojects forwardof the
buildinglinenearthenorthcorner.OnThe
Newarke elevation curved shallow steps
leadup to themain copper-cladentrance
doors on The Newarke, beyond which
rises another stone staircase to the main
entrance proper. The entrance is defined
with a rusticated Portland stone surround
decoratedwithverticalincisedcirclesanda
centralcoatofarmsbetweentwohalf-round
barrels supporting swagged urns. Further
definition is addedby twonarrowvertical
channels that riseup thebrick faceof the
building from the stone-clad ground floor.
Thechannelsarethemselvesdecoratedwith
small white stone projections resembling
brickheaders.Concretepanelsbeneath thecentralwindowsaredecoratedwith raised
cinqefoilstofurtherdefinetheentrancewhichhastwotallconcrete lampcolumns(with
replacement,butincongruous,lampholders)settowardsthefrontofthepavement.
�.5� TheGatewayisalsothelocationofanotherorange-redbrickandstonebuildingthatmakesapositivecontributiontothecharacterandappearanceoftheconservationarea.FormerlythePortlandShoesfactory,theoldestpartofThe Portland Building isthethreeandahalfstoreysectionatthenorthendthatdatesfrom1888.Ithastwosplayedbayorielwindowsatfirstfloorlevel,aprojectingeavescornicesupportedonbrackets,originalcastironrainwaterpipeswithadecoratedhopperheadandsmalldormerwindows.TheentranceatthelefthandendiselaboratelyfacedinashlarlimestoneblockswithIoniccolumnsabovewhichtwokneelingClassicalfiguressupportabrokensegmentalpediment.TheextensiononthesouthsidethatwrapsthebuildingroundintoNewarkeCloseisasimpledesignofstrongbrickpiersseparatinglargetimberandsteelwindows.Thebrickpiersprojectaboveparapetleveltocreateskylineinterestwithmouldedheadsabovethe
thirdfloorwindows.AswiththeHawthornBuilding,thesiteissurroundedbyacontemporary
castironfence.
The Newarke Bridge completed in 1898 and constructed using large ashlar blocks.
The west door of St. Mary de Castro with its highly decorative wrought iron hinges and gate finials.
Portland stone carved relief panel to the façade of the Hawthorn Building.
Classical figures above the main entrance to the Portland Building, The Gateway. It dates from1888.
�7
�.5� BeyondStMary’sVicaragenos.1�-16NewarkeStreethavebeendemolished,
leavinganunsightlygapinthetownscape.Theremainingbuildingswestofthegapsiteon
NewarkeStreetcomprisethethreeandfourstoreygroupbetween16 The Newarke
and the canal(theformerWilliamBakerfactory).Plainlybuiltbetween1905and1915
theyareofsometownscapevaluebecauseofthewaytheyenclosethestreetspaceand
formastrongbuiltedgeatthebackoffootway.Thefacadesaddpatterninaseriesofstrong
verticalsformedbybrickpiersandwindows,apatternthatcontinuesaroundontothecanal
frontage.Thesouth-westernboundaryoftheconservationareaisatthepointwherethe
Newarke Bridgeof1890crossesthecanal‘MileStraight’.Thedesignofthebridgewas
takenasanotheropportunityduringtheconstructionofthecanaltoadddecorationandvisual
interesttoafunctionalstructure.AsatWestBridgetothenorth,thisbridgeisdesignedinthe
GothicRevivalstylebutusesashlarblocksforitstwowideellipticalarches,solidparapetand
saddlebackcopingstonesratherthantheironandcastironofWestBridge.However,the
themeofoctagonalcrenellatedturretsiscontinuedbutwithdifferentdecoration,thistime
withinsetpanelswithcuspedarches.
Buildingmaterialsandthepublicrealm
�.55 Theconservationareacontainsawidevarietyofbuildingmaterialsandthesegenerally
reflecttheneedsorfashionsofthetimewhenbuildingsandstreetswereconstructed.The
materialshelptocreatetheindividualcharacteroftheareaanditsbuildingsandtheirloss
canerodethatcharacter.Themostcommonmaterialis brick whichhasbeenusedsince
the18thcenturywhenbrickfacades,suchasthatontheGreatHall,becamefashionableor
cheapenoughtouseformodesthousessuchasthoseat15-�1TheNewarkeand5-9Castle
View.Itisalsousedat�0-��CastleStreetasinfillbetweenthestudsofthetimber-framing.
Bluebricksarealsousedfordecorativepatternsonfacades(15-�1TheNewarke)andfor
gardenpaths(�0CastleStreet).Stoneisanothercommonfeatureintheconservationarea,
whetheritisusedinabuilding,suchasStMarydeCastro,TrinityHospitalortheGreatHall,
fordecoration,asontheHawthornandPortlandBuildings,orforroofing.Inbuildingsthe
stonework,usuallylimestone,islaidincoursesbutotherbuildingsandstructuresusegranite
rubblelaidrandomlysuchas1�CastleViewandthechurchyardwalls.Stone,intheform
ofredandgreygranitesettsandkerbstones,isalsoaparticularfeatureofCastleViewand
theCastleYard,whereYorkstoneslabshavealsobeenlaidaroundtheCastleGreen.Some
buildingshavestoneslateroofs,othersaremorecommonlycoveredinWelshslate.
�.56 Timber is another common material in the conservation area. It is evident as
structuraltimber,asat�0-��CastleStreet,orinwindows,doorsandasdecoration.StMary
deCastrohasanornatelycarvedVictorianGothicRevivalwestdoor.Mosttimberwindows
retaintheiroriginalglazingbars,ensuringthatbuildingfacadesretaintheiroriginalformand
patterns.TheexternalwoodenshuttersinCastleViewrepresentsomeoftheveryfewsuch
featuresremaininginLeicesterandareimportantpartsofthehistoryandarchitectureofthese
buildings.Stuccoisrare,onlybeingusedatNewarkeHousesMuseum.
�.57 The use ofmetals of various types can be seen throughout the conservation
area.Itsuseforfencingisparticularlyimportant,helpingtodefineandseparatetheprivate
andpublicrealms.Cast iron isusedintheconstructionofWestBridge,whilewrought
Portland stone cartouche to the original section of the Hawthorn Building.
Cast bronze plaque from the Richard III statue plinth, Castle Gardens.
Stone vaulting to Newarke Gateway.
External wooden shutters to cottage in Castle Street.
�8
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
ironisusedfortheLeicesterpatternbow-
topped fencing and arrowhead railings
outsideTrinityHospital,Georgian fanlights
andtheornatecurvilinearhingesanddoor
hasp on St Mary de Castro’s west door.
Thewrought iron fencingaroundStMary
de Castro is decorated with barleysugar
twistsandfleurs-de-liswhiletheHawthorn
and Portland Buildings have decorative
postsandrailingfinialsofconsiderablevisual
interest.The18thcenturygatesthatstand
asafeatureinthereargardenofNewarke
HousesMuseumarealsoofwroughtironas
arethoseseparatingthegardenfromCastle
View. Some buildings have retained their
originalsteelwindowsandsteelisusedfor
themodernrailingsandgatesofNewarke
HousesMuseumandtheboundariesofCastlePark.Someoriginal
leadrainwatergoodscanalsobeseen.Copperappearsasanunusual
claddingonthedoorsoftheHawthornBuildingonTheNewarke
whicharefurtherenhancedbypanelsrepresentingdifferenttrades
suchasbuilding,printing,mechanics,weldingandweaving.
�.58 Inthepublicrealmroadsandfootwaysaregenerallylaid
totarmac andconcrete,except inCastleYardwheregranite
settsandYork stoneareused.Theroadwayandpathsonthewest
sideofCastleYardarenolongerpublichighway,therightshaving
beenextinguishedintheearly1990s.Thishasallowedparkingtobe
controlledwithoutadditionalyellowlines,althoughaproliferationof
timberbollardsaddslittletothequalityoftheopenspace.Elsewhere
thepavementsandroadsarebrokenorpatchedleadingtoareduction
inthevisualamenityofthearea,particularlythesouthendofCastle
View.MagazineWalk isanentirelyunsatisfactorypedestrianspace,particularlywhen
approachedfromthewest.Thevisitorisconfrontedwiththelargeconcreteretaining
wallsoftheringroad,thedarkentrancestothepedestriansubwaysandaconfusingmix
ofbridge,barriers,stepsandraisededges.Pedestrianmovementacrossthisspacefrom
northtosouthisparticularlypoorlyserved.Heavyon-streetparkingisanotherfeatureof
theareaandparkedcarsareencroachingontothegrassedvergeoppositetheNewarke
HousesMuseum.
�.59 Streetfurnitureisgenerallyofastandardisedformusedacrossthecity,suchas
thegrey-greensteellampcolumns.CastleYardistheexceptionandhigherqualitysurfaces,
lightingandsignageareusedwithin itsprecincts,suchas thereproductionParis-style
lampcolumnswithgoldleafdecorationthatarecharacteristicofthecity’sotherpremierconservation
area,NewWalk,andthe‘heritage’designdirectionfingerposts.Twolamppostsinstalledwhenthe
HawthornBuildingwasbuiltoccupyaprominentsiteonTheNewarketodefinetheentrancetothe
building.Thelossoftheiroriginalsquaresectionlampsisregrettable.
Fleurs-de-lis detail to wrought iron railings, The Gateway, Castle House.
Detail of one of the metal relief panels designed by Percy Brown to the main entrance doors of the Hawthorn Building.
Mountsorrel granite setts and kerbs are an important local feature within the Conservation Area.
Traditional cast iron street name plate, Castle Yard.
�9
�.60 Thequalityofthepublicrealmisalsodeterminedbysmaller
featuressuchaslitterbinsandseating.Theconservationareahas
retainedsomeofitsoriginalblackandwhitepaintedcastironstreet
namesignsintheCastleYardareathathelptocontributetoitshistoric
quality.Aseriesofbronzeplaquesisplacedatvariouslocationswithin
theconservationareaprovidingvisitorswithinformationaboutthe
historyof thebuildingsaround them.Ofparticular interest is the
plaque, installedbytheCountyCouncil,onthewallof��Castle
Streetwhichcommemoratesthe500thanniversaryoftheBattleof
Bosworth.However,generally,theseatingenvironmentsandlitter
binsareofpoorquality.ThereisnoseatingontheCastleGreenfor
thecasualvisitorortouristtoenjoythisquietspaceandtheseating
areaonCastleStreetisuninspiringandunwelcoming.
Greeneryandgreenspaces
�.61 CastleGardensprovidesthelargestareaofpublicgreenspaceintheconservation
area.Thepartsthatarenotaccessible,suchasprivategardens,aremostlyopentoview
andsocontributetothegreencharacteroftheconservationarea.OnthenorthsideofThe
Newarkethebuildingsaresetwithinwell-keptflowerbedsandlawnsorshelterbehinddense
banksofshrubsandothergardenplants.Treesareoneofthemostimportantfeaturesofthe
conservationareaastheyhelpto‘soften’spaces,providemuchneededshadeinsummer
andgenerallyenhancetheotherwisehardurbanenvironment.TheLondonplanesonThe
Castle Gardens with the spire of St. Mary de Castro in the distance.
The walled garden at the rear of Newarke Houses Museum.
�0
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
Newarkeareparticularlyeffectiveinthis
respect and the mature plane tree on
theeastsideoftheHawthornBuilding
isanimportantfeatureofanotherwise
blandandgenerallyunusablepublicopen
space.Treesareafeatureofmanyviews
into andoutof the conservation area,
particularly north along The Gateway,
wheretheyframeandenclosetheview
of theTrinityHospital, andwest along
NewarkeClosewhereasmallgroupof
streettrees‘stops‘theview.
�.6� The River Soar forms the
westernboundaryof the conservation
area andhas a key role toplay in the
quality of the area as well as more
generallyforthebiodiversityofLeicester.
TheSoaranditscanalweretransformed
over �5 years to create the Riverside
Park, the creation of which won the City Council a Diploma of
MeritintheEuropaNostraAwardsin1989.Itisnowanimportant
‘wildlifecorridor’andprovidesvisitorswithanaccessibleopenspace
fromwhichtowatchwildlifeortotakepartinotheractivitiessuch
asboating,fishing,walkingetc.
�.6� MagazineWalkwasre-designedafewyearsagobutthe
space still does not function well as open space. It is featureless
andbland.Thegrassbankonthenorthsideistoosteepforcasual
seatingandtheflatterpartonTheNewarkehasrecentlybecome
anunauthorisedcarpark.Notonlyhasthisseriouslydamagedthe
grassitalsorestrictspedestrianmovementacrossthespace.
�.6� CastleGardenscontainsmostofthearea’streeswithavarietyofbushy,upright
andweepingforms.Theycreateinterestingshapesandcoloursthroughouttheyearandalso
actasfoilsthroughwhichtheGreatHall,StMarydeCastroandtheCastlemottecanbe
glimpsed.Therearealsoover75differentkindsofshrubsandfloweringplants,includingthe
raredeadlynightshade,aplantlongassociatedwithcastles,physicgardensandoldhospitals.
TheplantsinCastleGardenscouldthereforehavebeeninandaroundtheparkformany
centuries.Treesalsocreateadensegreenedgealongthe‘MileStraight’althoughtheyalso
avisualbarrierbetweenCastleGardensandtheriver.
Negativefactors
�.65 Theappraisalpointstovariousproblemsintheareawhichhaveanegativeimpact
ontheconservationarea.ThemostdamagingistheareaaroundtheMagazineWalkwhere
thepedestrianenvironmentisentirelysubservienttothatprovidedformotorvehicles.The
Metal footbridge over the canalised River Soar linking Castle Gardens with West Bridge Place. The former Pex factory of 1840-50 lies to the right.
West Bridge designed by E. C. Mawby the Borough Engineer in 1890.
West Bridge: part of the carved detail.
�1
steps, rampsandsubways thatprovidepedestrian linkswith thecitycentreareunsightly
andunfriendly.Thestructuresassociatedwith themcutacross thebaseof theMagazine
Gateway,animportantmedievalstructure,tothegreatdetrimentofitshistoricvalueand
architecture.ThegapsiteandvacantbuildingsonTheNewarkealsodamagetheappearance
oftheconservationareaasdoesthelowlevelvandalismsuchasgraffitionthebronzetourist
informationplaquesandtheproblemsassociatedwithdrug-takingandselling.
�.66 WithinCastleGardensthereareafewproblemareasoraspectsthatdetractfrom
its full potential. Dense planting around the ponds creates a rather gloomy atmosphere
whichiscompoundedbythedarkcornerandvacantshelteronthesouthsideoftheCastle
Streetentrance.ThestepsbesidethepondareratheruninvitingasistheaccessfromCastle
Street.
�.67 ThevacantsiteandbuildingonthesouthsideofTheNewarkedetractfromthe
appearanceofthestreetasdoesthecarparkandapproachtoBosworthHouseonthenorth
side.
Generalconditionoftheareaandbuildings
�.68 Thelargemajorityofbuildingsintheconservationareaareinuseandtheircondition
is thereforegood.Thegap siteonTheNewarkeand theadjacentemptybuildinghave
hadadetrimentaleffectonthestreet,asdotheenvironsofBosworthHouse.Therecent
renovationandre-useoftheoldStMary’sVicaragehasmuchimprovedtheappearanceof
thisancientbuilding.Anewbuildingfortrainingintheperformingartsisunderconstruction
forDeMontfortUniversityonthesouthsideofMagazineWalk,leadingtosometemporary
disruptionaswellasdamagetotheMagazineWalkarea,thelatterbeingcompoundedby
carparkingonthegrassvergeonthenorthsideoftheWalk.
�.69 CastleGardensretainsitsearly�0thcenturycharactersuchastherockery,pools,
drystonewallingandsweepingtarmacpaths.Newplantinghasbeenintroduced,suchas
thecurvinglinesofpleachedLimesinthecentreofthepark,buttheinterpretationpanels
andtheaccessandviewstothecastlemotterequireimprovement.Followingsomeyears
oflessthaneffectivemanagement,itnowhasafulltimesummergardenerandanactivepark
users’group.Itscareandconditionarethereforeimproving.
Problems,pressuresandcapacityforchange
Problemsandpressures
�.70 Thereareseveralproblemsintheconservationareathatneedtoberesolved
andthesehaveallbeenreferredtointheforegoingappraisal:
• thepoorpedestrianenvironmentcreatedbytheMagazineWalkandits
associatedramps,stairsandsubwaysandthepoorenvironmentaround
BosworthHouse;
• theisolationoftheMagazineGatewayinthecentreofabusyroadanditslackof
goodpedestrianaccess;
Above: These two unique square section lamp posts date from the 1930s and were installed at the time that the Hawthorn Building was constructed. The copper lanterns are an unfortunate recent change. The original square shaped lamps were designed to complement the design of the columns as is evident from the top image.
��
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
• theencroachmentofparkingontothegrassedareasouthofTheNewarke;
• thelackofaphysicallinkbetweentheinnerbaileyoftheNormancastleandthe
castlemound;
• theextentoftreegrowthonthesidesofthecastlemoundthatobscuresthe
shapeofthisimportantmonument;
• thecontinuingvacancyoftheCastleHallandtheMagazineGatewayand
uncertaintyabouttheirfutureuses;
• thegapsiteandvacantbuildingsonthesouthsideofTheNewarke;
• thepatchedappearanceofhistoricsurfacessuchasthesouthernsectionof
CastleView;
• thelowlevelvandalismsuchasgraffitiandanti-socialbehaviourassociatedwith
alcoholanddrugs;
�.71 TheareaisalsounderpressurefromtheplannedexpansionoftheDeMontfort
University, the masterplan for which has already received outline planning permission.
The plans involve the construction of several new buildings in the Magazine Walk and
Newarkeareasandtheirdesignsandmassingwillneedtobeappropriateforthesesensitive
locations.
Capacityforchange
�.7� ImprovementstoMagazineWalkandthesettingofMagazineGatewayareincluded
inthemasterplanforthedevelopmentofthedeMontfortUniversitycampus,outlineapproval
forwhichwasgivenin�005.Theplanincludesfortherestorationoftheoriginalground
levelatMagazineWalk,therebyrestoringthegroundlevelapproachto,andaccessthrough,
theMagazineGateway,infillingofthepedestriansubwaysandtheprovisionofanimproved,
possiblyformal,openspacewithblocksofnewbuildingsenclosingthespaceonthenorth
andsouthsides.DeMontfortUniversityexpectstodeliverthispartofits“masterplan”within
thenext1�-18months,includingthenecessaryroadworkstodivertnorthboundtrafficfrom
thewestsidetotheeastsideofMagazineGateway.Anewbuildingonthenorthsideof
TheNewarkeontheeastsideofNewarkeHousesMuseummayhelptoresolvethepoor
environmentonthatside.
�.7� Subjecttotheconstraintsimposedbytheirscheduledandlistedstatus,thereappears
tobepotentialtolinktheCastleYardandtheCastleMottebyprovidinganewaccessthrough
thesiteofthedisusedpublictoiletsbehindthereargardenof5CastleView.Thisshouldbe
investigatedand,iftheworksareconsideredfeasibleandacceptable,anactionplanshould
bedrawnuptoactasabasisforseekingfundstoundertakethework.Anewlandscape
managementregimeforthesidesofthemottewouldalsohavetobeagreed.
�.7� ThevacantsiteonthesouthsideofTheNewarkecreatesanunsightlygapinthe
builtfabricandofferspotentialforredevelopment.DeMontfortUniversitywillberefurbishing
thebuildingforeducationalusewithinthenext1�-8months.
�.75 Whilstitisimpossibletopreventgraffiti,stepscanbetakentominimiseitsimpact
throughregularcleaning.Theanti-socialbehaviourthatresultsfromalcoholanddruguse
��
intheparkcanbeaddressedbyremovingoropeningupareasthat
currentlyconcealthoseinvolvedand/orseekingtheextensionofthe
street-drinkingban.
5.0 community involvement
5.1 ConsultationonthedraftappraisalincludedaPressRelease,
placingthedraftontheCouncil’swebsite,copiesintheCustomer
ServicesCentreatNewWalkCentreandindividualhardcopiesfor
thosepeoplewhoaskedforone.Anexhibitionwasheldinthelocal
libraryandall thosewholived,worked,visitedorhadaproperty
orotherinterestintheareawereinvitedtoapublicmeetinginthe
UkrainianCatholicChurchHalls,FosseRoadSouth,todiscussthe
draft management proposals. All views expressed were included
intheCabinetreportthatadoptedtheappraisalassupplementary
guidancetotheLocalPlan.Thereport includeddetailsastohow
thevariousviewshadbeentakenintoaccountinthepreparationof
theManagementandEnhancementProposals.
6.0 conservation area boundary
6.1 The appraisal of the conservation area prompted a
reconsiderationoftheboundaries.Thenorthpartoftheconservation
area,fromWestBridge/StNicholasCircle(South)toWellesStreetis
physicallyisolatedfromthelarger,southernpartandhasnovisuallinks
withtherestofthearea.However,mostofthelandandbuildings
inthisareaareprotectedbothbyreasonoftheirinclusionaspartof
theJewryWallScheduledMonumentaswellasbeinglistedintheir
ownright.StNicholasChurchisaGradeIlistedbuilding,Vaughan
Collegeand10-1�TalbotLaneareGradeIIlistedandthetreesinthechurchyardofStNicholas
ChurcharemaintainedtoahighstandardbytheCouncil.Theonlyunprotectedbuildingsare
therefore1�-��TalbotLane,ashortterraceoflateVictorianhouses.TheCounciltherefore
excludedtheareanorthofStNicholasCirclefromtheconservationarea.
6.� ThepresentsouthernboundaryrunsalongthecentreofTheNewarkebutthis
disregardstheinfluencethatthebuildingsonthesouthsideofthestreethaveonthecharacter
andappearanceoftheconservationarea.Theboundaryhasthereforebeenextendedto
includetheseadditionalbuildingsandlandupto,andincluding,theClephanBuilding(Oxford
Street)andtheGatewaySixthFormCollegebuildingandgrounds(RichmondStreet/Bonners
Lane).Thewesternboundaryoftheconservationareapresentlyrunsdownthecentreofthe
canal.ThisisillogicalandmeansthatonlyhalfofthecanalbridgesatStAugustine’sRoadand
TheNewarkefallwithintheconservationarea.Thewesternboundaryhasbeenextended
toincludethecanalanditstowpathandthewholeofNewarkeBridge.
A surprise glimpse of St. Mary de Castro’s spire from The Newarke.
��
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
6.� Finally,andtomoreproperlyreflectthenewboundariesandthehistoricenvironment
withinit,theCouncilhaschangedthenameoftheconservationareafrom“CastleGardens
ConservationArea”to“TheCastleConservationArea”.
7.0 management and enhancement proposals
7.1 Conservation areas are complicated places that derive their special character
fromtheinteractionofmanydifferentelements.Theyarethereforevulnerabletochange,
particularlyifthatchangeistheresultofaseriesofsmallchangesthat,takenindividually,may
beminorbutcumulativelyadduptoverylargechangesincharacterorappearance.However,
theintentionbehindthedesignationofconservationareasisnottopreventchangebutto
managechangeinsuchawaythatareascanadaptandevolvebutretainthefeaturesintegral
totheirspecialarchitecturalandhistoricinterest.
7.� Bysettingoutthespecialarchitecturalandhistoric featuresofthearea insome
detail,theforegoingcharacterappraisalprovidesadditionalinformation,supplementaryto
thatintheLocalPlan,forthosechargedwithmanagingorchangingtheenvironmentand
helpsthemtoensurethatanydevelopmentisplannedinamannerthatissympatheticto
thecharacterandappearanceoftheconservationarea.
8.0 contacts & appendices
8.1 Ifyouwouldlikefurtherinformationonthis,oranyother,conservationareayou
cancontacttheCouncilasfollows:
• Writeto:ConservationandNatureTeam,PlanningPolicyandDesign,
Regeneration&Culture,LeicesterCityCouncil,NewWalkCentre,Welford
Place,LeicesterLE16ZG
• Fax:(0116)��711�9
• OntheCouncil’swebsiteatwww.leicester.gov.ukandsearch
under‘conservationareas’.
�5
appendix 1 : list of buildings in the conservation area
CastleGardens RemainsofCastleWall
CastleStreet Nos.1-5(odd),�0-��(even)(TheGateHouse&CastleHouse)
CastleView Nos.5-9(inclusive),1�,TurretGateway,Deacon’sWorkshop
CastleYard CastleHall(formerMagistrates’Court),ChurchofStMarydeCastro,CastleMotte,JohnofGaunt’scellar
OxfordStreet �5(theClephanBuilding)
RichmondStreet GatewaySixthFormCollegeandyard
Southgates 61,BosworthHouseandcarpark
TheGateway PortlandBuilding
TheNewarke MagazineGateway,NewarkeHousesMuseum,TrinityBuilding,(formerTrinityHospital),TheChantryHouse,15-
�1(odd),NewarkeBridge,formerSt.Mary’sVicarage,HawthornBuilding,siteof1�-16(even),18-�0(even)
WestBridgeStreet WestBridge
appendix 2 : list of listed buildings in the conservation area
CastleGardens RemainsofCastleWall*
CastleStreet Nos.�0&��(TheGateHouse),��(CastleHouse),Gate,GatePiers&Wall
CastleView Nos.5&6,7,Nos8&9,TurretGateway,Deacon’sWorkshop
CastleYard CountyCourt(incl.remainsofCastle*),ChurchofStMarydeCastro,Churchyardwall*
RichmondStreet GatewaySixthFormCollegeandyard
TheNewarke MagazineGateway,NewarkeHouses,ChantryHouse,IronGates,NewarkeWall,TrinityBuilding,(formerHoly
TrinityHospitalAlmshouses),Newarkecanalbridge
WestBridgeStreet WestBridge
*partofScheduledMonument
appendix 3 : article 4 directions
The Newarke Nos.15-�1(odd)
�6
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
appendix 4 : management and enhancement proposals
Location Management or Enhancement ProposalCastle Yard and Castle Mound 1. InvestigatethepotentialtocreateanewaccesspointtotheCastleMoundfrom
CastleYardtorestorethehistoricconnectionbetweenthemotteanditsinnerbaileyand
improve accessto,andinterpretationof,bothsites;
2. Agreeandestablishanewmanagementregimeforthetreecoveronthesloping
sidesoftheCastleMound(includingnotreplacingtreesastheyfailordieandremoving
undergrowthandselfsettreesastheyoccurwithaviewtorestoringthemoundtoits
originaltree-freeformwithgrassedslopes);
3. UndertakeresearchtodeterminefutureusesfortheCastleHallandMagazine
Gatewaybuildings,includingrigorousassessmentofthesignificanceoftheexistingCourt
fittingsintheformertodeterminewhethertheyshouldberetainedinwholeorinpart;
4. Workwithpartnersasappropriatetofundworkstothesetwoimportanthistoric
buildings.
The Newarke 1. ReplacethelanternsonthelampcolumnsoutsidetheHawthornBuildingtomatch
theoriginal19�0sdesign.
Magazine Gateway and Magazine Walk 1. Deliver,viaDeMontfortUniversitymasterplanproposals–
a)betterlinksfromtheareatothecitycentrebyrestoringgroundlevelstoprovidelevel
accessto,andthrough,theMagazineGateway.
b)anattractiveanduseablepublicopenspaceinfrontoftheHawthornBuilding.
2. EnsurethatanynewdevelopmentonthesouthsideofMagazineWalkretainsthe
importantviewstowardstheCathedralspire.
3. ContinuetoseeknewusesfortheMagazineGateway.
Castle Gardens 1. Considermeasurestoredesignoropenupareaswheredrugdealingtakesplace
andseekfundstoundertakethiswork;
Conservation area generally 1. ApplyrigorouslythepoliciessetoutintheLocalPlantoencouragegooddesignand
appropriateformsofdevelopment,includingthegeneralpresumptionagainstdemolition
ofbuildingsintheconservationareaandtherequirementthatalldevelopmentpreserves
orenhancesthecharacteroftheconservationarea.
2. Undertakeacomprehensivephotographicsurveyoftheconservationareato
establishabaselineagainstwhichtomonitorchange;
�7
3. RetainandproperlymaintainhistoricstreetsurfacessuchasYorkstone,granitesetts
andgranitekerbsandmanagestreetworkstominimisethetimetemporarysurfacesare
leftinplace.
4.Seek fundingtosecurespecialised/moreintensivemanagementregimeforthehistoric
surfacesinCastleView,CastleYardandCastleStreet;
5.Retain,andrepairwherenecessary,originalfencing,gatesandothermeansof
enclosure;
6.ImprovethedesignandsurfacingofthejunctionofCastleStreetwiththeeastaccess
toCastleGardens;
7.ImprovethedesignandlayoutofthepublicseatingareainCastleStreet;
8.EncouragesympatheticdevelopmentofthevacantsiteandbuildingonThe
Newarke;
9.Ensurethatgraffitiisregularlyremovedandseekpolicesupportfortheextensionof
thecitycentrealcoholfreezone.
appendix 5 : relevant local plan policies
Subject Policy No. DetailsThe Plan Strategy PS01 a)thecreationofanimprovedcitycentre…
b)conservationandenhancementoftheCity’sbuildings…
Built EnvironmentArchaeology BE01 PreservationoftheCity’sArchaeologicalHeritage
Listed Buildings BE0�-05 ListedBuildings
Conservation Areas BE06-07 ConservationAreas
Buildings of Local Interest BE08 BuildingsofLocalInterest
Article 4 Directions BE09 Article�Directions
Green EnvironmentSites of Importance for Nature
Conservation GE0� Location5-RiverSoarandGrandUnionCanal
Enhancing Biodiversity GE0� BiodiversityEnhancementSitesNo.50-CastleGardens
Community & Leisure FacilitiesThe Universities CL06 DeMontfortUniversity
�8
CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
other policies
SupplementaryPlanningGuidanceonBiodiversityOctober�00�
appendix 6 : glossary of architectural terms
ashlar smoothfacedmasonryblockslaidhorizontally
bargeboard projectingboardplacedagainsttheoutsideinclineoftheroofofabuilding,oftenuseddecoratively
corbel(led) amethodoflayingbricksorstonesothateachcourseprojectsslightlyforwardoftheonebelow
cornice horizontalprojectingsectionatthetopofabuildingorwall
crenellation alternatehighandlowwallsonaparapetresemblingbattlements
cusp theprojectingpointinwindowtracery
doorcase decorativetimberorstoneframingadoorway
fanlight awindowoveradoor
finial aformalornamentattheapexofagableorspire
half-timbering theexternalvisibletimbersofatimber-framedbuilding(ormockhalf-timberingwheretimbersareappliedexternallyto
createtheimpressionofhalf-timbering)
header abricklaidwithitsshorterfaceexposed
jetty(ies) theprojectionofanupperstoreyoutwardovertheonebelow
label arectangularprojectionoverawindowdesignedtothrowwaterawayfromthewall
lancet aslenderpointedarchwindow
oriel acurvedbaywindowprojectingoutfromanupperfloor
parapet alowwallalongtheedgeofaroof
pediment alowpitchedgableshapeoveradoororwindow
pilaster ashallowcolumnattachedto,andslightlyprojectingfrom,awall
quoin dressedstoneslaiduptheexternalcornersofbuildings,usuallyinalternatinglargeandsmallblocks
rusticated ofacolumn–squareblockswhichinterrupttheshaftatregularintervals
ofawall–chamferededgemasonryblockslaidwithverydeepjoints
segmentalarch averyshallowarch[ofabaywindow–averyshallowcurvedbay]
spandrel thetriangularspacethatiscreatedbetweenahorizontallinedrawnfromtheapexofanarchandaverticallinedrawn
fromthepointfromwhichthearchsprings
swag decorationcarvedtoresembleadrapedflowergarlandorfabric
trefoil acuspedtracerypatternwiththreelobes
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