ST AGNES PARISH COUNCIL NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN 2018

Village Character Assessment

Blackwater

This section records features of the settlement of Blackwater that are very typical and characteristic, or that are distinctive, or of significant historical value.

This is a summary of surveys and research undertaken by the VCA team and local community volunteers. It also lists opportunities for improvement and

highlights its key qualities in the final sections. For descriptive purposes the settlements in the St Agnes Parish village character assessment have each been

divided into one or more distinct areas (‘character areas’), on the basis of shared characteristics such as building types, historical development or

topography. For the purposes of undertaking the survey Blackwater has been divided into two character areas, the historic road frontage and the later

development to the north-west, which are shown on the map at the end.

Historic Road Frontage: historic development along the old Penzance to London road, includes 19th-century houses, Wesleyan chapel, Red Lion Inn, the

former post office and shop, the village green and (adjoining the area) the Passmore Edwards Literary Institute / village hall.

North Hill: predominantly modern estates, 1960s to present day, spreading north from the main road. There are a few scattered older houses and cottage

rows and here too is the Blackwater Community Primary School (1877).

The survey results have been combined into this single report.

1. HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF THE AREA 1.1. The settlement has developed along the edge of the old Penzance to London Road, an

important route from the 17th Century. The Red Lion Public House was an important staging

post on this route. The settlement spreads north west from the historic road frontage on North

Hill, straddling the route which leads to Mount Hawke. A bypass was opened in 1988.

1.2. Blackwater developed in an area which up to the 18th century had been open heathland. The

settlement’s main growth occurred in the 19th century. The area of the present settlement

consisted of small field enclosures with a few scattered farmsteads (mineworkers’

smallholdings), and there was more concentrated housing along the main road. The 1841

census reveals that most inhabitants were connected with tin, copper or lead mining, the

earlier village consists of mainly farm buildings and mine or farm workers cottages.

1.3. On the NW side South View terrace contains early council housing from 1945 and 1966. Around

this there are two estates built in the late 60s and 70s.

1.4. To the left are two estates, Wicket Way and North Hill Gardens, which were built to meet

current housing needs, one completed in October 2016 and the other in October 2017. Wicket Way has been built on the old cricket field.

2. HISTORIC FEATURES AND DESIGNATED ASSETS 2.1. Designated assets:

2.2. Wesley Chapel built 1822 GII

2.3. Simla and Trecoose (late 19th century houses) GII. See photo right:

2.4. Primary School GII

2.5. Other historic features:

2.6. Very early council houses from 1947 on South View Terrace.

2.7. The weighbridge is still intact at the side of North Hill and its small office adjacent.

2.8. The War Memorial and Passmore Edwards Literary Institute just outside the

settlement boundary but have an influence on its character.

2.9. Wheal Gump/Gimp farm which is over 200 years old and of cob construction.

2.10. Sunnyside Cottages which were mine/farm workers cottages and over 250 years

old.

2.11. Red Lion Inn

2.12. Gump Mine (e.g., mine dumps north of school).

2.13. Old A30 – 18th Century Milestone between cottages at West End and Toronto, modern bungalow.

2.14. Post Office & Store

2.15. Rock Cottage

2.16. Several older cottages and houses infilled with modern, detached bungalows spread east from Sunnyside cottages.

2.17. The Chacewater to Newquay branch line (1903 – 1963) crossed the old A30 at the western end of Blackwater, the bridge was demolished in 1972

but the route is still discernible.

2.18. Blackwater is not within the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site, but as a mining settlement it contributes to its

setting.

3. SETTING WITHIN THE LANDSCAPE [AND SETTLEMENT EDGE] 3.1. The settlement lies on the lower south facing slopes of a gentle hillside rising towards Mount Hawke. It spreads along one side of the old A30 and

is not really visible from the south until you pass under or along the new A30. From the A30 the village nestles into the slope and has a backdrop of

hedgerow trees and woods.

3.2. To the East and South are fields used for sheep grazing and growing cattle feed.

Simla and Trecoosse houses

3.3. Commercial buildings are concentrated to the west and south.

3.4. The village has a definite built up edge of houses and terraces on the road frontage to the south. This is a strong and unusual characteristic of the

settlement. Only a few buildings appear on the other side of the road but that does include the Passmore Edwards Literary Institute.

3.5. The remaining boundaries to the North East and West are for the most part screened from view by mature hedgerow and trees.

4. KEY VIEWS 4.1. Looking South West from the crossroads at the Red Lion there is a view of the embankment for the old Chacewater to St Agnes railway line which

is covered in trees and rhododendron bushes.

4.2. From the same point but looking South there is a wider view across fields, over the by-pass to the trees at Wheal Busy.

4.3. From Highview and North Hill Gardens there are views across to Chacewater and the trees at Wheal Busy.

4.4. There are views across to the summit of East Hill, framed by well-established bushes and trees in High View.

4.5. Looking West there is a view of the Engine House at Scorrier.

5. LAYOUT AND STREET ENCLOSURE 5.1. The unusual layout of the village was originally linear and on only one side of the old A30. This creates a strong character with a continuous built up

frontage on one side.

5.2. The building line is set back at the western end to form a green narrow crescent against the road. This gives some focus to the oldest buildings.

5.3. The later development to the north consists mostly of cul-de-sacs, the older developments having front boundary walls and rear fences facing the

streets and the more recent developments set back behind open parking and occasional verges. Passmore Close is an internal facing cul de sac

which unfortunately leave backs to address the important main road frontage and the green.

6. BUILDING FORM, SCALE AND DETAIL 6.1. The cottages at Coronation Terrace, see photo right, the

western and the eastern end of the village are all typical

two-story Cornish miners’ or farm workers’ cottages. They

were originally one room above another but have been

extended to the rear.

6.2. The historic buildings facing the village green are much

higher with one having three levels.

6.3. The Red Lion Inn and attached cottage are set in a dip and

appear lower than nearby buildings. These are likely to be

early 19th century buildings originally of killas, now rendered

and painted. The adjacent Coronation Terrace is quite a

significant block again rendered with raised window

surrounds. This whole run with brick chimneys and gabled ends has been continuously extended to the rear with modern brick and low monopitch

extensions.

6.4. At the far western edge of the area is Sydney House which is a distinctive, high building, currently two flats.

6.5. The two 60’s and 70’s estates to the north are bungalows. More recent houses are two-storey.

6.6. There are high granite walls along the main road frontage keeping the building line, until replaced by a hedge up to the green.

6.7. The listed Simpla and Trecoose Houses have a similar construction to the Passmore Edwards Institute further to the West. While the former is two

storeys and the latter single storey. They are constructed of coursed killas rubble walling with granite dressings and quoins and a dry Delabole slate

hipped roof with decorative ridges. These have more decorative features such as the central 2 storey projecting porch with gable pediment,

shallow arched upper floor windows with hood moulds. The adjacent post office and its newer neighbour also have hipped roofs. The primary

school has faced killas with granite quoins and slate roof.

Coronation Terrace

7. GREEN SPACES AND LANDSCAPE 7.1. There are no TPO’s in the settlement

7.2. The long and narrow crescent of the village green is a special feature with its collection of

whitebeam trees. The green hedgeline on the other side of the road contributes to the

special character here.

7.3. There is a significant group of trees in gardens in the centre of the settlement running

west from Chapel Villas and another group on the northern edge of the primary school.

The lanes that cross the settlement retain hedgerows with native bushes and trees and

are particularly important local environmental features. See photo.

8. DISTINCTIVE PLACES 8.1. The Village Green, see photo right, is a very distinctive area and a meeting place for the

community although alongside a busy road. It is the site of the parish notice board and

telephone box with planters as a memorial and trees to commemorate the Queen’s

Jubilee.

8.2. The Post Office and Shop has recently closed but may reopen in the old grain store a

few doors up so the community service could be retained at this focal point.

8.3. To the west is a small area used as a children’s park. The community is currently

fundraising to upgrade and re-equip this resource for the local children.

9. STREET ENVIRONMENT 9.1. The crossroads leading to North Hill and Chacewater village to the south becomes very busy at rush hour.

9.2. The bus shelter is in need of updating.

9.3. There is a 30 mile an hour speed limit through the village which is regularly exceeded. This is particularly a problem for pedestrians at Sydney

House where there is a narrow pavement and it is outside the 30mph zone.

9.4. With certain conditions, e.g. air pressure and wind direction there is noise pollution from the A30 to the south.

Green character and treescape from Chapel Villas

The village green

9.5. Within the settlement there are several older lanes which are popular routes for residents and school children. However, these are often

unmaintained and creating problems because they are overgrown, narrowing and muddy. The Lanes are not currently lit and there is a desire to

keep them like that to avoid light pollution. Maintenance of the lanes and hedgerows is not being undertaken regularly, leaving important

pedestrian routes difficult and uncared for.

9.6. There are parking issues at the Passmore Edwards Institute which is an important community venue.

10. OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT 10.1. There is a real incentive to introduce traffic calming measures along the main road. The settlement has always been negatively affected by the

road. It is currently used as a ‘rat run’ and speeding traffic is a huge issue. It is used as a relief road for the A30 so that after an incident it takes

diverted traffic.

10.2. There is a big opportunity to enhance the quality and usability of the village green. This could provide some screening from the road, link in to

traffic calming gateway and road crossing features, incorporate a

landscaped seating/notice board meeting area and make something of the

historic weighbridge and office as a community asset. See photo right:

10.3. A crossing at the bus stops and village hall would improve safety in this area.

10.4. Many recent developments in the village have done little to enhance the

local distinctiveness. It is especially important to take note of the

characteristics of local historic buildings and reflect them in new design to

strengthen the village character.

10.5. The lanes are an important feature and need to be properly maintained for

the benefit of the community. There may be an opportunity for a voluntary

“friends” group to be set up to make best use of council resources,

fundraise and become responsible for further activities and improvement

schemes such as additional play space and allotments.

11. KEY QUALITIES 11.1. The traditional built cottages at Coronation Terrace, West End and East End forming a strong built frontage directly on the main street. The latter

terraces have distinctive stone walls which should be maintained and retained.

The village green and weighbridge

11.2. The striking, listed buildings around the green with the chapel, Passmore Edwards Institute, Rock Cottage, and Sydney House, are all buildings with

historical interest and should be maintained and retained for future generations to enjoy.

11.3. The Village Shop and Post Office are important to the community as commercial uses and should be retained not converted to residential uses.

Commercial establishments bring life to a

community.

11.4. The village green and verges, which run the length

of the settlement, are unusual and unique to

Blackwater. The community is involved in their use

and maintenance.

The eastern end of the village green and the old post office

4.1 4.2

4.2 and 4.3

Key Views

and area boundary