supplementary guidance - leicester city council · map 1 city of leicester conservation areas 5 map...

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.

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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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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


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


�.� 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


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�


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�


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


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


�.�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


�.�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.

��


�.�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.

��


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


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


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


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.

��


• 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.

��


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

• [email protected]

• 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


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


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

supplementary guidance - leicester city council · map 1 city of leicester conservation areas 5 map...

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