supplementary guidance - leicester · supplementary guidance to the city of leicester local plan...

Planning Policy and Design

Adopted March 2007

SupplementaryGuidanceto the City of

Leicester Local Plan 2006

Granby StreetConservation Area

Character Appraisal

�

GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal

Cover images, from the top:

128-132 Granby Street, (Blunts Shoes).31 Granby Street.24 Granby Street, (The Turkey Cafe).88 Granby Street, (Balmoral House).

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GRANBY STREET 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 17

�.17 Purpose 17

�.18 Townscape 17

�.�� Prevailingandformeruses 18

Architecturalcharacterandkeybuildings 19

�.�7 Area1(GranbyStreetNorth) �0

�.�6Area�(GranbyStreetSouth)EastSide ��

�.�� Area�(GranbyStreetSouth)WestSide �6

Buildingsmaterialsandthepublicrealm �9

�.5� Buildingmaterials �9

�.5� ThePublicRealm �0

�.56 Greeneryandgreenspaces �0

�.57 Negativefactors �1

�.60 Generalconditionsoftheareaandbuildings �1

�.61 Problems �1

�.6� Pressures ��

�.6� Capacityforchange ��

5.0 Communityinvolvement ��

6.0 ConservationAreaboundary ��

7.0 Managementandenhancementproposals ��

8.0 Acknowledgements,contactsandappendices ��

list of maps

Map1 CityofLeicesterConservationAreas 5

Map� BoundaryofGranbyStreetConservationArea 6

Map� Robert’smapof17�1 9

Map� Fowler’sMapof18�8 10

Map5 OrdnanceSurveymapof1885 1�

appendices

Appendix1 ListofbuildingsintheGranbyStreetConservationArea �5

Appendix� ListoflistedbuildingsintheConservationArea �5

Appendix� ManagementandEnhancementProposals �6

Appendix� RelevantLocalPlanandotherPolicies �7

Appendix5 Glossaryofarchitecturalterms �8

page

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14

5

1911

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13

9

6

24

20

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12

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234

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17

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2

21

1

1. New Walk

2. Castle Gardens

3. Cathedral/Guildhall

4. Town Hall Square

5. Old Humberstone

6. Braunstone Village

7. Belgrave Hall

8. Market Place

9. Aylestone Village

10. Knighton Village

11. Stoneygate

12. Evington Footpath

13. South Highfields

14. Spinney Hill Park

15. Loughborough Road

16. St. George’s

17. Market Street

18. High Street

19. Evington Village

20. Ashleigh Road

21. All Saints’

22. Church Gate

23. Granby Street

24. West End

Listed chronologically

City Centre detail

Crown copyright. All rights reserved Leicester City Council. 1001 9264. (2007)

Not to scale

N

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Map 1. City of Leicester Conservation Areas

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GRA

NBY

ST

REET

DOVER STREET

YORK STREET

CHATHAM STREET

RUTLAND STREET

NORTHAMPTON ST

BELVO

IR S

TREET

Boun

dary

of G

ranb

y Stre

et Co

nser

vatio

n Area

Listed

build

ings

Build

ings o

f loc

al int

erest

Not t

o sca

le

©Cr

own c

opyr

ight.

All ri

ghts

reser

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eicest

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y Cou

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1000

1926

4.200

6

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Map 2. Boundary of Granby Street Conservation Area

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1.0 Introduction

1.1 Acharacterappraisalisthefirststepina

dynamicprocess,theaimofwhichistopreserve

and enhance the character and appearance of

each conservation area. It provides a basis for

making decisions about an area’s future and

identifies, defines and records the factors that

makeconservationareasspecial.Italsoidentifies

featuresorproblemsthatdetractfromthisspecial

quality and suggests, bymeansofmanagement

andenhancementproposals,thewaysinwhich

the special interest could be safeguarded or

improved.

1.� The Granby Street area has been

part of the Council’s conservation area review

programme since �005 but its priority was re-

evaluatedinJune�006followingconcernabout

thepotential lossofan important,butunlisted,

buildingonthecornerofRutlandStreet.TheGranbyStreetConservationAreawasdesignated

onthe�1stJune�006,

1.� Thesurveyandappraisalwerecarriedoutduring�006followingthemethodology

suggestedbyEnglishHeritage.Toensurethatacompletepictureofthevalueandcharacter

oftheareacanbebuiltuplocalpeople,includingthosewholivein,workinorvisitthearea,

willbeaskedfortheirviewsaboutthearea,suchaswhattheylikeordislikeaboutthearea,

andhowtheythinkitcouldorshouldbeimproved.

2.0 Planning Policy Framework�.1 Theprotectionand/orpreservationofhistoricenvironmentsarenowextensively

recognisedforthecontributiontheymaketothecountry’sculturalinheritance,economic

well-beingandqualityoflife.Publicsupportforconservationareasasplacesthatgiveidentity

topeopleandcommunities iswellestablished.National legislationandregionalguidance

reflectthis.

�.� Theconceptof ‘conservationareas’was first introduced intonational legislation

in1967intheCivicAmenitiesActwhichdefinedaconservationareaas“anareaofspecial

architecturalorhistoricinterestthecharacterorappearanceofwhichitisdesirabletopreserve

orenhance”.Itisnotthepurposeofaconservationareatopreventchangebuttomanage

changeinwaysthatmaintainand,ifpossible,strengthenanarea’sspecialqualities.

�.� Current legislation is setout in thePlanning (ListedBuildings andConservation

Areas)Act1990.Thisplacesadutyonlocalplanningauthoritiestodeclareasconservation

areasthosepartsof theirareathat theyconsidertobeofspecialarchitecturalorhistoric

interest[s.69(1)].Italsoimposesonthemadutytoreviewpastdesignationsfromtimeto

Aerial view of Granby Street Conservation Area from the 2005 survey

A close up of the bearded Viking figure-head to 68-74 Granby Street.

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time [s.69(�)]. Conservation area status

alsomeansthat therearestrictercontrols

onchanges thatcanbemadetobuildings

and land including the need for planning

permission to demolish a building or part

of a building, strengthened controls over

someminorformsofdevelopmentandthe

automaticprotectionofalltrees.

�.� The Council has a further duty

to formulate and prepare from time to

time proposals for the preservation and

enhancement of its conservation areas

[s.71(1)].TheCouncilmustalsopayspecial

attentiontothedesirabilityofpreservingand

enhancing the character and appearance

of conservation areas when determining

planning applications for sites within such

areas[s.7�(1)];see(section6andAppendix

�below).

�.5 The City of Leicester Local Plan

contains a range of conservation policies

(see Appendix 5) to ensure that the

most important parts of Leicester’s built

environmentareprotectedandenhanced.

Thereisageneralpresumptionagainstthe

demolitionofbuildingsthatmakeapositive

contributiontothecharacterorappearance

of a conservation area. These policies

help to ensure that new developments

and conservation-led regeneration reflect

the character and value of the historic

environment.

3.0 Definition of Special Interest

�.1 ThefollowingappraisalwillshowthatthespecialinterestoftheGranbyStreet

ConservationAreaisaproductofseveralfactors.First,ithasalargenumberofcitycentre

scalebuildingsofconsiderablearchitecturalqualitythatcreateanareaofhightownscape

value.Secondly,thereisageneralconsistencyofbrickandcarvedstoneworkacrossthe

conservationarea,occasionallyhighlightedbymodernbuildingsthatalsocontinuethe

brickandstonetheme,albeitusing‘modern’brickcoloursandPortlandstone.Thirdly,the

areahassevenlistedbuildinginaninterestingrangeofcommercialarchitecturalstylesand

fashionsthatspantheyearsbetweenthemid-19thandtheearly�0thcenturies,comple-

Granby Street photographed around 1900 by the crossing of Belvoir Street/Rutland Street. Just to the left of the tram is the General Post Office building and beyond the Midland Bank building of 1870.

Two of the biggest losses to Granby Street have been the Britannia Works (left), with its statue of Britannia and the adjacent Temperance Hall,(centre). Both were demolished in the 1960s.

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mentedbyafurther15buildingsoflocalarchitectural

andhistoricinterest.

�.� Thespecialinterestoftheareaisalsoa

productofhowtheconservationareahasfunctioned

throughitstwocenturiesoflife.Developedasamain

arterialroadearlyinthe19thcentury,GranbyStreet

remainsanimportanthighwayaswellanintegralpart

ofthecommercialandsociallifeofthecity.Itsbuildings

remindusoftheeraof19thcenturyprosperityand

civicprideandthegrowth,andchangingface,of

leisurepursuits.

4.0 Assessment of Special Interest

Location and setting

�.1 TheGranbyStreetConservationAreaison

thesouthsideofthecitycentre.Itincludesbuildings

oneachsideofGranbyStreetonly,soitsshapeis

longandthin,stretchingsouth-eastwardsforabout

0.5kilometrefromitsjunctionwithHorsefairStreet

(andtheTownHallSquareConservationArea)toits

junctionwithCharlesStreetinthesouth.Itisgenerally

flat,lyingonasand,gravelandboulderclayriver

terraceataround6�.5mabovesealevel,butrisingat

thesouthernendtowardsthemudstonesoftheTriassicperiodandtheJurassicshalesof

theLondonRoadridge.

Historic development and archaeology

�.� GranbyStreet,atitsnorthernend,liesjustoutsidethelineofthedefencesof

RomanandmedievalLeicester.ARomancemeteryisbelievedtoliesomewhereeastof

today’sGallowtreeGateandpartscouldthereforelieunderthenortheastendofGranby

Street.Atrackwouldprobablyhavefollowedthewallsontheeasternsidealongtheline

ofpresent-dayGallowtreeGateandthencetoGranbyStreetandonecertainlyransouth

fromthetownupthe(LondonRoad)hilltothegallowsthatweresitednearthepresent-

dayentrancetoEvingtonFootpath.AneditionofSpeede’smapfrom1610showsbuildings

onwhatwouldbecomeGranbyStreetanda‘cockpit’closenearwhatisnowthesiteof

theTurkeyCafé.

�.� Inthe16thcenturythemainroutefromLeicestertoLondonwasviaHighcrossStreet

andSouthgateStreetthroughtheheartoftheoldtown.However,duringthelate16thandearly

17thcenturies,thepreferredroutetoLondongraduallychangedtofollowwhatwenowknowas

GallowtreeGateandGranbyStreetthenwestalongBelvoirStreetandWelfordRoadtoMarket

HarboroughandLondon.JohnSpeede’smapof1610callsit‘TheLondonWaye’.

map 3 Roberts’ map of 1741. The approximate location of Granby Street Conservation Area is shown edged in brown.

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�.� Thischangewasduetoseveral

factors.First,anadditionalgate(onthe

siteofMarketPlaceApproach)hadbeen

openedupsometimeinthe16thcentury

throughthesouth-eastcornerofthetown

wallsthat,byprovidingbetteraccessto

themarketplace,attractedmoretraffic

tothispartofthetown.Second,many

unlicensedmarkets,fairsandinnswere

becomingestablishedaroundthesiteof

today’sClockTowerandHaymarket(a

‘no-man’s-landwherelandownership

andtaxrightswereindisputebetween

theBoroughCorporationandtheowner

ofthenearbyEastFields).Theseactedas

furthermagnets,drawingpeopleandbusi-

nessawayfromtheoldtown.Third,and

perhapsmostimportantly,itwasbecoming

increasinglydifficultforcoachestousethe

oldcoachroad-thetowngateswere

narrowandthestreetswerebecoming

increasinglycongested.Aroutearound

theoldtownalongSanveyGate,Church

GateandGallowtreeGatewastherefore

mucheasier,buttheconsequencewas

thefurthermigrationofcommerce

awayfromtheancientheartofthetown

aroundHighcrossStreetandHighStreet.

ContemporarymapssuchasStukeley’sof

17��thusshowmanybuildingsoutsidethe

townwallsonbothsidesof‘GoltreGate’

(GallowtreeGate)andalsoonthecorner

ofHorsefairStreet(‘MilstonLane’).

�.5 TheprecedenceofGallowtreeGateandGranbyStreetasthemainroutefrom

LeicestertoLondonwasconfirmedin17�6whentheywereimprovedbytheTurnpike

Trust.TheThreeCrownsInn,Leicester’smostfamouscoachinginn,wasopenedinthat

yearandcontinuedtooperateuntil1870,whenitwasdemolishedtomakewayforthe

NationalProvincialBank(nowtheNatWest).AlthoughfurtherdevelopmentalongGranby

Streetdidnottakeplaceimmediately,Roberts’mapof17�1clearlyshowsthenew

turnpikeaswellasbuildingsonGranbyStreetclosebyitsjunctionwithHorsefairStreet.

Italsoshowsthe‘horsepool’thatwasusedbythegroomsatthenearbyThreeCrowns

Innforwateringandwashinghorses.Tothenorthofthepool,onthesitenowoccupied

bytheTurkeyCafébuilding,asmallthatchedinncalled‘TheJollyMiller’stoodinagrove

oftreeswiththemainPostOfficeopposite.Aseriesofcoachinginnsalsodevelopedin

GallowtreeGateandGranbyStreetandtheseflourisheduntilthecomingoftherailways

inthemid-19thcentury.

map 4 Fowler’s Map of 1828. The approximate location of Granby Street Conservation Area is shown edged in brown.

11

�.6 GranbyStreetseemstohave

beennamedaroundtheendofthe18th

century,andSusannahWatts,inher

book‘AWalkThroughLeicester’(180�),

mentionsitandremarksthat“manyranges

ofbuildings…have…beenhereerected

withinthelastfifteenyears”.BishopStreet

(namedaftertheAldermanWilliamBishop

whoownedtheland)waslaidoutin1809

andBelvoirStreet(namedfortheDuke

ofRutlandwhoownedlandinthearea)

followedin181�.The‘BarleyMow’atthe

cornerofCalaisHillmarkedthesouthern

limitofLeicesterbutthefirstmapreference

toGranbyStreetisonFowler’smapof

18�8.NamedaftertheMarquisofGranby,

aprofessionalsoldierandsonoftheDuke

ofRutland,themapshowsthatGranbyStreetwaswellbuilt-upasfaras

NorthamptonStreet.Bythelastquarterofthe19thcenturyithad

becomeanimportantcommercial,industrialandleisurelocation

withshops,houses,offices,hotels,factoriesandotherservices

mixedtogethertocreatewhatearlyphotographsshowtobe

abustlingandsuccessfulstreet.

�.7 GranbyStreetowes

itsmanyfineandimportant

buildingstothe19thcentury,

reflectingLeicester’sindustrial

successandcivicpride.Atthe

northend,twobanking

houses–theNational

ProvincialBank(now

theNatWestbuilding)

andtheLeicestershire

Bank(nowoccupied

byHSBC)–viedwith

eachotherin1870

toerectbuildingsthat

wouldproperlyreflect

theirimportance.The

resultisthatwenow

haveaclassicalrevival

stylestoneandwhite

brickbuildingon

thesoutherncorner

ofHorsefairStreetThe former Victoria Coffee House at 38 & 40 Granby Street, dates from 1888 - the year of the Queen’s Jubilee, and hence the name. The architect was Edward Burgess.

A view of William Flint’s General News Room of 1838, this was certainly Flint’s finest building but was unfortunately lost when Granby Street was widened in 1897/8.

1�


andanexhuberantFrenchGothicbuildinginredbrickandstoneonthenorthcornerof

BishopStreet.ThecornerofHalfordStreetisdefinedbyaredbrick,redsandstoneand

terracottabuilding,possiblyofaroundthesamedate.Nearby,theVictoriaCoffeeHouse

of1888,withitstallconicalroof,lanternsandturrets,canstillbeseenat�8-�0Granby

StreetwiththeformerWellingtonHotel,anotherclassicalrevivalbuildinginpalebrickand

stone,nextdoor.

�.8 GranbyStreetwasalsothelocationofVictorianLeicester’sPostOffice(s).There

hadbeenasmallpostofficeonthecornerofGranbyPlacebeforetheserviceremoved

toHalfordStreet.However,in18�6,theBoroughCorporationwasauthorisedtobuild

anewpostofficeandchoseasiteclosetotheGranbyCoffeeHouse,todaythesite

betweentheHSBCandNatWestBanks.Thissmallclassicallystyledbuildingremained,

enlargedfromtimetotime,untilGranbyStreetwaswidenedin1868,whenanew

buildingwaserectedonasitehalfwaybetweenBishopStreetandBelvoirStreet(previ-

ouslythelocationoftheCorahfamily’shosierywarehouse,whichitselfmovedoutto

newpremises,StMargaret’sWorks).ThisbuildingwasofarathersevereItalianatedesign

butwasreplacedin1885byabuildingintheGothicstyle,echoingtheFrenchGothic

map 5 The Ordnance Survey Map of 1886: Granby Street Conservation Area is shown superimposed. Crown copyright and Landmark Information Group Limited. All rights reserved, 2009. Map not scale.

A close-up of ‘Balmoral House’, 88 Granby Street; it dates from 1873 and was designed by local architects Shenton and Baker

1�

styleofitsneighbour,theLeicestershire

Bank.Finally,in19�5thislastbuildingwas

demolished,andthePostOfficeremoved

toitspresentsiteinBishopStreet.Thesite

leftvacantisnowoccupiedbytheshops

andofficesat�5-�7GranbyStreet.

�.9 In1897/8GranbyStreetwas

widenedagainandseveralbuildingsdate

fromthattime,suchastheelaborately

decoratedstone-builtNewsRoomatthe

cornerofBelvoirStreet.Thisreplaced

whatmayhavebeenthefinestbuilding

bylocalarchitect,WilliamFlint,theGreek

revival‘GeneralNewsRoom’of18�8.In

contrast,theoppositecornerisoccupied

bytheredbrickandstoneGrandHotelof

1898,whichitselfreplacedtheformerBlue

Lioncoachinginn,theCarltonHoteland

theConservativeClub.Itslargeballroom

wasoriginallyacinema,theKing’sHall,and

wasenteredfromBelvoirStreetbut,after

severalchangesofname,itclosedin19�8,

possiblyowingtothehighcostofupdating

theequipmenttocaterforthenew‘talkies’.

In1881,thecornerofRutlandStreetand

GranbyStreetwasthelocationofLeices-

ter’sfirsttelephoneexchange.

�.10 GranbyStreetisassociatedwith

thewell-known19thcenturyLeicester

figure,ThomasCook,thetravelpioneer,a

leadingmemberoftheTemperanceSociety

andalifelongteetotaller.Itwasathisinstiga-

tionthattwoofthetown’smostimportant

temperancebuildingswereconstructed-theTemperanceHotelandtheTemperance

Hall,bothbuiltin185�.TheformerwasmanagedbyCook’swife,Marianneand,despite

severealterationstothegroundandfirstfloorsbothinsideandout,thebuildingthatstands

at1��GranbyStreetisstillrecognisable.Immediatelyadjoiningthehotelonthesouth

sidewastheTemperanceHall(advertisedasthe‘NewMusicHall’).Thiswasthelargest

concerthallinthecity,withaseatingcapacityof1800,untiltheopeningofDeMontfort

Hallin191�,andthefirstbuildinginthetowntobesuppliedbywaterfromthenew

ThorntonReservoir.Ithadanimposingstuccoedclassicalfaçadewiththreelargewindows

separatedbyCorinthianstylecolumns,thewholetoppedoffwithabigtriangularpedi-

ment.Manyfamouspeopleperformedthere–CharlesDickens,MarkTwain,JennyLind,

CharlieChaplin–butwiththedeclineoftheTemperanceMovementitwaseventually

soldandconvertedintoacinema,endingitsdaysastheEssoldo.Itwasdemolishedin

An image from around 1920 showing the hustle and bustle of Granby Street.

The Britannia Works at the corner of Calais Hill and Granby Street just prior to its demolition in 1962.

1�


1960tobereplacedbyamodernoffice

block(1�7-1��GranbyStreet).

�.11 ThesamefatebefelltheBritan-

niaHosieryWorkswhichadjoinedthe

TemperanceHalltothesouth.Thislarge

imposingbrickandstoneclassicalrevival

factoryandwarehouseprobablydated

fromaround1870-80andmadeavery

strongcontributiontothearchitecture

andtownscapeofthestreet.Itsloss,and

thatoftheTemperanceHall,isamatterof

someregrettoday.However,onesmall

VictorianGothicfactoryremainsat88

GranbyStreet.ThisisBalmoralHouse,

builtin187�tothedesignsofShenton

andBaker(whoalsodesignedtheWater

BoardofficesonBowlingGreenStreet)

and,togetherwiththesmallwarehouse

at97GranbyStreet,istypicaloftheway

inwhichsmall-scaleindustrialpremises

existedinVictorianLeicesteralongside

housesandshops.

�.1� Despitetheselossesthe

twentiethcenturyhas,nevertheless,

contributedseveralinterestingbuildingsto

theconservationarea.Themostunusual

istheTurkeyCafé,aneccentricdesign

thatisfacedwithcolouredRoyalDoulton

ceramictiles.Itwasdesignedbyoneof

thecity’sbest-knownarchitects,Arthur

Wakerley,andbuiltin1901.Itisperhaps

notsurprisingthatthefirstoccupantwas

J.S.Winnas,between1895and1900,

Wakerley’sofficehadbeenaboveWinn’s

‘OrientalCafé’intheMarketPlace.

Another�0thcenturybuildingworthyof

noteistheGradeIIlisted1�8Granby

Street(Blunt’sShoes),anexampleof

theArtDecostylepopularinthe19�0s

(otherscanbeseenat�5-�7and��-��

GranbyStreet).Builtonasitecleared

in19�1fortheconstructionofCharles

Street,NathanHunt’snewup-market

furnitureshopinPortlandstonewithgreen

glazedrooftileswasveryfashionable.The

Above: Two views of the Art Deco building at128-132 Granby Street; it was originally Harris’ Furniture Store as can be seen in the top picture dating from the 1960s. The corner building is now occupied by Blunts’ Shoe shop.

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currentownershavekepttheoriginalpalegreencolourschemefor

thewindowsandexternalmetalwork.Theshallowcurvedfaçadeofits

fivestoreyneighbourat1��-1�6GranbyStreetmarksthisasanArts

andCraftsbuildingdatingfromtheturnofthe�0thcenturybutthe

YMCAbuildingof1901onthecornerofLondonRoadandEastStreet

is,byfar,GranbyStreet’sgrandest�0thcenturybuilding.

�.1� Acomparisonofthemapsof1886andthepresentday

showshowthecharacterofthestreethaschangedfromamixtureof

housesandgardens,shops,pubs,workshops,leisureandindustrial

usestothemoredenselybuiltupcommercialandretailusesoftoday.

Smallshopandresidentialunits(suchasbetweenChathamStreetand

YorkStreet)havegivenwaytolargepurpose-builtshops,suchasthe

oldMaplesstoreat91GranbyStreet.Similarly,theoldWaggonand

Horsespubandstables,alongwithtinycottagesonDoverStreet,

wereredevelopedinthemid-�0thcenturyandthecrampedhousing

courtsonAlfredPlacehavebeendemolishedtoformcarparks.One

ofthebiggestchangesisatthecornerofGranbyStreetandLondon

Road.HerethesmarthousesofStockdaleTerrace(namedafterthe

localarchitectStockdaleHarrisonwhosefatherlivedatnumber17)

weredemolishedtomakewayfortheYMCAbuilding.

�.1� DuringthelatterpartofthetwentiethcenturyGranby

Streetwasaffectedbymanychangingtrends,butmostparticularly

thoseofindustry,shoppingandtraffic.Frombeingabusyshopping

andindustriallocation,GranbyStreetbecameasecondaryshopping

locationfollowinginvestmentintheClockTowerarea.LargeVictorian

factoriessuchastheBritanniaWorksbecameincreasinglyunviableas

cheapforeigngoodscompetedwithLeicester’straditionalmarkets.

Therewaslittlerecognitioninthe1960softhearchitecturalvalue

orpotentialofsuchbuildingsandwithouttheprotectionoflisted

buildingstatus,andbeforetheadventofconservationareasin1967,

theirdemolitionandreplacementwasprobablyinevitable.Thus

theTemperanceHall,theBritanniaWorksandothers,suchasthe

VictorianGothicshopandwarehouseoftheInstitutionfortheBlindat

50GranbyStreet,weredemolishedandreplacedbyshopsandoffices

ofuninspireddesigns.Forcinemas,itwasasimilarstoryandLeicester

lostmanyofitscinemasduringthe1960s.Oneofthecasualtiesinthe

conservationareawasThePictureHouseat1�-17GranbyStreet,

(demolishedinthelate1970s).

�.15 Duringthelatterhalfofthe�0thcenturyGranbyStreet,like

allotherroadsinthecity,sawasubstantialgrowthinthenumber

ofvehiclesusingit.Itwasamainroutefeedingintothecitycentre,

amajorbusrouteandthemainvehicleandpedestrianlinktothe

railwaystation.TheclosureofGallowtreeGatetovehiclesinthe

1980srequiredchangestotrafficcirculationwithinandaroundthe

Top: A view of the Turkey Café taken in the early years of the 20th cen-tury and above: a close up of the brightly coloured tiling.

16


citycentre,particularlythediversionofnon-essentialtrafficawayfromthenarrowcity

centrestreets.GranbyStreetwasmadeonewaynorthwardswithpavementextensions

andparkingbaysintroducedtonarrowtheroadandcalmtrafficspeeds.Acentralring

roadwasalsoplanned,withtheCityCouncilfavouringaroutethatwouldtakeitsouthof

therailwaystationsoastomaintaindirectpedestrianlinksbetweenitandthecitycentre.

However,thiscouldnotbesecuredandthecentralringroadwasbuiltnorthofthesta-

tion,withapedestriansubwayprovidingaccesstothestation.Thesubwaywasunpopular

withpedestriansandatrafficlight-controlledsurfacelevelcrossinghadtobeinstalledafew

yearslater.

�.16 Thelastdecadeofthe�0thcenturyandthefirstyearsofthe�1sthaveseen

otherchangesinthecitycentreofwhichthemostobviousisthegrowthininvestmentin

regenerationschemes.WhilemostoftheGranbyStreetConservationAreaisnotdirectly

affected,itisclosetotwoofthemainregenerationareas.TheCulturalQuartersits

�00mtothenorthandisthefocusofarts-based,leisureandhousingprojects.Thearea

betweenDoverStreet,NorthamptonStreetandEastStreetispartofthenewBusi-

nessQuarter,the‘OfficeCore’.Aspirationsforthisareainclude,amongstotherthings,

softeningthebarrieroftheringroadandtheestablishmentofdirectlinkswiththestation,

providingthehighestqualityenvironmentalimprovementstothepublicrealm,creatingan

enhancedsetting

The range of architectural styles along Granby Street is exceptional. Here at the corner of Chatham Street the chosen style was Flemish, adjoining is the Grand Hotel with its varied skyline.

17

forconservationareasandbuildingsof

architecturalandhistoricinterestandre-

orientingthemainentrancetotherailway

stationtowardsCharlesStreetandGranby

Street.Thecarparksitetotherearofthe

1960sofficebuildingsat1�7-1�1Granby

Streethasbeenidentifiedasapotential

officedevelopmentsite

CharacterAnalysis

Purpose

�.17 Theaimofconservationarea

designationisthepreservationand

enhancementofthecharacterandappear-

anceofanareaofarchitecturalorhistoric

interest.However,eachconservationarea

isdifferentandcharacterandappearancewilldifferinmanyways.Thestyleandscaleof

thebuildingsmaybedifferent,aswellastheirlayoutandrelationshiptoeachotherand

thespacesaroundthem.Theymayhaveadaptedtochangesinfashionoruseindifferent

waysandtheircharactermaybeinfluencedbylesstangiblefactorssuchassounds,smells,

busynessortranquillity.Itisimportant,therefore,thatthedifferentcharactersaswellas

thephysicalappearanceofeachconservationareaisdefinedanddescribedinorderthat

informeddecisionscanbemadeaboutanyfuturechangestothebuiltformortheusesof

buildings.

Townscape

�.18 Generally,thedistinctivecharacterofGranbyStreetConservationAreaiscreated

byitsgoodquality,citycentrescalebuildingsandarchitecturewhichscaledownfrom

thelargepublicbuildingsnorthoftheGrandHoteltotheshopsandofficessouthofYork

Street.Brickandstonepredominatebutavarietyofotherbuildingmaterialsareusedfor

decoration,acombinationthataddsinterest,colour,andtexture.Thestreetisbusywith

peopleandvehicles;thesouthendissoftenedbytrees.Buildingheightsaregenerally

�and�storeys,occasionallyrisingto5or6storeys.Windows,sills,stonebandsand

stringcoursescreatehorizontalpatternswhilebaywindowsanddoubleheightwindows

emphasisverticalrhythms.ThetownscapeisnotablyenhancedatthejunctionwithBelvoir

StreetandRutlandStreet,animportantvisual‘hinge’,whosecornersareframedand

addressedbylargewell-designedbuildingsthatreinforcetheimportanceofthespace.The

viewsouthfromRutlandStreettowardstherailwaystationisveryeffectively‘closed’by

theElizabethHousetowerblock,whiletheClockTowerterminatestheviewnorthatthe

junctionwithGallowtreeGate.

�.19 Topographyalsoplaysapartincreatingthearea’scharacter,particularlythe

approachdowntheLondonRoadhillfromthesouth.FromheretheentrancetoGranby

The Leicester YMCA at the corner of East Street and the building opposite,Blunts Shoes are two large contrasting buildings that frame the approach to Granby Street from London Road.

18


Streetisframedbytwolargeandcontrastingbuildings(theYMCA

and1�8GranbyStreet),whiletheviewfurtherintothestreetis

obscureduntilitisactuallyentered.Thebuildingsateachendof

GranbyStreetalsoform‘gateways’,eachofwhichcreatesa‘sense

ofarrival’.AsubtlebendpartwayalongGranbyStreetobscures

viewsinbothdirections,invitingfurtherexploration.

�.�0 Thecharacterofanareaisalsoafunctionofhowitis

viewedandused.InthecaseoftheGranbyStreetConservation

Areaitisanimportantpedestrianlinktotherailwaystationandis

themainbusrouteintothecitycentrefromthesouth.Itbustles

withpeopleenroutetoorfromtherailwaystation,workor

shopping,whilethebars,restaurants,fastfoodoutlets,shops,

offices,flats,alargehotelandartgalleryprovideavarietyoflocal

destinations.Asthemainfeederroadintothecitycentrefromthe

south,trafficlevelsonGranbyStreetarehighatpeaktimes.This

isparticularlynoticeableattheGrandHotelwherethedistance

betweenbuildingsdecreasesandbuildingheightsincrease.With

pavementsalsobeingnarrowerherepedestriansandvehiclesare

broughtintomuchclosercontact.

�.�1 Theconservationareadivides,intermsofappearance,

architectureandprimaryfunction,intotwo‘sub-areas’–thearea

fromtheGrandHotelnorthwards,andtheareatothesouth.The

appraisalwillthereforeaddressthearchitecturalcharacterandkey

buildingsofeachareaseparatelyasArea1(GranbyStreetNorth)

andArea�(GranbyStreetSouth).

Prevailing and former uses

�.�� ThegrowthanddevelopmentofGranbyStreethas

alreadybeendescribedinparagraphs�.�to�.16.Thisshowshow

theareadevelopedsouthwardsfrom,andasanextensionto,the

GallowtreeGatecoachroadandturnpiketobecomeadensely

builtupareafilledwithshopping,industrial,businessandleisure

usesduringtheVictorianandEdwardianperiods.Itwasalsothen

oneofthecity’sprincipalshoppingstreetsandwasakeylinkon

footortrambetweenthecitycentre,therailwaystationandthe

suburbsofHighfieldsandStoneygate.

�.�� However,theprimaryfunctionsandimportanceof

thestreetchangedduringthelatterhalfofthe�0thcentury.

Thiswasthetimewhentheindustrialbuildings,thearea’sthree

cinemasandtheconcerthallwerefallingoutofuse.Thebuildingstheyoccupiedbecame

unfashionableoroutofdateand,notbeingprotectedinanywaybydesignationaslisted

buildings,weredemolishedtomakewayforoffices.Withtheredevelopmentofthe

Haymarketarea,GranbyStreetcontinuedtoloseitsimportanceintheshoppinghierarchy

The impressive public entrance to the NatWest bank premises at the corner of Granby Street and Horsefair Street.

Number 1 Granby Street was designed in the classical revival style. The stone work is particularly fine with a strong horizontal rhythm created by the large stone console brackets and the stone cornices at first and second floor levels.

19

andbecameasecondaryshoppinglocation.

Theprovisionofshort-stayon-streetpark-

ingaspartofthecitycentretrafficimprove-

mentsinthe1980swaspartlydesigned

toboostshoppinginthestreet.More

recently,however,thefortunesofGranby

Streethavebeguntorise.Stillprimarilyan

officeandshoplocation,theincreasein

theavailabilityandpopularityofcitycentre

living(suchastheflatsintheNewsRoom,

1BelvoirStreet,thewarehouseandoffice

conversionsat97and1�5-1�1Granby

Street)hasattractedmorelocalresidents,

leisureusessuchascafesandbars,aswell

assmallsupermarkets.

�.�� GranbyStreet’sfunctionasthe

mainrouteoutofthecitycentrehasalso

ceasedinresponsetomeasuresdesigned

tominimisetheimpactoftrafficinthecity

centre.Itbecameonewaynorthwardsin

the1980saspartofthetrafficmanagement

schemethatincludedthepedestrianisation

ofGallowtreeGate;atthatdateitwas

resurfacedandredesignedtoprovide

pavementextensionsandstreettrees.In

the�1stcentury,continental-stylestreet

cafesarenowbecomingafeatureofthe

streetanditisbecomingbusyagain.There

arefewvacantbuildingsorshops.

Architecturalcharacterandkeybuildings

�.�5 Therearesixlistedbuildingson

GranbyStreetandafurthertwelvethatare

includedonthedraftlistofbuildingsoflocal

interest(seeMap�).Thebuildingsarean

eclecticmixofarchitecturalstylesdating

fromthe19ththroughtothe�0thcentury.

Thebuildings,andhowtheycontributeto

thecharacter,appearanceandqualityofthe

conservationarea,aredescribedindetailbelow.

�.�6 Inthetextbuildingsthatmakepositivecontributionstothecharacterandappear-

anceoftheconservationareaareshowninbold.Referenceto‘thelocallist’indicatesthat,

althoughabuildingisnotincludedinthestatutorylistofbuildingsofarchitecturalorhistoric

‘Imperial Buldings’ at 2 - 4 Halford Street

Number 2 Granby Street features a very fine orial bow window

�0


interest,itisofsufficientlocalinteresttobeincludedinthedraft,

non-statutory,locallist.

Area1(GranbyStreetNorth)

�.�7 ThejunctionofGranbyStreetwithHorsefairStreetand

HalfordStreetisoneofthetwo‘gateways’toGranbyStreet.

Eachofthethreebuildingsonthejunctionisafocalpointand

landmarkframingthenarrowentrancestoGranbyandHalford

Streets.Twoofthebuildingsareinaclassicalrevivalstyleand

oneintheQueenAnnerevivalstyle.Thegrandestbuildingis1

Granby Street(NatWestBankandGradeIIlisted)whichis

builtinpaleyellowbrickwithstonedressingswithafinelydetailed

curvedcornerdefiningtheentrance.Stronghorizontalrhythms

arecreatedbywindowsills,cornicesandtheirlargedecorated

consolebracketsupports,stonebandsandabalustradedparapet

(nowsadlydevoidofthedecorativeurnsthatusedtostandon

topoftheparapetpiers).Therearekeystonesabovethesecond

floorwindows,smallcarvedmotifsabovethefirstfloorwindows,

rusticatedquoinsateachendandaroundthecornerentrance

whichalsohasashallowbalusteredbalconysupportedbyvery

largeconsolebracketstoemphasiseitsimportance.Thecorner

entrancenotonlyaddstothearchitecturalcharacterofthe

conservationareabutalsotothebusycharactercreatedbypeople

andtheiractivities.

�.�8 Ontheoppositecorner,2 Granby Streetisamuch

simplerbuildingbut,again,itaddressesthejunctionwellwith

afeatureorielwindow(withoriginalcurvedandglazedsashes)

atfirstfloor,stonequoinsandasubtlycurvedandrenderedfaçadetoHalfordStreet.

Beyond,andofferinganinterestingvisualcontrast,isthestone-builtandlocallylisted3

Halford Street.Thebusyfaçadeofthisbuildinghasfive-sidedpilasters,Tuscancolumns

ontheinnerfacesofitsrecessedfirstfloorbalcony,abull’s-eyewindowinthemiddleof

acentrallyplacedpedimentandballandcrownfinialsatparapetlevel.Onthenorth-east

corneristheinteresting‘ImperialBuildings’,2-6 Halford Street,afourandahalfstorey

redbrick,redsandstoneandterracottapropertythataddsanotherelementofcolour

anddecorationtothejunction.Thisunusualbuildingisonthelocallistandhasawealth

ofdetail;windowshavearedsandstonemullions,transomsandsurrounds,withcarved

stonepilastersandbandsbetween.Stronghorizontalpatternsarecreatedbythemoulded

stonestringcoursesbetweeneachstoreyandthedormerwindowsabovethefourthfloor

haveround-archedwindows,cornicesandpedimentedgablessupportedbyscrolls.

�.�9 Thesmallgroupofbuildingsat�-18GranbyStreethaveallbeenrefacedand

makelittlecontributiontothearchitecturalqualityofthearea.Beyond,however,there

areseveralbuildingsofdifferentsizes,designsanddecorationthatareimportanttothe

characterandappearanceoftheconservationarea.Twoearly�0thcenturyneo-Classical

buildingsinbrickandrender,22 and 26-28 Granby Street,enclosethemostunusual

The Turkey Café was built to the designs of Arthur Wakerley in 1901. The exotic Turkish/Persian style moulded and glazed terracotta was made at the Doulton Pottery in Lambeth.

�1

buildingintheconservationarea,The Turkey Café, 24 Granby

Street.Thethreebuildings,despitetheirdifferentdesigns,

maintainstronghorizontalpatterns–thewindowsareallatthe

samelevel,asaretheparapetlines,whiletheverticalrhythmsof

brickandrenderat��GranbyStreetcontrastwithandemphasise

thepatternsontheTurkeyCafé.Theplainfaçadeof�6-�8Granby

Streetactsasafoilforitsmoredecorativeneighbours,highlighting

theirarchitecturaldetails.TheTurkeyCaféitselfisaGradeII

listedbuildingdesignedbythewellknownlocalarchitect,Arthur

Wakerley,andbuiltin1901.Itscastironframeiscladinbrightly

colouredmatt-facedcarrarawaretilesbyRoyalDoulton.Unique

inLeicester,itwasrestoredin198�whenthethenoccupiers,

RaynersOpticians,commissionedHathernwareCeramicsof

Loughboroughtore-makeandinstalltheMoorish-stylearchover

theshopfrontandthetwoturkeysoneithersideoftheentrance.

�.�0 Beyond�6-�8GranbyStreet,buildingheightsincreaseto

fourstoreys.Thepurpose-builtshopat30-32 Granby Street

isbuiltindarkredbrickswithalargedoubleheightshopfront.A

mouldedcornicerunsacrossthewholefaçadebetweenfirstand

secondfloors,abovewhicharefivesashwindowswithsegmental

archesandmouldedkeystones,fiveplainsashesatthirdfloor

levelandadeeplyoverhangingeavescornice.Adjoiningitonthe

southsideis34-36 Granby Street,aneo-Classicalbuildingin

paleyellowbrickswithstonedetailingsuchasquoins,window

surrounds,segmentalarchedpedimentsonscrolledbracketsover

thefirstfloorwindowsandahorizontalstonebandabove.The

eavescorniceissupportedonsmallpairedbrackets(modillions)

andthesecondandthirdfloorwindowsretaintheiroriginal

sashes.Unfortunately,theverydeepshopfrontfasciabreaksup

therhythmsofthefaçadebutthebuildingretainssufficientmeritto

warrantitsinclusioninthelocallistofbuildingsofarchitecturalor

historicinterest.

�.�1 TheformerVictoria Coffee House, 38-40 Granby

Streetisthenextbuildingonthispartofthestreet.ItisGrade

IIlistedandwasdesignedbyanotherlocalarchitect,Edward

Burgess,andbuiltin1888,oneofthetwelvetemperancemove-

mentcoffeehousesinLeicesterinthelate19thcentury.Itisone

ofthefewstonebuildingsinGranbyStreetanditshighlydecorativefacadescombine

largewindows,horizontalbands,stonequoins,Doriccolumns,splayedupperfloorswith

octagonalandroundturretsandtoppedoffbyaprominenttiledconicalroofcrownedbya

woodenlantern.

�.�� OnthewestsideofGranbyStreetthesiteofthethreestoreyGranbyCoffee

Houseanditssuccessor,ThePictureHouse,havebeenreplacedbyatwostoreybuilding

Two views of the extraordinary former banking premises at 31 Granby Street. It is listed Grade II star and dates from 1870 and was designed by the notable local architect Joseph Goddard.

��


indarkred-brownbrick,1�-17Granby

Street.Itmakessomearchitecturalconces-

sionstoitsneighbours–horizontalbrick

bandsaboveshopfrontleveltolinkwith

thestonebandson1GranbyStreetand

aneaveslinethatcoincideswithdecorative

elementson1and�1GranbyStreet–but

thescaleandmassingaregenerallyout

ofproportionwithitssurroundings.Its

designfailingsareperhapsemphasisedby

itsneighbourtothesouth,thebankat31

Granby Street.GradeIIlistedanddating

from1870,itwasdesignedbythelocal

practiceofGoddard&Paget.Thislarge

elaboratestructureisacitycentreland-

mark,inredbrickwithstonedecorations

inaflamboyantFrenchGothicstylewith

aVenetianentrance.TheGranbyStreet

façadehasthreelargeGothicwindows

withpolishedpilastersandpointed

archesbuiltinalternatingbrickandstone.

Entranceisobtainedatthecornerwith

BishopStreetviaasinglestoreyporchwith

bigpointedarches,adecoratedbalustrade

overwhichrisesalargebowwindow

andpyramidalrooftoppedbyarailing.

ThewindowsanticipatetheArtNouveau

styleandarefilledwithflowingformsin

colouredglassandthereareterracotta

panelsfilledwithbirdshapesclosetoeye

levelaboveandbehindtheoriginalrailings.

Thebankinghallceilingisopentoshow

thedecoratedtimberroofstructure.

�.�� Thebuildingsinthenextblock,

35 to 55 Granby Street,datefromthe

19�0sorthelate1890s.Thethreestorey

19�0sshopandofficebuildingat�5-�7is

facedinPortlandstoneand,despitesome

inappropriateshopfronts,isawell-de-

signedfeaturewhoserestrainedmaterials

anddecorationenhancethestreet.The

formerbankat53 Granby Streetalso

datesfromthistimeandhasawell-pro-

portionedPortlandstonefaçadedivided

intwobyashallowbalconyabovealarge

round-archeddoubleheightentrance.The

Granby Street/Belvior Street corner is dominated by the tower of the Ramada Jarvis Grand Hotel. The architects may have been inspired by the churches of Sir Christopher Wren.

Part of the Belvior Street elevation of the Ramada Jarvis Grand Hotel showing the three round-arched windows to the first floor ballroom/function room.

��

rusticatedstoneworkatgroundfloorlevel

giveafeelingofsoliditywhiletheprojecting

eavescorniceandbalconycreateinteresting

shadows.

�.�� TheBelvoirStreetjunctionis

markedbyfourbuildingsthatdifferfrom

eachothermarkedlyinstyle,colourand

decoration.However,theyhaveeachbeen

designedtoacknowledgeandaddressthis

importantspaceinsomeway.Onthenorth

cornerthelocallylistedformerWellington

Hotel(nowHepworth Chambers),2-4

Rutland Street,doesthisintheform

ofacurvethathasmorehighlydecorated

windowsandrusticatedstonepiers.Atthe

formerNews Roomonthewestside,

55-59 Granby Street & 1-3 Belvoir

Street,thecornerfeatureisacovedand

rusticatedcurvewithasegmentofadomeatsecondfloorlevel.TheRamada Jarvis

Grand Hotel, 61-79 Granby Street and 2-14 Belvoir Street,onthesouthcorner

againmarksthejunctionwithacurvedfaçadebutaddspairedcolumnstoeachfloor

surmountedbyatwo-stagestonedomedcupola.Theeastcorneristheplainestbuilding

butittooacknowledgestheimportanceofthejunctionwithasplayedcornerandsimple

geometricdecoration.

�.�5 Architecturallythesefourbuildingsarealldifferent.HepworthChambersisa

threestoreyyellowbrickneo-Classicalbuildingwithdecorativestoneeavesbrackets,

windowsurrounds,stonebandsandquoins.Itisincludedindraftlocallist.Therecentloss

ofitsoriginalsashes,andtheaggressivecleaningmethodusedonbothelevations,have

bothalteredtheappearanceofthebuildinganddamagedthestonework,tothedetriment

ofthebuildinganditsenvirons.TheNewsRoomisGradeIIlistedanddatesfrom1898.

ItwasdesignedbyGoddard&Coanditsexuberantlycarvedanddecoratedstonework

hasthreewindowbaystoeachelevation,Ioniccolumnsandpilasters,friezes,cupolas,

domes,archeddormerwindowsandcarvingsofthenineMusesbetweennicheswith

shelldecoration.Thecornerisroundedatfirstfloorlevelwithasegmentofadomeat

secondfloorlevel.ThelefthandendoftheBelvoirStreetelevationistoppedbyastone

domedcupola.TheGrandHoteldatesfrom1896and1898andwasdesignedbyCecil

OgdenandSimpsonandHarveyina“Franco-GermanRenaissance”stylewhiletheBelvoir

StreetfrontageandthecornerextensionweredesignedbyAmosHall.TypicalLeicester

orange-redbrickscontrastwithwhitestoneworkonfacadeswhosestronghorizontal

rhythmsaresetbylonglinesofwindowsseparatedbystonebands.Thehotel’sentrance

canopyisplacedincentreoftheGranbyStreetelevationandisfurtherdefinedbythree

storeyhighstonebaysthatarecrownedbyornategablesandturretswithtent-shaped

roofs.TheBelvoirStreetelevationboastsaverylargepediment,octagonaldomedturrets

andthreelargeround-archwindows.Theeastcornerbuildingis,incontrast,verysimple

withPortlandstonefacadesbrokenbydoubleheightwindowsthatareseparatedbyblack

At the corner of Granby Street/Belvoir Street the former General Newsroom was designed in the Baroque style - a popular choice of architecture for large public buildings at the end of the 19th century.

Detail of entrance to former General Newsroom, Belvoir Street.

��


panelsdecoratedwithbronzedzig-zag

pattern.Simpleflutingalsodecoratesthe

parapetandthefaçadeatfirstfloorlevel.

Area�(GranbyStreetSouth)Eastside

�.�6 Mostofthebuildingsontheeast

sideofGranbyStreetarethreestoreysin

height,withtallerbuildingstendingtobe

onthewestside,suchasthoseat�1and

91GranbyStreet.Alterationshavebeen

madetomostbuildingsovertheyears

butmanystillmakepositivecontributions

tothecharacterandappearanceofthe

street.Withinthethreestoreygroupof

buildingsbetween��GranbyStreetand

AlfredPlace,thereare,however,onlya

fewthatmakeapositivecontributionto

theconservationarea.Thoseworthyofnoteare48, 60 and

62-66 Granby Street.Thefirstofthese,�8GranbyStreet,has

asmoothrenderedfaçade,scoredtolooklikestonejointing,two

roundarchedfirstfloorwindows,squaresecondfloorwindows

andtwohorizontalbandsatparapetlevel.Occupyinganarrow

plot,60GranbyStreetisbuiltinyellowbrickswithclassical

detailingandtwodormerwindowswithsegmentalpediments

andsquarebalusterstotheparapet.Therefacingoftheground

floorindarkbuffrustic-finishbricksdetractsfromtheappearance

ofthebuilding.ThecornerofGranbyPlaceismarkedby6�-66

GranbyStreetwhichisbuiltinorange-redbrickswithdecorative

stonework,tallfirstfloorwindowswithawiderelievingarchdetail

aboveandasplayedcornerfeature.

�.�7 Theblockat68-100GranbyStreetcomprisesbuildings

fromthelate19thandfirstdecadesofthe�0thcentury,some

ofwhichareonthedraftlocallistofbuildingsofarchitecturalor

historicinterest(68-8�GranbyStreet).Datingfrom190�,68-74 Granby Streetisa

symmetricalthreestoreybuildingwithanatticstoreyformedbytwolargecentrallyposi-

tioneddormers.Thestoneworkonitsbrickfacadeisdecoratedinasomewhateclectic

stylecombiningelementsofGothic,QueenAnne,JacobeanandArtsandCrafts(thislast

mostobviousintheelevationtoAlfredPlace).HelmetedandbeardedVikingsdecorate

bracketsabovethecentralshopfrontfasciawhilethedormersaresupportedbysmall

flyingbuttresses,withfinialsandscrolls,andtheDutch-styledormergableshavefinialson

eitherside.Evenitstallchimneysaredecoratedwithhorizontalstonebandsandangled

bricks.Itsneighbour,76-82 Granby Street,incontrast,isintheDomesticRevivalstyle

inorange-redbrickwithstonedressings.Thereismockhalf-timbering,decoratedtimber

bargeboardsonthetwodormers,whichhavebiggablessupportedonstubbybrackets,

Only the upper, top two floors of Thomas Cook’s Temperance Hotel at 123 Granby Street remain intact. Both the shopfront and first floors having been altered drastically. Beyond can be seen the large Portland stone building that was originally the Maples furniture store, built in the 1950s.

Numbers 76-82 Granby Street at the corner of Alfred Place combines a range of architectural styles and features a series of decorative carved backets supporting the stone fascia.

�5

aconcaveeavescorniceandstonewindowmullions,transoms

andsurrounds.Thefaçadenextdoorat8�-86GranbyStreetis

arecentadditiontothestreetfrontage,withbricksandwindows

replacingthemosaictilecladdingthatusedtofacethis1960sshop.

Whilestilllackingthepitchedroofthatwouldhaveaddedfurther

interesttotheenvironment,thedesignneverthelessacknowledges

thescaleandmaterialsofthesurroundingbuildings.

�.�8 Balmoral House, 88 Granby Streetwasdesignedby

Shenton&Bakeranddatesfrom187�.ItistheonlyRenaissance

GothicbuildinginGranbyStreetandwasoriginallybuiltasaboot

andshoefactory.Itisplacedgable-ontothestreetanditsname

ispickedoutinGothic-styleletteringinatiledfriezeoverthefirst

floorwindows.Abovearefourlancetwindowswithhoodmoulds

andasmallroundwindow,reminiscentoftherosewindowof

achurch.Theoriginalpillarsoneithersideshopfrontcanstillbe

seenandaddfurtherinteresttothebuilding.

�.�9 BeyondtheCityGalleryat90GranbyStreetisathree

storeyblockofmuchaltered19thcenturyshopsat9�-100

GranbyStreet.Someclassicalrevivaldetailssuchasadentilled

eavescornice,somemouldedwindowsurrounds,quoinsand

lintelssupportedonscrolledbracketsremainbutotherwisethe

buildingshavelosttheiroriginalarchitecturalintegrity.Thesmall

shoponthecornerwithNorthamptonStreet,100 Granby

Street,wasrefacedinbrickwithrenderedpanelsprobablyinthe

19�0sor19�0sandistypicaloftheratherseveredesignsofthe

time.

�.�0 Thefaçadeof10�-10�GranbyStreetontheopposite

cornerisnowhiddenbehindmetalcladdingbutthelastgroupof

buildingshasmuchofinterest.106-108 Granby Streetisbuilt

inbrickandstone,withthecentresectionsofeachbayprojecting

slightlyforwardtoaddinterestandarticulationtothefaçade.Thereareshallowcurved

baywindowsatfirstfloorlevel,decorativestonebandsandpilasters,aprojectingeaves

courseandornamentalgablesabovethesecondfloorwindows.Theyellowclaychimney

potsareoriginalasisthe‘bull’s-eye’window,completewithoriginalglazingbars,thatcan

beseeninthecentreoftherighthandgable.Itstwintothelefthasbeenbrickedup.The

nextgroup,108-120 Granby Street,ismuchplainerandhasbeensubjecttosome

alterations,notablythelossoforiginalwindowsat11�,118and1�0,someratherover-

largeshopfasciasandthepaintingofafaçadeattherighthandend.However,theirfourth

floorhippeddormers,segmentalwindowarchesanddecorativebrickeavescorniceadd

interestingshapesandrhythmstothispartoftheconservationarea.

�.�1 ThelasttwobuildingsonthissideofGranbyStreetareofparticularnote.The

fourstoreysof122-124 Granby Street isaninterestingexampleoftheArtsandCrafts

Number 97 Granby Street dates from the last quarter of the 19th century.

Detail of 151 Granby Street showing the original decorative sign above the first floor windows. The building is designed in the Arts and Crafts style and dates from the 1900s.

�6


styleoftheturnofthe�0thcenturyandisincludedonthe

locallistofbuildingsofarchitecturalorhistoricinterest.Itisbuilt

inpaleredbrickswithbuffcolouredtilescladdingthegently

curvingfacadethatcontainsthefirst,secondandthirdfloor

windows.Thelowerpartofthemansardroofsweepsdown

fromtwogableddormerstoformdeeplyoverhangingeaves.

Themouldedleadrainwaterpipesandhopper-headsare

original.Theunfortunategapsiteonitssouthsideisthecon-

sequenceofafirein1977whichresultedinthelossofthelast

remaining‘stephouses’of1861(so-calledbecausetheyhad

stepsleadingtothefrontdoors).Thelastbuildingonthisside

is128-132 Granby Street,aGradeIIlistedbuilding,whichwasbuiltas

ahighclassfurniturestoreinthe19�0stothedesignsofSymington,Prince

andPike.ItisintheArtDecostyleinPortlandstonewithgreenglazedroof

tiles,bronzeplaquesanddecorativeironwork.Thefaçadeissymmetrical

aboutthecurvedcornerwithwindowsgroupedinblocksseparatedby

fourgiantpilasterswithdark-colouredcapitalfeatures.Takentogetherwith

theYMCAoppositeand1��-1��GranbyStreet,thesebuildingsforman

importantgroupframingthemainentrancetothecitycentrefromthe

south.

Area�(GranbyStreetSouth),Westside

�.�� ThewestsideofGranbyStreethasexperiencedthemostchange

inthe�0thcentury.Itbuildingsaregenerallylarger(fourstoreysormore)

andoccupywiderplots.Theskylineismorevariedandthereis,from

ChathamStreetsouthward,lessuseofornament.Thereisalsoconsider-

ablymoreverticalrhythmtothestreetfaçadethanthatoftheeastside.

�.�� Theplotsfrom83-85 Granby Streetadjointhelargeornate

GrandHotelanddatefromthelate19thcentury.Thefaçadeofthethree

storeybuildingat8�GranbyStreetistimberwithlargewindowsacrossthe

upperfloors.Thewindowmullionsandtransomsarefinelymouldedwithfieldedpanels

andcarvedJacobean-stylepilastersateachend.Atriangularpedimentwith

acentralroundwindowfacesthestreetandcontinuesthethemeofgables

anddormerssetbyitsneighbour,theGrandHotel.Thethemeistakenup

againat85 Granby Street,anotherredbrickbuildingwithstoneusedto

pickoutthecentrallyplacedwindowsanddormer.Decorationisre-

strained,withsquarestonepilasters,mouldedstonestringcourses,carved

rectangularstonecartouchesbetweenthewindowsandapedimented

stonegablerisingabovethedormer.Brickandstonewrapsharplyround

theChathamStreetcorner,leadingtheeyearoundtoafaçadethatechoes

thatofthefrontelevation.

�.�� Thenextblockisoccupiedbyalarge19�0sfiveplusattic

storeyedbuilding,91 Granby Street.Itpresentsamarkedcontrasttoits

YMCA, detail of winged figures at first floor level.

179 Granby Street, (part of YMCA). East Street corner of building showing entrance detail in green glazed tiles.

A detail of the moulded terracotta bird shapes and decorative ironwork to 31 Granby Street.

�7

neighbours,notonlyinitsscaleandmassingbutalsoinitsuseofmaterials

anditisanimportantpieceof‘punctuation’inthestreet.Thefacades,

splayedatthecornersoneachside,havelargeareasofpalebuffbricks,

brokenatsecondandthirdfloorlevelbytallwindowopeningswithstone

surrounds.Themezzaninefloorispickedoutinstoneworkandgreen

slateisusedtocladtheshopfrontatfascialevel.Thebuildingpresents

symmetricalfacadestoGranbyStreet,ChathamStreetandYorkStreet

withmouldedlintelsabove,andrailingsacrossthebaseof,thetallwindow

openings.Thesearebalancedbysquareanddormerwindowsinthetop

twofloors,thedormersprojectingthroughthegreentiledroofbehindthe

parapet.

�.�5 Thethreebuildingsat97-107 Granby Streetareaninteresting

mixof19thand�0thcenturybuildingtypes.Thefirst,97GranbyStreet,is

asmallVictorianfactorybuildingfromthelastquarterofthe19thcentury.

Itsbuildershaveusedsimplearchitecturaldetailstoemphasiseitspresence

inthestreetsuchrusticatedstonequoinsateachendandoneithersideof

thecurvedcornertoYorkStreet.Twoplainstonebandsrunhorizontally

acrossthefaçadesandthewindowopeningshavesegmentalgaugedbrick

archesaboveandround-edgedbricksoneitherside.Decorativeelon-

gatedstonekeyblockshavebeenaddedabovethesecondfloorwindows,

linkinguptoaprojectingeavescornicedecoratedwithpaleyellow/white

dog-toothbricks,claytilesandpairedmouldedstonebrackets.The

adjoiningpropertyprobablydatesfromthemiddleofthe19thcentury.

Itwouldhavebeenashopwithlivingaccommodationintheuppertwo

storeys,andisthereforebuilttoadomesticscalewithlowerfloorheights

andsmallerwindowsthanitsneighbourtothenorth.Feworiginalbuilding

featuresremain,otherthantherighthandsashwindows.

�.�6 ThesouthendofthisshortblockisthelargewhitebulkoftheformerMaples

furniturestoreat107 Granby Street.Builtinthe1950sithasadeepcanopyover

theentrance,fivefloorscladinPortlandstoneslabsandaverylargecentralrecessfacing

GranbyStreetthatcontainsthemetalframeworkofthefirsttothirdfloorwindows,each

ofwhichareseparatedbysixprojectingmetal‘fins’.Abovethisareeightshorthorizontal

flagpolesandtheshadowsleftbythebronzelettersspellingoutthe‘Maples’nameand

remindingpassers-byofthebuilding’shistory.Abovethisareaprojectingcorniceandthe

topfloorwindowsliningthroughwiththosebelow.Aboveanothershallowcornicethere

isalowparapethidingtheflatroof.

�.�7 Numbers109and111GranbyStreetaresmalltwostoreyVictorianbuildings

thathavebeensubstantiallyalteredandareoflittlearchitecturalmerit.Theadjoiningoffice

andshopbuildingat115-121 Granby Streettowersoverthemandisanotherexample

ofGranbyStreet’s19�0sarchitecture.Portlandstoneisusedagainasafacingmaterialand

thegroupofsixlongthinwindowslightingthefirstandsecondfloorsintroducestrong

verticalrhythmsintoanotherwiseundecoratedfaçade.TakentogetherwiththeMaples

One of the two replacement “Turkeys” produced by Hathernware Ceramics of Lougborough for the 1984 restoration of the Turkey Café.

Window detail showing the flowing forms and fine coloured glass at the former bank premises, 31 Granby Street,

�8


shopandnumber91,thissideofGranbyStreetdisplaysacompletely

differentarchitecturalcharacterfromtheeastside,andonethatismore

firmlyrootedinthe�0th,ratherthanthe19thcentury.

�.�8 Thelastremaining19thcenturybuildinginthe109-1�1Granby

StreetblockistheformerTemperanceHotelat123 Granby Street.

Builtin185�,thefaçadewassymmetricalaboutatallrecessedcentral

featurewitharoundarchandrusticatedlong-and-shortstonework

framingtheoutside.Thefirstfloorwindowhadasmallcurvedbalcony

thatactedasacanopyoverthemainentrance.Onlytheupper(round

arch)partisnowvisible,thefirstfloorwindowswiththeirtriangularand

segmentalpedimentshavinglongbeenreplacedbyafullwidthwindow

atfirstfloorlevelandalargeshopfrontatgroundfloor.Therusticated

quoinscanstillbeseenupeachsideofthefaçade.Theofficebuildings

at1�7-1�1GranbyStreetwerebuiltinthe1960sandintroducefurther

stronghorizontalrhythmsintothetownscapethatareatoddswiththe

surroundings.TheblankfaçadeoftheDoverStreetelevationof1�1

GranbyStreetloomsovernearbybuildings.

�.�9 Neitherthename,theBarley Mow (149 Granby Street),

northepresentappearanceofthebuilding,datefromtheestablishment

ofthisuseonthissite.Inthe1850sitwastheNag’sHeadanditsthree

storeys,aswascommononGranbyStreetatthattime,hadamore

domesticscaleandappearance.By1886ithadbecomeTheBarleyMow

butthepresentfaçadesprobablydatefromthefirstquarterofthe�0th

century–asortofneo-classicalstylewithastuccoedandpaintedfinish

withlongquoinsdownthecorners,mouldedwindowsurroundsandtwo

eye-catchingmoulded,paintedandgildednameplaquestothefrontand

sideelevations.FromtheBarleyMow,thebuildingsstepupinheightto

thetallthreestoreysof151-159GranbyStreet.Unicoat House,151

Granby Street,isanearly�0thcenturybuildinginanArtsandCrafts

styleinredbrickwithitsoriginaltall,narrowsashwindowsatsecondfloor

levelandafinelyletterednamesigninglassoverthefirstfloorwindows.

Thebuildingisdecoratedwithstonebands,squarepilasters,amoulded

stonesillbelowthesecondfloorwindowsanddecorativecartouchesin

placeofcapitalsonthepilastersatfirstfloorlevel.Theoriginalshopfront

fasciabracketsanddecorationremaininsitubutthemodernshopfascia

belowisoverlydeepandoutofscale.Onasimilarscaleandwithafull

widthfirstfloorwindow153 Granby Streetretainsitsoriginalsplayed

shopfrontandiscrownedbyatallgentlycurvedparapet.

�.50 TheVictorianGothicstyleFoxandTigerpublichousenextdoorat157-159

Granby Streetaddsmoreinteresttothisblock.Atfirstfloorlevelthereisacentral

windowwithtwosplayedbaywindowswithhippedroofsoneitherside,eachdecorated

withpilasterswithfoliatecapitals,shoulderedarcheswithdentilmouldingsandmock

bracketssupportingtheeavescoursesor,inthecaseofthecentralwindow,acornice.

Thesecondfloorwindowsarelesselaboratebutaremadeafeatureofthefaçadeby

One of the two moulded and painted signs to the Barley Mow Public House at 149 Granby Street.

Green glazed tiles, Portland stonework, bronze panels and steel window frames are used to great effect at 128 - 132 Granby Street.

�9

beingplacedinrecessedopeningsandby

theuseofsegmentalandroundarches

withprojectinglintelssupportedbymock

brackets.Theratherboldcolourscheme

chosenbythecurrentoccupierspicksout

theoutlinesofthewindowmouldingsand

thequoinsonthecornersofthebuilding.A

mouldedeavescoursewithsmallbrackets

completesthedecoration.

�.51 Thelastbuildinginthecon-

servationareaistheGradeIIlistedlate

(1898-1901)VictorianBaroqueYMCA

thatoccupiestheplot1-7 East Street

& 161-179 Granby Street.Thisvery

largebrickandKettonstonebuildingisa

keylandmarkattheentrancetoGranbyStreetand,withtheArt

Decobuildingopposite,createsanimpressivegatewayintothe

citycentreproper.Withpurpose-builtshopsonthegroundfloor

thebuildinghastwoquitedifferentfacades.TheGranbyStreet

elevation,asthemostimportant,isonasomewhatmonumental

scale,havingafirstfloorcladinstoneandninegiantstonecolumns

dividingthefacadeintobays.Therearegables,balustrades,

dormers,ornamentalchimneystacks,steeplypitchedstoneslate

roofs,keystonesandsculpturesrepresenting,amongotherthings,

Architecture,Sculptureand,possibly,theContinents.Thebuilding

curvesroundintoEastStreetandthecornerisdecoratedwith

morecolumns,ashell-likefeatureoverthedoorandtheoriginal

darkgreenglazedtilestotheshopfront.TheEastStreetfaçadehas

lessdecorationbutneverthelesscontainstwolargegroundfloor

windowswithdecorativetransoms,twoorielwindowsabove

andmatchingdormersatrooflevel.Unfortunately,theoriginal

windowshaveallbeenreplacedinplastic.

Buildingmaterialsandthepublicrealm

Building materials

�.5� TheGranbyStreetConservationAreadisplaysawidevarietyofbuildingmaterials

butthemostcommonarebrickandstone.Redandorange-redbrickspredominatebut

thereareseveralbuildings(somequitelargesuchas91GranbyStreet)inpaleyellow,buff

or‘white’bricksandoneinamoderndarkred-brownbrick.Limestoneisgenerallythe

materialusedfordecorationonbrickbuildings,althoughadistinctiveredsandstoneisused

onthecornerofHalfordStreetandGallowtreeGate.Thenextmostcommonmaterialis

Portlandstone,thematerialofchoiceinthe19�0sand19�0s.Otherfacingmaterialsare

marble,polishedgranite,slate,renderandstucco,concrete,glazedtiles(TurkeyCafé)and

Part of the former General Newsroom designed by Joseph Goddard and dating from 1898. This replaced William flint’s building of 1838, (see page 28).

Detail of the stone cupola to the Ramada Jarvis Grand Hotel.

�0


oneexampleofexternalmetalcladding.Roofs,wherevisible,aregenerallycladinWelsh

slate,butthereareafewexamplesofredclaytiles78-8�GranbyStreet),stoneslatesand

glazedclaytiles.Wheremodernshopfrontshavebeeninstalledtheyaregenerallymade

ofcolour-coatedaluminium.

�.5� Othermaterialscanalsobeseenbuttendtobeusedfordecoration.These

includecolouredglassinleadedwindows(HSBCbuildingonthecornerwithBishop

Street,�-6HalfordStreet),castironrailings(HSBC)andappliedmetalwork(�8,��-��,

5�,8�-86,91,97,107,119and1�8-1��GranbyStreet,�HalfordStreet),leadsheet

(1�-17GranbyStreet)andmouldedclaytiles(97GranbyStreet).Mostwindowsare

constructedintimber,althoughplasticcanbefoundonseveralbuildings.Timberisused

inshopfrontsandalsofordecoration,asat76-8�GranbyStreet(bargeboards,mock

half-timbering).Largeareasofplainglazingoccurgenerallyinmodernbuildingssuchas91

and1�7-1�1GranbyStreet.

The public realm

�.5� TheGranbyStreetConservationAreaislocatedinsidethecity’scentralringroad

andisanimportanttrafficarteryfeedingbuses,deliveryvehiclesandcarsintothecentral

shoppingandofficezones.GranbyStreetthereforehaslargenumbersoftrafficcontrol

anddirectionsigns,aswellastelecomandtrafficsignalcontrolboxes,CCTVcamera

polesandmobilephonemasts,allofwhichcontributetoaratherclutteredappearance,

particularlyattheRutlandStreet/BelvoirStreetjunction.GranbyStreetwasmadeoneway

northwardsinthe1980sandthesouthpartwasredesignedandresurfacedtoincorporate

parkingbaysseparatedbypavementextensions.Theroadsurfaceisblacktarmacwithred

granitechippingssouthofRutlandStreetandgreygranitetothenorth.Agreencyclelane

wasinstalledinGranbyStreetNorthin�005.Streetlightingismountedonbuildings.

�.55 Therestofthepublicrealmconsistsofawidevarietyofmaterialsandcolours,

givingpartsofthearea,notablythemainroadjunctions,anunsightlyanduncoordinated

appearancethatdoesnotenhancetheconservationarea.Thereareyellowandgrey

concretepavingslabs,redgraniteandgreyconcreteandclaykerbs,grey,redandyellow

blockpaversaswellasredandgrey’blister’pavingunits.Pavementsarecracked,broken

orstainedinmanyplaces,furtherimpoverishingthevisualenvironment.

Greenery and green spaces

�.56 Oneofthebenefitsofthe1980strafficmanagementschemeonGranbyStreet

wastheplantingofeightlimetreesinthepavementextensionsalongtheeastsideofthe

road.Whilstthetreeswillnotgrowtoforestsize,theyneverthelesshavepositiveamenity

valueinthestreetscene.However,thisenvironmentisstressfulandthishasaffectedthe

trees’vigourandtheyareshowingsymptomsofstresssuchaslowgrowthrateandsome

scaleinsectinfestation.

�1

Negative factors

�.57 Thereisonlyonesitewhosenegativeeffectontheconservationissufficientto

detractseriouslyfromthecharacterandappearanceoftheconservationarea:

• thevacantsitebetween1��and1�8GranbyStreet.

‘Gapsites’createunsightlybreaksinotherwisecompletelybuilt-upstreetscenes.Inthe

caseofGranbyStreet,thegapatthesouthendhasexistedfornearly�0yearsandhas

neverbeenthesubjectofaplanningapplicationforinfilldevelopment.Thisisanunsatisfac-

toryposition,particularlyinviewofthearchitecturalvalueofthebuildingsoneitherside.

�.58 ElsewhereonGranbyStreetthereareotherissuesthatareofsomeconcern:

• theconditionandappearanceofthepublicrealm;

• themodernshopfrontsthathaveoverly-deepfasciasorwhoseproportionsor

designotherwisedonotcomplementthebuildingsofwhichtheyformapart

(��-�6,5�-58,80-8�,106-1��,8�,87,151GranbyStreet);

• theuseofplastictoreplaceoriginaltimberandsteelwindows;

• thevisibleevidenceofstructural/drainageproblemsorpoorbuildingmaintenance

(5�-56,96,109-111GranbyStreet);

• therefacingorpaintingoffacades(suchas10-1�,50,5,90,10�-�and1�0

GranbyStreet);

• vacantupperfloorsgenerally;

�.59 Mostofthesecanberesolvedsatisfactorilyduringimprovement,alterationor

otherrefurbishmentworks,thedetailsofwhichwouldbesubjecttothecompliancewith

conservationareapoliciesintheLocalPlan.Theuseofplasticreplacementwindows

requiresplanningpermissionbutmanymayhavebeeninstalledwithoutpermission.

However,notallwould,orcould,justifyactionbeingtakentorestorethewindowsto

theiroriginalappearanceandactioncannotbetakenifthereplacementwindowshave

beeninplaceformorethanfouryears.

General condition of the area and buildings

�.60 Theexternalconditionoftheareaanditsbuildingsisgenerallygood,although

somebuildingsrequireworkssuchastimberrepairsorrepainting,particularlyfromfirst

floorlevelupwards.Thisgoodconditionisprobablyduetothecontinuedimportanceof

thestreetinthecitycentreshoppingandleisurehierarchyaswellasitslowvacancylevels.

Theunsatisfactoryappearanceofpavements,theunco-ordinatedsurfacetreatmentsand

theclutteredsignagehavealreadybeennotedinparagraph�.55above.

Problems

�.61 Therearefewproblemsintheconservationareabut,ofthese,theoneinmost

needofresolutionisthegapsiteadjoining1��GranbyStreet.Originallyoccupiedbya

��


threestoreyshopandhouse,thissitehaslongrequiredredevelopment.Manyshop-

fronts,fasciaadvertisementsandfacadesarealsoinneedofimprovement.

�.6� Elsewhere,theuncoordinatedappearanceofthepublicrealmisanissuethat

needstoberesolved.Co-ordinatedstreetfurnitureandwell-laidattractivesurfaceswould

makeasubstantialdifferencetothetownscape.

Pressures

�.6� Ashasbeennotedinpara.�.16aboveGranbyStreetispartoftheOffice

QuarterandclosetotheCulturalQuarter.Futureredevelopmentandregenerationcould

increasesubstantiallythenumberofpeopleliving,workingandvisitingtheGranbyStreet

area.AstheseareasdevelopGranbyStreetcouldcomeunderpressureforchange,such

asredevelopment,ormorebars,restaurants,offices,residentialusesetc.

Capacity for change

�.6� Conservationareastatusdoesnotprecludechange.Redevelopmentorother

physicalalterationstotheenvironmentaretobeexpectedovertimeinanurbanenviron-

ment.However,itisaprerequisitethatanyproposalsthatwillresultinchangemust

preserveorenhancethecharacterorappearanceoftheconservationarea.Designsneed,

therefore,totakeaccountoftheexistingcharacterofthearea,itsarchitecture,scaleand

massing,itsbuildingmaterialsandproportions.PoliciesintheLocalPlanaredesignedto

ensurethatsuchaccountistaken.

�.65 IntheGranbyStreetConservationAreathereisonevacantsitewithinthe

conservationarea,theappropriateredevelopmentofwhichneedstobeencouraged.A

muchlargersite,thecarparkbehind1�7-1�1GranbyStreet,isalsoapotentialredevel-

opmentareawhichcould,eitherdirectlyorindirectly,affecttheconservationarea.Inthe

caseofthepoorshopfrontsandsignagementionedabove,conservationareastatuswould

providethejustificationforseekingbetterdesignsthatwouldbemoreinkeepingwiththe

scaleandproportionsofthebuildingstowhichtheyrelate.

�.66 Theappraisalhasalreadynotedthepoorappearanceofthepublicrealmandits

needforimprovement.Worksarecurrentlyunderwaytoimprovetheshoppingstreets

aroundtheShires(now,HighcrossQuarter)shoppingcentre,theLanesandGallowtree

Gate.SimilarimprovementswillbemadetoGranbyStreetintheshorttomediumterm

(Appendix�refers).

5.0 Community involvement

5.1 ThedraftCharacterAppraisalwasmadeavailableontheCouncil’swebsite,in

theCustomerServicesCentreattheCouncilofficesinNewWalkCentreandinthe

CentralReferenceLibraryonBishopStreet.Officerssetupanexhibitionfortwoweeks

inacentrallocation,publicisedbyaPressReleaseandsentletterstoalloccupiersinthe

conservationarea(andagents/owners/otherinterestedpartieswheretheywereknown).

AllviewsexpressedduringtheconsultationperiodwerereportedtoCabinetwhenthe

��

AppraisalwasconsideredforadoptionassupplementaryguidancetotheLocalPlan.The

reportincludeddetailsofhowtheviewsexpressedbypeopleinwriting,byphoneor

attheexhibitionhadbeentakenintoaccountinthepreparationoftheAppraisalandits

ManagementandEnhancementproposals.

6.0 Conservation Area boundary

6.1 Theconservationareaboundarywasfirstdefinedtoincludeonlythosebuildings

frontingontoGranbyStreetthatwerenotalreadywithinaconservationarea.Buildingson

sidestreetswereincludediftheyhadatleastoneelevationtoGranbyStreet,whilethe

buildingknownas�HalfordStreetwasincludedbecauseofitsarchitecturalcharacterand

proximityto1-�HalfordStreet.Themodernblockat1�-17GranbyStreetwasexcluded

becauseofitspositionbetweenthetwobanksat1-11GranbyStreetand�1Bishop

Street,bothofwhichareintheTownHallSquareConservationArea.

6.� However,themainfacadesofthetwobanksfrontontoGranbyStreetandthey

arealsoimportantlandmarksinthearea.Theshopsatnumbers�5-51(recentlyincluded

intheTownHallSquareConservationArea)alsohavetheirmainfacadesontoGranby

Street.Inviewofthis,itwouldbelogicaltoincludethem.Theboundaryhastherefore

beenamended.Themodernblockat1�-17GranbyStreetmakeslittlecontributionto

thearchitecturalcharacteroftheconservationareabuthasbeenincludedinviewofits

positionbetween1-11and�1GranbyStreet.

7.0 Management and enhancement proposals

7.1 Conservationareasarecomplicatedplacesthatderivetheirspecialcharacterfrom

theinteractionofmanydifferentelements.Theyarethereforevulnerableandsensitive

tochange,particularlyifthatchangeistheresultoftheaccumulationofaseriesofsmall

changesthat,takenindividually,makelittleimpact.However,theintentofconservation

areadesignationisnottopreventchangeandtheCouncilrecognisesthatsuchareasneed

toadaptandevolvetomeetchangingneedsanddemands.Bydeclaringconservation

areastheCouncilindicatesthatthesearetheparticularpartsofitsareathatareimportant

heritageassetsandthatitintendstomanagechangeintheseareascarefullysothatallnew

developmentsandalterationscancontributepositivelytotheircharacterandappearance.

TheapplicationoftheLocalPlanpoliciesonlistedbuildingsandconservationareasare

thereforetheprimarymanagementtools.

7.� Withinconservationareasthereisalsoageneralpresumptionagainstthe

demolitionofbuildingsthatmakepositivecontributionstothecharacterorappearanceof

theirareas.IntheGranbyStreetConservationAreatheseincludethesignificantnumber

ofunlistedbuildingsoflocalarchitecturalorhistoricinterest,aswellasothersthatareof

townscapeimportance(Map 6).

7.� Proposalsforthemanagementandenhancementoftheconservationareaare

setoutinAppendix�,andincludeimportantchangestothepublicrealmaspartofthe

Council’son-goingPublicRealmStrategyfortheCityCentre.

��


8.0 Acknowledgements, contacts and appendices

8.1 TheCouncilwouldliketothankallthepeoplewhocontributedtothewritingof

thisreport,includingmembersofthepublicwhovisitedtheexhibitioninOctober�006

andsubmittedtheircomments.

8.� Ifyouwouldlikefurtherinformationonthis,oranyotherconservationareayou

cancontacttheCouncilasfollows:

• ConservationTeam,PlanningPolicy&Design,RegenerationandCulture,

LeicesterCityCouncil,NewWalkCentre,WelfordPlace,Leicester,LE16ZG

• OnLeicester(0116)�5�7�17

• ByFaxLeicester(0116)��711�9

• [email protected]

• OntheCouncil’swebsiteatwww.leicester.gov.uk/conservation areasand

searchunder‘ConservationAreas’

�5

Appendix 1: List of buildings in the conservation area

BelvoirStreet Nos.1,�,�-1�(even)

BishopStreet No.�

ChathamStreet Nos.1,5

EastStreet Nos.1,�,7

GallowtreeGate No.56

GranbyStreet Nos.1-17(odds).�1,�5-55(odd),61-85(odd),91,97-107

(odd),109-1�1(odd),1�9-179(odd),�-�0 (even),Hepworth

Chambers,��-66(even),HallatrearofCharlesStreetBaptistChurch,68-100(even),

10�-1��(even),1�8-1��(even)

HorsefairStreet No.�-�

HalfordStreet Nos.1,�,�,�-6(even)

RutlandStreet Nos.�-7(odd),�-�(even)

YorkStreet No.1

Appendix 2: List of listed buildings in the conservation area

BelvoirStreet 1,(TheNewsRoom)

EastStreet Nos.1-7(odd)(YMCA)

GranbyStreet Nos.1-11,�1,55-59 (formerNewsRoom),61-79 (Grand

Hotel),161-179(YMCA)

��,�8-�0,1�8-1��(BluntsShoes)

HorsefairStreet �

�6


Appendix 3: Management and enhancement proposals

Location Enhancement ProposalConservationareagenerally 1.NationallegislationandLocalPlanpolicies–theCityCouncilwillmakeuseofthepowers

affordeditbynationallegislationtoencourageappropriateformsofdevelopmentandwill

applythepoliciessetoutinitsLocalPlantoencouragegooddesignintheconservation

area.Therewillbeageneralpresumptionagainstdemolitionofbuildingsintheconservation

areaandarequirementthatanydevelopmentshouldpreserveorenhancethecharacter

orappearanceoftheconservationarea.

Delivery:On-going

�.Undertakeacomprehensivephotographicsurveytoestablishbaselinedataforassessing

andmonitoringchange

Delivery:Shortterm

GranbyStreet 1.Encourageasympatheticpermanentdevelopmentforthevacantsiteadjoining1��

GranbyStreet

Delivery:On-going

�.Identifybuildingswhereimprovementstoshopfrontsorotherfeaturescouldbemade

torestoretheappearance,designandproportionsoftheelevations.

Delivery:Shortterm

�.Seekgrantfundsfortheimprovementofshopfrontsandotherarchitecturalfeatures

Delivery:Mediumterm

�.Undertakeimprovementstothepublicrealm,includingsurfaces,lighting,streetfurniture

andcoordinatedsignage(trafficandother)

Delivery:

GranbyStreetNorth�008

GranbyStreetSouthmediumterm

�7

Appendix 4: Relevant policy documents

Subject Policy No. DetailsThePlanStrategy PS01 a) the creation of an improved city

centre….b) conservation and enhancement of theCity’sbuildings…..

SpecialPolicyAreas

RetailingwithintheCentralShoppingCore SPA01 Enhancementof thephysicalenvironment,accessibility,

RetailingwithintheCentralShoppingCore SPA0� Offices for f inancial and professionalservices

RetailingwithintheCentralShoppingCore SPA0� FoodandDrinkuses

BuiltEnvironment

Archaeology BE01 Preservation of the City’s ArchaeologicalHeritage

BE0�-05 ListedBuildings

BE06-07 ConservationAreas

BE08 BuildingsofLocalInterest

BE10-1� Shopfronts,SecurityandAdvertisements

BE�� OutsideLighting

BE�1 Noise

BE�� TelecommunicationsEquipment

Otherpolicies

SupplementaryPlanningGuidance Officecore(�00�) AreaStrategyGuidancefortheOfficeCoreadjoiningtherailwaystation

SupplementaryPlanningGuidance A�ClassusesintheCityCentre(�00�) PoliciesforacceptabledensitiesofFoodandDrinkusesintheCentralShoppingCore

�8


Appendix 5: Glossary of architectural terms

baluster uprightsupportforabalconyorrailing

balustrade aseriesofshortpostsorpillarssupportingarail

bargeboard projectingboardplacedagainsttheoutsideinclineoftheroofofabuilding,oftenuseddecoratively

bracket asmallpieceofstoneorothermaterialsupportingaweightegeavesbracket[consoleorscrollbracket–inthe

form ofascroll]

bull’s-eyewindow ellipticalwindow,usuallywithfourkeystones

canted havingsplayedsides

capital theheadorcrowningfeatureofacolumn

cartouche acarvedelementresemblingpaperorparchmentwithrolledendsorcorners,usuallycontainingcarved

decorationsornames

cornice horizontalprojectingsectionatthetopofabuildingorwall

cupola adomeonaturretorroof

dentil asmallsquareshapedblock,usuallyoneofaseries,creatingatooth-likedpattern

fieldedpanel timberpanelwithaflatraisedcentralpartthatisthickerthantheedges

finial aformalornamentattheapexofagableorspire

foliate carvedtoresembleleaves

frieze adecoratedbandalongtheupperpartofawal

gaugedbrick fine,precisebrickworkusedforarches

half-timbering theexternalvisibletimbersofatimber-framedbuilding(ormockhalf-timberingwheretimbersareapplied

externallytocreatetheimpressionofhalf-timbering)

hoodmould aprojectingmouldingoveradoororwindowdesignedtothrowrainoffthefaceofthebuilding

keystone thecentralwedge-shapedstoneatthetopofanarchthatlocksthearchinplace

lancet aslenderpointedarchwindow

lantern asmallturretwithopeningscrowningarooforadome

lintel ahorizontalbeambridginganopening

mansard adouble-slopedroof,thelowerpartbeingmoresteeplypitchedthantheupper

mullion theverticalpostbetweenthepanesofawindow

oriel acurvedbaywindowprojectingoutfromanupperfloor

parapet alowwallalongtheedgeofaroof

pediment alowpitchedgableshapeoveradoororwindow

pilaster ashallowcolumnattachedto,andslightlyprojectingfrom,awall

quoin dressedstoneslaiduptheexternalcornersofbuildings,usuallyinalternatinglargeandsmallblocks

relievingarch anarchbuiltaboveanopeningtoredistributetheweightofthewallabove

rusticated ofacolumn–squareblockswhichinterrupttheshaftatregularintervals

ofawall–chamferededgemasonryblockslaidwithverydeepjoints

segmentalarch averyshallowarch[ofabaywindow–averyshallowcurvedbay]

shoulderedarch adecorativeframetoawindowordoorwheretheverticalmembercurvesjustbelowthetopandthenreturns

totheverticaltomeetthelintel

stringcourse acontinuousdecorativehorizontalbandprojectingfromawallandusuallymoulded

stucco acement-typerenderusedforfacingexternalwalls

tile-hanging acoveringofoverlappingrowsoftilesonaverticalsurface

transom thehorizontaldividersbetweenwindowpanes

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