village design statement downton - wiltshire council · downton society is a village organisation...

Village Design Statement

Downton

Produced jointly by Downton Parish Council & Salisbury District Council

Content


Page 1

Introduction

Aims

How is the Statement to be used

History

Landscape Setting

Settlement Pattern

Open Spaces and Landscaping

Buildings and Materials

Roads and Traffic Management

Streetscape

Map

Introduction


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IntroductionThis village design statement is basedon a ‘skeleton’ document prepared bythe Downton Society in conjunctionwith Downton Parish Council. TheDownton Society is a villageorganisation founded in 1973 tostimulate interest in the village andits history, encourage high standardsof planning in the village andinfluence the preservation andimprovement of its historic sites andbuildings. The ‘skeleton’ documentwas sent to every organisation in thevillage and some individuals for theirinput and comments. A publicexhibition was also held where thegeneral public were invited tocomplete questionnaires andcomment on the document. This finaldocument has been prepared byDownton Parish Council inconjunction with Salisbury DistrictCouncil.

AimsThe aim of this village designstatement is to ensure that the designof any future development and anychange to existing dwellings inDownton, are based on anunderstanding both of the village’spast and present character and of itsprecious environmental setting, sothat it can contribute sensitively tothe protection and improvement ofDownton.

The document therefore aims to offerdesign advice on the preservation ofthe present character of the village inthe relationships between buildings,open spaces, the treatment ofboundaries and the planting of trees,and on the wider perspective of thevillage as a whole, from surroundingviewpoints.

How is the Statement to be Used?The Statement has been adopted bySalisbury District Council assupplementary planning guidanceand is for the use of all involved inthe development process. It will alsohelp inform the wider public on thedistinctive characteristics ofDownton.

This Statement takes account ofpolicies in the Salisbury District LocalPlan which reflect governmentguidance.

St Laurence’s ChurchThe Sidings

The Borough

History


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HistoryDownton is a large village in theAvon Valley approximately 7 milessouth of Salisbury, close to the countyborder with Hampshire. It is an oldsettlement with the surroundinglandscape holding evidence ofoccupation from the Neolithic andBronze Age. Named in the AngloSaxon Charter of 672 AD, the villagewas known as Dunton, ‘“the villageby the hill”.

By 300AD the Romans had built aVilla and to the Saxons, Downtonwas an important centre ofgovernment. In 638 AD a woodenChristian church was consecrated inthe village, probably to be rebuilt instone in 700AD and as early as 850AD the Manor House was built tohouse a Ministry of five clergy. By1066 Downton was a long establishedcommunity which gave its name to a‘Hundred’ stretching from Nunton toNomansland.

In the past employment was mainlyconnected with agriculture, TheTannery, a bacon factory, corn andpaper mills and small cottageindustries such as lace making andbasket weaving. Today, agriculture isless important. Manufacturing hasbeen sustained through thedevelopment of the business park,whilst a number of residentscommute to Salisbury, Southampton,Bournemouth and beyond.

Fairs were first recorded in Downtonin the 13th century when the Bishop

of Winchester claimed a Thursday market. In 1979 after abreak since the First World War the “Cuckoo Fair” wasestablished in its present form. It was called Cuckoo Fairbecause it was said by neighbouring villages that thecuckoo was released from its pen on Downton’s SpringFair day. The Fair is now held on the Saturday nearest toMay Day each year.

The Fair is run on a non-profit charitable basis byvolunteers from the village’s various clubs andorganisations. The objectives are to encourage art and craftand assist the provision of local leisure time activities inthe interest of social welfare. The Fair has over 250 craftand other stands and other attractions including aMaypole, street entertainmentand Punch and Judy.

In the centre of the village is aConservation Area whosecharacter is derived from anumber of features, notably: it’shistoric layout; the quantity,quality and variety of its historicbuilding; the consistent use oflocal building materials and

St Laurence’s ChurchSt Laurence’s Church

Memorial Cross

Cuckcoo FairCuckcoo Fair


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vernacular building styles; the landscape setting on thebanks of the Avon, open spaces and boundaries. TheConservation Area has two main parts; the older originalvillage around the High Street, St Laurence’s Church, theManor House and The Moot, and The Borough a ‘newtown’ built in the 13th Century on either side of the longGreens which were to be used for markets. An interestingindividual feature of some houses along The Borough isthe evidence of burgage tenure: numbers set in stone abovethe doors of properties where some tenants were given theright to vote one of two Downton burgesses to Parliament.

Wiltshire County Council designated the ConservationArea in 1973 after consultation with Salisbury DistrictCouncil and Downton Parish Council. Amendments to theboundary were made by the District Council in 1992.

An interesting individual feature ofsome houses along The Borough is

the evidence of burgage tenure:

The Pictures on the right were takenat the turn of the 20th Century Moot House

Lode Hill

High Street

Barford Lane

Mill Bridge

LandscapeSetting


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Landscape SettingDownton sits on the valley floor ofthe River Avon. Flanked by ancientwater meadows, it is enclosed to eastand west by a range of hills fromwhich it is very visible as a neatgrouping of generally small housesaround a few large buildings such asthe churches, the tannery buildingand schools.

Particularly noteworthy is the way itis enveloped by trees and hedges andsurrounded by fields giving it a ruralrather than urban look. To the westof the village lies the easternboundary of the Cranborne Chaseand West Wiltshire Downs Area ofOutstanding Natural Beauty. To thesouth and south-west, lies the NewForest Heritage Area which is likelyto become a National Park.

There are many views of this widerlandscape from within the village,including those north and west fromthe Moot, west from St Laurence’sChurch, from the fields north ofHamilton Park, and indeed there areglimpses of downland east and westfrom along the Borough.

The River Avon and its associatedwatercourses is an essentiallandscape feature of Downton, alongwith the river’s internationalimportance as a wildlife habitat beingrecognised through its designation asa Site of Special Scientific Interest anda candidate Special Area ofConservation. The River Avonenters the village from the north

through extensive watermeadows.The meadows were originally laidout in the 17th Century to developdairy farming and the extensiveirrigation system is still clearly visiblealthough largely disused. Thesemeadows are essential to the settingof the village and provide good viewsacross and out of the village.

In addition to the agricultural landwhich surrounds and in places entersthe village, there are a number ofopen spaces within the settlement.Of particular interest and importanceis The Moot, a scheduled AncientMonument and 18th centurylandscape garden superimposed on atwelfth century Mott and BaileyCastle. This public garden is anattractive feature, containing manygood trees. From the highest points,excellent views are available over thevillage.

The River Avon recognised through itsdesignation as a Site of Special

Scientific Interest.


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Guidelines

1. Views into and out of the villageshould be retained and the opportunitytaken to improve or create additionalviews where possible.

2. Any extension of the existing builtedge boundaries should maintain thegrouping of the village and its settingin the wider landscape, and present awell designed frontage to thecountryside.

3. The River Avon and its extensiveirrigation system should be respectedand considered in the design of newdevelopment. The opportunity shouldalso be taken to create additionalpublic access to the riverbanks wherepracticable.

4. The conservation and management ofexisting water features should beencouraged.

The Moot, a scheduled AncientMonument and 18th centurylandscape garden

These meadows are essential to thesetting of the village and providegood views across and out of the

village.

SettlementPattern


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Settlement PatternIn the east, the original settlement of Downtondeveloped from a Saxon community centred on theenclosed High Street, the Manor House, St Laurence’sChurch and The Moot. The High Street’s character is ofmainly terraced houses hugging the back of pavementson either side of the street and dominated at the westernend by The Tannery building. The ending of the tanningindustry in 1999 rendered the building redundant. Newproposals for the re-use of this site, including newdevelopment provide the opportunity for anenhancement of this part of the village. A 19th centurywater wheel by the river is an attractive feature of thissite.

The Borough, which was developed by Peter des Roches,Bishop of Winchester in the early 13th century remainsone of Downton’s most distinctive features and is a nearperfect impressive example of medieval town planning.It is characterised by an unusually wide street and stillmaintains its village greens along most of its length. The majority of dwellings are terraced or semi-detachedand are typically constructed of red brick, althoughrender is also well used. Many are timber framed andhave retained their thatched roofs, while others areroofed in slate or tile. Traditionally the housing is set atthe back of pavement, without front gardens, producinga tight knit streetscape.

The western end of The Borough remains relativelyunscathed by modern development, with new limitedinfill development generally in sympathetic styles andmaterials. The centre of the Borough has suffered from20th century rebuild amongst the older listed buildings.Much of this 1960s development is unsympathetic,comprising modern single storey houses set back fromthe road, large glass windows in shop fronts and the useof artificial or foreign materials. Although these moderndevelopments do detract from the older buildings alongThe Borough, its overall character is retained.

Further post war development of modern houses andbungalows at either end of the village has doubled thesize of Downton. At the south-eastern edge of the villageis a substantial development of local authority housingdating from the 1950s and 1960s which reflects very fewof the original village characteristics. On the north-eastern edge is more modern development, some ofwhich reflects more traditional characteristics such assmall dormers, suspended porches and more sympatheticmaterials. The majority of new development at thewestern end of the village, to the rear of propertiesfronting the A338, is standard modern contemporarydevelopment of the 1960s and 1970s, which bears littleresemblance to the historical village core.

The main employment area in Downton today is at thebusiness park at the west end of the village. Set on thenorthern edge of the village, off the A338 Salisbury Roadthe area has gradually been developing since the 1950s

Guidelines

1. New development should respect theexisting settlement’s patterns,contribute to the character of thevillage and, where appropriate,incorporate its own open space.

2. The overall roofscape, tree and greenspace pattern should be retained.

3. Urban sprawl is consideredinappropriate for Downton. Futuredevelopment should avoid largesingle sites grafted onto the outsideof the village as has occurred in thepast. As such encouragement will begiven to new development which ismodest in scale, which continues thesense of evolutionary growth andreflects the character and variety ofthe village.

4. Infilling and new developmentsshould follow the line of existingroads and buildings.

Rooftop view of Tannery BuildingRooftop view of Tannery Building

Business ParkBusiness Park


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and includes manufacturing, warehousing anddistribution companies, and service industries. Thedesigns of the different units reflect the changes inconstruction methods over the years. Some olderbuildings have been replaced by modern architecturalstyles.

The village has a good range of amenities, includingchurches, schools, doctors, dentists, library, leisure centre,shops, pubs, garages, a bank, a chemist, and an optician.The primary school is a good example of a Board Schoolfounded after the Elementary Act of 1870. The nearbyParish of Redlynch helps to sustain many of theseamenities.

5. The appropriate redevelopment orre-use of disused buildings or siteswithin the built-up area of the villageis preferred to development ongreenfield sites.

6. Expansion of the business parkshould, as far as possible, bescreened from the A338 andresidential areas in Gravel Close,Long Close and on the SalisburyRoad by the planting of indigenoustrees and shrubs.

Downton Primary SchoolDownton Primary School

The BoroughThe Borough

High StreetHigh Street

Moot LaneMoot Lane

Mill BridgeMill Bridge

Open Spacesand

Landscape


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Open Spaces andLandscapesThe village contains a mixture of bothinformal and formal open space.The village greens of The Boroughare themselves a major open featurethrough the centre of the village.Mature and growing trees and othervegetation in private gardens, openspaces and within the widerlandscape add significantly to thecharacter and ambience of the village.In particular, the mature trees in thegarden of Fairfield House and in theMemorial Gardens form a significantfeature group in the centre of TheBorough.

The Moot offers a peaceful public area for informal use atthe eastern end of the village. The gardens provide anideal spot for walking, picnics, open air plays and concerts.

Formal recreation areas are to be found at the BrianWhitehead Sports Centre, Long Close Cricket ground, theMemorial Gardens and Moot Lane Recreation Ground. A recent addition to the village is the creation of theMillennium Green.

The Millennium Green is an area of over 10 acres ofwatermeadow criss-crossed with footpaths, which liesalongside the River Avon at the southern end of Downton.The land was purchased with funding from theMillennium Commission, the Parish Council and localresidents. A charitable trust made up on village residentspresently manages the green.

Guidelines

1. The retention of valued open spacesis essential to the overall character ofthe village. The opportunity shouldbe taken to provide new or improveexisting recreation land and facilities,especially in association with newdevelopment.

2. Landscaping and planting plansshould be prepared as part of anynew development proposals, andshould incorporate locally distinctiveand indigenous tree and shrubplanting, especially where adevelopment might intrude visually.

3. Wherever practicable existing treesand hedgerows, which contribute tothe village character, should bepreserved and protected.


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4. The conversion of buildings orextensions to existing buildingsshould retain existing walls, naturalboundary features and plantingwherever possible.

Memorial Gardens in the centre ofThe Borough.

Moot LaneRecreation Ground

Buildings &Materials


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Buildings and MaterialsIn Downton every period from the 14th centuryis represented. Certain features blend and unifythese varied styles. The majority of thedwellings within the Conservation Area areterraced or semi-detached, although most areclearly identifiable as individual homes evenwhere they form a terrace. Most houses are oftwo storeys and front onto the road servingthem, with gardens to the rear.

The village contains over 85 listed buildings,including the Grade 1 listed Church of StLaurence, Moot House and the Manor House.Visible from many points within the village, thechurch is an important landmark. Other publicbuildings of note in Downton are the primaryschool in Gravel Close, the neo-classicalMemorial Hall, the Kings Arms and White HorsePublic Houses which date from the 15th century,and the Bull Public House. The High Streetcontains a number of listed shops, some with19th century shop fronts.

The predominant building material is brick,traditionally of local mellowed red brick,although render is also used. In buildingsconstructed in the sixties and seventies however,foreign bricks, reconstituted stone and otherforms of cladding have been used withunsympathetic results.

The roofs are predominantly tile and slate,although some cottages have retained theirthatched roofs. Gabled roofs are common. Roofpitches are usually set at about 45 degrees with afairly low eaves height. The mix of materials androof heights contributes towards the variety ofthe street scene.

Most doors and windows are in keeping with theperiod of the house’s construction and are

Guidelines

1. New housing should generally be of asimple 2 storey design reflecting thetraditional linear style of existingproperties in the village, and be basedon the scale, particularly roof andeaves height and pattern of existingbuildings of quality

2. Future development should takeaccount of the variety andindividuality of housing design thatgives the village its harmonious andmature look. The use of developers’standard designs, which createuniform suburban development,should be avoided.

3. The use of unnatural or alien buildingmaterials is to be discouraged, inparticular the use of reconstitutedstone cladding. Bricks shouldharmonise with the traditional localred brick.

4. Modern contemporary, vernacularbuilding materials and methods maybe acceptable where they aredesigned to blend both in materialsand in proportion with surroundingbuildings.

5. Extensions and alterations to housesshould use quality materials andcomponents that match or blend withthe existing construction andadjoining properties.


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predominantly of timber. Sash windows arecommon. Traditional dormer windows areapparent throughout the village, but they tendto be small and subservient to other features.Doors are traditionally wooden, mainly of solidconstruction, although simple fanlights are alsoused. A number of properties have interestingwooden door surrounds and the use of simplesuspended porches is common.

Chimneys are usually brick. Interestingexamples are found on the cottages alongWaterside and the building on the corner of theHigh Street and Barford Lane. Recentdevelopment has in some cases incorporatedchimneys, which adds to its character.

Some 20th century development has beenunsympathetic in terms of design and use ofmaterials and consequently much of thisdevelopment does not blend well with the olderbuildings.

6. Roofs should generally be coveredwith slates, tiles or thatch and be aminimum of 45 degree pitch,depending on the type of covering tobe used. Variety in roof heights,pitches and materials should beencouraged, especially where anumber of dwellings are to be builttogether.

7. Gables are preferable to hipped roofs.

8. Dormer windows should be small withpitched roofs.

9. Chimneys should be incorporated intoall new development with theopportunity taken to incorporateinteresting designs where appropriate.

10. Local characteristics such ascantilevered porches, brick stacks andsash windows are to be encouraged.

11. Developers should provide accurateelevations which show new proposalsin relation to existing adjoiningproperties and the wider village context.

12. Joinery should generally be of atraditional design and proportional tothe property. Lintels should beincorporated as functional anddecorative architectural features. UPVCwindows and doors should be activelydiscouraged on front elevations.

13. Boundary treatments should usetraditional materials appropriate to thelocality such as brick walls, railings, lowpaling fencing or hedges.

14. Any development of affordable housingshould conform to the generalstandards of design and materials.

Gabled RoofsGabled Roofs

Small Dorma WindowsSmall Dorma Windows

Chimney DetailChimney Detail

Roads &Traffic

Management


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Roads and Traffic Management

The western end of the village is affected by thebusy A338 Salisbury-Bournemouth road.Branching east off this, at the traffic lights, is theB3080 leading through the historic centre of thevillage towards the New Forest. The effect ofthrough traffic has been a local concern for sometime, although a number of recent measureshave helped. This includes road narrowingtogether with traffic priority measures.

The minor roads running off the High Street,The Borough and the A338 are generallyunaffected by through traffic, althoughcongestion occurs in places due to narrow roadsand on-street parking. A number of the olderlanes such as Barford Lane and South Lane haveno pavements. In contrast, many of thedevelopments of the last 40 years have widetarmac pavements with concrete kerbs.

Although pedestrian and cycle links existbetween certain parts of the village, due to therivers which flow through Downton, all trafficconverges at the pinch points created by the 3crossing points of the river and its tributaries.

Modern developments have tended to be car-dominated, in some cases with prominentgarage blocks. Newer developments have tosome extent been an advance on this, althoughthere is still scope for further improvement.

Guidelines

1. The local highway authority should beencouraged to introduce appropriatemeasures to minimise additional trafficin Downton, particularly through traffic.

2. Developers should avoid cul-de-sacswherever possible, and seek to formlinking roads to encourage socialintegration and cohesion and reducethe length of car journeys.Pedestrian/cycle links should beprovided to existing areas or roads.

3. Garaging or off-street parking shouldbe provided for in new developmentand, where appropriate, be located atthe rear of the property.

4. The local highway authority should beencouraged to apply flexibility tohighway guidelines to avoid changingthe rural character of the village by theurbanisation of minor roads and newdevelopments by using inappropriatestandards and materials.

5. Large visibility splays, obtrusive signs,excessive road markings, concretecurbs and unnecessarily widepavements should be avoided.

A338A338

The BoroughThe Borough

Traffic CalmingTraffic Calming

Streetscape


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StreetscapeDownton possesses a particularly attractivevaried streetscape. In The Borough, the road isstraight and wide with attractive greens downthe centre. Buildings are, on the whole, of aconsistent scale, and many older buildings formattractive groups, within a formal plannedlayout. The High Street is more informal andgradually climbs up towards Lode Hill althoughbuildings remain close knit. Two parts of thevillage have recently been enhanced with newsympathetic materials and street furniture; thebottom of the High Street and by the WhiteHorse Public House. A traditional red telephonekiosk still remains in the High Street.

Modern street furniture in places detracts fromthe street scene, including overhead poles andcables, street lighting and wide tarmacpavements. Although it is accepted that some ofthis is a necessary requirement, there is potentialfor this to be improved in association with theresponsible agencies.

The Borough Cross, a Listed 14th century cross isa feature in the centre of The Borough. Recentenhancement work has improved the setting ofthis feature, removing parked cars from itsimmediate setting.

Use of railings and occasional walls contributestowards the streetscene. For example, therailings which front the Memorial Gardens, thebridges over the River Avon and the Millrace,and the cast iron gates of Moot House.

Guidelines

1. The relevant agencies should beencouraged to underground utilityservices in order to reduce thenumber of poles and overhead cables.

2. The opportunity should be taken whenit arises, to replace any existingunsuitable street furniture andsignage with a style more appropriateto the character of the village.Similarly, new street furniture inassociation with new developmentshould be of an appropriate design tosuit its rural location.

High Street Looking westHigh Street Looking west

Map Key


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Conservation AreaDownton Conservation Area was designated in May 1973 andamended in August 1992. The character of the conservation areais derived from a number of features, notably: it’s historiclayout; the quantity, quality and variety of its historic buildings;the consistent use of local building materials and vernacularbuilding styles; the landscape setting on the banks of the Avon,open spaces and boundaries.

The MootThe Moot is an 8 acre historic garden, listed Grade II* stretchingfrom opposite Moot House down to the eastern bank of theRiver Avon. The Moot is one of the largest ring work andbailey castles in England and in 1725 the earthworks wereoverlaid with landscaped gardens for Moot House. This publicgarden is an attractive feature and contains many good trees.From the highest points there are excellent views across thevillage to the downland beyond.

Moot HouseMoot House is an attractive Grade I listed large detached brickhouse. It was constructed around 1650 although the interior ofthe house is largely 20th century, reconstructed after a fire in1923.

SchoolsThe Primary School (Grade II listed) is a good unalteredexample of a Board School founded after the ElementaryEducation Act of 1870. It dates from 1895. Downton SecondarySchool provides education for children up to age 16 from bothDownton and neighbouring villages.

ChurchThe Church of St Laurence is a substantial prominent cruciformchurch set back off the High Street up a side street calledChurch Hatch. It is a fine Grade I listed building with a navedating from the 11th century. The Church is surrounded by anattractive churchyard that contains a listed 14th centurylimestone cross, 17 listed (Grade II) limestone chest tombs andan attractive late 19th century lychgate with flint and limestonewalling and fine carved panels and bargeboards.

River Avon & Water MeadowsThe River Avon is an essential landscape feature of the village.It enters Downton from the north through extensivewatermeadows which were laid out in the 17th century by SirJoseph Ashe to develop dairy farming. The extensive irrigationsystem is still clearly visible although the meadows have nowreverted to dry pasture and are largely disused. These meadowsare essential to the setting of the village and provide good viewsacross and out of the conservation area.

Public Open SpacesIn addition to the greens running through the centre of theBorough and the extensive watermeadows, there are a number ofother undeveloped open spaces within the village. These provideboth formal play facilities and informal areas of recreation, andinclude the Memorial Gardens, Long Close Park (cricket ground),Moot Lane Recreation Ground and The Moot.

The BoroughIn the early 13th century Downton was enlarged by Peter desRoches, Bishop of Winchester, into a ‘new town’ by the additionof a long wide street continuing on from the High Street. This isnow known as ‘The Borough’ although it was previously called‘New Market’ and is a near perfect impressive example ofmedieval town planning. It boasts an unusually wide street andstill retains its greens running down the centre. This section ofthe village assists greatly in giving Downton its unique character.

High StreetThe High Street itself contains a mixture of small brick and tiledterraced cottages and larger houses, together a number of shops,some with 19th century shopfronts. At the foot of the High Streetstands the old Tannery building which, due to its size, dominatesthe southern end of the High Street. Although a long establishedtrade in the village, tanning ceased in 1999 and the building isnow being converted for residential use. The cottages alongWaterside also enhance the character of this part of the village.They are Elizabethan in style with impressive chimneys.

Downton Business ParkThe main employment area for Downton is the west end of thevillage. Set on the northern edge of the village, off the A338Salisbury Road the area has gradually been developing since the1950s and includes manufacturing, warehousing and distributioncompanies, and service industries. The designs of the differentunits reflect the changes in construction methods over the years.Some older buildings have been replaced by modernarchitectural styles.

A338The A338 is the main road linking Bournemouth with Salisburyand beyond. Traffic lights control the junction of the A338 withThe Borough.

B3080Running east from the A338, the B3080 passes through thehistoric centre of the village towards the New Forest. Recenttraffic priority measures at the eastern end of The Borough assistin controlling through traffic.

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