Lyndhurst, Swan Green and Bank character appraisal

Lyndhurst, Swan Green and Bank Conservation Area Character Appraisals

About the character appraisals

The landscape of the New Forest National Park is unique. It is a living working remnant of medieval England with a sense of continuity, tradition and history. It is not the survival of just one special quality but a whole range of features that bring a sense of continuity and integrity.

Where there are areas of special historic and architectural interest the Authority has the opportunity to designate these as conservation areas.

Every area has its own distinctive character made up from topography, historic development, current uses and features, buildings, paths and lanes, hedges, trees, place names. Understanding and appreciating an area’s character, including its social and economic background, and the way these factors have shaped the place should be the starting point for both its management and its future. This is the purpose of this document.

Each character appraisal considers:

• The location and setting of the area
• Historic development
• The character of the area in detail
• Building materials and details
• The contribution of the natural environment

This document is for:

• Anyone who is interested in finding out about the areas
• Anyone proposing to carry out work in the areas
• Organisations responsible for any aspect of management of the areas
• Our partner organisations, who help deliver National Park purposes through their work
• Members and staff of the National Park Authority

How to contact us

We would welcome your views and comments on this document and any other matter affecting the conservation areas.

Please write to:

New Forest National Park Authority
South Efford House, Milford Road
Everton, Lymington
Hampshire SO41 OJD

Direct Line: 01590 646600
Fax: 01590 646666
E-mail: enquiries@newforestnpa.gov.uk
Web: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk

Other formats: Contact us if you would like a copy of this document in another format such as large-print, Braille or any other language.

Lyndhurst

Executive summary

Lyndhurst is an area of historic landscape and settlement which has developed its unique character over the last one thousand years. In particular the presence of the Royal Hunting Lodge and Manor and their function as the administrative centre of the Royal Forest, was the catalyst for the early development of the settlement.

The settlement is surrounded by Forest and heathland and developed in its present form in the post-medieval period to service the Royal Manor and accompanying Forest activities. By the 18th century it had developed a wider role supplying the needs of the small country estates developing in the area and local villages and hamlets. The 19th and early 20th centuries were the main period of growth with the commercial area of High Street expanding and new residential estates being built. The settlement continued to service the local agricultural community as a commercial centre but became important for the whole of the New Forest as a centre for tourism.

The settlement is located at an important crossroads of the main routes east to west and north to south route across the Forest. Several minor roads also converge on the settlement.

The conservation area consists of a mixture of buildings of varying ages and styles, but is most notable for its brick buildings in particular the Queen’s House and the Parish Church. High Street is an eclectic mix of ages and architectural styles, but the unifying theme is the use of traditional materials particularly brick, tile and slate. The late Victorian and Edwardian residential areas are another important feature of the conservation area with their consistency of design, use of materials and their ‘garden city‘ plan form. Most of the buildings have survived remarkably intact, but there is recent unfortunate erosion of character in some parts of the area through the replacement of traditional windows with those made of PVCu.

Most of the built environment dates to a period before World War II with only a few small modern estates on the boundary of the conservation area. In the main these are low density developments sensitive to the more rural nature of the settlement.

The relationship between settlement and historic landscape is still evident in the way that the surrounding Forest and commons flow into the built environment. Trees, hedges and green open spaces are an important part of the character and even the more commercial areas are close to trees and open public spaces. The settlement has retained its village character rather than becoming a regional town.

Historically agriculture and woodland activities were important to the survival and development of the settlement, but today the economy is more widely based and it has become a commuter settlement for many people working outside the area.

The main problem affecting more tranquil and rural aspects of the settlement is the high volume of traffic passing through the centre particularly in summer as it is on a principal tourist route. However, the large car park in the centre of the commercial area is a vital element to the sustainability of the community and the presence of the New Forest Museum, library and Visitor Centre on the edge of the car park bring tourists and boosts the local economy.

Designation of the area as a conservation area seeks to ensure that the character and qualities of the area are preserved, that all new development respects the special character of the area and historic and architectural features are retained.

Swan Green

Executive summary

Swan Green is a small settlement which has developed its unique character over several hundred years. The plan form of the settlement and the historic landscape emerged largely in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is bounded by woodland to the west and north with Lyndhurst close to its boundary on the east and arable lands and former parkland to the south.

The historic buildings would suggest that the settlement developed from the 17th century onwards around the road junction, but it may have medieval origins. The centre of the settlement is the green with old houses on its eastern side facing on to it. The earlier buildings are constructed of a variety of traditional building materials including timber frame, cob and brick with roof coverings ranging of thatch, tile and slate.

The settlement would originally seem to have been involved in agricultural activities or services relating to local country houses. The public house dating back to the 18th century also served the needs of the traveller as well as the local community. Two of the buildings in the conservation area originated as lodges to the local country houses and parks of Cuffnells and Northerwood.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries a few more dwellings were built along the main road frontage towards Lyndhurst. These were mainly constructed of brick with tile or slate roofs and are of a design and character which harmonises with the original settlement.

The green and the public house are important focal points in the settlement and trees, hedges and traditional fences enhance the rural character of the area.

Modern development is concentrated to a small estate to the northeast of the hamlet outside the conservation area and in a location which does not intrude on the character.

In the summer months the character of the area is at times dominated by queuing traffic trying to get through the neighbouring settlement of Lyndhurst. At other times it is a quiet tranquil rural area with the only activity centred on the public house or the cricket pitch on the green.

Designation of the area as a conservation area seeks to ensure that its character and qualities are preserved, that all new development respects the special character of the area and historic and architectural features are retained.

Bank

Executive summary

Bank is a small linear settlement which has developed its unique character over several hundred years. The development of the settlement has been influenced by the needs of country houses close by which had to be serviced and later the popularity of the area as a retreat for the wealthy. It is bounded by woodland or wood pasture except on the east where it abuts the arable lands and former parkland of the Cuffnells Estate.

The form of the hamlet would suggest that it developed from a dispersed linear pattern along a minor road, the oldest houses dating to the 17th century. During the 18th and 19th centuries plots in between the existing dwellings were infilled and a second area was developed encroaching onto the edge of the Forest to the west of the earlier settlement. Many of the houses in this new area were of a higher status and late in the 19th and early 20th century several large house were constructed to the north towards the main A35.

A variety of traditional materials are used in the construction of the houses and cottages. These include: timber frame, brick, thatch, tile and slate. A later high status building, Annesley, also featured the use of decorative rubbed brick.

The hamlet would originally seem to have been involved in woodland and agricultural activities and also serving the adjoining country houses and their estates. In the latter part of the 19th century the area attracted wealthy cultured owners who could afford to construct their country retreats with large gardens or landscaped grounds. The settlement therefore has an eclectic mix of former workers cottages and higher status buildings. Today the hamlet is a quiet back water with the public house being the only centre of activity.

The narrow lane on the east side of the settlement, hemmed in tightly by tall hedges, is an important aspect of the character of the area. It positively discourages through traffic, with most visitors not progressing further than the public house in the northern part of the settlement.

The adjacent woodland and wood pasture provide a backdrop to the settlement on its western side with the Forest lawns flowing into the built environment creating a series of small greens. To the east the strong hedged boundaries of adjoining agricultural land form a solid barrier to the edge of the hamlet.

Views in the conservation area are restricted due to the woodland, hedges and the curving narrow roads. However, where there are gaps to the east there are long distance panoramic views over the adjoining arable fields and former parkland with the church spire at Lyndhurst a focal point.

There is very little recent development in the settlement, the only new dwellings, set back behind tall hedges on the eastern side, do not intrude into the historic character.

Designation of the area as a conservation area seeks to ensure that the character and qualities of the area are preserved, that all new development respects the special character of the area and historic and architectural features are retained.

Contents (selected)

• Part 1 Introduction
• Part 2 Background
• Lyndhurst Conservation Area
  • Part 3 Context, Topography and landscape, Historic development, History, Areas of archaeological potential
  • Part 4 An appraisal of the conservation area — Key characteristics, Character areas (A–L)
  • Part 5 Materials, textures, colours and detailing
  • Part 6 The contribution of trees, open spaces and other landscape features
  • Part 7 Other issues affecting the conservation area
• Swan Green Conservation Area (Parts 3–7)
• Bank Conservation Area (Parts 3–7)
• Annexes: Maps, Glossary, References, Public consultation, CD mapping

Part 1 Introduction

1.1 In accordance with the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, for each conservation area in the New Forest National Park, a character appraisal has been prepared following guidelines produced by English Heritage and Central Government.

1.2 This character appraisal should be read in conjunction with New Forest National Park Authority planning policies. The appraisals have been produced to inform the designation of conservation areas covering Lyndhurst, Swan Green and Bank in the New Forest National Park. Designation of Lyndhurst and Bank took place on 16 October 2008. Swan Green was designated on 17 February 1999 and has not been altered subsequently. The appraisals will be used to guide future development within the conservation area.

1.3 The conservation area boundary is shown in Annex 1. A detailed set of maps is included on CD at Annex 6 which highlight character features in the conservation area.

Part 2 Background

2.1 Conservation areas are defined as “areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character and appearance of which it is desirable to preserve and enhance”. Conservation areas were introduced in the late 1960s as part of a wider recognition of the contribution made by areas of distinctive character. Although the merits of individual buildings had been recognised for many years, through the listing process, the value of good quality historic areas had not been formally acknowledged until that time.

2.2 Designation introduces control over the demolition of unlisted buildings and provides the basis for policies designed to preserve or enhance all the aspects of character or appearance that define an area’s special interest. It is the quality and interest of areas, rather than that of individual buildings, which should be the prime consideration in identifying conservation areas. Our experience of an historic area depends on much more than the quality of individual buildings. It also depends on the historic layout of property boundaries and thoroughfares, on a particular mix of uses, on characteristic materials, an appropriate scaling and detailing of contemporary buildings, on the quality of advertisements, shop fronts, street furniture and hard and soft surfaces, on vistas along streets and between buildings and on the extent to which traffic intrudes and limits pedestrian use of spaces between buildings. Conservation area designation should be seen as the means of recognising the importance of all these factors and of ensuring that conservation policy addresses the quality of the built environment in its broadest sense, as well as the protection of individual buildings.

2.3 The Authority has a duty to ensure that the character of the conservation area is preserved or enhanced, particularly when considering applications for development.

2.4 In order to do this it is important to understand what it is that gives the area its distinct and unique character. This character is derived from a number of factors including its historic development, landscape and topography, the style, type and form of the buildings, spaces between buildings, materials, textures, colours, detailing and less tangible aspects such as sounds, smells and general activity which can contribute to the special character of the area.

2.5 Local authorities are now encouraged to prepare character appraisals for their conservation areas to identify these special qualities and to highlight features of particular significance. By establishing what makes the conservation area special, the reasons for designation become clearer to those who live, work or propose to carry out development within it. The appraisals are intended as an overview, providing the framework within which individual planning applications can be assessed.

2.6 When determining applications the planning authority considers factors such as size, scale, materials and design in order to assess the likely impact of the proposed development on the character of the conservation area. The character appraisals have been written to work in conjunction with New Forest National Park Authority planning policies. The appraisals include text, maps and photographs, to pick out those features which contribute to the special character of the conservation area. It is not realistic to refer to every building or feature within the conservation area, but the omission of any part does not mean that it is without significance.

Part 3 Lyndhurst Conservation Area

3.1 Context

3.1.1 The conservation area includes the central area of Lyndhurst; Goose Green and Shrubbs Hill; Bolton’s Bench and its environs, including the cemetery and Appletree Court; parts of Queen’s Road and Princes Crescent; Forest Gardens; Gales Green; Race Course View, Pemberton Road and parts of Empress Road. It contains a conservation area which was first designated in 1977 and later revised in 1999.

3.1.2 The population of the parish of Lyndhurst is 3,023 (Hampshire County Council’s Small Area Population Forecasts). The economy of the settlement was formerly based on commercial enterprises in support of the regional agricultural community and the administration of the New Forest. Today the area is less reliant on servicing the surrounding rural community and is more focused on providing services to the tourism industry. It holds the administrative centre for the New Forest District Council at Appletree Court and continues its traditional role for the historic administration of the New Forest. Many residents commute to major centres such as Southampton and Bournemouth.

3.1.3 The area offers a range of community facilities, including a parish hall and community centre, public houses, churches, shops and schools.

3.2 Topography and landscape

3.2.1 The conservation area is located at the crossroads of the A337 from Cadnam in the north to Lymington in the south and the A35 from Southampton in the northeast to Christchurch and Bournemouth in the southwest.

3.2.2 The settlement is surrounded by the New Forest which has a diversity of landscapes, natural beauty and amenity value. The combination of heathland, mire and pasture woodland has a unique cultural identity and forms the largest remaining tract of this habitat type in lowland Europe. The conservation area lies towards the centre of this special landscape area where the dominant pattern of local biodiversity and vegetation reflects over a thousand years of encroachment and agricultural exploitation of the Forest edge.

3.2.3 The church and Queen’s House are on the highest point of the settlement with the land falling away to the south and east. The land rises gently to the northwest towards the central plateau of the Forest, whilst to the northeast, southeast, south and southwest are large areas of Forest and woodland. To the east, heathland is the dominant landscape and to the northwest is the mixed landscape of agricultural encroachment and dispersed settlements of the Minstead and Emery Down areas. The soil is loamy with a gravel sub-soil.

3.2.4 In 1905 the Victoria County History records the parish as covering 3,822 acres of which 67½ acres were arable land, 574 acres were permanent grass and 835 acres were woodland.

3.3 Historic development of the landscape

3.3.1 At the time of the Norman Conquest the immediate area around Lyndhurst was already under cultivation or pasture with small scattered settlements, small estates and manors. These included: the Manor of Lyndhurst itself, Coxlease (now Foxlease) and Gritnam, thought to be the Swan Green area.

3.3.2 The formation of the Royal Forest, through the enlargement of a pre-existing Saxon Royal Hunting Ground in the 1070s, affected the settlements and land usage in the area as they came under Forest law and Lyndhurst became the centre of administration of this law.

3.3.3 Lyndhurst would appear to be at the southern end of a central area which was under cultivation during the medieval period, this also included Minstead and Emery Down. To the southeast of the settlement there was a large medieval deer park with a bank and ditch park pale. This area is now mainly covered with the later woodland of the Denny Inclosure. The pattern of small irregular fields extended on all sides of the settlement and during the post-medieval period there is some evidence of further encroachment onto the commons and heathland. The principal roads of today seem to have had their origins in the medieval tracks across the centre of the Forest. The presence of the Royal Hunting Lodge and its popularity with the monarch in the medieval, Tudor and Stuart periods would have reduced the tendency seen elsewhere in the Forest for encroachment for uses other than hunting.

3.3.4 In the 18th century, the arable land around Lyndhurst was mainly absorbed into the parkland and estates of the country houses. To the south Foxlease House and its formal parkland, Wilverley House and park and in the southwest Cuffnells House and park were all fully developed by the end of the 18th century. To the northeast Northerwood House and park covered the area between Lyndhurst and Emery Down. In the 19th century, smaller houses and estates such as Custards, Homefield, Glasshayes, Vernalls and Brooklands encompassed most of the fields on the northeast and southeast of the settlement. The area to the east would seem to have remained as common and open heathland.

3.4 History of the settlement

3.4.1 The settlement of Lyndhurst would appear to have originated as an Anglo-Saxon Manor which by 980 had been granted to the Abbey of Amesbury in Wiltshire. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086 as “Linhest”. In a later document of 1165 it is referred to as “Lindeherst” and in 1196 as “Lindhurst”. The place name is derived from the Old English “Lindhyrst” meaning ‘lime wood’. This would suggest woodland of native lime trees in the area, but now there are hardly any limes at all due to soil impoverishment or wood-pasture effects in the Forest areas.

3.4.2 During the medieval period Lyndhurst became the administrative centre for the King’s Forest and it would appear that there was a Royal Hunting Lodge sited on what is now Queen’s House. There are numerous documentary references to visits by the King, but the Manor of Lyndhurst was historically generally granted to the Queen of the time.

3.4.3 Queen’s House was first documented in 1297 when an order was issued for “20 oaks to make laths for the use of the Queen’s Manor House at Lyndhurst”. Quite a number of state documents in the 14th century were written at Lyndhurst, suggesting the high frequency of royal visits. In 1388, a hall was built adjacent to the house and this later became the Verderers’ Hall. Queen’s House would appear to have been heavily reconstructed in the Tudor period and there was then much rebuilding undertaken between 1669 and 1674. The majority of the present building dates from this period.

3.4.4 The importance of the area as a royal hunting park can be seen from a number of documents from the medieval period and from an early date the park was attached to the Manor of Lyndhurst. In 1299 it covered an area of 500 acres and in 1313, it is referred to as “the close of Queen Margaret at Lyndhurst”. Later in the 14th century, the Sheriff of Southampton was ordered to provide the necessary transport for the work of inclosing the King’s Park at Lyndhurst and in 1358, John de Beauchamp was charged to “sell sufficient timber from the Park of Lyndhurst to defray the expense of making four lodges and ridings in the Forest”. In 1387 and 1428, payments were made “for the fencing and repairing of the palings of the King’s Park at Lyndhurst”. Early in the 17th century, mention is made in documents of certain arable land and woodland as being commonly called “The Old Park of Lyndhurst”. The Parish boundary today still follows a section of the original park pale earthwork to the southeast of the settlement.

3.4.5 There is little direct documentary information available relating to the development of the settlement of Lyndhurst. The information which is available would suggest that, from the medieval period until the mid-19th century, people living and working in the area were mainly engaged in jobs supporting the Forest or serving the King’s interest. The early 18th century accounts of ‘The Lord Warden of The Forest’ show the diversity of occupations from farming and wood crafts, to others working on Crown Property such as plumbers, glaziers, carpenters and smiths. The various visits to the Queen’s House by the Monarch, Lord Warden and their guests involved in hunting pursuits and demanded the use of other services such as domestic staff and traders to supply food stuffs and linen. It would appear that the settlement of Lyndhurst developed to service the management of the Forest and the King’s interests.

3.4.6 From the 17th century, the importance of managing timber supplies was recognised, particularly for supplying the navy, and many people were employed in the clearing of land and planting of woodland in the new inclosures. Stock rearing on the commons and open Forest also supported the householders and provided produce to sell.

3.4.7 There are some isolated 16th and 17th century timber framed buildings in the locality which were possibly small farms on the edge of the area. The main evidence for the settlement, however, is now the surviving 18th century buildings in High Street, particularly around the main road junction. It was not until the late 18th and early 19th centuries that the area became fashionable, with the construction of several small country houses on the periphery of the settlement. These were mainly used in the hunting season and required seasonal staff, produce and services which further boosted the development of Lyndhurst.

3.4.8 In 1847, the railway was constructed through the Forest, linking the towns of Southampton and Bournemouth, thus opening the Forest to all. The Crown, however, would not permit the construction of the rail track over the Crown Land to Lyndhurst. Consequently the village was never directly linked to the rail network. It says much for the strength of the community that the lack of rail connection did not inhibit its growth and prosperity.

3.4.9 Later in the 19th and early 20th centuries, a number of high status villas with large gardens were constructed, along with some small planned estates of semi-detached and detached houses.

3.4.10 High Street became the focus of commercial development during the 19th century and the Ordnance Survey map of 1870 shows the lower end of High Street to be well developed. The Trade Directory of 1859 portrays the settlement as a prosperous rural centre with a population of 1527 and the parish covering some 3,618 acres. The commercial profile of the settlement at this time was varied, with the usual shop keepers, including: bakers, grocers, an iron monger, draper and chemist; a number of these also doubled as agents for various fire and life insurance companies. There were service industries such as: builders, plumbers and glaziers, chair and basket maker, harness maker, coach builder, boot and shoe maker and three blacksmiths. Unusual trades for a small community included a file cutter, a clock and watch maker and a tea dealer. There were two brewers and a number of publicans and beer retailers, several of whom provided carrier services to Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole, Lymington, Salisbury and Southampton. An omnibus service was also provided to Lyndhurst Road station linking the settlement to the new railway network. There was a National School with a master and mistress, a Post Office with two deliveries a day, eight Officers of the New Forest, including: surveyors and rangers, two surgeons and 24 of the private residents were also considered to be worthy of individual mention.

3.4.11 Further evidence for the advanced nature of the community can be seen in its provision of schools for the education of its children. In 1725, two endowed schools were recorded in the parish of which one was for 24 girls who were “clothed yearly by Her Grace the Duchess Dowager of Bolton”. In 1787, William Philips left funds for a school and towards Baptist preaching. This school was attached to the Baptist church and was in use up to its closure in 1893. The Church of England School, which later became the National school, was started in 1817 in the King’s House and in 1849 moved to a purpose built school erected on the site of the former King’s stables. This school was later extended in 1881 and forms the basis of the present infant school. There was also a Plymouth Brethren School in existence in 1838, but this closed in 1879.

3.4.12 Leisure pursuits continued to be an important element in the local economy. The construction of small country houses in the 18th and 19th centuries was mainly to provide a seasonal base for the upper classes to pursue their hunting interests and encouraged the growth of local hunts. The Racecourse located between Romsey Road and Southampton Road, northeast of the settlement, was in existence in the 18th century and is shown on a map of 1789. Races ceased temporarily in the mid-19th century, but restarted in 1858 and, in 1871, a crowd of four to five thousand people attended the one day festival. By 1885, races had ceased and the festival became a sports day for mainly athletic activities. In 1922, the old race ground became the site of a pony fair, but after the Second World War the pony sales moved to the present location at Beaulieu Road. The race ground then became the site of a nine hole links-type golf course for the locals, replacing the former golf links adjacent to Bolton’s Bench. This has now developed into an 18 hole course with modern facilities.

3.4.13 Cricket has been played at the Bolton’s Bench ground since the early 19th century. In 1888, the present pavilion was constructed and by 1891 there were two clubs. The membership of one club was mainly made up of gentlemen and their staff from the large houses in the area, but this was disbanded when the country houses went into decline after the First World War.

3.5 Areas of archaeological potential

3.5.1 Most settlements contain archaeological evidence which helps to explain their origins and the way of life of former inhabitants. The likelihood of the occurrence of archaeological material is related specifically to previous and present land usage.

3.5.2 The traditional interpretation of the historic landscape is that, in the Bronze Age, large areas of primeval forest were cleared, exposing the poor soils of the Forest to erosion giving rise to areas of heathland. However recent research is showing that the picture is more complicated with land going into and out of cultivation at different periods. The better soils towards the coast and river valleys have continued to be cultivated and support settlement.

3.5.3 The creation of the Royal Forest in the 11th century further restricted land use and settlement patterns in part of the conservation area. It was only in the later medieval period that land on the fringes of the heathland began to be settled and exploited and surviving buildings in these areas today are mainly of 18th and 19th century date.

3.5.4 There are few recorded archaeological finds from Lyndhurst. There have been some stray medieval and post medieval pottery sherds found in building works. In the area around the settlement there are remains of Bronze Age barrows and evidence of exploitation of land in the prehistoric period.

3.5.5 Documentary evidence would suggest that the area on the high ground at the top of High Street around the church and Queen’s House should be seen as of high archaeological potential. This is the most likely site of the medieval manor and may well have pre-conquest origins.

3.5.6 The area around the junction of Romsey Road and High Street in the centre of the settlement may well have medieval origins. There are certainly post medieval and 18th century areas of occupation and it is the most likely site for the settlement which would have supported the Manor and the activities related to maintenance services for the Royal Forest. Any disturbance of the ground in this area would need careful monitoring as it has archaeological potential.

3.5.7 Race Course View and the Custards would appear to be an area of post medieval encroachment on the edge of the Forest. 18th century maps suggest a small number of dwellings and related paddocks had developed around a funnel from the arable fields leading onto the Forest. Again this is an area of archaeological potential.

3.5.8 Archaeological remains of any period could be found within the conservation area and any proposals to carry out works which include ground disturbance are likely to require an archaeological evaluation and assessment. This may conclude that development is inappropriate or needs to be modified.

Part 4 An appraisal of the conservation area

4.1 Key characteristics of the conservation area

• Consists of an historic core with 19th and 20th century developments.
• The majority of the historic development in the core of the settlement is one plot deep along High Street.
• More modern development is concentrated in small estates outside the conservation area.
• Most buildings in the core of the settlement are in commercial use, whilst those in the suburbs are in residential use.
• A number of higher status properties are dotted throughout the area and were associated with the Royal Manor or were later small country retreats or villas.
• There are 20 listed buildings or structures of which the Church of St Michael and All Angels is Grade I and Queen’s House is Grade II*. The remainder are listed Grade II.
• Included in the listed structures, are 17th and 18th century houses, 19th century shops and three public houses.
• 277 buildings have been identified as being of local, vernacular or cultural interest.
• A number of the late 19th and early 20th century shops were converted from earlier domestic properties.
• The older domestic properties in the historic core are two storey brick with tile roofs.
• Houses in the Victorian and Edwardian planned suburbs are generally constructed of brick with slate or tile roofs many with three storey gabled elements facing on to the road. A large number are detached or semi-detached villas.
• The late 19th and early 20th century shops in High Street are mainly three storeys high constructed of brick with tile or slate roofs and several are designed in a mock Tudor style with jetted upper storeys and elements of timber framing or applied timber decoration, simulating timber framing.
• In High Street a large number of early 20th century timber shop fronts survive.
• In the residential area boundaries to plots are formed by hedgerows, simple picket fencing or low brick walls.
• Key buildings: Church of St Michael and All Angels, Queen’s House, Elcombes House, Crown Hotel and buildings, Appletree Court, the Church of Our Lady and St Edward.
• Key open spaces: Gales Green, Goose Green, Queen’s House garden and Bolton’s Bench and its environs.

4.2 Character areas

4.2.1 Lyndhurst conservation area is divided into 12 character areas and these are described separately:

1. Gales Green and the Northern entrance to Lyndhurst (A)
2. Forest Gardens (B)
3. Victorian and Edwardian development on Romsey Road, Empress Road and Pemberton Road (C)
4. High Street (D)
5. Historic settlement core and dispersed adjacent development (E)
6. Central backland development (F)
7. Development on the eastern side of Shrubbs Hill Road (G)
8. Goose Green (H)
9. Appletree Court (I)
10. Bolton’s Bench and environs, including the cemetery, cricket ground and common edge encroachment (J)
11. Eastern entrance into High Street (K)
12. Victorian and Edwardian development on Southampton Road, Queen’s Road and Princes Crescent (L)

4.3 Gales Green and northern entrance into Lyndhurst (A)

4.3.1 This character area is formed by the small area of residential development, dating from the 17th to 20th century. It is located around a funnel from the Forest at the northern edge of the village, now the Romsey Road entrance and around Gales Green, slightly to the south. Buildings either face onto the former racecourse to the north or onto Gales Green and the main road.

4.3.2 The area is bordered by the open Forest to the north, by housing on the edge of Pikes Hill to the northwest, by character area B (Forest Gardens) to the west and immediate south and by the grounds of a hotel and the edge of Custards to the east.

4.3.3 The earliest buildings in the area are located on the east and west sides of Romsey Road at the gateway into Lyndhurst and date from the 17th and 18th centuries. Romsey Road appears to have been a late 18th century turnpike road through the Forest and is still a major commuter artery route from the A31 to the north. This area of settlement to the north of the village was originally satellite development, separated from Lyndhurst by open fields, with development gradually taking place southwards on either side of the funnel. 19th century development consolidated this trend, with houses constructed to the west of Gales Green and facing north onto the Forest and the former racecourse. Early 20th century development infilled empty plots and continued in a linear manner to the south and around Gales Green.

4.3.4 There are only a few instances of late 20th century development and these more modern buildings have generally not been constructed in traditional materials or used traditional architectural detailing so do not blend in well with the historic character of the area. Several of the historic buildings have had inappropriate extensions and alterations, which cumulatively are beginning to detract from the character of the area.

4.3.5 The key open space in the area is Gales Green. This forms the ‘v’ of the original funnel into the top of the village, which has become separated from the open Forest by development from the 17th century onwards, creating a contained village green at this point. Other significant open spaces include areas of wide verge at the southern end of Gales Green, where the open area has been encroached upon by a single dwelling, and to the north of the development along Racecourse View. These open spaces contrast with the predominantly dense nature of this northern part of the village of Lyndhurst.

4.3.6 Historic manmade boundary treatments to residential plots are a key part of the character of the street scene and include the use of picket fences, low brick and stone walls and decorative metal fencing. The manmade boundary treatments are often reinforced by the use of hedgerows to emphasise the boundary between the public and private realm. To the north of the narrow road serving Racecourse View, the boundary with the Forest is formed by a post and rail fence.

4.3.7 High modern close boarded fencing has unfortunately been used in prominent positions on the roadside which detracts from and does not preserve or enhance the special historic character of this area. Its future use should be avoided.

4.3.8 The use of hedges without a manmade boundary treatment is prevalent and is particularly prominent on the western side of Gales Green, emphasising the verdant nature of this area, in contrast to denser areas to the east. Mature trees create an important backdrop to the western edge of Gales Green and individual specimens are also in prominent locations in views in the street scene.

4.3.9 Views are gained throughout the area along the roads and across Gales Green, generally with prominent buildings creating an end stop. Longer distance views are allowed from Racecourse View across the open Forest to the north and along Romsey Road, out of the area to the north. The spire of St. Michael and All Angels Church is glimpsed in views south out of the character area, along Romsey Road.

4.3.10 There are no listed buildings, however, 21 unlisted buildings have been identified as being of local, vernacular or cultural interest, ranging from a 17th century timber framed cottage, 18th century higher status brick dwelling, to 19th century villas and early 20th century Arts and Crafts style houses. These buildings enhance the character area in which they are located, represent good local vernacular detailing and reflect the cultural history of the area.

4.3.11 Particularly notable buildings include a group on Racecourse View, extending into Romsey Road; 9 Romsey Road; Laura Cottage; Bullfigs, and Jervis Cottage; Little Hayes; and 31-41 Romsey Road.

4.3.12 The group of buildings in Racecourse View is mainly detached 19th and early 20th residential buildings or villas of various architectural styles and status. The most prominent is 1 Racecourse View, at the western end, which is in a fine Arts and Crafts style with two steeply gabled wings with full height bays and a central portion comprising a horizontal porch, connecting the end wings and a first floor window with tile hung smaller gable above, mirroring the steep pitch of the end gables. It has a prominent and high end chimney stack with decorative brick detailing to the upper third, which appears to have been historically raised, and a similar central stack. The windows are timber casements with wide mullions and leaded lights. The walls have late 19th century harling (or pebble dash) above a brick plinth and the roof is of clay tiles.

4.3.13 2, 5 and 8 Racecourse View, the hotel on the corner of Romsey Road and By the Green, all feature mock timber framing dating from the late 19th century. These similar buildings have narrow end on gables or equivalent full height bays within gables, with steeply pitched roofs. The hotel has a complicated roof profile consisting of a series of large and small gables facing on to the two road frontages. The roof is covered with clay tiles and has a decorative ridge. Several large chimney stacks survive creating further interest to the roofscape.

4.3.14 9 Romsey Road probably dates from the 17th century, as demonstrated by the visible timber framing with infill panels. The timber framing appears to be of poor quality, with slender dimensions, and has been altered at least twice in the past, as indicated by the framing on the end elevations.

4.3.15 Laura Cottage attached to By the Green is a fine late 18th century or early 19th century high status house, constructed of buff bricks with a hipped slate roof. The windows are timber vertical sashes, with six panes over six and the door is framed by a typical flat leaded roofed porch supported by slender columns.

4.3.16 Bullfigs and Jervis Cottage both lie on the western side of Gales Green. Bullfigs appears to have early 18th century origins and the original brick and thatched element was constructed end on to the Green, more typical of the Forest encroachment cottages of this era. A later 18th century higher status brick and tile addition to the rear, forms a frontage to the green. The full height bay windows to the southern elevation of the older part of the building are probably a late 19th century addition in the Arts and Crafts style. To the north of Bulfigs is Jervis cottage. There appears to have been a building on this site in the mid 19th century, however, the present building, or at least the visible elements, probably date from the late 19th or early 20th century and again has Arts and Crafts detailing. The leaded light windows are unusual in that there is a thin margin of leaded glass around the three wide by six high square individual quarries of glass. Both buildings are set back behind a wider area of grass verge and have substantial mature hedges to the frontage.

4.3.17 Little Hayes is a late 19th century detached dwelling, which has encroached on to the southern end of Gales Green. It has typical detailing of the period, with the ground floor in brickwork and the first floor and gables pebble-dashed. Window openings are generally with an arched head and are of various sizes.

4.3.18 31-41 Romsey Road date from the early 20th century, pre-First World War period, and represent the move towards the formal planned housing with large gardens of this era. The buildings make a strong and positive visual contribution to the area through their relatively unaltered appearance, the use of traditional materials and design, reflecting the earlier Victorian villa type architectural style, and through the continuing use of traditional boundary treatments to plots.

4.3.19 Sounds, smells and general activity also contribute to the character of conservation areas. Unfortunately this character area is completely dominated by the vehicular traffic using Romsey Road, particularly in summer, with traffic often queuing north back into the Forest when attempting to enter Lyndhurst. Quieter edge of Forest sounds, are heard particularly in the Racecourse View area.

4.4 Forest Gardens (B)

4.4.1 This character area is located on the north western edge of Lyndhurst. It comprises an early 20th century planned development of individual detached villas, on the western side of Romsey Road, entered via a wide access road leading to a central circular green planted with trees, onto which many of the houses face.

4.4.2 To the northeast is character area A, forming the northern entrance into Lyndhurst, to the south is an area of modern development, outside the conservation area, and the northern tip of character area E, formed by the infant school grounds. To the southeast is character area C, an area of formal Victorian and Edwardian planned development and to the west is the open parkland of Northerwood Park.

4.4.3 Forest Gardens was built on land which originally formed part of the parkland belonging to Northerwood Estate. Northerwood Estate was sold in the 1890s to Edward Festus Kelly, the famous publisher of the ‘Kelly’s’ trade directories. To quote W.H.Roger’s guide to the New Forest, published at the beginning of the 20th century, Kelly sold off part of his land ownership and allowed: ” the erection of a number of detached houses, making the area a beautiful miniature garden city called Forest Gardens”.

4.4.4 The development was designed around a wide entrance drive leading to a central circular green, planted with a clump of trees, within estate fencing. The houses are each individually architecturally designed, a number reflecting the Arts and Crafts ethos of the period. The sylvan character of the area has been reinforced by the generous use of hedge and tree planting.

4.4.5 Unfortunately, the purity of the garden city design has been destroyed in some areas by the infilling of some of the larger gardens with modern detached dwellings, few of which have any sympathetic detailing to the original essence of this development.

4.4.6 The open spaces within the development were ‘designed in’ and include the central circular planted area and wide verges on either side of private driveways.

4.4.7 Boundary treatments have unfortunately undergone some erosion with the use of modern close boarded fencing and inappropriately detailed modern boundary walls. However, in some areas, wide and high mature hedgerows create a softer boundary to the hard edge of the road and pavement.

4.4.8 Individual tree specimens are critical to the character of the area and are found both in prominent positions on the edge of the street and also provide a green backdrop to the edge of the area.

4.4.9 The spacious nature of the roadway into the development creates views through the area, with buildings obviously planned to be end tops, 11 being a particularly good example. There are also longer distance glimpsed views out of the area to the south to the spire of St Michael and All Angels church.

4.4.10 There are no listed buildings but 13 unlisted buildings have been identified as being of local, vernacular or cultural interest which are the original planned development of Forest Gardens. Each of these very different buildings enhances the area, shows good local vernacular detailing and reflects the cultural history of the area.

4.4.11 Forest Gardens is a fine unaltered example of Arts and Crafts design and detailing, including vernacular materials such as clay tile roof, tile hung gable, a timber framed gable, decorative aprons below the windows, small pane casement windows, pebble dash walls and a tile-formed semi-circular arch to the open porch.

4.4.12 Several of the other buildings within the Forest Gardens development have also survived relatively unaltered, including 7, 10 and 18. 7 is constructed of brick and glimpsed views to this building are of a clay tile roof with Arts and Crafts detailing to window openings, which contain leaded light casements. Of particular note at 10 is the decorative curved design glazing bars to the principle windows. 18 has a multiplicity of steeply pitched gables with mock timber framing, mullion and transom windows with leaded lights and rubbed brick arch over the former open ground floor porch.

4.4.13 The parish hall is located at the eastern end of Forest Gardens, on the northern side of the road and probably dates from the same period as the residential development. It is a low, single storey L-shaped building with a steeply pitched clay tile roof, pebble dashed walls with prominent buttresses and multi-paned timber casement windows. It is a typical design for the period and is set back from the road behind a landscaped open space, with picket fencing to the boundary.

4.4.14 Any future proposals for alteration of buildings in this planned development should be considered with particular care, to enable the garden city ethos and Arts and Crafts detailing to be retained and enhanced.

4.4.15 Sounds, smells and general activity also contribute to the historic character of conservation areas. Unlike many other parts of Lyndhurst that are dominated by vehicular traffic, sound and smell, Forest Gardens is located sufficiently distant from the main road to allow the quieter sounds of residential activity to pervade.

4.5 Victorian and Edwardian development on Romsey Road, Empress Road and Pemberton Road (C)

4.5.1 This character area contains an element of the original layout of Victorian and Edwardian planned dwellings in this northern part of Lyndhurst. It includes Empress Road, running east off the main Romsey Road, which traverses the area on a north south route on the western side. Pemberton Road is also included, this runs north south off the east end of Empress Road.

4.5.2 The area is bordered by part of an area of Lyndhurst known as Custards to the north, and Wellands Road to the south, both of which, although predominantly outside of the boundary of the conservation area, also include further Victorian and Edwardian planned development. To the west is an area of modern estate development and to the northwest lie character areas A and B. To the southwest lies character area D which incorporates the central part of the settlement of Lyndhurst.

4.5.3 This part of Lyndhurst developed at the end of the 19th century around a grid iron pattern of roads, some of which fall outside the boundary of the conservation area. Empress Road, Pemberton Road and predominantly the eastern side of Romsey Road are 19th century developments. The area retains much of its original layout and detailing and has only a little modern infilling or replacement development mainly at the southern end of Pemberton Road. The Church of Our Lady and St Edward (1896), with accompanying presbytery, sit at the eastern end of the area, off Empress Road. An anomaly in the area is 29 Romsey Road, which is part of the earlier sporadic development to the north of the village and which dates from the 17th century.

4.5.4 Due to the tight grid iron layout, there are no formal planned public open spaces, apart from in the immediate vicinity of the Church of Our Lady and St Edward and its presbytery. However, each of the dwellings in Empress Road and Pemberton Road retains a private front garden area, some of which have been altered to allow off-road parking. On Romsey Road, the dwellings to the southern end of the area have small private spaces to the frontage, however, those at the northern end, abut the pavement, creating a hard edge to the public realm due to past single storey extensions to the fronts of buildings.

4.5.5 Traditional boundary treatments prevail, including hedges, brick walls and a few instances of picket fencing and metal fencing. However, there is an unfortunate trend towards the use of modern close boarded fencing, which is beginning to change and adversely impact upon the Victorian/Edwardian character of the area, which is typified by low manmade boundaries or by the use of softer hedgerow.

4.5.6 There are several large mature tree specimens in the area, specifically at the eastern end of Empress Road, providing height and structure to the street scene, mirroring the spire to the church. Trees line the eastern boundary to Springfields on the edge of Pemberton Road and mature trees provide a backdrop and immediate setting to Burwood Lodge, the single detached late 19th century building on the western side of Romsey Road. The western boundary of the area, along Romsey Road below Burwood Lodge is characterised by an impenetrable barrier of tall mature trees, which is in stark contrast to the urban character of the eastern side of Romsey Road.

4.5.7 Views are gained along the roads. Significant views are east along Empress Road to the spire of the Church of Our Lady and St Edward; west along Empress Road to Burwood Lodge, as an end stop; north along Romsey Road to number 29, which forms a pinch point in the street scene and as the road curves, several of the buildings on the eastern side of Romsey Road become more prominent. There is only one longer distance view to the southwest, between Burwood Lodge and the substantial tree screen on the western side of Romsey Road, to the church spire of St. Michael and All Angels.

4.5.8 There are two Grade II listed buildings, the Church of Our Lady and St Edward and 29 Romsey Road. Both buildings are very different, dating from the late 19th century and the 17th century respectively, and represent the historic development of this area north of the original village centre.

4.5.9 The Church of Our Lady and St Edward dates from 1896 and was designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield. It consists of a nave, chancel, lady chapel, northwest porch and tower and is constructed of squared rough-faced Purbeck stone with Chilmark stone dressings and a plain tile roof. The tower is octagonal in form, with a bell stage with pointed louvered openings on each face and a shingled spire above. The spire is a prominent feature in the street scene and the wider local area, as one of the tallest manmade structures. Linked to the church is the presbytery, the priest’s house, which is typical of the late 19th century, with decorative tile hanging to the first floor, large stone mullion and transom windows to the ground floor and steeply pitched tiled roofs with gables.

4.5.10 29 Romsey Road dates from the 17th century and is a timber framed building with brick infill and has a thatched roof, catslide to the rear, with a heavy modern block cut ridge. The front elevation, which faces south, is symmetrical, and has a central door with hipped thatched porch. This building sits end on to the neighbouring roadside, typical of earlier buildings in the Forest. This is one of the earliest buildings along Romsey Road and is prominent in views when travelling north.

4.5.11 50 unlisted buildings have been identified as being of local, vernacular or cultural interest, dating from the late 19th century and early 20th century.

4.5.12 Many of these buildings retain their original vernacular detailing, such as unpainted brick, tile hanging (some decorative), pebble dash to elevations, steeply pitched roofs with gables, slate and clay tile roofs, mock timber framing to gables and appropriately detailed fenestration.

4.6 High Street (D)

4.6.1 This character area is formed by the dense built up linear mainly commercial development on either side of High Street.

4.6.2 The area is bordered by the central back land development within F to the south, the historic development within character area E to the west, the Victorian and Edwardian development in C to the north and the spacious open street scene of character area K to the east. To the north is an area of Victorian and Edwardian development and to the southeast is an area of modern development on Gosport Lane, both of which lie outside the conservation area boundary.

4.6.3 Buildings date from the 18th century through to the 20th century. Up to the middle of the 19th century, the majority of the buildings appear to have been domestic in origin or public houses and hotels. From the middle of the 19th century, a number of the houses were converted into shops with accommodation above and towards the end of the 19th century, a number of purpose built shops were constructed, either as replacements or to fill gaps in the street.

4.6.4 The earlier development appears to have been concentrated at the upper end of High Street in the vicinity of the road junction with Romsey Road, spreading gradually to the east down High Street. The buildings beyond the Gosport Lane junction with High Street were mainly constructed at the end of the 19th century and into the early 20th century.

4.6.5 A number of shop windows and some domestic frontages were remodelled in the first quarter of the 20th century and retain distinctive shop fronts.

4.6.6 The developing prosperity of the settlement as a service centre for both the local villages and as a centre for tourism encouraged the building of several banks from the beginning of the 20th century onwards. These were purpose designed and prestigious in their architectural detailing. The popularity for tourism also resulted in the rebuilding or extending of the old coaching inns to service this rapidly developing industry.

4.6.7 Modern development is limited to isolated instances of replacement buildings in the 19th century street scene and extensions or alterations to earlier buildings. Unfortunately, modern replacement development, such as that at 43-47 High Street, has occurred with little reference to traditional shop frontages found elsewhere on High Street. In contrast, 49, also a modern shop, has attempted to blend in with the adjacent more historic buildings with a sympathetic smaller scale shop front, but the first floor detailing and above has not achieved the same objective.

4.6.8 The original 19th century High Street would have been devoid of hard landscaping, with no delineation between pavement and highway. The current hard landscaping is a typical modern approach to segregating the motor car and pedestrian, although some attempt has been made to provide sympathetic modern materials for the pavement. No historic street furniture or lighting survives and modern examples generally do not reflect the historic character of High Street. The most intrusive elements in the street scene are the strident double yellow lines and multiplicity of road signs, both of which detract from the historic character of the area through their clutter.

4.6.9 There are very few public open spaces, limited to the wider pavement to the front of the Fox and Hounds public house and the larger open hard landscaped area to the front of Mailmans Arms and Meridien Garage. These areas are in contrast to the narrower elements of the street scene, enclosed by two and three storey buildings to the rear of the pavement.

4.6.10 Due to the built up nature of the area and the fact that buildings are located directly to the rear of the pavement, there are no boundary treatments of note.

4.6.11 There are few significant trees and hedgerows in the area. Trees however, form a backdrop to the rear of buildings at the south-western end of High Street, but are only visible in views into the area from Church Lane and the car park to the south or between buildings from High Street.

4.6.12 Views are restricted by the enclosed nature of High Street and in turn restricted by the slightly curving nature of the street. Several buildings, therefore, become prominent end stops or pinch points in views.

4.6.13 There are only a couple of instances of views being gained outside the area, limited to road junctions, the boundary of the area at either end of High Street and in Romsey Road and to the north, at the rear of Meridien garage.

4.6.14 There are six Grade II listed buildings, Crown Hotel, Stag Hotel, 16 (the former Butchers), No 22 the Fox and Hounds public house and 24. The fact that three of the listed buildings are public houses refers back to the early 18th century development of the centre of Lyndhurst.

4.6.15 Crown Hotel is a huge building of five bays in length to the roadside, dating from 1896, a replacement of any earlier hotel building on this site. It is located at the western entrance into High Street, opposite the Church and is a prominent building in the street scene. It is constructed in a Domestic Revival style and is a two and a half storey brick building with stone dressings to the ground floor, tile hanging to the first floor and timber frame infill to the gables and a plain tile roof. This style of multiple steeply pitched gables facing on to the road is reflected throughout the area and the wider conservation area, creating a varied and interesting skyline.

4.6.16 Stag hotel is located towards the eastern end of High Street on the northern side of the road. It dates from 1907 and again replaces a former hotel building on the site. The hotel is a three storey and two and a half storey building, constructed of brick with a clay tile roof. It has a typical heavy and ornate pub frontage of the period, with decorative doorway, etched glazed window and leaded lights within classical column detailed windows.

4.6.17 The Fox and Hounds public house is located on the southern side of High Street in the vicinity of the junction with Romsey Road. It is an 18th century building, constructed as a coaching inn, with a 19th century extension to the east and has surviving outbuildings to the rear. It is constructed of painted brick and has a plain tile roof. The original two storey 18th century element of the building retains the entrance to the coach yard behind at ground floor (now with double timber doors) and has twelve pane timber vertical sash windows over at first floor and sixteen pane timber vertical sash windows adjacent at ground floor. The later 19th century addition to the east has a 20th century flat roofed ground floor projection, but both elements reflect the detailing of the original 18th century part of the building.

4.6.18 16 High Street was built as a shop with accommodation in the mid 19th century and was formerly known as John Strange, the butchers. The building is constructed of brick with painted stucco detail and has a slate roof. It is particularly notable for the first floor balcony on cast-iron brackets with railings, which have stars on top of the uprights and decorative iron infill panels. This is a prominent building in the street scene when travelling from the west and the north as it is opposite the junction with Romsey Road.

4.6.19 20 High Street dates from the late 18th century and was formerly a large house, now with an early 20th century shop front in the left hand side of the front façade. It is constructed of rendered brick, with a slate roof, with a frieze and cornice at the eaves. It has original 18th century sash boxes to the replacement 19th century larger pane timber vertical sash windows and the pedimented doorcase has a 6 panel door. The early 20th century shop front is a rare survival in such a commercial street scene.

4.6.20 Similarly, 24 High Street was formerly constructed as a late 18th century house, altered in the 19th century with the addition of a full height bay to the eastern side of the front façade, and had a shop front added to the western side of the front in the 20th century. The building retains its 18th century origins in the steeply pitched clay tile roof, six over six pane timber vertical sash window to the right hand side of the first floor and the central ground floor doorcase of columns supporting full entablature and pediments with a six panel door. These buildings show the commercial pressure to convert dwellings to business premises in the early 20th century to service the burgeoning tourist trade.

4.6.21 In addition, 70 unlisted buildings have been identified as being of local, vernacular or cultural interest, ranging from late 18th century former dwellings, to 19th and early 20th century purpose built shops with accommodation over. Many of these buildings are located in small groups throughout this linear area.

4.6.22 The appraisal continues with detailed descriptions of groups and individual buildings on the north and south sides of High Street, the banks, shops, former inns and public spaces, noting surviving period shop fronts, detailing, materials, decorative features and modern intrusions. The character of High Street is dominated by vehicular traffic and by the mixed commercial and tourist functions of the area, with surviving historic fabric nonetheless providing significant interest and value.

Parts 4.7–4.14 (summarised)

The appraisal continues through the remaining Lyndhurst character areas (E–L): historic settlement core, central backland development, Shrubbs Hill Road development, Goose Green, Appletree Court, Bolton’s Bench and environs, the eastern entrance into High Street and the Victorian and Edwardian development on Southampton Road, Queen’s Road and Princes Crescent. Each area is described in terms of its layout, character, important buildings (listed and unlisted), boundary treatments, trees and hedgerows, open spaces, views, archaeological potential and issues such as traffic and modern intrusions. Key buildings mentioned include Queen’s House, Elcombes, the parish church of St Michael and All Angels, the cemetery and tomb chests, Appletree Court and numerous villas, shops and pubs along High Street.

Part 5 Materials, textures, colours and detailing

5.1 Introduction

5.1.1 By necessity, builders in the past used materials which were available locally, such as timber, cob and thatch. The historic buildings display traditional construction techniques. With improved transport and more advanced manufacturing techniques in the 18th and 19th centuries, a wider choice of materials such as clay roof tiles, Welsh roof slates and local hand made bricks became available to builders.

5.1.2 Before carrying out any repairs or considering extending or altering historic buildings within the area, whether listed or not, the original method of construction should be studied, understood and followed to preserve the historic fabric and character of these important vernacular buildings.

5.2 Walls

5.2.1 There are a few examples of 17th century properties constructed using timber framing with a variety of materials used for the infill panels, including wattle and daub and brick. However, it was very fashionable at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries to use timber framing as a decorative element on gables and first floor elevations. In many cases this is not a true structural timber frame, but simply applied timber decoration. The majority of buildings surviving from the 18th and 19th centuries were constructed in brick with some of them having a rendered or lime washed finish. The bricks were made locally wherever there was a good source of clay close to the surface.

5.2.2 Queen’s House is a good example of the early use of brick with large areas of 16th and 17th century brickwork surviving. At this period brick was a prestigious material and so can be expected on what was a royal residence. The bricks must have been produced on site or very locally and may well have given impetus to a brick making industry; the local place name Clay Hill is a good indication of the raw material.

5.2.3 The 19th and 20th centuries were mainly a period of brick construction within the settlement particularly for the new estates on the edge of the settlement. Several buildings from this period such as the Crown buildings next to the Crown Hotel exhibit the use of terracotta decorative elements in their construction. Tile hanging is prominent in the settlement, particularly on later 19th and early 20th century buildings. There are a few examples of slate hanging to walls. A number of buildings in High Street have had their brickwork painted or lime washed in the past; painting bare brickwork is not encouraged.

5.3 Roofs

5.3.1 There are a few examples of thatched roofs within Lyndhurst. Evidence indicates that long straw was the prevailing thatching material. However, since the middle of the last century, combed wheat straw has assumed greater prominence and is now the main thatching material. The practice when re-thatching is to spar coat a new layer of thatch onto the roof, hence in the majority of cases, the base layers are a century or more old. This historic base layer is an invaluable archaeological resource and should not be disturbed.

5.3.2 Clay tiles and natural slate are widespread; decorative banding and ridge tiles are features of late 19th and early 20th century roofs. Concrete tiles are discouraged. Hardwood shingles can be used for lightweight structures and chimneys and chimney pots make an important contribution to the skyline and are important to retain.

5.4 Windows

5.4.1 Windows are a critical element of a building’s design and even subtle changes can significantly alter the character. The main styles are timber casements in earlier cottages and vertical sash windows in 18th and 19th century buildings. Leaded lights and small paned casements are found in Arts and Crafts buildings. Many original shop fronts survive in High Street. The use of PVCu is regrettable and original windows should be retained, repaired or remade; secondary glazing and draught stripping are more appropriate for energy efficiency.

5.5 Doors

5.5.1 Doors and associated architectural detailing are important features which complete the character of the building. Doorcases, porches and decorative surrounds reflect the status and period of buildings and should be retained where they survive.

5.6 Garden walls, fences and other means of enclosure

5.6.1 Garden walls, traditionally detailed fences and hedges are important components and have a significant contribution to the character of the area. Notable examples include riven oak fences, brick walls and picket fences. Modern close boarded fencing is an alien feature and its use should be avoided in prominent locations.

5.7 Key characteristics

• Most of the older buildings in the area are constructed of materials from local sources.
• The predominant wall construction material is brick. Hand made clay tiles are the main roofing material. Slate appeared in the 19th century and remained popular into the 20th century.
• A number of early 20th century buildings have machine made clay tiles.
• Tile hanging particularly using decorative patterns is a prominent feature.
• Windows and doors are generally traditionally designed and made of timber.
• Many shop fronts retain elements of their original form.
• Brick boundary walls and traditional fencing contribute to the character of the area.
• Hedges are important enclosure features, particularly in the more built up areas.

Part 6 The contribution of trees, open spaces and other landscape features

6.1 Introduction

A significant part of the character of the conservation area is derived from the contribution made by trees, hedges, open spaces and other natural elements contained within it.

6.2 Trees and hedgerows

Trees form important backdrops to the settlement with large important tree specimens scattered throughout the area. A number of important trees in the conservation area have previously been identified and are protected with Tree Preservation Orders. The designation of the conservation area extends protection to the remaining trees.

Hedgerows are a predominant boundary feature particularly on approach roads where they are interspersed with mature trees and form soft boundaries to the hard landscape of the roads and tarmac paths. Hedges are easily lost through disease, formation of parking bays or development pressures and may become degraded through lack of regular and appropriate management. They also form a very important habitat for birds and small mammals and often contain many species of plants.

6.3 Open spaces

Open spaces within the conservation area are important as they help to define the built environment and create a sense of place. In some cases the open spaces in the settlement are residual areas of common which have been encroached upon by dwellings and can be in the form of greens or wide verges; for example at Gales Green. In other areas the green was part of a deliberate planned development such as Forest Gardens. The open space at Queen’s House is most likely the result of the creation of a historic garden or parkland type setting for this important former royal building. The Bolton’s Bench area would always seem to have been an historic common which originally wrapped around the east and north sides of the settlement and included what was to become the Old Race Course site.

6.4 Other natural features in the landscape

The most significant natural features in the landscape are the high ground on which the church and Queen’s House are located and the hillock which is surmounted by Bolton’s Bench.

6.5 Other manmade features in the landscape

The most noticeable manmade feature in the landscape is the spire of St Michael and All Angels church.

6.6 Important views

The most important views looking into, out of and through the conservation area are shown on the character appraisal maps. The key views within and outside of the settlement are of the church spire. This can be seen from many locations and is the focal point of the conservation area. Long distance views of the spire can be seen from Bolton’s Bench and also the neighbouring settlement of Bank. There are also long distance views over the surrounding countryside from Bolton’s Bench and on a clear day the chimneys of Fawley Power Station and the Refinery and the flats on the Weston Shore at Southampton can be seen.

6.7 Key characteristics

• Boundaries to properties are traditionally formed by walls, picket fencing, hedgerows and some metal estate fencing.
• Trees form important backdrops to the settlement.
• Large important specimen trees are scattered throughout the area particularly in association with landscaped gardens and the cemetery.
• Enclosed greens in the more built up areas.
• Landscaped open areas associated with Queen’s House and Appletree Court.
• Open common on the east side of the settlement.

Part 7 Other issues affecting the conservation area

• The intrinsic character of the conservation area and its historic character have not been significantly affected by modern development. New development has generally been infill and small estates at the periphery.
• Capacity for new development is minimal; significant new development would be detrimental.
• Many modern infill properties have been sympathetic, but some recent shop and dwelling designs are inappropriate. Careful consideration of scale, massing, design and materials is required.
• Unlisted buildings of local interest make an important contribution and should be protected.
• The use of modern building materials, double glazing and PVCu is noticeable and can harm character. Replacement windows should respect original profiles.
• Outbuildings and garages can have cumulative impact; they can be designed to complement the conservation area.
• Hedgerows and traditional boundaries are important; piecemeal loss has occurred and reinstatement is an opportunity.
• Cars and parking can dominate the landscape; provision of off-road parking needs to avoid loss of historic boundary treatments.
• Overhead wires are an unfortunate feature in the historic landscape.

Swan Green Conservation Area (summary)

Context, topography and historic development

The conservation area incorporates the small hamlet of Swan Green which is situated to the west of Lyndhurst on the main A35 route through the Forest. The hamlet may have medieval origins but most surviving buildings date from the 17th to 19th centuries. The settlement developed around a large triangular village green which contains the cricket pitch and the White Swan public house is an important focal point.

Key characteristics

• Small settlement with large triangular village green.
• Linear development to the north of the main road; buildings from 17th–20th centuries.
• Traditional boundaries: picket fencing, estate fencing and hedgerows.
• Significant tree backdrop and hedgerow boundaries.
• Six Grade II listed buildings; three locally important unlisted buildings.
• Predominant materials: brick (painted/unpainted), timber frame, cob, thatch, clay tile, slate; timber windows and doors.
• Dominated by vehicular traffic using the A35; cricket pitch generates occasional activity.

Bank Conservation Area (summary)

Context, topography and historic development

Bank is a small linear hamlet southwest of Lyndhurst developed on the western side of a country lane. It comprises dispersed and linear development, much of it late 18th–early 20th century, with examples of higher status late 19th century houses. The settlement has remained small and rural in character with hedged boundaries, picket fences and traditional materials such as brick, tile and thatch.

Key characteristics

• Small linear settlement at the junction of Forest edge and arable lands.
• Most buildings residential; a number of higher-status properties from late 19th century.
• Two Grade II listed buildings and c.33 buildings identified as locally important.
• Traditional boundaries are hedgerows, metal estate fencing and picket fences.
• Predominant materials: brick, plain clay tile and slate roofs; occasional thatch; timber windows and doors.
• Character areas include dispersed dwellings in large gardens, linear forest edge encroachment, linear village centre development, dispersed dwellings on forest edge and dispersed development in agricultural land.

Annexes

Annex 1 Maps showing conservation area boundaries

Maps reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with permission; boundaries illustrated in the printed document and on the enclosed CD. (Not to scale)

Annex 2 Maps showing character areas

Character area maps for Lyndhurst and Bank provided; each character area is identified by letter and name.

Annex 3 Glossary of Terms (selected)

A selection of glossary entries included in the original document explaining terms such as Afforestation, Ancient & ornamental woodlands, Arcade, Ashlar stone, Assart, Arts and Crafts style, Bargeboards, Bay, Casement window, Cob, Cornice, Dentil course, Diaper brickwork, Entablature, Fenestration, Grotto, Inclosure, Mullion, Open Forest, Oriel window, Pannage, Pasture, Pebble-dash, Pediment, Pilaster, Plinth, Portico, Purpresture, Render, Rubbed or gauged brick arches, String course, Stucco, Turbary, Vaccary, Vernacular, Window ‘light’ and others.

Annex 4 References

References include local histories and planning guidance such as works by Babey & Roberts, Coates, Department advice (PPG 15/16), Edwards, English Heritage guidance, county records, Victoria County History, local plans and archaeological reports.

Annex 5 Public consultation

Public consultation was carried out with local councils, panels and public exhibitions. Letters were sent to affected properties and the consultation showed public recognition and support for the areas and boundaries.

Annex 6 CD — Detailed mapping

The enclosed CD provides detailed mapping of the conservation areas including boundaries, character areas and character features at 1:2500. Mapping is also available online: http://maps.newforestnpa.gov.uk/

Notes on conservation guidance

Where works are proposed affecting buildings within the conservation areas (including listed buildings), the appraisals reiterate the need to assess original construction methods, use appropriate materials and reflect historic detailing. Particular attention is drawn to the protection of thatch, traditional windows and doors, brickwork, chimneys and boundary treatments. New developments must respond to scale, massing, materials and the historic layout of the area. Trees, hedges and open spaces are integral to character and should be retained and managed sensitively.

Survey work undertaken and document prepared by Kevin Stubbs, historic building consultant. Printed March 2010.

For further guidance on specific topics (thatch, brickwork, timber frames, listed building exteriors, etc.) contact New Forest National Park Authority or consult the guidance leaflets referenced in the main text.