Great Longstone Conservation Area

Use this link to see the map of the conservation area.

AREA A – THE MIRES

The name comes from swampy ground to the south; now the sewage works, but formerly covered by willows, used for basket making. Mid to late C19 development (despite the 1821 datestone on Stoneleigh (1)). Probably the result of the provision of the turnpike road leading to the Ashford Road. Properties are all at right angles to the road. Originally rubble limestone with stone or blue slate roofs, some have since been rendered and acquired artificial stone roofs. Replacement of these should be encouraged. To the west, extensive tree/shrub planting in gardens (2) cuts the area off from the valley.

AREA B – THE CROFT

A more open but varied area between the Mires and the rest of the village, extending north to Beggarway Lane. The land attached to The Croft (3) is bounded by trees which make a strong wooded boundary to the east of the Conservation Area whilst further west is agricultural land. Land to the south of the Main Street (4) is of particular importance in separating The Mires from the village; encroachment on open land in Area B should be resisted. Remaining buildings are separated detached houses, each in its own grounds. The Croft is C19, built by the Duke of Devonshire to replace an earlier cottage and subsequently occupied by the Furness family. Now it is a hotel with landscaped grounds (Note 1). Cluden Bank and Holly Bank (5) are C19 detached buildings, which replaced three cottages. More formal than the rest of the village. The Forge (6) was formerly thatched (like many of Great Longstone’s houses). Originally it was the smithy and the last property in the village according to the 1824 Enclosure Map.

AREA C – THE RECREATION GROUND

The Recreation Ground lies to the south of the traditional village. Land was given to the Parish Council in 1921 by G F Furness as a commemoration of the First World War (Note 2). It now acts as an important ‘buffer’ between the historic village and post Second World War development. Additional landscaping could improve its overall appearance.

AREA D – THE CENTRAL AREA

This area is the core of the village, with a high percentage of Listed Buildings at its western end. Rubble limestone properties are the norm, with small cottages in the east, and houses increasing in size to the west, particularly those facing the Village Greens. A pronounced central pinch-point, just to the south-east of Church Lane almost divides the area in two, but views along the Main Street link both parts and any point of division varies according to one’s viewpoint. In the west the street broadens out appreciably, suggesting the existence of a medieval market, but there appears to be no evidence to support such an origin. It is possible that the open space once incorporated land to the north, and it is later development in C17–C19 which has isolated Area F from the Main Street. Open space around Spring Bank in the eastern core provides an echo of the much more extensive greens to the north-west.

In the east the small cottages, built of limestone rubble and now with blue slate roofs (though formerly thatched) contrast heavily tooled gritstone dressings which are found elsewhere in the village, but are particularly concentrated here. These cottages mostly front the street, contained between it and rising land to the south, though a few present their gable ends to the road. To the north of the road property is more set back and containment is achieved by garden walls and trees. Modern development on land formerly attached to Barley Lees Farm (7) is well set back behind this barrier of trees and has little impact on the Conservation Area. A key townscape feature is the barn (8), which helps to create a pronounced pinch-point in the centre of Area D. Re-roofing of this building in traditional material should be encouraged.

In the south-west, land rises less steeply than in the south-east and development is less constrained. Perhaps because of this the area is less intensively developed, though strong north-south walls and hedges suggest that again development originally followed the burgage plots. Most of this backland is occupied by the school (9) and parking (10) for the White Lion. On the green is the War Memorial (11) and a medieval cross (12) of whose history little is known. Formal industry came to Great Longstone in 1786 when the Lodge (13) was built as a cotton mill and operated as such until the 1830’s. This history should be taken into account in considering any proposals for this property and associated properties to the north of Main Street (see Area F).

AREA E – CHURCH LANE

From the centre of Area D, Church Lane extends north to the church (14) founded in C13. Despite its proximity to the church, the Vicarage (15) was originally one of the many local pubs. Its gritstone facade dates from the ‘improvements’ made in the last century when it became the home of the vicar. Topographically the graveyard (16) could be included in Area B, but its use and lych gate (17) act as a ‘twin’ to that into the churchyard across Church Lane, links it more firmly with this area.

AREA F – VICTORIA TERRACE

It is possible that the open area in the village centre once extended further north to the Church and Hall grounds. Development along the Main Street has now isolated this pleasant area of greens. Shakerley (22) dating from the C16 and the slightly later Church Lady House (23) to the west of the area pre-date property along the Main Street. Victoria Terrace (24) is believed to have originated as a weaving shed associated with the cotton mill at The Lodge (13) and the property in front of the terrace (25) was the warehouse and manager’s house (now 3 properties). This later development has had the effect of cutting off this area and trees and high stone walls divide it in the east from Church Lane. This results in a small open oasis well planted with trees and shrubs. Some encroachment on this space has occurred in the relatively recent past and should be resisted in the future. (Note 3).

AREA G – THE HALL

The listed walls of the Hall (26) dominate the north-west end of Great Longstone. The brick Hall (27) built in 1747 replaced an earlier building. The earliest records are a house date back to 1300 and the Wright family had held much of the land in the village since the C14. Architecturally and historically of great importance, the visual impact of the Hall and its outbuildings on the Conservation Area is limited, because of the screening effect of the walls and trees in the grounds.

AREA H – UPPER MAIN STREET

The north-western entrance to Great Longstone is dominated by large farm groupings, including the listed Manor House (28) whose outbuildings have been converted to houses. High roadside walls complement those of the Hall and create a dramatic ‘funnel’ for the visitor. The sharp bend at the north-west outside the gates to the Hall’s outbuildings and the trees and slight bend just before the Crispin Inn (29) (Area D) emphasise the effect. Maintenance of the height and extent of these walls is of major importance in conserving the character of this part of the village.

Note (1) – “The Croft” ceased being a hotel in around 2004/5 after which it reverted to being a private residence.

Note (2) – The Recreation Ground was given to the Village by Mr George Furniss, primarily as a Cricket Ground. At the time the War Memorial Committee had been considering establishing a memorial recreation ground but this plan was abandoned after  the gift was made. Instead they commissioned the War Memorial that sits on the Village Green.

Note (3) – This small “open oasis”, known as Feemouth or Feignhough Yard was behind Victoria Terrace. In around 2012 this area was sub-divided into sections and sold to the owners of the Victoria Terrace properties. It was then fenced off and turned into individual gardens.