Chapter Page

1. Introduction 1

2. Location 3

3. Origins and Development 4

4. Local Planning Issues 7

5. Summary of Special Character 11

6. Special Interest 13

The Sub-AreasSub-Area 1 15RIver Dee banks and the Castle, Church and Bridge

Sub-Area 2 19The Cross and Castle Street, Wrexham Road, Francis Lane andDee Lane

Sub-Area 3 27Chapel Street, Chapel Lane and Smithfield Street

Sub-Area 4 31Bridge Street, Bridgeview, Cross St, Church Street, Deeside, Frog Lane, Green Street and Quakers Way

7. Problems within the Conservation Area 35

8. General Enhancement 37Proposals

Glossary of Technical Terms

Appendices

CONTENTS

Church of St. Chad

Castle Street

1

Aim of the Holt Conservation AreaAssessmentConservation Areas are "areas of specialarchitectural or historic interest, the characteror appearance of which it is desirable topreserve or enhance".Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990

Local Authorities are required by law to designateconservation areas and to formulate policies andproposals for their preservation and enhancementHolt Conservation Area was designated on the 29thAugust 1975 and was reviewed on 8th March 1999when boundary changes were recommended andapproved.

The boundary review and character assessment isthe first to be undertaken since its designation.The purpose of it is as follows:-

Conservation Areas are designated under the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Government policy on conservation areas is incorporated in two sets of guidance (see Appendix 1). Both highlight the need for strong conservation area policies in the local plan, which should be based on a clear

definition of its special architectural or historic interest.

A review strengthens and justifies definition of the Conservation Area's special character and allows a strategy to be developed that will create a clear context for future development. As an adopted Council document, it is a point of reference for officers when exercising its planning duties and grant-giving powers. This should lead to a higher quality built environment as a result of more informed decision-making by officers, developers and householders.

A Conservation Area Enhancement Plan will beproduced at a later date, with detailed policies for theimprovement of the Conservation Area and will besubject to public consultation. An Article 4(2)Direction under the Town and Country Planning(General Permitted Development) Order 1995 hasremoved permitted development rights to thefrontages of properties within the Conservation Area.

The purpose of the above is to promote andsupport developments that are in keeping with,or enhance, the character of Holt ConservationArea. They are not attempts to stifle change. The aim is to strike the right balance so that theinterests of conservation are given their full weightagainst the need for change and development.This also meets the Council's responsibility forpreserving and enhancing the character andappearance of the Conservation Area.

INTRODUCTION 1

Railings at Castle Street

2

About Conservation AreasDesignating a Conservation Area is a matter for theLocal Planning Authority and is one made againstlocally related criteria. 'Quality of Place' or 'localdistinctiveness' is the prime consideration.

The character of the Conservation Area can derivefrom many factors including individual buildings;building groups and their relationship with spaces;architectural detailing; materials; views; colours;landscaping; street furniture; and so on. It may alsodraw on sounds, local environmental conditions orhistorical changes. These qualities may changethroughout the course of the day and night. Suchelements of character cannot be directlysafeguarded. However, by protecting the buildingsand spaces formed between them, it is more likelythat the activities and uses that make up thecharacter of a place can be sustained.

Yew Tree Farmhouse, Wrexham Road

3

LOCATION OF HOLT CONSERVATION AREA 2Holt is located approximately five miles to the northeast of Wrexham and is situated on the borderbetween Wales and England. It lies on a flatplateau above the south western banks of the RiverDee and faces the Cheshire village of Farndondirectly across the river to the north. The distinctivered sandstone bridge that spans the River betweenthe two villages creates the ancient road linkbetween England and Wales.

The Conservation Area covers most of thesettlement of Holt. It excludes modern developmentin Dee Park, Dee Meadows, West End Court,Smithfield Drive, Cherry Orchard, Laburnum Way,Whitegates Field and parts of Frog Lane andWrexham Road.

Holt Bridge

ring of castle fortresses in north east Wales alongwith Chirk, Ruthin and Denbigh to enforce thesubjugation of the Welsh after Llewelyn apGruffydd, the Prince of Wales, failed in his attemptfor Welsh independence. The Castle was apentagonal fortress built within the quarried redsandstone cliff face by John de Warrene, Earl ofSurrey. The adjacent parallel and straight streetsfrom the bridge to The Cross were carefullyplanned and laid out at this time and medievalburgage plots established, many with a frontcurtilage and rear croft.

The Borough of Holt was thus created and a charterwas granted in 1411. During Henry VIII's reign(1509 - 1547) a survey of the area was carried out.Holt was described as "…an ancient Boroughtowne, but slenderly built with tymber workeand the buildings standing yn [even] distancethe one from the other on the east side ofwhiche towne there stondithe the castell…"

4

A medieval bridge, a ruined castle and an ancientchurch offer few clues to the historical significanceof this small border village.

Holt has a history dating back to the Early BronzeAge (1500 BC), when pottery was discovered whenexcavating a suspected Roman site to the northwest of the present settlement. The Romanexcavation revealed that Holt was the site of amajor tile and pottery factory, covering some 20acres and comprising officers' dwellings, workersbarracks, a bath house, eight kilns, workshops anddrying sheds. Marked tiles link this depot with thelegionary fortress of Chester (Deva) approximatelyten miles away, on the River Dee. Much of thearchaeological artefacts are now in the NationalMuseum of Wales.

The village today, however, owes its existence tothe invasion of Wales by Edward I in the late 13thCentury, who conquered much of the historic WelshMarcher of Bromfield and Yale. Holt was seen as aprime military site due to its strategic positionbetween Wales and England on the banks of theDee. The castle became part of Edward's inland

ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT 3

Holt CastleThatched cottage, Green Street, 1683 (now demolished)

In the Middle Ages, Holt flourished as a markettown. The Cross, as now, was likely to have beenits commercial core. Norden's survey of 1619recorded four shops to the ground floor of the townhall. A tying post for bull and bear baiting waslocated at The Cross, as were stocks, where nodoubt unruly inhabitants were locked and mocked.

5

By the 16th Century the markets of Holt werelargely overshadowed by Wrexham, the naturalcentre of the region, and in the 17th Century thevillage was further usurped by fairs in Farndon.The Civil War in the 1640's between theRoundheads and the Parliamentarians largelydestroyed the castle and several buildings in thevillage, as well as its reputation as a medievalmilitary fortress. The many timber framed andthatched houses lining the streets were decimatedby sword and fire, and the castle later plundered forbuilding material.

Holt slowly recovered and developed organically,with 17th Century farmsteads and 17th and 18thCentury cottages gradually replacing the medievalburgages. However, it is the Victorian period thathad the most impact architecturally. Buildings suchas The Academy in Castle Street, a non-conformistschool in which H.G. Wells taught; the former HoltReformed School in Castle Gardens; Kenyon Hall;the Presbyterian Church, the Bethesda and BaptistChapels, and a number of town houses in CastleStreet and Bridge Street are such examples.

In 1883 the Municipal Corporations Act drew to aclose 600 years of Holt's chartered borough status.

Today, Holt remains a primarily agriculturallydominated settlement, and enjoys an excellentreputation in the strawberry trade, established in thearea for well over 100 years. Some shops and outletsin the village also enjoy a reputation for high qualitythat spreads well beyond the confines of the village.

The Academy, Castle Street

6

Development in the late 20th Century in Holt hasundoubtedly been influenced by the improvement ofroads, increased car ownership and the proximity tolarger cities, such as Chester, Liverpool andManchester. The outcome of living within such acatchment area is that, inevitably, villages becomeideal commuter bases, with lower house prices thancities and a higher standard of living.

In Holt, this has resulted in two factors - thecompletion of the A534 Wrexham - Nantwich Road,which by-passes Holt and Farndon approximately aquarter of a mile to their north east, and the creationof small housing estates. The removal of heavytraffic from the village by the opening of the by-passhas been a major boost for the quality of the villageenvironment. However, standard 'executive style'housing types in line with consumer demand andlimited design choices have eroded the character ofthe village. However, in more recent times, thedesign of some later buildings have contributed tothe character of the Conservation Area.

Culs-de-sac typically associated with laterdevelopment have had a detrimental effect to itsmedieval grid iron street pattern.

The Character Appraisal highlights the overallqualities of the Conservation Area. It identifiesbuildings and areas that require preservation andenhancement. It is not intended to becomprehensive and the omission of any particularbuilding, feature or space does not mean that it isof no interest.

Picking the strawberries in the field

7

Planning PolicyLocal planning policy is contained in the 'WrexhamMaelor Local Plan: Forward to 2001', whichbecame operative in February 1996. Policies E13to E18 are most relevant. They give priority topreservation and enhancement of those featureswithin Conservation Areas that contribute to theirunique characters. This includes Listed Buildingsand Scheduled Ancient Monuments.

The emerging Wrexham Unitary Development Plan2011 will also be a material consideration indetermining planning applications affecting sites,and will eventually supersede the Wrexham MaelorLocal Plan.

Planning Control

Managing change in Conservation Areas

In order to protect its special character, certaincontrols exist, which are over and above normalplanning permission. Alterations to the walls androof of a dwelling house may require planningpermission. Demolition may require ConservationArea Consent. Tree pruning and removal may

LOCAL PLANNING ISSUES 4

Former Wages Office at Bellis’ Farm

require Consent for Work to Trees. Controls inConservation Areas are not intended as a hindranceto change, but as positive management of change.

The outward appearance of all properties inConservation Areas is vitally important. Ownersshould bear in mind that inappropriate alterationand the removal of traditional detail could have anegative impact on the building and theConservation Area. Such alterations do not usuallyincrease the value of a property and may make itmore difficult to sell.

An Article 4 (2) Direction was placed on thewhole area on 15th December 2000, which wasconfirmed on the 15th June 2001. Under Article 4(2) permitted development rights are removed foralterations to the frontages of dwelling houseswhere they face a road, public footpath, waterwayor bridleway. This means that planning permissionmay be required for changes that materially affectthe appearance of the building frontage. The aimof the Direction is to ensure that any alterations ordevelopments to the frontages and front curtilagesof dwelling houses are done in sympathy with thespecial character of the area (see Appendix 2).

You are advised to discuss any proposals with aplanning officer, who will be able to advise youwhether planning permission is required or not.Listed buildings and Tree Preservation Ordersrequire separate consents for any works affectingthem. There is no fee required for Listed BuildingConsent, Conservation Area Consent, Article 4(2)Directions, or Consent for Work to Trees.

Outline planning applications are not usuallyaccepted for sites within Conservation Areas sincethe level of detail provided is rarely adequate.Detailed plans are always required for newdevelopment, and pre-application advice onproposals is always encouraged.

Conservation Protection

The community of Holt was resurveyed by CADW in1996 and 25 buildings are now listed. The majorityis located within Holt Conservation Area, wherethere are 18 listed buildings and structures, all ofwhich relate to the military, ecclesiastic, domesticand agricultural aspects of Holt's history. Twostructures are listed Grade I, one is listed Grade II*and the remainder Grade II. Two of the structuresare also Scheduled Ancient Monuments. There isone Tree Preservation Order, covering 18 trees.

8

LISTED BUILDINGS AND SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENTS

Building Name & Address, Origins Reason for Listing (and Other Points of Interest) Current UseGrade and Date of Listing

Holt Bridge, Bridge Street C15th / 16th Medieval road bridge of significant importance to Wales. Road bridgeGrade I Red sandstone. Eight segmented arches with pitched stone1963 coping to parapet. Holt Bridge is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Parish Church of St. Chad 14th Century An outstanding example of a Medieval Perpendicular aisled Parish Church. ChurchGrade I Local red sandstone. Altered in the 15th and 19th century by the Stanley family, 1963 and Ewan Christian and John Douglas respectively. Perpendicular panel tracery windows.

Chancel and north aisle buttresses finished with decorative finials

Holt Castle, Deeside Late C13th Special Interest of its origins as a medieval castle. RuinousGrade II* Originally strategic medieval castle and fort of Edward I. Local red sandstone on boss 1963 from which it was quarried. Originally single ward regular pentagon, with tower at each

angle. Largely demolished after the Civil War, with material used to build Eaton Hall for the Grosvenor Estate. Holt castle is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Deeside Farmhouse C17th A good example of a local vernacular 17th century farmhouse, given late Georgian FarmhouseDeeside remodelling, which still retains features of interest.Grade II Red brick. Two storey. Slate roof. Camber headed small pane sash windows, with 1996 voissoirs. Red sandstone quoins.

Holt Hill, Green Street C17th Special Interest of the 18th century remodelling of an earlier house. Dwelling Grade II Original house may be 1620 in date. Red brick with sandstone string courses to first floor 1952 and below parapet. 12 paned sash windows to front elevation.

Presbyterian Church, 1865 A good example of Presbyterian Church architecture by a noted architect, ChurchCastle Street T.M. Lockwood, architect of Chester containing a good contemporary interior scheme. Grade II Gothic Revival style, built of the local red sandstone. Slate roof. Front elevation has a1996 stone belfry with decorated stone buttresses. Gabled entry porch with decorative iron

railings on a red sandstone wall.

9

LISTED BUILDINGS AND SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENTS

Building Name & Address, Origins Reason for Listing (and Other Points of Interest) Current UseGrade and Date of Listing

The Manse, Castle Street c.1865 Group value with the Presbyterian Church. DwellingGrade II Possibly also designed by T. M. Lockwood. Red brick with slate roof. Brick dentilled1996 eaves cornice. Large canted bay windows to ground floor. Gabled porch.

1 Holt Hall, Castle Street Early C18th A surviving example of an early 18th Century town house. Dwelling Grade II Two storey, rendered and painted white, with central pediment. Slate roof. Symmetrical 1952 wooden bay windows. Windows and doors have stone voissoirs and raised keystones.

Stone lintels. String course to first floor. May have 17th century origins.

2 Holt Hall, Castle Street Early C18th A surviving example of an early 18th Century town house. Dwelling/Food outletGrade II Details as above. Includes the Peking Garden Chinese Takeaway1952

Smithfield House, mid-late A surviving example of a mid-late 17th Century farmhouse. Dwelling Castle Street C17th Three storey. Built of handmade red brick with red sandstone quoins. Slate roof. Grade II Painted stone porch with moulded pediment on consoles.1996

Former Baptist Chapel, 1827 A relatively early example of a Baptist Chapel with good architectural detailing. VacantChapel Street Simple and classical design, two storey. Red brick with Flemish bond detailing. CentralGrade II doorway with open pedimented hood. Moulded wooded architrave surround with console 1996 details. Stone lintels. Stone string course.

2 Frog Lane Late C17th Special interest as part of a late 17th Century house, still retaining much of its DwellingGrade II historic character.1996 Late 17th century red brick, with gable facing the street. Two storey. Decorative brick

banding at eaves level. Slate roof. Rough brick cambered heads to windows. Wooden moulded canopy with cast iron strap support.

10

LISTED BUILDINGS AND SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENTS

Building Name & Address, Origins Reason for Listing (and Other Points of Interest) Current UseGrade and Date of Listing

Strawberry Pickers Barracks Early C20th Extremely well preserved example of a comparative rare building type which Vacant/ancillaryBellis' Farm, Wrexham Road illustrates an important part of Holt's economic and social history. storage to farmGrade II U-shaped range of barracks buildings. Wooden. Sheet iron roofing. Two long ranges 1996 containing 35 single accommodation units. Gable ends have decorative cast iron finials.

Former Wages Office at Early C20th Extremely well preserved and detailed wages office and for group value with the VacantBellis' Farm, Wrexham Road Strawberry Pickers Barracks.Grade II Decorative wooden single storey pavilion. Main elevation has full height canted bay. 1996 Decorative wooden pay counter with shaped wooden pediment. Deep eaves cornice.

Decorative bargeboards to miniature dormers and gable ends, topped with pinnacles.

The Village Cross, The Cross Late Special interest of its origins as a medieval cross. MonumentGrade II medieval Chamfered red sandstone on an octagonal stepped base, with six sandstone steps.1952

The War Memorial, c.1920 A good example of a well designed village war memorial and of importance to the MonumentThe Cross history of Holt.1996Grade II Sandstone obelisk set on square stone plinth on a stepped base. Carved sword on 1996 obelisk. Plinth has carved lion surmounted crown. Marble slab commemorates fallen

soldiers. Made by Mansley of Chester.

Gate, gate piers and railings, c.1816 An interesting example of local decorative ironwork. Group value with the Parish GateParish Church of St Chad, Church of St Chad.Church Green Gothic style. Squared gate piers with quatrefoils with floral centre detailing. DecorativeGrade II, 1996 baluster heads. The gates stand on the site of the old lychgate.

Sundial, Parish Church of 1736 Group value with the Parish Church of St Chad. SundialSt Chad, Church Green Sandstone shaft on two concentric stone steps. Grade II1996

11

The special character of the Conservation Areadraws on its medieval origins and a significantVictorian architectural character. Ornate decorationto buildings or boundary walls is also very important.

Important Features:

the medieval grid iron street pattern creates rigid linear roads that contrast with the meandering fashion of the river

the underlying geology of the area is exposed in parts showing massive diagonal planes of red sandstone

1-5 Castle Street

Boarded doorat StrawberryPickersBarracks

building materials include red sandstone, used for monumental public structures such as the church, bridge and castle. The predominant building material for domestic properties is the local brown-red brick; but render is also significant. Ruabon red brick and yellow sandstone occur in rare instances. Roofs are of slate. Traditional rainwater goods are of cast iron, but properties constructed before the early 19th Century may have some of lead

the spatial contrast and plan form of development is typically symmetrical, with gable-end chimneys offset by a central doorway. Townhouses and historic farmhouses are generally set within spacious grounds, which complement simple terraces. Properties are largely of two storey with a variety of roof heights, generally pitched with continuous eaves

Victorian architecture is the most dominant style,although monumental medieval structures whitewashed 18th Century cottages, historic farmhouses and Georgian townhouses add their own distinct character

decoration to buildings tends to be small scaleand fairly intricate. Wonderful decorative porches or iron railings offset simple symmetricalfacades. Vertical sliding sash windows in white painted timber, and panelled timber doors with fanlight is common to Georgian and Victorian architecture. Vernacular buildings tended to have either multi paned, side hung, cast iron

SUMMARY OF SPECIAL CHARACTER 5

windows or timber casements with simple horizontal subdivision, and boarded tongue and groove doors. String courses and architraves are common

boundary detailing retains the continuity of the street line and building plot. The demarcation between private space and public space is very pronounced. Red sandstone, intricate wrought iron railings, brick, timber farm gates and irregular slab cock and hen coping add to the

rural streetscape. Unfortunately, many have been

lost to make way for hardstanding. This is

addressed by the Article 4 Direction

the landscaping elements are very important

to the character of the Conservation Area,

particularly around the Dee. Mature vegetation

within curtilages, semi-ordered trees in public

spaces or hedgerow that directly fronts the

roads are all valued features.

The public realm has incorporated someunattractive street furniture, an excess of tarmac,dilapidation of historic street signs and obtrusivehighway signage. The scale of street lights do notsit comfortably within the streets, a legacy from thedays before the by-pass was built.

The main land use is residential. Retaildevelopment is concentrated in the core of thevillage at The Cross, although some small-scalecommercial and retail sites are scattered randomlyin Castle Street and Bridge Street. The villagesupports a primary school, a number of pubs andactive community groups. Outlets sellinghomegrown fruit and vegetables are located on itsoutskirts.

Although it is likely that the Welsh language wascommonplace prior to the days of Edward I, thecensus of 1991 indicates that only 6% of thepopulation now speak Welsh. This is perhapsindicated in the lack of bilingual shop signs. As apart of the Council's bilingual policy, Welsh andEnglish are incorporated in Highway signage, whichhas resulted in significantly sized signs.

The essence of the character of Holt is principallyof a rural border village with planned medievalstreets that have developed over time. The villagehas a strong focus on the village heart. Its statusas an important Welsh border town has diminished,as has its echoes of its military roots as a garrisontown to Edward I. It provides a rural context of theBorough from England.

Ebeneezer Cottage

12Green StreetDecorative ironwork at The Cross

15

Sub-area 1: The Dee banks, includingthe Castle, Church and Bridge

Important Features:

the area provides the essence of the historical background and setting of Holt;

it has an open and undeveloped nature, which contrasts with the concentration and density of development in the village;

the views and natural landscape features of the meandering River Dee ;

its important public structures; all of which are Scheduled Ancient Monuments and / or Listed Buildings;

the dominance of late medieval architecture; and

the dominance of local red sandstone as a building material.

This sub-area provides the essential setting of Holt asseen from the north and east. Buildings tend to bemonumental in scale, and located on prominent sitesin substantial grounds located on the edge of thesettlement. Many buildings are marker structures

in the sub-area but not within the core of theConservation Area as a whole, where they areobscured by trees or buildings.

The bridge provides the entrance to the village,and historically to Wales from England. It is 15thCentury in origin, built to replace an earlier woodenstructure. The stonework is in regular courses,originally with ten arches, but now nine; one is adouble arch that marks the site of the former gatetower and drawbridge. The bridge once had aCatholic Chapel, dedicated to Our Lady, built uponit, today identified only by the reinforced third archfrom the Welsh bank. On its western side itsparapets are corbelled back at a skewed angle to

Church of St. Chad

end in a simple pier, from which striking views ofthe Dee and associated floodplain are seen.Modern highway paraphernalia, such as signage atthe Holt entrance, detracts from its appearance.The western field on the flood plain contrasts withthe untidy, overgrown car park to the east.

The vantage point from the bridge allows for viewsof the Church of St Chad, set in an elevatedlocation on the eastern perimeter of the settlementon a grassy knoll. This is an important markerbuilding in the landscape. The church is English instyle, and its character is largely derived from itsvertical and horizontal building lines, created in partby its squared red sandstone courses. It hasnumerous masons markings carved into the blocks.It originally dates from 1287 but was remodelledand enlarged in the 15th Century to include abuttressed, battlemented tower and five bayornamented nave arcades of narrow sharplypointed arches on octagonal piers. The boardedand studded, iron strapped double entrance doorsin the western tower supports its medievalcharacter. It is generally in good repair, but somespalling is evident. Leland, the 16th Century travelwriter, wrote in his itineraries: "it is a praty chirchand a goodly castle. The chirch is but a chapelto Gresford".

Extensions to the rear of properties on BridgeStreet, Church Street and Vicarage Court may havea significant impact on the setting of this building,and applicants should be particularly mindful of thiswhen considering extension design.

16Deeside Farmhouse

Casementwindow

Holt Hill, Bridgeview

Holt Hill is a Grade II listed building on Bridgeview.It is Georgian in appearance and the frontage is aremodelling of the original 17th Century house. Its distinctiveness lies in its symmetry and simplebeauty. Ivy covers much of the brick frontelevation. The horizontal stone string coursebetween the first and second storey and below theparapet are barely visible, but the vertical symmetryof the traditional softwood sash windows, paintedwhite with thin mullion bars and 12 panes is morepronounced. The many mature trees close to itsboundary enhance this building.

Deeside farmhouse was built in the 17th centurybetween the Church and Castle on the perimeter ofthe settlement. The 18th century owner re-frontedthe house in Georgian style, maybe to reflect hiswealth and aspirations. The size, shape andposition of the casement windows to the attic formspart of the overall integrity of the house. Irregularred sandstone quoins to the left of this elevationand a stepped two course sandstone plinth marksthe line of the original timber framed building. Itwas built largely of the local red brick that wasprobably burnt on site.

17

Sitting quiescently in the south West of theconservation area is the remains of Holt Castle.The squared and coursed ruined walls are builtdirectly upon the diagonal bedrock. The monumentis a shadow of its former glory and cordoned off bya wooden fence; the remains are now captured byivy tentacles and other vegetation. The groundrises slightly to the east of the site and the moat,once reputed to be 10 metres deep is nowindicated by a slight dip in the ground surface.Sign posting to the castle site is minimal; thepathway leading to the castle from Church Streetmay have been part of the original gateway.

The roar of cars on the by-pass does not enhanceits peaceful setting, and the castle has beenvandalised by graffiti within its pointed doorway.However, contextually, both the river and maturetrees, principally sycamore, oak and ash, play avery important role in the setting of the castle,providing a contrast to the developed parts of theConservation Area. They add to the quality of placeoverall, and should be retained and enhanced.

The moat contour at Holt Castle

19

Sub-Area 2: The Cross, Castle Street,Wrexham Road, Francis Lane and Dee Lane

Important Features:

the Cross as village heart, with market 'triangle' as nodal point;

the diversity of architectural styles, and building types, typically farmhouses, townhouses, workers cottages;

good spatial dimensions between property and boundaries, probably burgage remains;

uniform street line, created by hedgerows, iron railings, brick and sandstone walls;

building materials, typically brick or painted render, with slate for roofing; and

minimal pavements in Francis and Dee Lane.

The Cross and Castle Street (north) is the heart

of the village, and encompasses its main

commercial core. The area is fairly intensively

used, both locally and from outside the village.

The medieval grid iron street pattern spans out from

The Cross to the wider village, creating legibility.

The use of red sandstone is prominent in the public

open space.

The scale is modest and created by structures and

buildings, such as the medieval Market Cross and

War Memorial, Victorian cast iron street lights and

two storey terraces. Active building frontages, such

as those to shops, tend to have no distinction

between public and private space. Domestic

properties have small gardens that create privacy,

whilst enhancing the street scene by materials,

boundary scale and flora and fauna. Rooflines are

of various heights; steep pitches and low eaves

suggest that they may have been originally

thatched.

Shop fronts that add character have proportionally

scaled hand painted timber signage, simple

decorative detail, such as pilasters to doors and

windows, and retractable apron blinds.

Standardised UPVC signage and oversized

horizontal windows, set close or protruding from the

front elevation, detract from the area's character.

Door detail in The Cross

Porch detail at 1-5 Castle Street

Cross Cottage and Kenyon Hall, Castle Street

20

The intricate beauty contrasts with the concrete busshelter, dilapidated steel dog railings and crashbarriers lining the junction corner of The Cross,Church Street and Castle Street.

In Castle Street (south), Wrexham Road and FrancisLane the scale, height and form of buildings becomesgreater and the size of gardens may be related to themedieval burgage plots. Front gardens are a feature,with buildings gradually set much further back fromthe road in substantial gardens, some with hedgerowand semi mature trees, particularly to WrexhamRoad and Francis / Dee Lane.

Buildings on the north west side of Castle Streetare a combination of Victorian buildings and late18th century cottages, some terraced, and L-planwith gable ends jutting toward the street, in smallfront curtilages. Unfortunately, some frontageshave been altered by single storey extensions thattend to ignore the main architectural appearance of

Former Police Station at The Cross

The former post office, now residential, is sited onthe junction of The Cross, Church Street and CastleStreet to create a sense of enclosure to The Cross.It is a low key marker building, and unusually for itssiting, has little in the way of architectural detailingand elaboration to the building façade. The formeruse may account for the strong but disproportionateprojecting bay windows to the ground floor.

Buildings on the south side of Castle Street are farmore intricate, and their impact is particularly powerfulfrom Church Street, Cross Street and Frog Lanejunctions. No's 1 - 5 Castle Street is a curvedterrace of simple Victorian cottages with horned sashwindows, timber panelled doors and chimneyspunctuating the skyline. Of particular note are thewonderfully intricate decorative open timber porches.The detail is complemented by the adjacent CrossCottage, which has ornate windows and exceptionallyfine iron railings. The detail to the bargeboards androse window of the quirky Kenyon Hall, built in1892 in corrugated iron also enhances the street.

A building of note is the former police station of1881, distinctive for its Anglo-Italianate architecturalstyle and built in squared and coursed yellow Cefnsandstone. Features include corbelled eaves,rusticated pilasters and mullions surrounding thedoorway and windows and a timber panelled doorwith ornate iron straps and iron railings to theboundary. Each storey is given its own sense ofproportion by the stone stringcourse.

Victorian railingsat Cross Cottageand Kenyon Hall