Stourport Conservation Area No. 2 Appraisal and Management Recommendations

This section describes the character and appearance of the area as it appears today. The conservation area can be divided into a number of sub-areas. [Plate 5.1]. The following areas are based on location and historical development.

1. High Street
2. Lombard Street
3. Mitton Street and Severn Road
4. Lion Hill
5. Canalside
6. York Street
7. Land east of High Street including Parkes Passage

The buildings in the areas are described in more detail in Appendix I.

5.1          Character Area 1: High Street

The High Street is a key element of the conservation area. It is a straight street lined with a large number of Grade II listed Georgian buildings. There are also Victorian and 20th century buildings of variable quality and significance. The key features are:

1. The uniformity of the Georgian facades
2. Historic shopfronts
3. The Neo-Georgian bank (HSBC)
4. Post-war infills of neutral significance
5. Alleyways on the east side leading to the land at the rear, west of Parkes Passage
6. Views south along Bridge Street and to the surrounding countryside
7. Modern brick paving
8. The absence of street lighting columns

The Georgian buildings lie mainly on the east side of the street and are listed Grade II. There are only two listed buildings on the west side, at the south end. These buildings are three storeys high with brick facades. They have sash windows either three or four panes wide. Many appear to be original late 18^th / early 19^th century windows. The window openings have rendered voussoirs arches, with keystones, at first floor and brick lintels at second floor. There are brick dentil course or modillion cornices at eaves level. Roofs are generally shallow pitched but angles vary. At ground floor are shopfronts or various dates and styles, and a number of entrances to passageways which lead to the yards at the back of the buildings. The majority of the most significant shopfronts are on the east side of the street. [Plate 5.2].      

On the west side of the street are a number of late 20th century buildings which are not of particular merit but they have been designed to relate architecturally to the do relate to the scale and materials of the street as a whole. Many of these buildings contribute positively to the character and appearance of the conservation area to varying degrees, but most are not listed. The buildings which make least contribution include the post office, which is set back from the historic building line, 43 High Street, a two storey modernist building, 48 High Street, a two storey mid 20th century building with horizontally proportioned windows. The HSBC bank to the north of the post office is a notable neo-Georgian building, and a local landmark.

The pedestrian environment in the High Street has been improved in recent years with the use of brick paving and the siting of street lights at high level on building facades allowing the removal of street lighting columns.

5.2          Character Area 2: Lombard Street 

Only the southern end of Lombard Street is included in the conservation area and it is the Georgian terrace on the west side which is of most significance. Key elements include:

1. The Georgian buildings on the west and east sides
2. Postwar building at the southern end
3. Alleyways on the west side

The buildings on the west side of the street were always slightly less grand than those on High Street. They are three storeys high, of varying width, with timber sashes, four panes wide, with segmental brick arch at first floor and lintels at second floor. Some of the brick facades have been painted. There are shopfronts at ground floor level, which are mostly modern and not of interest. There are some remnants of older shopfronts. There are also entrances to passageways at ground floor, leading to the rear yards. The terrace is marred by the addition of satellite dishes and modern windows, especially at the northern end, and modern shopfronts and signs. [Plate 5.3].

At the southern end of the street is a post war building of two storeys, no.1 Lombard Street. It is set back from the historic building line and there is a projecting canopy at first floor level. The window openings are of Georgian proportions. Its scale and materials relates to the character of the street but the other aspects of its design do not. It arguably performs a minor landmark role but makes a neutral contribution to the conservation area.

5.3          Character Area 3: Mitton Street and Severn Road 

Mitton Street is an east-west street from High Street to Severn Road. The buildings which appear to be part of the west end of Mitton Street, west of the canal, have High Street addresses. Key features include:

1. The canal and Lower Mitton Bridge
2. Black Star public house
3. The War Memorial Garden
4. The Villeneuve-le-Roi Gardens
5. The former Congregational Chapel (Vale Road)
6. Georgian houses at the eastern end
7. Stone and brick boundary walls (eastern end)
8. The Holly Bush public house
9. The Georgian terrace at the north end of Severn Road

At the west end is the bridge over the canal, which allows views north and south along the canal. The bridge itself is of utilitarian design and not of architectural importance. On the northeast side is the Black Star public house which is a local landmark building. The southern end is a single storey 19th century building, and the northern part is a tall two storey canal related building.

The junction with Lion Hill (to the south) and Vale Road (to the north) is a large open space, with the war memorial garden on the northwest side and the Villeneuve-le-Roi Gardens on the southwest side. The road junction with its large tarmacadam traffic island dominates the space and harms its character. The former  Congregational Chapel on Vale Road is an important local landmark but at the time of writing it is empty and its condition appears to be deteriorating (see ‘Buildings at risk’ below).   

The eastern part of the street is residential in character. On the north side the houses are set back behind green gardens with stone and brick walls along the road. The buildings are partially hidden by the planting in the front gardens. At the south end is an early 19th century house which stands on an elevated site without tall plants and is highly visible. [Plate 5.4].

On the south side of the street there are tall mature trees at the junction with Lion Hill. To the east of this is a single storey Victorian building and a surface carpark which detracts from the character of the street. East of these is a group of 19th century buildings, the most important of which is the Holly Bush public house. To the south, on the west side of Severn Road is a terrace of late Georgian houses, set back on an elevated site. This terrace has been much altered and the facades are rendered and modern windows and porches have been installed.  

Mitton Street is a busy traffic street, comprising two lanes, both west bound, and with relatively narrow pavements. It is not a pleasant pedestrian environment and it detracts from the character of the area to a high degree.

5.4          Character Area 4: Lion Hill

Lion Hill runs north-south from Mitton Street to York Street, parallel to the canal. Most of the buildings are on the east side. Key elements include:

1. Modern blocks on the northeast side – Villeneuve Mews
2. The Villeneuve-le-Roi Gardens on the west side
3. Mid 19th century houses on the east side
4. 19th century canal warehouses on the west side
5. Early 19th century terraced houses on the east side
6. The former White Lion public house
7. The Bell public house

At the north end of the street, on the east side are two single storey meeting halls, of no architectural interest, and a modern two and three storey block, Villeneuve Mews, built in a traditional design. Although modern the latter is well designed and contributes positively to the conservation area. Opposite this is the green open space, Villeneuve-le-Roi Gardens. To the south of the modern development are 19th century two storey terraced houses, with small front gardens. The houses have been altered to varying degrees. Some have inappropriate modern windows and doors. [Plate 5.5].

At the south end is the former White Lion public house, listed Grade II, and now converted into flats. South of this is a terrace of three storey one bay, late Georgian houses, nos. 10 to 14, also listed Grade II. These are set back from the road with small front gardens. Bell Row Court is a modern development with a three storey block (nos. 1-4) to the south of the listed buildings, and a similar block on the east side of the Bell public house (nos. 5-7).These are designed in a neo-Georgian in style, with sash windows under segmental brick arches.    

The Bell public house is listed Grade II. To the south of the pub, in the southeast corner of the conservation area, is a small 19th century (?) building set back from the street by a small paved area, and two post war semi-detached houses, set back from the street, which have been altered with the addition of new windows and doors.

On the west side of the street, adjacent to the canal are former warehouse buildings from the 19th century. These are single storey on the street side, and two storey on the canal side. South of these is a flight of steps down to the canal, and a low brick wall which allows views from Lion Hill towards the canal, although at the south end is a shrubbery which obscures views. 

5.5          Character Area 5: Canalside

The canal runs north-south, on the west side of Lion Hill. It is a highly important historic feature of the conservation area. Key elements include;:

1. Lock keepers cottage
2. Toll office
3. The Wallfield Bridge
4. The lock
5. Parkes Quay development (west)
6. 19th century warehouse (east)
7. Brick wall to Lion Hill
8. Brick paving at lock and along the east side

On the west side at the south end are two Grade II listed buildings, the Lock keepers cottage (dated 1854) and the smaller Toll office (dated 1853). They are of similar appearance, with painted facades and slated, gabled roofs. There are two lock gates immediately to the east of these buildings. There is a walkway on the east side of the canal, which has a brick surface, with a grass strip on its east side. There are the former warehouse buildings half way along the canal side, and then to the north of these a tall historic brick wall, which is on the west side of the Villeneuve-le-Roi Gardens on Mitton Street/Lion Hill. [Plate 5.6].

Parkes Quay is a modern development of houses on the west side of the canal, with buildings of two and three storeys, with vehicular access between the houses and the canal. There are moorings on the canal side. To the north of these is the Grade II listed Former Canal Maintenance Yard Workshop. It is now in residential use, but retains much of its historic appearance. North of this are the buildings at the rear of the High Street, with several mature trees, and shrubbery on the canal side. [Plate 5.7].

5.6          Character Area 6: York Street (North side)

The north side of York Street lies within conservation area no.2; the south side lies within conservation area no.1. The north side is dominated by Georgian three storey terraced houses, many with shops at ground floor level. Key elements include:

1. The Georgian terraced houses
2. The large three bay Georgian house at no.16
3. Oakleigh House, no.17, including its garden walls and mature tree adjacent to York Street
4. Passageways leading to the land at the rear
5. Traditional shopfronts
6. Square paviours on the pavement, with brick edging along the kerb and the drainage channels

The Georgian terraced buildings are all of interest, as they are part of the early development of the town. No. 16 and 17 are of greatest significance. However, some feature modern windows and satellite dishes which detract from their character and significance. There are a variety of traditional shopfronts in the street, some of which contain historic elements. There are also modern shopfronts in a traditional style, although the detailed design of some is not of the highest quality. The passageways which lead to the rear of the terrace are historic, and important, but not particularly attractive. [Plates 5.8 and 5.9].

5.7          Character Area 7: Land east of High Street including Parkes Passage

This is the middle of the area defined by the buildings on High Street and York Street and Parkes Passage, which runs approximately parallel to the west side of the canal. Key features include:

1. Parkes Passage
2. The Wesley Methodist Church
3. Public space around the church
4. The Old School Room
5. The terrace at Severn Mews
6. 9 and 10 Parkes Passage
7. Brick boundary walls, mainly at the southern end of Parkes Passage

The northern end of Parkes Passage is relatively narrow, between nos. 9 and 11 High Street. Nos. 1 and 2 Parkes Passage are set back on the east side, and there are views giving glimpses of the east end of the Wesley Methodist Church, the Old School Room and houses adjacent (see below). The middle section features post war bungalows of no interest, and two modern houses designed in a traditional manner. The southern end of the pedestrian part of Parkes Passage is narrow and enclosed dominated by the listed garden wall of 17 York Street. [Plate 5.10 and 5.11].

5.8          Aspects of the Conservation Area

5.8.1       Georgian buildings

The Georgian buildings include the warehouses and houses which were all built within a relatively short period, approximately 1770 to 1820. The houses share some common architectural features which include the following:

• Generally three storeys
• Range of widths – two to four bays
• Shallow plans. Many terraced houses are only one room deep
• Continuous terraces, generally without front areas or front gardens
• Facades have passageway entrances leading to the rear (for example, High Street and Lombard Street (west))
• At the rear are a variety of out-buildings and extensions of various ages
• Brick facades – generally in Flemish bond, with flush, narrow lime mortar pointing
• Bricks – warm red-orange to red-brown
• Regularly spaced fenestration; vertically proportioned, or square, openings
• White painted timber sash windows; some flush with the facades, others recessed
• Georgian sashes usually have six or eight panes. Top (second) floor sashes may have three of four panes. (Georgian sashes do not feature horns)
• Window headers of various brick or render (stucco) designs – flat or segmental brick arches; rendered voussoirs
• Projecting stone window cills
• Classical framed door cases in a variety of designs, including pediments, entablatures, with rectangular or semi-circular fanlights
• Shallow pitched roofs (30 – 40 degrees) either covered with slates or plain tiles. Ridges are parallel to the street facades
• Roofs are not inhabited. There are few dormer windows
• Brick dentil courses (or modillion cornices) at eaves level
• Brick chimney stacks (often on the party walls at ridge level)
• Rain water goods – traditionally cast iron

Some of these important characteristics of the Georgian house facades are illustrated in plates 5.12 to 5.21.

5.8.2       Public buildings

There are two important public buildings in the conservation area, which do not occupy prominent, highly visible locations because they are located in Parkes Passage. They are the Wesley Methodist Church and the Old School Room. [Plate 5.22 and 5.23].

5.8.3       Shopfronts

There are a number of shopfronts which are of interest and need to be protected, and enhanced where appropriate. These include the following:

• 1 High Street – Victorian
• 2 and 2a High Street – Neo-Georgian (20th century) *
• 3 High Street – Victorian
• 11 High Street – Neo-Georgian (20th century)
• 13? Tom and Rays – Victorian *  
• 17 High Street Classical – date unknown
• 18 High Street – Victorian
• 19 and 19a – Georgian (?)
• 20 and 21 – Classical (Georgian?) framework. Edwardian shopfronts *
• 22 and 23 and 24/25 High Street – remains of Victorian shopfronts – console brackets to fascia
• 28 High Street – Victorian rendered arched framework (WH Smith)
• 29 High Street – Victorian *
• 33 High Street – 20th century in 19th century style
• 35 High Street – Victorian *
• 36 High Street – Victorian *
• 40 High Street – Georgian *
• 42 High Street – Neo-Georgian *
• 5 Lombard Street – Neo-Georgian
• 15 Lombard Street – Victorian
• 4 York Street – Victorian style
• 6 York Street – Victorian
• 7 York Street – Victorian style
• 14 and 15 York Street – Victorian style
• The Old Inspectors House, York Street – neo Georgian shop window

* These shopfronts are of particular significance

Plates 5.24 to 5.26 show examples of shopfronts in High Street. More photographs of the shopfronts are shown in Appendix III.

There are a variety of shop signs in the conservation area, using a range of materials and designs and of varying quality. However, none appear to be of historic interest.

5.8.4       Front Gardens and Boundary Walls

The houses in the eastern part of the conservation area generally have front gardens. The buildings in York Street and High Street do not have any front areas. In Lion Hill the houses have small front gardens of various designs, with low brick walls, some with railings on top. These boundaries are all modern, except perhaps for the wall at nos. 6 and 6B Lion Hill. [Plate 5.27].

In Mitton Street there are brick garden walls, and some historic sandstone walls, on the north side. Where there are railings these appear to be modern. The houses are quite well set back on the north side, but less so on the south side. [Plate 5.28]. On Severn Road the terrace is set back behind large front gardens, with modern brick boundary walls.

The houses in Parkes Passage also have front gardens with low garden walls [Plate 5.29]. The garden walls to the Grade II listed buildings in Parkes Passage, namely 17 York Street and 9 and 10 Parkes Passage, are specifically included in the listings. There are also historic brick walls at the rear of the buildings on High Street and York Street, and also south of Severn Mews and at the rear of 1 and 2 Oakleigh Gardens. The latter are the original garden walls at the rear of no. 17 York Street. The historic boundary walls are of significance in the conservation area. [Plates 5.30 and 5.31].

5.8.5       Trees

There are relatively few mature trees in the conservation area. Notable examples, important to the character and appearance of the conservation area, include, in no particular order:

1. The mature trees in the garden of 17 York Street adjacent to Parkes Passage (one in the front garden; one in the rear) (See plate 5.26)
2. Trees in the courtyard in front of the Wesley Methodist Church
3. Trees in Villeneuve-le-Roi Gardens and the War Memorial Garden
4. Trees on the south side of Mitton Street at the junction with Lion hill
5. Trees on the west side of the canal, south of Lower Mitton Bridge [Plate32].

5.8.6       Surfaces

Most of the surfaces in the conservation area, highway and footpaths, are of tarmacadam and make a neutral contribution to the conservation area. There are modern brick pavements in High Street and along the canal which make a positive contribution to the character of the conservation area. [Plate 5.33]. There is a brick and sett design at the northern entrance to Parkes Passage (see plate 5.10). On the north side of York Street square paviours are used, with brick edge along the kerb side, with setts at the passageway entrance to the rear area (see Plate 5.9).

5.8.7       Lighting

In the High Street the street lighting columns have been removed and the lighting has been attached to building facades at high level, below the eaves level. This has reduced street level clutter and benefited the street environment. These lights give an even illumination of the pavement level and also illuminate the building facades. This is beneficial as the lights also illuminate the shopfront, reducing the need for individually illuminated signage. After closing time the shops are generally lit by subtle, low level internal lights, if at all.

The modern street lighting in Mitton Street and Lion Hill is at regular intervals giving an even spread of light. There are old cast iron Stourbridge-made lampposts of interest on the west side of Lion Hill, at Villeneuve-le-Roi Gardens.

While most buildings are not externally illuminated, other than by street lights, a few buildings have their own lights. These include the Swan public house at the north end of the High Street. This enhances the building’s visibility and landmark status after dark. The Bell public house on Lion Hill also has external lights at high level on the facade, again making it a landmark feature at night.

The canal tow path west of Lion Hill is generally unlit, except for light spillage from Lion Hill and from adjacent buildings.

5.8.8       Street furniture

In historic there are traditional bollards along the kerb edge to prevent parking on the pavement. At the north end of the post office is a traditionally designed shelter with bench seating [Plate 5.34]. There is a column mounted CCTV camera on the traffic island at the north end of the High Street.

5.8.9       Traffic signs and lights

There are traffic signs at the main junctions: at the west end of York Street, the north end of High Street, the Mitton Street/Lion Hill/Vale Road junction (where there is the biggest concentration), the east end of Mitton Street, the south end of Lion Hill. There are pedestrian crossings with traffic control lights at these locations (except for the south end of Lion Hill) which have large and obtrusive control boxes located close by. These cause some harm to the streetscape.

5.8.10     Sounds and Smells

In some cases sounds and smells within a conservation area can be part of its character, for example, the smells associated with certain industries such as brewing. However, there are no particularly distinctive sounds or smells within this conservation area, other than possibly the subtle smell of water in the canal and the fumes and noise of vehicular traffic. These do not contribute positively to its significance.