Rossett Conservation Area Assessment and Management Plan

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Rossett Conservation Area Assessment and Management Plan
Rossett Conservation Area
Assessment and Management Plan

                   Adopted October 2011
Rossett Conservation Area Assessment and Management Plan
Contact
For more information or advice contact:
Head of Community Wellbeing and Development
Planning Service
Wrexham County Borough Council
16 Lord Street, Wrexham, LL11 1LG
email: planning@wrexham.gov.uk
www.wrexham.gov.uk/planning

This document is available in welsh and in alternative formats on request.
It is also available on the Council’s website
Rossett Conservation Area Assessment and Management Plan
contents
Part I - Character Assessment
1.0    Introduction                                            1
2.0    History and Development                                 3
3.0    Summary of Special Character                            9
4.0    Character in Detail                                     12
5.0    Summary of Negative Features                            29

Part II - Management Plan
6.0    Enhancement Plan                                        32
7.0    Design Guidance                                         35
8.0    Conservation Area Controls                              38
9.0    Sources of Funding                                      41

Appendix 1
Listed Buildings                                               43

Appendix 2
Conservation Policy Guidance                                   44

Appendix 3
Glossary of Terms                                              45

Appendix 4
References - useful contacts                                   47
Figures
Figure 1 - Rossett Conservation Area
Figure 2 - Rossett Historic Map 1899                           7
Figure 3 - Rossett Historic Map 1911                           8
Figure 4 - Chester Road Character Map                          14
Figure 5 - Gun Street Character Map                            21
Figure 6 - Station Road and Station Lane Character Map         24
Rossett Conservation Area Assessment and Management Plan
#

Ordnance Survey (mapping) © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. 100023429. 2012

                          Ariel View Rossett Conservation Area 2006
Rossett Conservation Area Assessment and Management Plan
part 1 - character assessment

                         Part 1
          Character Assessment
Rossett Conservation Area Assessment and Management Plan
part 1 - character assessment

                                                                                    #

Ordnance Survey (mapping) © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. 100023429. 2010

                               Figure 1: Rossett Conservation Area
Rossett Conservation Area Assessment and Management Plan
introduction

                                                                               1 introduction
Conservation Area Designation                             development. This document is concerned with the
1.1 Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings          reasons for designation, defining the qualities that
and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 requires Local           make up its special architectural and historic
Authorities to identify "areas of special architectural   interest, character and appearance. The omission of
or historic interest the character or appearance of       any reference to a particular building, feature or
which it is desirable to preserve or enhance" for         space should not be taken to imply that it is of no
designation as conservation areas.                        interest.
                                                          Planning Context
Purpose
                                                          1.4 This Statement should be read in conjunction
1.2 The purpose of the Conservation Area
                                                          with the Wrexham Unitary Development Plan
Character Assessment and Management Plan is:
                                                          (adopted 2005) and the emerging policies within
l Provide a clear definition of the area's                the Local Development Plan, and national planning
    special architectural or historic interest            policy guidance, in particular Welsh Office Circular
l To identify ways in which their unique                  61/96: Planning and the Historic Environment:
    characteristics can be preserved and                  Historic Buildings and Conservation Areas.
    enhanced through the Enhancement Plan
                                                          Location
l To strengthen the justification for
                                                          1.5 Rossett is a large village located approximately
    designation
                                                          6.5 miles to the north of Wrexham and close to the
l To create a clear context for future                    Cheshire and English border. The village is bounded
    development in accordance with                        to the west by the A483 dual carriageway and the
    conservation area policies in the                     Wrexham to Chester railway line. To the south flows
    development plan                                      the River Alyn which loops round to the north east
l To provide a vehicle for engagement and                 where it joins the River Dee, its meandering course
    awareness raising                                     demarcating the English and Welsh border. The
                                                          surrounding countryside is typically flat and
Rossett Conservation Area                                 intensively farmed with an abundance of hedges
1.3 This Assessment and Management Plan aims              and hedge row trees. Long views across the flat
to promote and support developments that are in           open farmland are achievable to the north and east
keeping with, or enhance, the character of the            where gaps in development and lower hedge rows
Rossett Conservation Area. It is not an attempt to        permit. To the south and west the landscape is
stifle change. The aim is to strike a balance so that     more dramatic against the backdrop of the Welsh
the interests of conservation are given their full        Hills.
weight against the needs for change and
                                                                                                                 1
Rossett Conservation Area Assessment and Management Plan
introduction

    Geology                                                to the north east of the village. The Rossett Hoard
    1.6 The geology of the area has been formed            is perhaps the best known and is on display in
    from fluvioglacial drift deposits consisting of till   Wrexham County Museum. There are also records
    and alluvial deposits. The principal building          of a lost chapel dedicated to St Peter which was
    material within the Conservation Area is red brick     documented in the mid 17th Century and
    although yellow sandstone can be seen in some          demolished in the late 18th Century. The position
    building facades on Station Road and most              of the chapel is believed to be to the north of
    prevalently within the construction of Christ          Rossett Green. The 'Holy' well associated with the
    Church and its boundary walls. Sandstone is also       chapel is recorded around 400 metres north-west
    evident as decoration to later properties in the       of Rossett Green. Any future works within this
    form of window sills and heads and in some             area may allow for further interpretation of the
    boundary walls. The later 19th and early 20th          village's history.
    Century buildings display a smoother red brick         Consultation
    produced from fire clay and terracotta marls
                                                           1.8 Rossett Community Council, County Borough
    perhaps from the nearby Ruabon and Cefn Mawr
                                                           Council members and a range of organisations
    areas.
                                                           and groups with an interest in the historic
    Archaeology                                            environment and the local area were consulted on
    1.7 There is no evidence of early settlement           this document. Statutory bodies such as Cadw
    within the village itself however there have been a    were also consulted. Public consultation was
    number of prehistoric and Roman treasure finds         undertaken during July and August 2011.

2
Rossett Conservation Area Assessment and Management Plan
history and development

              2 History
       and Development

                          3
Rossett Conservation Area Assessment and Management Plan
history and development

    2 History and Development
    Early Rossett                                          mill was built on a site directly opposite. This mill is
    2.1 The name Rossett appears to be a corruption        the famous 'Upper' Rossett Mill. The grade II* listed
    of Yr Orsedd which translates to mound or hillock      building displays a date of 1661 on its façade and it
    and could possibly refer to an ancient hill fort or    is understood that this date represents the year
    meeting place on the nearby Marford Hill. It is        when the mill building was extended and altered.
    believed that from Saxon times, meetings and           2.3 The description of the mills as being either
    gatherings were held in the area to manage the         Marford or Rossett Mill relates to their location
    land and the people. This tradition continued into     within different townships. It is likely that after the
    the 13th Century when the area was under the rule      construction of the upper mill in the 16th Century
    of the Marcher Lords.                                  both mills would have been known as the Marford
                                                           Mills as the settlement of Rossett at this time
    Medieval Rossett
                                                           would likely have comprised little more than a few
    2.2 Settlement in the Rossett area can be traced
                                                           small cottages or farmsteads. The lower mill fell
    back to the 11th Century when the Domesday Book
                                                           within the geographical boundary of the Marford
    of 1086
                                                           and Hosely township whilst the upper mill was
    records a
                                                           located in the township of Burton and it is from this
    mill on the
                                                           separation that the names appear to have been
    site now
                                                           formed.
    occupied by
    the 'Lower'                                            16th to 18th Century
    Marford                                                2.4 The 16th Century saw the erection of the
    Mill. The                                              grade II* listed Trevalyn Hall by John Trevor. The
    current                                                property is
    building                                               an excellent
    dates from                                             example of
    the late 18th Century and was constructed after a      Elizabethan
    fire destroyed its predecessor. Marford Mill was       architecture
    originally the Crown Mill which meant that all         and although
    'unfree' tenants of the land had to send their corn    located in
    there to be milled. The obligations of the mill were   the historic
    unpopular with the people and so in 1544 a private     township of
4
history and development

Marford, the building has become an important           notably along Station Road, which was absent of
landmark feature signifying the approach to Rossett     development as late as 1843. The station at Rossett,
village. The construction and presence of the hall      designed by Thomas. M Penson, made the village a
would likely have generated employment                  very desirable place to live with relatively easy
opportunities in the area but there is no evidence      commuting
of smaller domestic properties of this time found       to Chester,
within the settlement. It is believed that a bridge     Wrexham,
over the River Alyn existed around this time; John      Birkenhead
Trevor bequeathing a sum of money in his will of        and
1589 for the repair of Pont Melin or Mill Bridge.       Liverpool.
                                                        The next 20
2.5 Little development appears to have been
                                                        years or so
recorded during the 17th Century, however at this
                                                        saw the
time the upper mill was extended and altered
                                                        erection of
suggesting that there was increasing demand for
                                                        large detached and semi-detached Victorian villas
corn to be milled to feed a growing population.
                                                        and mansions along Station Road, Station Lane and
There is also reference to a knight called Richard
                                                        out towards Burton and Croeshowell with the new
Trevor having a chapel at Yr Orsedd Goch in
                                                        wealthy business class needing staff for their
Allington in 1620 known as the chapel of St Peter. It
                                                        properties and gardens and thus stimulating further
is believed this chapel was demolished in the 18th
                                                        employment in the village.
Century.
                                                        2.9 In 1859 the population of the village was such
2.6 Rossett Hall, known historically as The Rossett,
                                                        that a new school for the village children was
and Trevalyn House, located to the south of the
                                                        erected along Station Road. The National Aided
village, both
                                                        School was constructed on land belonging to the
date from
                                                        Trevalyn estate and was made larger in 1860 only
the mid 18th
                                                        one year after it opened. The school building was
Century and
                                                        demolished in 1955 to make way for the public car
although
                                                        park.
they have
been altered                                            Christ Church
and                                                     2.10 The parish of Rossett which consisted of the
extended                                                townships of Burton and Allington was formed in
during the                                              1840 when it was
19th and 20th Centuries they still retain their         separated from the
original Georgian character. Rossett Hall, which lies   large parish of
outside the Conservation Area was built for James       Gresford. The village
Boydell, whose family were prominent within the         did not contain a
village and acted as Stewards for Trevalyn Hall and     church and up until
estate from the mid 18th Century until the late 19th    1840 residents would
Century. Alyn Cottage which sits opposite Christ        travel to All Saints
Church also dates from this era and was the dower       Church in Gresford for
house for Rossett Hall.                                 their religious services.
19th Century                                            In 1841 the first Christ
                                                        Church was erected
2.7 Up until the mid to late 19th Century Rossett
                                                        but was replaced by
was a very small village dominated by the large
                                                        the existing church
estate of Trevalyn Hall and the smaller estates of
                                                        which was constructed between 1891 and 1892.
Trevalyn House and The Rossett (Rossett Hall)
                                                        The plinth on which the current Church sits is said
which surrounded the small settlement. The historic
                                                        to be formed from the stone of the original church
core of the village centred along Gun Street with
                                                        building.
further smaller domestic buildings located around
Chapel Lane and Rossett Green following the "old        2.11 The grade II listed Church was designed by the
road" to Chester.                                       Chester architects Douglas and Fordham who also
                                                        designed the Old Parsonage House which lay to the
2.8 The introduction of the railway and
                                                        north of the Churchyard and was subsequently
construction of a station at Rossett by Great
                                                        demolished in the late 20th Century to make way
Western Railway in 1846 acted as the catalyst for
                                                        for a modern housing estate. The land on which the
the development and growth of the village most
                                                                                                               5
history and development

    Church sits was donated by James Boydell of            earlier and narrower stone bridge. As part of
    Rossett Hall and there are stained glass windows       improvements to the roadways the bend in Chester
    within the Church dedicated to the family. The         Road to the front of Christ Church was improved by
    Church contains some fine examples of stained glass    purchasing a small section of the garden area of
    of its period designed by the artists Kempe and        Alyn Cottage.
    Burne-Jones.
                                                           2.14 The most significant alterations to the village
    2.12 Towards the turn of the 20th Century new          came during the latter half of the 20th Century
    buildings continued to be erected along Station        which saw significant extension to the north east
    Road and along Chester Road with the land being        and east of the historic centre with the erection of
    subdivided                                             large private and municipal housing estates. Rossett
    into                                                   Station also closed during this time, unable to
    individual                                             escape Beeching's axe in the 1960's. Within the
    building                                               Conservation Area itself little has altered with the
    plots. In 1898                                         historic street pattern and composition of the
    an auction                                             buildings retained.
    was held at
                                                           2.15 The most recent development within the
    the Golden
                                                           Conservation Area has included the new small
    Lion for the
                                                           residential estate called The Copse off Station Road.
    sale of
                                                           The retention of existing trees, several of which are
    several building plots on Chester Road which
                                                           protected by Tree Preservation Orders, and use of
    subsequently saw the erection of Halkyn Terrace,
                                                           soft landscaping has helped ease the development
    Lochinvar, Alyndene, Bodalyn and the New Police
                                                           into street-scape.
    House on Chester Road. Smaller scale domestic
    building was also occurring on Station Road towards    2.16 Today Rossett serves as a popular commuter
    the curved junction with Chester Road and around       village to north Wales and the north west of
    Chapel lane to the north east of the village.          England offering excellent road links to the A483,
                                                           A55 and M53.
    20th and 21st Centuries                                Station Road
    2.13 The early 20th Century saw little change to the   and Chester
    village. The most notable additions include the        Road continue
    Church Hall on Station Road which was designed by      to offer a small
    P H Lockwood on land donated by the Boscowen           number of
    Family who had inherited Trevalyn Hall from the        shops and
    Trevor Family. Also of interest was the construction   community
    of the current Mill Bridge in 1921 which replaced an   services.
6
history and development

Figure 2: Historic Map Rossett 1899
                                                                                    #

Ordnance Survey (mapping) © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. 100023429. 2010

                                                                                        7
history and development

    Figure 3: Historic Map Rossett 1911                                                 #

    Ordnance Survey (mapping) © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. 100023429. 2010

8
summary of special character

           3 Summary of
       Special Character
                               9
summary of special character

     3 Summary of Special Character
     3.1 The special character of the Rossett                 Rossett Mill
     Conservation Area is derived from the following:         is particularly
                                                              important
     The River Alyn                                           with its
     3.2 The river Alyn is an important feature of the        distinctive
     village. Historically water from the river was used to   crooked
     power                                                    timber
     Rossett and                                              framing
     Marford                                                  marking the
     Mills. Today                                             southern entrance to the village. Also of interest
     the River                                                are the well proportioned stone and render
     provides an                                              Victorian villas of Station Road and Station Lane
     important                                                and the black and white rendered façade of The
     setting with                                             Golden Lion public house which displays distinctive
     the Mill                                                 window and door details and curved walling
     Bridge providing an attractive gateway into the          reminiscent of the picturesque Cottage Orne style
     village centre. The setting of the bridge is enhanced    prevalent in nearby Marford.
     by the presence of mature trees and to the west or
     east views of the surrounding agricultural landscape     Building Materials, Architecture and
     reinforce the rural character. Beyond Rossett Bridge     Vernacular details
     the Gothic inspired Christ Church is a dominating        3.4 The
     feature sitting comfortably within large tree lined      village
     grounds. Opposite the impressive mature trees            displays a
     within the grounds of Alyn Cottage create a strong       variety of
     sense of enclosure.                                      building
     Landmark Buildings                                       materials
                                                              which all add
     3.3 The principal landmark structures within the
                                                              to the special
     Conservation Area are Rossett Mill and Christ
                                                              character.
     Church which are given prominence as a result of
                                                              Yellow sandstone is evident in the construction of
     their design, construction, position and scale.
                                                              the Church and some of the larger Victorian villas
10
summary of special character

along Station Road. Red brick is the most prevalent      Contribution Made by Trees
material for domestic construction with many of the      3.7 Trees are a prevalent feature throughout much
original                                                 of the Conservation Area with many protected by
brick                                                    Tree
facades                                                  Preservation
remaining                                                Orders. The
particularly                                             principal
along                                                    mature
Station                                                  trees are
Road and                                                 those that
Chester                                                  form the
Road. The                                                northern
later 19th and early 20th Century properties display     boundary to
both brick and rendered facades with the cottages        the Churchyard and those within the grounds of
of Halkyn Terrace, Sunny Villas and the larger semi-     Alyn Cottage, which provide an important setting to
detached buildings of Alyndene and Bodalyn on            the listed Church and the surrounding properties
Chester Road typical of this style. Half timbering,      and which form an important backdrop to wider
particularly to the gables, is also a regular feature    views into and within the Conservation Area. The
from this era and is visible on properties on Station    woodland area around Tyn-y-Coed on Chester Road
Road, Chester Road and Gun Street.                       contributes to the rural character of the village
3.5 Architecture within the village reflects a variety   creating a sense of enclosure with the adjacent
of periods and influences from the 16th Century          trees within Rossett Green. Large mature trees to
timber framed Rossett Mill to the planned Victorian      the west of Station Road provide an important
and Edwardian properties of Station Lane and             visual barrier to both the railway line and the A483
Station Road. Within the Conservation Area               dual carriageway.
buildings predominantly relate to the 19th and 20th
                                                         Traditional Street Pattern and
Centuries when the village experienced rapid
growth as a result of the introduction of railway line   Building Line
and station. Detailing is again varied with more         3.8 Gun Street has retained its narrow and
extravagant designs evident in the earlier Victorian     intimate street plan with no footways where small
villas and later 19th century public buildings.          cottages
Windows typically sit upon yellow sandstone sills        and terraces
with the common window styles being sliding sash         are
or more simpler timber framed casements.                 positioned
                                                         close to the
Boundary Treatments                                      highway
3.6 Yellow sandstone is a common boundary                edge.
treatment within the Conservation Area providing         Station
consistency                                              Road has
and                                                      also
continuity                                               followed the historic street pattern and has a more
between                                                  consistent and compact building line creating a
the various                                              strong rhythm to the street-scape. Properties are
streets. The                                             typically set behind small front gardens. Chester
sandstone                                                Road has a less consistent building line with
wall and                                                 typically larger properties set within substantial
steps                                                    grounds. Halkyn Terrace is therefore an unusual
around the                                               feature and adds variety to the streetscape.
wide junction of Station Road and Chester Road are
also important features demarcating the highway          Decorated Kerb Stones
and footpath. The red brick boundary wall to Tyn-y-      3.9 The black and white painted kerb stones
Coed and Rossett Hall is a dominant feature along        around the wide junction with Station Road and
Chester Road, extending for around 200 metres            Chester Road are a unique feature of the village and
maintaining an element of separation between the         add interest within the streetscape.
main village settlement and the former Rossett Hall
estate. Hedge boundaries are also prevalent
enhancing the rural character of the village.
                                                                                                                11
character in detail

     4. Character
     in Detail
12
character in detail

                                                                               Chester Road
4.1 The Conservation Area can be sub-divided into       the Mill Race. The buildings are set behind low
three distinct areas of character as described below.   sandstone walls, a prevalent boundary treatment
                                                        within the
Chester Road                                            Conservation
4.2 When entering the Conservation Area from the        Area. The
south along Chester Road a fine view is afforded of     crooked
the village                                             frame and
centre with                                             black and
the                                                     white finish
distinctive                                             of the grade
Rossett Mill                                            II* listed
and River                                               Rossett Mill has made the structure synonymous
Alyn in the                                             with the village and is a particularly important and
foreground                                              prominent landmark building within the
and the                                                 Conservation Area. Marford Mill, set back from the
equally                                                 road, is the larger of the two mills with the current
impressive solid stone tower of Christ Church in the    structure dating from the late 18th Century. To the
background. Opposite the Church at the heart of         rear of the mill is a large extension which
the Conservation Area, dense tree coverage to the       complements the historic structure in terms of
garden of Alyn Cottage provides a prominent and         proportion, scale and design. The flat topography of
attractive feature within the village. From here        the land surrounding the mills provides excellent
Chester Road bends eastwards where the building         views of the neighbouring countryside helping
line becomes more consistent with a variety of          define and reinforce the strong rural character of
terraced, detached and semi-detached properties         the mills and contributing significantly to their
before opening up onto the large expanse of             setting.
Rossett Green.
                                                        4.4 Continuing along Chester Road the village is
4.3 Positioned either side of Chester Road are the      entered via the Alyn Bridge, a single round arched
two historic mills which form an attractive gateway     sandstone structure surmounted with modern
to the village and which are separated from the         metal railings to the western edge and cement
more urban core of the settlement by the gentle         walling to the east. The original bridge, known as
flowing River Alyn and the ponds and streams of         Pont Melin or Mill Bridge was replaced in 1921.
                                                                                                                13
character in detail

      Figure 4: Chester Road Character Area Boundary
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      #

                                                                                                                                                                              D D
                                                                                                                                                                               DD

                                           Cemetery
                                                                                                                           Ro

                                                                                                                                                                              d
                                                                                                                                                                          oa
                                                                                                                                ss
                                                                                                                                     et

                                                                                                                                                                      rR
                                                                                                                                          tC

                                                                                                                                                                     te
                                                                                                                                               ot

                                                                                                                                                                    es
                                                                                                                                                    ta
                                       D                                                                                                               g

                                                                                                                                                                Ch
                                                                                                                                                           e

                                      D                                                                    Golden Lion

                                                                                                                                                               Bu
                             Vicarage D

                                                                                                                                                                tc
                                                                                                           Hotel (PH)
                                      D

                                                                                                                                                                he
                                                                                                                                                                     rs
                                      D

                                                                                                                                                                      Ar
                                                                                                                                                                          m
                                                                   Willo

                                                                                                                                                                          s
                                                                                Loc

                                                                                        Bye
                                                                     wC

                                                                                 hinv

                                                                                         well

                                Christ Church                                                                     ce
                                                                                                           erra
                                                                       otta
                                                     Alyn

                                                                                                       yn T
                                                                                  ar

                                                                                                Halk
                                                                           ge
                                                       Den
                                                        e

                                                                     Alyn
                                                                    Cottage

n   (Afon Alun)
                                                     Alyn Bridge

                     Rossett Mill

                                      Marford Mill

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  )
                                                                                                                                                                                                                un
                                                                                                                                                                                                          n   Al
                                                                                                                                                                                                       fo
                                                                                                                                                                                                     (A
                                                                                                                                                                                            ly   n
                                                                                                                                                                                        er A
                                                                                                                                                                                  Riv

                                                               n
                                                          ai
                                                        Dr

     Ordnance Survey (mapping) © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. 100023429. 2010

    Key
                  Character Area Boundary                                                                                 Traditional Brick and Iron Railing Boundary
                  Buildings of Visual Interest                                                                            Important Open Space
                  Traditional Sandstone Wall                                                                           D Tree Preservation Order
              Listed Building                                                                                             Traditional Brick Wall
              Important View                                                                                              Significant Group of Trees Contributing
                                                                                                                          to Setting for Enclosure
              Important Approach
              Landmark Buildings

    14
character in detail

Looking westwards from the bridge provides views        4.5 Alyn Cottage occupies a central position within
to rear of the                                          the Conservation Area set behind a traditional
properties                                              sandstone rubble wall and within large tree-covered
along Station                                           grounds. The building itself is mostly obscured from
Road where                                              wider views however the white render finish and
some                                                    traditional sash windows are just visible through the
sporadic tree                                           foliage. The building, which has been significantly
planting and                                            extended is believed to date from late 18th Century
vegetation                                              and was the dower house for Rossett Hall. The
soften their                                            grounds of Alyn Cottage are particularly important
appearance                                              within the Conservation Area, the dense foliage
and prominence. To the east, just before the bridge     softening the streetscape offering greenery and
a sloping route off Manor Lane indicates the historic   contributing significantly to the essential setting of
route                                                   Christ Church which faces opposite.
through the
                                                        4.6 Christ
river via a
                                                        Church
shallow ford
                                                        stands at
that lead to
                                                        the centre
Gun Street.
                                                        of the
Today the
                                                        historic
road offers
                                                        village on a
access to the
                                                        prominent
Trevalyn
                                                        bend in the
Manor Estate with the trees and vegetation along
                                                        road where
the river course concealing the modern extensions
                                                        its position and height make the building an
to the settlement and helping to preserve the
                                                        important landmark feature which dominates views
traditional rural appearance of the sub-area.

                                                                                                                 15
character in detail

     into the Conservation Area from the south and from       Church, form a pair of semi-detached villas. Typical
     the east. The church is set behind a low sandstone       Edwardian red brick, terracotta and render
     block wall surmounted with metal railings, which         detailing,
     defined the boundary of the original 1841 Church.        large
     Access into the churchyard is through a simple lych      chimney
     gate with carved bargeboards. The setting of the         stacks and
     Church is further enhanced by the presence of            scalloped
     mature trees particularly those to the northwest         red tiled
     corner of the churchyard which help give a sense of      roofs draw
     enclosure and intimacy.                                  attention
                                                              and offer a
     4.7 The grade II listed
                                                              pleasing
     Church is constructed
                                                              contrast to the yellow sandstone of the nearby
     of deeply dressed
                                                              Christ Church. The properties are set behind a low
     sandstone laid in
                                                              red brick wall with sandstone copings surmounted
     irregular courses to a
                                                              with metal railings. The presence of trees and
     gothic revival design
                                                              vegetation within the front garden areas soften the
     by Douglas and
                                                              building line. Bodalyn, the former doctor's surgery,
     Fordham. The Church
                                                              retains its traditional timber sash windows.
     is built to a cruciform
     plan with a long nave                                    4.10 Within the original curtilage of Bodalyn is the
     and north aisle of five                                  Former Surgery, a small single storey timber
     bays with a short high                                   boarded dwelling erected during the mid 20th
     chancel and transepts                                    Century possibly as additional accommodation for
     with the large square                                    the main
     tower extending from the crossing. The tower has         surgery
     an early 20th Century clock face on the east face        building as
     and is finished with a crenellated parapet with          the house
     croqueted finials. The grade II listed war memorial is   name
     positioned just behind the front boundary wall, the      suggests.
     design and materials complementing Christ Church.        The
                                                              property is
     4.8 To the north east of Christ Church is the
                                                              reached
     church cemetery with access along a narrow tree-
                                                              through a
     lined
                                                              metal gate supported by two brick piers with
     pathway
                                                              pyramidal stone cappings contemporary with the
     which
                                                              existing front boundary wall to Bodalyn and
     provides
                                                              Alyndene. To the rear of Bodalyn, the former coach
     excellent
                                                              house and stable block, now converted to a single
     views of the
                                                              dwelling, is visible above the rear garden wall.
     surrounding
     countryside                                              4.11 Adjacent is Lochinvar, a two storey red brick
     linking the                                              dwelling with slate roof and corbelled end chimney
     village to                                               stacks
     it's rural past. Looking back towards the village the    erected in
     scale of the Church can be fully appreciated set         the late
     against the trees within the grounds of Alyn             19th
     Cottage. The separation of the cemetery from the         Century on
     Church building and the busier village creates an        land
     important and appropriate sense of intimacy and          purchased
     peace.                                                   through an
                                                              auction held
     4.9 Moving beyond Christ Church, Chester Road
                                                              at the
     begins to straighten with the building line becoming
                                                              Golden Lion Hotel. The building displays a simple
     more consistent. To the north side, the properties
                                                              but attractive symmetrical frontage with large bay
     are typically larger and set within substantial
                                                              windows flanking the central entrance at ground
     grounds where views of the surrounding
                                                              floor. Windows are renewed within the original
     countryside can be glimpsed between the buildings.
                                                              openings. The building sits within a large plot
     Alyndene and Bodalyn, positioned adjacent to the
16
character in detail

behind a quaint white picket fence. The eastern half     of the site are two further dwellings formerly the
of the plot remains undeveloped, enclosed from the       outbuildings associated with Rossett Court. To the
highway behind a native hedgerow, and offers good        north of the site the large mature trees within the
views northwards to the surrounding countryside.         garden area of the Golden Lion enclose views and
                                                         soften the appearance of the large red brick
4.12 Byewell, a large late 20th Century dwelling
                                                         boundary wall of Rossett Court.
continues
the building                                             4.15 Bridewell House and Halkyn Terrace line the
line to the                                              southern side of Chester Road forming a consistent
northern                                                 building
side of                                                  line. The
Chester                                                  buildings
Road.                                                    are set
Whilst its                                               behind a
larger scale                                             low red
and size is                                              brick wall
respectful of the neighbouring dwellings the             with
modern concrete tiled roof and plain design is in        sandstone
contrast with the more traditional slate and red tile    cappings
roofs and decorative terracotta and brick detailing      surmounted by metal railings giving them a unified
evident on the surrounding buildings.                    appearance which is more suburban in character
                                                         than elsewhere along Chester Road. Bridewell
4.13 The buildings at Rossett Court complete this
                                                         House, the first property of the row dates from
short section of Chester Road with the principal
                                                         1904 with smooth red brick walls laid in an English
building, a
                                                         bond with a red clay tiled roof. The property was
large two
                                                         constructed as the new police house, from which
storey red
                                                         the building gains it name, to replace the old police
brick
                                                         house which encloses the row at the opposite end.
dwelling,
                                                         The building displays elements of the domestic
retaining
                                                         revival style with mullioned and transomed
much of its
                                                         windows and four centred arch over the doorway.
original
                                                         The ground floor windows largely retain the original
detailing
                                                         casements and toplights.
and
character. The building dates from 1897 as               4.16 Halkyn Terrace consists of nine dwellings of
decoratively inscribed on the advanced front gable       which eight were built in 1898 after the land was
apex and also within the unusual moulded date-           sold at
stone above the main side entrance door. The             auction. The
building formerly housed the village butchers with       eight
the original shopfront still facing onto Chester Road.   central
The prominent side elevation displays an attractive      terraces are
entrance porch. The building retains its original        of a roughly
timber casement windows with leaded and                  symmetrical
coloured toplights and a corbelled string course.        design
                                                         where
4.14 The corbelled string
                                                         advanced
course is repeated on
                                                         gables with heavily timbered apexes enclose the
the adjacent building
                                                         row at either end. Bay windows, blue diapered
dating from the early
                                                         brickwork and decorated string course add
20th Century and which
                                                         distinction to the terrace. Numbers 4 and 5 retain
now houses the village
                                                         the original windows and give an indication of the
pharmacy. The design
                                                         intended fenestration. The original chimney stacks
and detailing is
                                                         have been retained adding rhythm to the
deliberately reflective of
                                                         streetscape.
the adjacent Rossett
Court, together the two                                  4.17 Enclosing the row is number 1 Halkyn Terrace
buildings adding rhythm                                  its diminutive scale and rendered finish contrasting
and consistency to the                                   with the size and warm red brick of adjoining
street-scape. To the rear                                buildings and adding variety and interest to the
                                                                                                                 17
character in detail

     wider street-scene. The building dates from the mid       finish complements the main building and is a
     to late 19th Century with the symmetrical design          pleasing contrast to the surrounding red brick
     and steep                                                 properties.
     angled
                                                               4.20 Adjacent are Kenmar and The Butcher's Arms
     dormers
                                                               public house. Kenmar, which houses the local village
     with
                                                               store is a
     pointed
                                                               late 20th
     finials
                                                               Century
     typical of
                                                               building set
     the
                                                               behind a
     Victorian
                                                               small
     era.
                                                               informal
     Attached to number 1 is Holt Cabinetry, a small
                                                               parking area
     building with a modern conservatory extension
                                                               with its
     positioned at a prominent curve in the road at the
                                                               modern
     narrow junction with Gun Street.
                                                               design and materials stark between two historic
     4.18 Beyond Halkyn Terrace, Chester Road gains a          buildings. The Butcher's Arms occupies a prominent
     more open feeling as the road widens and the              position within the Conservation Area orientated
     building line                                             towards the junction with Holt Road and Chester
     becomes                                                   Road. The building is believed to date from the
     less intense.                                             early 19th Century and is of red brick and slate roof
     From here                                                 construction. Windows are renewed timber
     Rossett                                                   casements within the original openings and the
     Green                                                     south west side elevation reveals an original
     forms an                                                  opening now blocked up with segmental brick
     important                                                 arched head. Mature trees within the neighbouring
     backdrop to                                               garden area offer an attractive backdrop to views of
     views out of                                              the pub from Chester Road.
     the Conservation Area enhancing the setting of the
                                                               4.21
     grade II listed Rossett Hall opposite. To the east, set
                                                               Opposite is
     back from the road behind a sandstone wall and
                                                               the Golden
     neat lawn is Poplar Cottage a two storey red brick
                                                               Lion Hotel,
     dwelling. This building dates from at least the mid
                                                               its
     19th Century and has kneelered and coped stone
                                                               distinctive
     gables with renewed windows positioned
                                                               black and
     symmetrically around a new central doorway.
                                                               white
     4.19 The white painted façade of Machine House,           colour
     formerly Churton's Food & Wine Bar, demands               scheme,
     attention                                                 grand scale and curved walling making it a
     within the                                                prominent building within the Conservation Area.
     street-                                                   The building is believed to date from the late 18th
     scape. The                                                to early 19th Century but may be earlier. The
     building                                                  organic built form and colour scheme are
     dates from                                                reminiscent of the picturesque detailing prevalent
     at least the                                              in nearby Marford. The building sits within large
     mid 19th                                                  landscaped grounds which enhance the setting of
     Century and                                               the building, add variety to the street-scape and
     housed the                                                help maintain strong visual links with the
     post office before it moved to Station Road. The          surrounding countryside.
     original stone construction is visible on the side
                                                               4.22 The adjacent Rossett Cottage assists in
     elevations with the principle frontage being of brick
                                                               screening the large tarmac car park of the Golden
     construction. Windows are renewed timber
                                                               Lion. The building, believed to have 17th origins,
     casements, the original openings to the first floor
                                                               also displays the distinctive black and white colour
     retaining painted stone sills and arched heads. To
                                                               scheme and is enclosed from the highway by a
     the rear of the site are a small range of stone and
                                                               painted rendered boundary wall and modern
     brick outbuildings. The black and white painted
                                                               stained fencing. The grounds of the property
18
character in detail

contain several mature trees and much foliage         4.24 Rossett Hall marks the northern entrance to
which                                                 the Conservation Area, its scale and design making
contribute                                            it a distinctive building. The grade II listed building
significantly to                                      dates from the mid
the wider                                             18th Century when it
street-scape.                                         was built for the
Windows are                                           Boydell family and
renewed timber                                        known as The Rossett.
casements with                                        The three storey
the front                                             building is constructed
entrance door                                         of warm red brick with
positioned beneath an attractive ogee arch.           stone dressings and
                                                      rendered parapet. To
4.23 Beyond the
                                                      the road front a central
Golden Lion
                                                      entrance is set within a
Hotel and
                                                      recessed central bay
Rossett Cottage
                                                      under a dentilled brick
the eye is
                                                      pediment. Full height canted bays with heavily
channelled
                                                      chamfered corners and stone decoration flank the
along Chester
                                                      entrance. Windows are traditional near flush sash
Road and out of
                                                      windows.
the settlement
by the strong                                         4.25 The setting of Rossett Hall is complimented by
sense of enclosure offered by the trees and foliage   Rossett Green opposite. The area was historically
within the grounds of Tyn-y-Coed and Rossett Hall     known as the plantation forming part of the Rossett
and Rossett Green opposite. This same effect is       Hall Estate. In the 1930's the land became known as
equally important upon entering the Conservation      the Boydellian Pleasure Ground named after the
Area from the north where it offers the visitor a     Boydell Family of Rossett Hall. The area has retained
sense of arrival. A warm red brick wall with stone    its original open character and provides a physical
cappings forms a consistent boundary to the           and visual barrier between the more historic area of
western side of road enclosing Tyn-y-Coed and         the village and the modern developments to the
Rossett Hall from the main settlement.                east.
                                                                                                                19
character in detail

    Gun Street
    4.26 Gun Street is believed to be the earliest area of   white and black painted rendered facades. The
    organised settlement within the village and was the      buildings are
    'old road' to Chester before a bridge was erected        present in some
    over the River Alyn. Historically, access onto Gun       form on the
    Street was via a shallow ford through the river that     early OS map
    still remains distinguishable from Manor Lane. The       (figure 2 above)
    street is said to have gained its name from 'The         with The Shanty
    Gun' public house which was located half way along       being used as
    the road. Gun Street has retained its original narrow    the Primitive
    and intimate street plan with no footways and small      Methodist
    cottages and terraces positioned close to the            Chapel.
    highway edge. The diminutive width of the street
                                                             4.29 A short break in the building line leads to
    and the backdrop of the tree lined river course give
                                                             Numbers 1 and 2 Greenfield Cotts. The properties
    Gun Street a unique sense of place within the
                                                             originally formed part of a larger row of 3 and are
    Conservation Area.
                                                             likely to date from the mid to late 19th Century. The
    4.27 Orchard House, a large modern dwelling faces        rear elevation reveals the original brickwork to the
    the angled junction                                      first floor with an
    with Chester Road.                                       attractive saw tooth storey
    The white rendered                                       band. The ground floor
    property sits within                                     and road side elevation
    grounds formerly                                         are rendered although the
    associated with                                          storey band remains a
    Poplar Cottage and                                       feature. Windows are
    bears little in                                          renewed within the
    relation to the traditional street plan of Gun Street.   original recessed openings
                                                             which retain simple
   4.28 Beyond Orchard House the two storey gable
                                                             terracotta tiled sills. A low
   ends of The Cot and 1 Greenfield Cot abut the
                                                             sandstone boundary wall
   highway edge, which along with the rear out shuts
                                                             extends along the highway edge enclosing the front
   of Halkyn Terrace opposite give strong Gun Street a
                                                             garden area of 1 Greenfield Cot and is a consistent
   strong sense of enclosure. The Cot and The Shanty
                                                             feature along the street.
20 which sits adjacent, offer a similar appearance with
character in detail

Figure 5: Gun Street Character Area Boundary                                                                                             #

                                                                                          Golden Lion Hotel
                                                                                                (PH)

                                                                                                                         Po
                                                                                                                          pl
                                                                                                                          ar
                                                                                                                               Co
                                                                                                                                tta
                                                                             ce
                                                                    erra

                                                                                                                                    ge
                                                                yn T
                                                         Halk

                                                                                                              Th
                                                                                                               e
                                                                                                               Or
                                                                                                         Th

                                                                                                                   ch
                                                                                                          e

                                                                                                                    ar
                                                                                     et

                                                                                                          Sh

                                                                                                                    d
                                                                                re
                                                                             St

                                                                                                              an
                                                                        un

                                                                                                               ty
                                                                    G                       Greenfield
                             Aly                                                            Cottages
                                   nB
                                        an
                                             k

          Alyn
         Cottage
                       Alyn Lodge

Ordnance Survey (mapping) © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. 100023429. 2010

Key

      Character Area Boundary

      Buildings of Visual Interest
      Traditional Sandstone Wall
      Significant Group of Trees Contributing
      to Setting and/or Enclosure

                                                                                                                                             21
character in detail

     4.30 On the opposite side of Gun Street the warm         4.33 A short drop in ridge height leads down to
     red brick of Halkyn Terrace contrasts to the previous    numbers 3 and 4 Gun Street, which along with
     white rendered                                           numbers 1 and 2 are likely to represent some of the
     facades. The                                             oldest
     brickwork is laid                                        properties
     in a distinct                                            within the
     English bond                                             village. The
     with sandstone                                           original stone
     block angled                                             construction
     quoins to the                                            remains exposed
     out shuts and                                            with segmental
     terracotta detailing to the window sills, chimneys       stone arched
     and boundary wall copings. The rear boundaries of        window and
     the terrace follow the line of the street resulting in   door heads. Number 3 retains an original sash
     distinct angled walls which enhance the feeling of       window at first floor level whilst at ground floor
     enclosure.                                               level a timber bow window, similar to those at
                                                              number 5 and 6, has been inserted, although the
     4.31 Beyond Halkyn Terrace the rendered gable end
                                                              original stone head remains visible. Windows and
     of Ivy Cottage fronts the street. Ivy cottage along
                                                              doors to number 4 are renewed within the original
     with the
                                                              openings.
     adjoining
     Cottage may                                              4.34 Another short drop in the ridge height extends
     historically have                                        to numbers 5 and 6 Gun Street which complete the
     been connected                                           row. The original
     to the nearby                                            brickwork is
     Alyn Cottage                                             visible to
     with the linear                                          number 5 with
     form and                                                 number 6 now
     remnants of a large brick archway suggesting its use     rendered.
     as an outbuilding or coach house. The original           Windows and
     construction is mostly obscured with modern              doors to the
     render however a small section of un-coursed             cottages follow
     stonework is exposed to the southern elevation.          the proportions
     The cottages, which formerly comprised 4 smaller         and detailing of number 3 and 4 giving the row
     cottages, retain a traditional slate roof and some       consistency in appearance. Windows and doors are
     cast iron rainwater goods although previous              renewed within the original openings. Number 6
     extensions and alterations have eroded some of the       has been sympathetically extended to the side with
     original character.                                      a two storey extension. Three large brick axial
                                                              stacks punctuate the roofline of the row.
     4.32 Opposite are numbers 1 to 6 Gun Street which
     form a short terrace of small brick and stone            4.35 Beyond numbers 1 to 6 Gun Street the road
     cottages set                                             narrows and becomes a peaceful footway that leads
     back from the                                            down to the footpath
     highway behind                                           that follows the tree
     small front yards                                        lined course of the River
     or gardens.                                              Alyn to the Alyn Bridge.
     Traditional                                              The footway is enclosed
     sandstone                                                by low sandstone
     walling is the                                           retaining walls and thick
     prevalent                                                foliage within the
     boundary treatment. Numbers 1 and 2, situated            garden areas of 1 Gun
     closest to the River Alyn, are the tallest of the row    Street and Alyn Lodge.
     having been converted from the former
     Presbyterian Chapel and are believed to date from
     the early 19th Century. The properties are of stone
     construction, rendered to obscure the original
     composition. The proportions of the windows vary
     across the two cottages although number 2 retains
     traditional stone sills.
22
character in detail

                                           Station Road and Station Lane
4.36     Station Road and Station Lane gain their       4.38 The Alyn Hotel sits at the head of Station
name from Rossett Station which was located to the      Road where it's prominent and picturesque
west of the village and accessed along Station Road.    riverside position
Prior to the introduction of the railway and a stop     and white
at the village, Station Road was a quiet and            rendered façade
unpopulated lane linking Rossett to Burton. Many        make it a
of the buildings along Station Road were erected in     landmark
the mid to late 19th century owing their                building within
construction either directly or indirectly to the       the Conservation
railway and the road subsequently became the            Area. The
central hub of the village with a variety of shops,     building dates
houses and public buildings. Station Road retains       from the mid 19th Century and is a likely by-
this diverse character today still offering the         product of the introduction of the railway to the
majority of the public services and conveniences to     village and the subsequent increase in visitors that
the village.                                            this bought to the area. The original brick
                                                        construction is obscured by modern render and the
4.37     Red brick is the prevalent building material
                                                        building displays a variety of window styles with
within this area with properties to the north of
                                                        some original sash windows retained to the
Station Road set
                                                        northern elevation fronting Station Road. To the
behind low
                                                        rear of the site an original outbuilding is retained.
sandstone and
red brick                                               4.39 Sitting opposite The Alyn Hotel is Bridge
boundary walls.                                         House, a
The building line                                       late 19th
is generally                                            Century red
consistent on                                           brick
either side                                             building set
reinforcing the urban feel of the road, although        within a
brief glimpses of the surrounding countryside, the      large corner
trees within the churchyard and the Church Tower        plot where
between the buildings offer an important backdrop       the gabled
and soften the urban character.                         front and
                                                                                                                23
24

     Figure 6: Station Road and Station Lane Character Area Boundary
                                                                                                                                                                                                         #
                                                                                              Radnor House
      Key
                                                                                                     Homeleigh
            Character Area Boundary
                                                                                                 Chaloner House
                                                                                                                                                                                       DDD
            Buildings of Visual Interest
                                                                                       Dialstone House                                                                               DDD D
                                                                                                                                                                                     Vicarage
            Traditional Sandstone Wall                                                                           Allotment Gardens
                                                                                                                                                       D                                   D
            Significant Group of Trees
            Contributing to Setting for Enclosure                                                                                                                                   DD

                                                                                              ouse
            Important View                                                                                       DScout Hut                                                                     Christ

                                                                               se
                                                                                                                 D                              D                                               Church
                                                                                                                                              DD

                                                                        tt Hou

                                                                                      leigh H
            Landmark Buildings                                                                                                               D
                                                                                                                                            D

                                                                                                                                                                                                             character in detail
                                                                       Basse

                                                                                    Rivers
            Traditional Brick Wall                                                                                                                                            D

                                                                                                                                                                   se
                                                                                                                                                                              D

                                                                                                                                                                Cop
            Important Open Space                                                                 Station Road
                                                                                                                  Beechfield                                                   D                 D
                                                                                                                                                                             D

                                                                                                                                                           The
      D Tree Preservation Order

                                                                                                                                 w
                                                                                                                          ungalo
                                                                                                                              a
                                                                                                                                            Car

                                                                                                                       Wynon
                                                                                                                                            Park
                                                                                                                                                                                 Sunny V

                                                                                                                    The B
                                                                                                                                     Hall                                               illas

                                                                                                                                                           te
                                                                                                                                                   Ins k
                                                                                                                                                     Ban
                                                                                                                                                      titu
                                                                                                                                                                                        Alyn
                                                                                                                                                                        Church          Hotel

                                                                                                                                                   The
                                                                                             Ordnance Survey (mapping) © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. 100023429. 2010
character in detail

side elevations along with the black and white         contrast in materials. The properties have a planned
decoration to the gable apex, windows and shop         symmetrical appearance with square bay windows
front draws attention to the building and adds to      with a
it's prominence within views from both Chester         continuous roof
Road and Station Road. The Chester Road frontage       over the
has a symmetrically designed façade with a central     adjacent front
doorway containing the original panelled door          doors at ground
flanked by a combination of single and tripartite      level with two
sash windows. To Station Road there is a later         sash windows
simple painted timber shop front with sash window      above. Numbers
above. The building is enclosed by a traditional       2, 4 and 5 retain
sandstone wall topped with sandstone copings.          their original 6 over 1 sash windows. The row is set
                                                       behind a simple sandstone block wall with
4.40 Adjoining Bridge House to the north is 3
                                                       attractive cast iron gates leading to each property.
Mews Cottage which forms part of a small
residential development of three modern deisgned       4.43 Sitting beyond Sunny Villas are numbers 1
brick buildings.                                       and 2 Vicarage Mews, a small modern infill
The buildings                                          development on
originally formed                                      the site of the
part of the                                            former
ancillary                                              telephone
outbuildings                                           exchange
associated with                                        building.
Bridge House                                           Vehicular access
however they                                           to the mews is
have been much                                         through the
altered and rebuilt losing much of their traditional   former entrance to the Vicarage building, which
character. Numbers 1 and 2 are set back from           was demolished in the late 20th Century. The
Station Road where their diminutive scale is           curved entrance brick walls are finished with
highlighted by the Church tower which rises up         sandstone copings with a cast iron gate pier
behind.                                                retained to the right side. This entry also provides
                                                       pedestrian access to the Church Hall and churchyard
4.41 Adjacent is the former ironmongery shop,
                                                       to the north where a variety of Holly, Hawthorn,
now occupied by Pure Perfection Beauty Lounge,
                                                       Sycamore and Oak trees create an attractive
Hair by Nia and
                                                       backdrop to the surrounding buildings.
Essence of
Beauty. The                                            4.44 To the southern side of Station Road,
building dates                                         opposite Sunny Villas, is the Spar store and post
from the early                                         office. The
20th Century,                                          modern and
the date 1913 is                                       stark shop
depicted in the                                        frontage is an
central console                                        incongruous
above the                                              feature of the
archway which was formed in the late 20th Century      road. The main
as part of larger scheme of alterations. The           building has
shopfronts have been altered and are plain in their    been
decoration with the original canopy winding gear       significantly extended and altered with the insertion
retained either side. At the upper level dentilled     of modern proportioned windows and the use of
eaves and string courses define the gable apex with    modern materials disguising the traditional core of
an oriel window sitting on moulded timber brackets     the building which dates from the late 19th Century.
below.
                                                       4.45     Adjacent are The Manse and Chapel House,
4.42 Maintaining the same building line are            a pair of semi detached late Victorian buildings. The
Sunny Villas, a terrace of 5 early 20th Century        buildings have attractive round arch window and
dwellings which evidence the continued growth of       door head to the front elevation. It is likely that the
the village at this time. The row is typical of        two properties originally formed one large dwelling
Edwardian design with a mixture of smooth red          which had a symmetrical frontage with the 2nd
brick and pebble dashed render offering a pleasing     ground floor window from the left possibly
                                                                                                                 25
character in detail

     providing the original doorway. The roofline to        1881 and was built as a coffee house for the
     chapel House is original, that to The Manse raised     Liverpool merchant and shipowner Alexander
     presumably to                                          Balfour, who was
     incorporate the                                        a noted
     rear extension,                                        philanthropist
     with the dentil                                        and temperance
     course to the                                          campaigner. The
     front elevation                                        front elevation is
     added to make                                          in a Neo-Tudor
     up the height.                                         style with mock
     Windows are                                            timber framing
     renewed although Chapel House contains the             with decorative
     original panelled door. At roof level the properties   quatre-foil panels at first floor level, mullioned and
     retain the original polychromatic end and central      transomed windows with leaded lights and
     stacks.                                                depressed arch doorway. At ground floor level,
                                                            disabled access has been sympathetically achieved
     4.46 The Presbyterian Church is another
                                                            and is set behind a dwarf sandstone wall. The
     landmark building within the Conservation Area
                                                            design, scale and height of the building make it an
     with an imposing steep
                                                            obvious and distinctive building within the
     angled gable frontage and
                                                            streetscape.
     fleche spire. The church
     was designed by Chester                                4.49     To the north of Station Road lie the modern
     architects Douglas and                                 developments of The Copse and Burton Close. The
     Fordham in 1875 to                                     small estates are
     replace the original                                   situated on the
     Presbyterian Church on                                 former grounds
     Gun Street which had                                   of the Vicarage
     become too small for the                               and contain
     growing non-conformist                                 many of the
     movement in the village.                               original trees
     The church is gothic                                   some of which
     inspired with pointed arch openings with sandstone     are now
     surrounds. The entrance is enclosed by a timber        protected by Tree Preservation Orders. The
     porch with slate roof. Cast Iron railings demarcate    prevalence of trees, shrubs, hedge rows and grassed
     the front boundary.                                    areas soften the appearance of the developments
                                                            within the streetscape, provide an important
     4.47     Beyond the church The Nook, the adjoining
                                                            backdrop to views of the Church to the east and
     shop unit and the Nat West Bank building form a
                                                            retain an element of the historic rural character of
     short and varied
                                                            Station Road.
     row. The Nook
     dates from the                                         4.50     The public car park, which was the site of
     mid to late 19th                                       the former national school, provides an important
     Century with the                                       break in the
     original brick                                         building line and
     construction                                           allows for views
     now painted                                            out over the
     white. Windows                                         River Alyn and
     are renewed within the original openings with the      the surrounding
     segmental arch heads still visible. The square bay     farmland. The
     window to the ground floor is likely to be a later     trees and thick
     19th Century/early 20th Century addition. The side     foliage along the
     gable elevation reveals decorative bargeboards. The    eastern boundary with the Nat West building offer
     adjoining shop unit is of similar date but has         important greenery within the streetscape.
     undergone some significant alteration to the façade
                                                            4.51    The adjacent Church Hall encloses the car
     and roof.
                                                            park to the west. The building, which was designed
     4.48 Completing this row is the former Cocoa           by P H Lockwood in 1911, follows the same Neo-
     Rooms and Rossett Institute, another design by         Tudor influences as the Presbyterian Church and
     Douglas and Fordham. The building dates from           the Rossett Institute with large stone mullioned and
26
character in detail

transomed windows, stone hoodmoulds and                 attractive detailing of the buildings, the planned
diapered brickwork. The gable frontage, which has       symmetrical facades and the enclosed front garden
coped verges                                            areas.
and kneelers
                                                        4.54      Beechfield, recently renovated and
surmounted by
                                                        extended, sits close to the highway edge with the
ball finials, along
                                                        crisp white
with the large
                                                        rendered façade
brick porch adds
                                                        giving it
to the
                                                        prominence
prominence of
                                                        within the
the building with
                                                        streetscape. The
streetscape.
                                                        building
4.52      Beyond the Church Hall are the Dental         originates from
Surgery and Wynona, two single storey buildings         the mid 19th
originating from                                        Century and was the former home of the village
the interwar                                            post office. The extension and alterations have
period. The                                             attempted to be sympathetic to the character of the
Dental Surgery,                                         area however the render obscures evidence of the
a large brick and                                       position of original openings and proportions.
pebble dash                                             Adjoining Beechfield to the rear is Beechfield
render building,                                        Cottage, created when the main dwelling was
has a double                                            subdivided.
gable frontage
                                                        4.55     Burton Gate sits back from the road
with characteristic decorated gable apexes under
                                                        enclosed by a traditional sandstone wall and hedge
which are two traditional, simple shopfronts, that to
                                                        boundary. The
the left appears to retain the original timber and
                                                        building dates to
iron shopfront whilst the right is partially renewed
                                                        the mid 19th
all in timber. The lean-to canopy extending across
                                                        Century and was
the frontage unfortunately obscures the original
                                                        originally known
design intention. Wynona is of a much humbler
                                                        as Burnside after
scale and set back from the highway by a large front
                                                        the family who
garden bounded by a thick hedge. The building is
                                                        lived there. The
constructed of corrugated metal sheeting and
                                                        building displays
although quite different in character and
                                                        a rather grand façade with windows flanking a
appearance to the older properties in the Street,
                                                        centrally positioned panelled doorway with radial
Wynona still adds to the sense of place of the
                                                        fanlight, enclosed by a classically styled flat roof
Conservation Area due to its unusual design.
                                                        porch. To the first floor the original sash windows
4.53    To the northern side of Station Road,           are retained. At ground floor level two canted bays
beyond the access to the Scout hut and The Gables,      are likely late 19th Century additions. The roof is of
the street is                                           half hip construction with brick chimney stacks and
characterised by                                        traditional Welsh slates. The side elevation reveals
larger and                                              the original sandstone construction.
grander
                                                        4.56    Alyn View and Southbank, a pair of semi-
detached and
                                                        detached sandstone properties, maintain the
semi-detached
                                                        building line. The
dwellings.
                                                        white rendered
Historically many
                                                        façade and stone
of the buildings
                                                        and hedge
were constructed for wealthy businessmen who
                                                        boundary adds
were drawn to the village by the railway and the
                                                        an element of
easy commuting that it afforded. These properties
                                                        unity with the
were located very close to the railway station with
                                                        nearby
far reaching, uninterrupted views southwards of the
                                                        Beechfield and
River Alyn and the surrounding countryside up until
                                                        Burton Gate. Alyn View, dating from 1850, and
the later 20th century when the southern side of
                                                        Southbank, dated 1852, are likely to be some of the
Station Road was developed. The wealth and status
                                                        first dwellings erected on Station Road for the
of the original owners is expressed through the
                                                                                                                 27
character in detail

     wealthier inhabitants of the village and whilst their   would likely have been lime rendered to obscure
     frontages are plainer than their historic neighbours    the stonework, similar to Burton Gate, Alyn View
     they have a pleasing well proportioned design.          and Southbank. Again symmetry of the façade is
     Southbank retains traditional sash windows whilst       typical with central advanced gable containing the
     Alyn View, now a doctor's surgery, has modern           doorway. The ground floor has two canted bays and
     PVCu alternatives. Rendered chimney stacks break        traditional sash windows have been retained
     up the roofscape.                                       throughout. Fretted bargeboards with timber
                                                             pendants and finials at each gable end add to the
     4.57     Elm Court,
                                                             status of the building. Large hedges along the
     a modern
                                                             western and southern boundaries enclose the
     development of
                                                             property and create a sense of seclusion and
     16 apartments,
                                                             intimacy.
     interrupts the
     historic building                                       4.60     A right turn after Bassett House leads onto
     line of the street                                      Station Lane, a narrow private track with
     being set back                                          development concentrated to the eastern edges.
     significantly from the highway edge.                    Thick, tall hedges and trees line the lane creating a
                                                             strong sense of enclosure and seclusion and help
     4.58 Riversleigh House is an impressive smooth
                                                             offer separation and screening from the railway line
     red brick building of mid to late 19th century date.
                                                             and dual carriageway. The lane has definite rural
     The rich red brick and unusual gablet roof stand out
                                                             character in contrast to the more urban setting of
     against the
                                                             Station Lane and remains little altered from the
     render and
                                                             interwar period.
     stone facades
     and hip roofs                                           4.61     Bassett Cottage is an attractive interwar
     typical in this                                         property with white render finish and hipped roof
     section of                                              typical of the western reaches of Station Road.
     Station Road and                                        Windows are timber casements with black
     were likely an                                          surrounds and sills adding interest to the
     expression of                                           symmetrical façade. A decorative curved cast iron
     wealth of the original owner. The front elevation is    gate demarcates the boundary.
     symmetrically planned with central recessed
                                                             4.62     Beyond Bassett Cottage, trees become
     entrance porch with tripartite sash window at first
                                                             more prevalent offering screening to the modern
     floor. The sash window is enclosed by brick pilasters
                                                             infill
     that support a small pediment that contains
                                                             developments
     pargetting within the tympanum. This feature is
                                                             to the east on
     repeated in the side gable apexes. Flanking
                                                             Station Road
     windows at first floor are groups of 3 slim sash
                                                             and enhancing
     windows with square brick jambs and sandstone
                                                             the rural
     sills and heads. The ground floor has two square
                                                             character of the
     bays with continuous parapet roof enclosing the
                                                             lane. The final
     entrance. Decorative terracotta tiles adorn the
                                                             properties along the lane are a small group of mid
     parapet below a sandstone coping. Two corbelled
                                                             Victorian villas which form two groups of semi-
     red brick chimneys project from the modern
                                                             detached houses. The properties are surprisingly
     concrete tile roof. The building is enclosed behind a
                                                             urban in their appearance with the original planned
     red brick wall topped with sandstone copings with
                                                             handed facades almost unaltered. All the properties
     serpentine edges.
                                                             have been extended to the side in the late 19th
     4.59    Bassett House is positioned on the corner of    Century with Radnor House, at the end, having
     Station Road and Station Lane and is another            been extended earlier. Detailing is consistent across
     reminder of the                                         the villas with sliding sash windows at first floor
     wealth that the                                         level with sandstone sills and heads and shallow
     railway bought                                          canted bays at the ground floor. At Radnor House
     to the village.                                         and Dialstone House, which is named after a sundial
     The building is of                                      fixed to the corner of the dwelling, the original,
     sandstone                                               simple classically inspired timber porches are intact.
     construction laid                                       Large corbelled brick chimney stacks sit within the
     in random                                               traditional slate roofs. Holmleigh and Chaloner
     courses and                                             House retain the original cast iron gates.
28
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