Doncaster Market Place Conservation Area Review December 2014 www.doncaster.gov.uk/conservationareas
Doncaster Market Place Conservation Area Review Since the appraisal undertaken in March 2007, the general character and appearance of the area overall is much the same, however there have been some significant changes and it is important that these are noted. These are as follows: - Premier Inn, High Fisher Gate In the appraisal this is mentioned as being proposed. This is now built. Whilst it scale is dominant it has been designed to stepped down to the Market Place and high quality materials have been used in its construction. It is also the first building since the creation of Church Way that actually fronts this road and the Minster and creates an active street frontage. This building is part of a longer term plan to create a Great Street and the buildings respond to the idea of being a grand boulevard through the town. With this in mind it is considered to make a positive contribution to the area. Premier Inn, High Fisher Gate 27 Market Place This historic building has been lost since the appraisal. It is noted in the appraisal as making a positive contribution to the area. Previously the building had had several consents for its demolition as little fabric of historic or architectural interest was considered to remain, although its appearance, scale and form help demonstrate the evolvement of the Market Place. The building was found to be in a dangerous condition and in order to be made safe it was necessary for the building to be taken down. 2
An archaeological evaluation is being completed and includes previous surveys of the building, historical records and dendrological report on remaining timbers. This will be added to with the investigation of underground archaeology which will be needed to implement any future scheme on the site. Any redevelopment of the site will of course have to respect the character and appearance of the conservation area. Site of 27 Market Place Woolmarket Refurbishment At the time of the writing of the appraisal refurbishment of the Wool Market was just commencing. This resulted in the roof being reslated and the ad-hoc external screening to the Market Place replaced with a designed scheme that include shutters set back from the building line which revealed the elegance of the cast iron columns and other decorative detailing. Refurbished Woolmarket 3
Market Place Refurbishment The Market Place has recently been refurbished. This included re-orientating the stalls to allow the area in front of the Corn Exchange to be left open, which has improved its setting and allows better views to the Wool Market. There has also been to improvements to the street furniture to follow the previous successes of the Quality Streets initiative in the town centre. Refurbishment of Market Place As part of the refurbishment of the Market Place modern telephone boxes have been replaced with a more traditional inspired design. This continues the previous success of these in the High Street and Hall Gate (see Doncaster High Street Conservation Area Appraisal Review) 4
8/9 Market Place These properties are a pair of town houses that as part of the appraisal were considered to be key unlisted buildings. They had small paned timber vertically sash windows to their upper levels (apart from the first floor windows of No. 9 which were modern timber casements) but have recently been replaced with upvc casements on both properties. Appearance at time of appraisal With upvc windows These have since been replaced at No.9 with small paned vertically sliding timber sashes on both first and second floor, although unfortunately the first floor has not been replicated the previous adjoining window of No.8 which was six over nine but this is still a much improved appearance to both the previous situations. Current appearance 5
At No. 8 planning permission was refused for the retention of the upvc windows and which was subsequently refused at appeal. It should be noted in passing that both properties have been redecorated and that the shopfront of No. 8 was replaced with a more traditionally based design as part of a granted change of use and it is regrettable that these improvements are currently negated by the upvc windows of No. 8. However, this will hopefully be soon resolved. Window replacement elsewhere There have been some replacement of windows to some of the buildings that are proposed to be included within the conservation area (such as the Meridon Centre) whilst regrettable the overall form of these buildings is still positive and should not hamper these areas being included. Inclusion within the conservation area should give better protection to buildings being included. Meridon Centre 6
Additional Key Unlisted Buildings The merit of some of the other buildings in the conservation area has been reassessed and there are now considered to be additional key unlisted buildings to those outlined in the original appraisal of 2007. These are: 21 Baxter Gate This building has a very elaborate façade of great character being built as the Nottingham & Notts Banking Co. Ltd in 1908 to designs by Phillip Brundell. It is of three storeys plus attic storey in red brick with stone dressings including stone strapwork framework, all in Neo-Jacobean style. The modern shopfront to the ground floor is of no historic interest the original ground floor frontage was of very solid appearance possibly being in faience. To the first floor is a large oriel window with a narrow window to extreme left giving the building an asymmetric appearance. There are two narrow tall windows to second floor which are symmetrically placed and are therefore offset from those below. A wide stone band separates the attic storey from the floors below. The attic storey has a Dutch styled gable within which is a small mullioned window. All windows are timber casements in keeping with the building s architecture 7
Red Lion, Market Place This premise has a strong association with the commencement of the St. Leger. The building is Georgian but has unfortunately been clad in artificial stone (Durocrete) undertaken in 1911 in an assumed attempt to give the two parts of the building a uniform look, but underneath is red brick. Both parts of the building are three storied. That to the left is of two bays, whilst that to the right looks as though it has its eaves raised so that the building now has a constant eaves height, but the windows are much lower on the right-hand side when compared to the left. The right-hand is of three bays, although due to the extreme right bay presumably being the original position of a coach entrance, this bay is wider and the windows of the right part are not regularly spaced. The windows are timber Victorian vertically sliding sash windows fitting the historic character of the building. The ground floor frontage is modern and is of no real interest. 8
1-5 Market Road/7-9 Sunny Bar Although the scale of this building is mainly low key it is enlivened with the addition of a clock tower within which is the original mechanism from the clock that once stood on the corner of French Gate and Baxter Gate (this latter building was demolished with the widening of the streets and replaced with the present building of 1 Baxter Gate locally known as Clock Corner). It also has a curved frontage fitting its prominent position and with the former Doncaster Free Press building and Meridon Centre, 1 Netherhall Road makes a strong group with all three having curved corners. It is red brick of mainly two storeys, raising at the corner to three storeys as a tower with steeple containing a four faced clock, surmounted with decorative ironwork. The brickwork is enlivened with decorative features and coursing. Windows are large paned timber vertically sliding sash windows in keeping with building s historic character. The shopfront retains some original pilasters and cornice but the over-deep fascias spoil the appearance. 9
Consultation on Review Involving the community and raising public awareness is considered an important part of reviewing the conservation area appraisal and was subject to public consultation from 10 th November to 15 th December 2014. This included the following measures: The review was made available during this period on the Council s website with comments being welcome Site notices were erected in the conservation area on Friday 7 th November publicising the review and also welcoming comments A press notice was placed in the Doncaster Star on Thursday 13 th November also publicising the review and welcoming comments Doncaster Civic Trust were contacted given their previous involvement with the original conservation area appraisal Responses As a result of the above consultation two responses have been received from: Doncaster Civic Trust they felt the description of 27 Market Place as little fabric of historic or architectural interest was considered to remain needed to be amended as its appearance, scale and form was of interest, demonstrating the evolvement of the Market Place. This has been added. They also supported the addition of further Key Unlisted Buildings and suggested descriptions which have also been included. Doncaster s Tourist Team thought that the Red Lion should be a Key Unlisted Building due to its historical association with the creation of the St. Leger race. 10