www.doncaster.gov.uk/conservationareas

Doncaster – Bennetthorpe Conservation Area Appraisal

March 2012

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Doncaster – Bennetthorpe Conservation Area Appraisal Index Preface 3

Part I – Appraisal 1. Introduction 4 2. Location 6 3. Origins and development of the settlement 7 4. Prevailing and former uses and the influence on 10 the plan form and building types 5. Archaeological significance and potential of the area 14 6. Architectural and historic qualities of the buildings 15 7. Traditional building materials and details 26 8. Character and relationship of the spaces in the area 32 9. Green spaces and trees 33 10. Negative features 36 11. Neutral features 40 12. Condition of buildings and features 46 13. Problems, pressures and capacity for change 46 14. Suggested boundary changes 47 15. Summary of special interest 49

Part II – Management Proposals 16. Management Proposals 50 Appendices I Useful information and contact details 53 II Key unlisted buildings 55 III Relevant policies of the Doncaster Unitary Development Plan 68 IV Community involvement 70

Maps 1. Origin and development of the area 2. Positive features 3. Negative and neutral features 4. Views into and out of the conservation area

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Preface The guidance contained in this document is provided to assist developers and the general public when submitting planning applications. It supplements and expands upon the policies and proposals of the Doncaster Unitary Development Plan and the emerging policies that will be contained within the Local Development Framework. The Doncaster Unitary Development Plan contains both the strategic and the local planning policies necessary to guide development in Doncaster and is used by the Council for development management purposes. At the time of writing this appraisal, the Doncaster Unitary Development Plan is being reviewed and will ultimately be replaced with the emerging Local Development Framework. It is not possible however for the Doncaster Unitary Development Plan, or indeed the future Local Development Framework, to address in detail all the issues raised by the many types of development. This appraisal will be a material consideration to be taken into account when determining planning applications. Also included within the appraisal are Management Proposals that will be considered for adoption by the Council as part of its approval processes.

It is hoped that this document will cover most eventualities including the main guidelines which a prospective applicant should bear in mind when considering development proposals. The appraisal however is not intended to be wholly comprehensive and the failure to mention any particular building, feature or space should not be assumed to imply that they are not of significance. Advice is available from Doncaster Council’s Design and Conservation Team and you are advised to make early contact before carrying out any work within the conservation area. The Design and Conservation Team would like to give special thanks to the Doncaster Civic Trust with regards to the sharing of their knowledge in connection with the architecture of the area and its buildings and to Mathew Leech for his assistance.

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Part I – Appraisal 1. Introduction A conservation area is an area “…of special architectural or historic interest, the character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance”1 Conservation areas were first introduced by the Civic Amenities Act 1967. The Act has now been incorporated and expanded into the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, which provides the statutory basis for planning control within conservation areas. This current Act imposes a duty on the local planning authority to designate conservation areas (where appropriate), to review them from time to time, and to bring forward policies and proposals for the preservation and enhancement of such areas. Before bringing forward policies and proposals for any conservation area it is important to define what its special historic or architectural character is. Government guidance contained in Planning Policy Statements 1 and 5 emphasises the need for the character and local distinctiveness of an area to be analysed and clearly defined in a written appraisal. English Heritage has set out in their 2011 guidance “Understanding Place: Conservation Area Designation, Appraisal and Management” a methodology for analysing this character.

Aerial photograph showing existing boundary of Doncaster – Bennetthorpe Conservation Area

1 As defined under S61 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990

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This appraisal covers the Doncaster – Bennetthorpe Conservation Area, which was originally designated on 20 May 1977 and is the first review of the original appraisal undertaken in 2004. The appraisal follows the English Heritage guidance and aims to identify the special architectural, landscape and historic interest of the Doncaster – Bennetthorpe Conservation Area. Bennetthorpe represents the 19th century extension of Doncaster south east along the Great North Road, a historically important route connecting London to York and the north, and of more local significance, to the racecourse which commenced in 1778. The derivation of Bennetthorpe is attributed to a Mr Joseph Bennett, who lived in cottages on the site of the present Rockingham Arms at that time. The earliest buildings of the conservation area date from around 1800 and the area has a variety of both Georgian and Victorian buildings of formal design. There are several impressive terraces of three storeys, as well as individual villas with more domestic properties of two storeys being more frequent towards the east. There is a wide use of stucco as well as red brick, but there is the occasional use of stone facing, with a high proportion of natural slate being originally used for roofs. Sash windows and panelled doors are used to give the formal architecture mentioned above, as well as bow, bay and tri-partite windows, railings and balconies. Elmfield House and Cavendish Court were originally large villas set in ample grounds and the Earl of Doncaster is a coaching inn rebuilt in the Art Deco style. Within the conservation area there are eleven listed structures.

View from Town Centre

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2. Location

This appraisal covers the Doncaster - Bennetthorpe Conservation Area, which is situated to the south of Doncaster town centre with its boundary to the town centre being some 5 metres from the junction of Hall Gate and Thorne Road. Doncaster - Bennetthorpe Conservation Area covers the northeast side of South Parade from its junction with Thorne Road to the junction of Alderson Drive with Bennetthorpe. The boundary includes Regent Square, Regent Terrace, Albion Place, Elmfield House and part of its grounds and Bennetthorpe, upto Brunswick Terrace. The conservation area is immediately adjacent to, and links into the conservation areas of Doncaster - South Parade, Doncaster – Christ Church and Doncaster -Town Field.

Conservation Areas in Doncaster Town Centre

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3. Origins and development of the settlement The origin and development of Bennetthorpe is linked to the Roman times, with the fort of Danum being constructed in 70AD on a crossing point near to the River Don. This crossing point was approached from the south by a road from Bawtry, which linked into the present High Street. This is likely to be on the same line of Bennetthorpe. For further history of Doncaster, please refer to Doncaster – High Street and Doncaster – Market Place Conservation Areas. The derivation of Bennetthorpe is attributable to Mr Joseph Bennett, who lived at the cottages, where the Rockingham Arms now stands. The development of the area relates to its position on the Great North Road and the link to the Racecourse; horse racing commenced in 1778. The Rockingham Arms was named in July 1779 after the racehorse “The Rockingham”, which was famous in its day, and continued its association with horse racing into the 19th Century. The Rockingham Arms was rebuilt on a larger scale around 1923, resulting in demolition of some of the cottages surrounding it. There are no known surviving buildings from the 18th century, the majority of the present day buildings derive from the early and mid 19th century.

Doncaster Gold Cup of 1838 painted by J.F. Herring (Source: www.donny.co.uk)

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In 1816 local slate merchant John Cooper, on land where it is alleged that the ‘Flying Childers2’ racehorse was previously put to pasture, erected the Doncaster Arms which later was renamed The Earl of Doncaster Arms. It was rebuilt by the Barnsley Brewery Company in the Art Deco Style and was renamed the Earl of Doncaster. In 1829, on an area of land south of the Doncaster Arms, builder John Reasbeck erected Brunswick Terrace, a block of three storey buildings. The 1841 census records 28 Bennetthorpe residents, including coachman, tailor, labourer and a groom, with a ‘number of people of independent means’. The map of 1829 shows two schoolteachers, a surveyor, a solicitor and the Mayor of Doncaster at that time William Hurst, living on either Regent Terrace or Albion Place.

2 Flying Childers was a famous undefeated 18th century Thoroughbred racehorse, foaled in 1714, and is often cited as the first truly great racehorse in the history of Thoroughbreds.

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Following the arrival of the Great Northern Railway, Doncaster prospered and new buildings infilled the gaps from the High Street southwards towards the Racecourse. In the 1850s, the building of Regent Square commenced, which eventually consisted of semi detached villas, terraces and detached houses of varying designs around a central park. Numerous small cottages and bay-windowed terraces were constructed, particularly adjacent to The Rockingham Arms. The next developments came in the 1920s with the Corporation buying Elmfield Park and the unveiling of the War Memorial. The Rockingham Arms and the Earl of Doncaster were both rebuilt on a larger scale due to the increase in motor traffic. E&G Charlesworth Motor Car dealers located to the south of the Earl of Doncaster Arms. In the 1960s cottages to the east and west of The Rockingham Arms were demolished and on the western side replaced by modern shops and flats. Recent development has seen the infilling of small gaps sites, the replacement of Charlesworth’s premises with office developments and the extension of the Earl of Doncaster.

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4. Prevailing and former uses and the influence on the plan form and building types The Conservation Area is characterised by the linear Great North Road, running east to west through the centre of the Conservation Area. Starting from the most western part of the conservation area, facing onto South Parade are the properties that form Regent Square. The majority of premises are residential (although converted into flats in some cases) apart from the Regent Hotel on the corner of Regent Square and South Parade. This building has its own history with many of the pop groups of the sixties stopping there, in particular The Beatles.

Regent Hotel Regent Square

Regent Square is set around a public garden area, well stocked with trees and seating, forming a green oasis in the centre of the town.

Regent Square

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Next is Cavendish Court, originally built as a Georgian Villa behind a spacious front garden. It was later occupied by the Doncaster Collieries Association and extended to the rear in 1927. Later the National Coal Board became the owners. It now houses several commercial units with the frontage taken over by car parking.

Cavendish Court

Further east are well-detailed town houses of great quality. Formerly private residences, the houses forming Regent Terrace and Albion Place, were owned originally by the ‘well to do’ of the town as previously mentioned. Whilst constructed for residential use, which many still are, there have been numerous conversions to office use, especially those nearest to the town centre.

Regent Terrace Albion Place

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Moving east down into the centre of the conservation area, the tight terracing effect of the street scene continues although the houses now tend to be two storeys from the mid 19th Century. After the entrance to Elmfield Park, these are on both sides of Bennetthorpe. Again the residential use continues except for The Comrades Club, close to Elmfield Park.

Two Storey Victorian Houses

The next part of the conservation area is dominated by the hotels of The Earl of Doncaster and Rockingham Arms, on either side of the road. Both have a long history in the area, although as mentioned earlier they both were rebuilt in the early part of the 20th century.

The Earl of Doncaster Rockingham Arms

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At the eastern end of the conservation area lies a three storey modern commercial block and three storey terraces, most of the latter now are sub-divided into flats.

Brunswick Terrace

Roman Road, which joins Bennetthorpe at the entry to Elmfield Park, contains a two/three storey commercial block and several residential properties in various forms.

Properties on Roman Road

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5. Archaeological significance of the area

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the conservation area boundary. However, this should not be an indication of the lack of potential for archaeology in the area, due to the evolution of the town from its Roman times as well as the Great North Road running through its centre. It is advisable that in order to reduce the risk of encountering important archaeological remains late in any development process (which could involve unforeseen time and cost implications) – any development proposal for this area should be accompanied with a supporting archaeological desk based appraisal. This will determine whether there is a need for field evaluation prior to a planning application being devised, whether there is a need for an archaeological evaluation to be secured by planning condition or whether there is no further archaeological input required.

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6. Architectural and historic qualities of the buildings To describe the architectural qualities of the buildings of the Doncaster – Bennetthorpe Conservation Area, this chapter has been divided into the following sections: Regent Square (including Cavendish Court), Regent Terrace and Albion Place, 1 Bennetthorpe to The Rockingham Arms, The Comrades Club to 54 Bennetthorpe (including Roman Road) and Elmfield House and Park. Regent Square The main feeling is one of a typical Victorian Square, compact housing around a grassed area. The building work started in the early 1850s on land known as Hall Cross Close, an open area comprising of a pond and a water reservoir. All the buildings in the corners of the square are set back to enable views into the central garden area. The town side are mainly three storey properties, with ground floor canted bays and Palladian windows to the upper floors. These are mainly ashlar with slate roofs, although two properties are of red brick. The buildings are gabled on to the road, with decorative bargeboards. There are classical door surrounds and in one instance wrought iron railings leading to the doorway.

1 to 7 Regent Square 10 Regent Square

Moving around the square there is a block of three storey properties that mimic the style of those previously mentioned and act as a link to the remaining properties. Past this building, the dwellings become two storeys, rendered and white painted. There are canted bay windows at ground floor with four pane Victorian windows above set slightly projecting out of the front elevation.

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11 to 15 Regent Square

The roofline is punctuated by dormer windows of varying ages. The gardens tend to be open to the footpath edge, missing the original railings that were probably removed for the war effort. Whilst outside of the Square, the two storey shop units on Thorne Road are of poor quality and do nothing to enhance the views of the Regent Square buildings. The next significant building is Cavendish Court, formerly The Lodge. Early 19th century with a 1927 wing attached, the building is stucco with painted dressings and graduated slate roofs.

Regent Terrace and Albion Place Regent Terrace was constructed between 1818 and 1827 and is made up of three storey terraced properties with basements and attics, set with a constant building line behind small front gardens and an access lane. All of the properties are listed buildings. These were originally built as housing but now converted to office use. Nos. 1 and 2 was built in 1818 as a pair and are painted stucco and has a Regency feel to it, with gothic arches to the first floor bay windows and castellation to the eaves line. It would have originally had a slate roof but this has been later replaced with concrete tiles. No. 1 has lost the decorative drip moulds to its second floor windows but which have been restored on No. 2.

Regent Terrace

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Nos. 3 and 4 were also built as a pair. They were originally constructed between 1825 and 1827 with alterations carried out in 1909. These alterations included two canted bays, which are two storeys in height. Again the original slate roofs of this pair have been replaced with concrete tiles. 5 to 7 Regent Terrace is a terrace of three houses again built between 1825 and 1827. 5 and 6 are two bays in width with 7 being four bays. All properties in this short terrace have Tuscan door cases, with 5 and 6 having attached half columns. 5 and 6 have fifteen pane sashes whilst those of 7 are ’four plate glass sashes’. There is a graduated slate roof on 6, which has been replaced with fibre-cement on 5 and concrete tiles on 7. The original coach house to No. 7 still survives and retains its coach height entrance. Albion Place is again dominated by three storey terraced properties, many of which are listed, although there are a couple of two storey detached villas and a pair of two storey terraced dwellings in the lower stretch of terracing. All are set on a constant building line set behind small front gardens.

The Burns Practice

5 Albion Place

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Most of the three storey properties are stucco but the westernmost is stone faced, and its neighbour could well be painted ashlar. The two storey properties are mainly in brick. Most of these buildings have slate roofs but some have been unfortunately replaced with concrete tiles. 9 to 14 Albion Place have filigree iron work balconies to the first floor. These iron work balconies are the same design as those on Regent Terrace. Where the original doors survive, the panels are cut away on the edges. This latter feature was typical of the work of William Hurst so he was probably the architect. The houses are believed to have been built between 1826 and 1828.

7/8 Albion Place

9-14 Albion Place

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1 Bennetthorpe to The Rockingham Arms This area is dominated by a long stretch of two storey terraced properties, from the mid to late 19th century. These are set back from the road, red brick (although some have been rendered/painted later) with many retaining their original front bay windows set behind small front gardens with dwarf walls to the front. Chimneystacks and dormers interrupt the roofline. Other buildings in this area are set to the pavement edge but these in the main are the taller properties, such as the three storey town houses of 15 and 17/19 Bennetthorpe, the late 1960s flats and shops, and The Rockingham Arms. However in close proximity to these taller properties there are a few properties that are of two storeys and which are on the pavement edge.

17/19 Bennetthorpe Terraces on Bennetthorpe

The Rockingham Arms has been situated in Bennetthorpe since the 18th century, however the current building was rebuilt on a larger scale in the 1920s. Due to the demolition of the buildings to the south, the building is prominent and is a key building to the entrance of the conservation area from the south.

Modern flats of 21-37 Bennetthorpe adjacent The Rockingham Arms

to The Rockingham Arms

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The Comrades Club to 54 Bennetthorpe (Brunswick Terrace) This area includes the buildings along the Great North Road and the buildings behind on Roman Road. Starting with The Comrades Club, which occupies a prominent position set back from the splitting of the roads of Bennetthorpe and Roman Road, and was a villa known as Elmfield Cottage, and is in a relatively open position.

Comrades Club

Beyond the Comrades Club are more modest two storey buildings. Nos. 2a and 2b Bennetthorpe are now sandwiched between two modern blocks of flats. With their dormer windows and steeply pitched roofs, they attempt to fit in with the smaller building in between. Whilst not exactly in keeping, their massing and detailing does not offend and is considered in a later chapter to be of a neutral effect on the conservation area as a whole.

2a and 2b Bennetthorpe with modern developments on either side

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This part of the conservation area is dominated by The Earl of Doncaster, which was once the Earl of Doncaster Arms, built originally in 1816. The building which now stands here was rebuilt in the 1930s into the Art Deco Style by the Barnsley Brewery Company and has recently been extended to its left. The earlier part is four storeys, the lower three storeys being rendered brickwork and upper floor, set back, is tile-hung, with a taller end building, the recent part is five storeys. This is an impressive building, which by its size and style stands out in the street scene.

The Earl of Doncaster

With the opposite side of the road, this particular area has the most infill properties from the 20th Century in the conservation area as a whole. Immediately adjacent to The Earl of Doncaster are the office buildings that replaced the former Charlesworth’s Garage. Whilst obviously modern, the detailing attempts to fit the building into the surrounding area and its massing is broken down due to the two projecting gables, although this is not a traditional feature of this part of the conservation area.

Modern Offices

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At the eastern end of the conservation area, the buildings are three storey town houses (44-54 Bennetthorpe), which are listed. These are in red brick which would have been originally roofed in slate but unfortunately now have concrete tile roofs. Followed by a block of three later town houses, which are rendered, the first of which has an interesting rounded bay, whilst the second has a two storey canted bay, which echo the aforementioned listed buildings.

44-54 Bennetthorpe 38-42 Bennetthorpe

Along Roman Road there are views of the backs of the buildings fronting onto Bennetthorpe. The area is dominated by the extension to the Earl of Doncaster and the three storey modern office block, with a staggered block of three storey flats beyond. In between is a two-storey warehouse, with blind windows that would benefit from conversion to a new use.

Rear of the Earl of Doncaster Warehouse and office block.

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Elmfield House and Park On the south side of Bennetthorpe lies the Grade II listed Elmfield House and its ground. This lies behinds the wide expanse of Hall Cross Hill and a stone wall that is listed in its own right. The design of Elmfield House is attributed to William Lindley. It was built in 1803 by a Colonel Childers for his mother. The building is stucco with painted ashlar dressings and a slate roof. The garden front has four bays, with giant pilasters flanking the outer bays. The façade facing the Hill was altered slightly, it is believed in or around the 1840s. The gate to Elmfield House shown in the photograph below probably dates from this time too. Doncaster Corporation purchased the house and grounds in 1920.

Elmfield House and Park

Gate to Elmfield House, now giving access to the Registry Office

The grounds are now a park and near to Elmfield House lies the modern Registry Office. The main entrance to the park from Bennetthorpe is at the foot of Hall Cross Hill, where the town cenotaph is located.

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Listed Buildings There are 11 listed entries which amounts to 23 buildings in the conservation area, mainly comprising of the terraced properties on Regent Terrace, Albion Place and Brunswick Terrace (listed as 44 to 54 Bennetthorpe). The Lodge, now known as Cavendish Court, and Elmfield House are also listed. A full list of all listed buildings in the conservation area is as follows, and which are also shown on Map 2. 44/46 Bennetthorpe Grade II EH reference 335000 48/50 Bennetthorpe Grade II EH reference 335001 52/54 Bennetthorpe Grade II EH reference 335002 1/2 Regent Terrace Grade II EH reference 335015 3/4 Regent Terrace Grade II EH reference 335003 5/6/7 Regent Terrace Grade II EH reference 335004 3 Albion Place Grade II EH reference 335005 9-14 Albion Place Grade II EH reference 335006 Cavendish Court, South Parade Grade II EH reference 335078 Elmfield House, South Parade Grade II EH reference 335079 Gateway and wall, Grade II EH reference 335080 Elmfield House

Any works which involve the alteration or extension of a listed building in a way which would affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest require listed building consent. Repairs do not generally need consent, though the distinction between repair and alteration is often unclear. All parts of a listed building are protected, including its interiors and any building or fixed object within its curtilage at the time of listing. However, not all parts of a listed building will be of the same value in terms of its special interest and there are very few buildings which cannot accommodate some degree of alteration, provided this is done with skill and care. If you are considering doing works to a listed building you are strongly advised to discuss this with a member of the Design and Conservation Team at the earliest opportunity.

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Key unlisted buildings As well as the listed buildings in the conservation area, there are many that have a positive impact on the conservation area. Some of which make an important contribution to the character of the conservation area and are considered to be key unlisted buildings. Key unlisted buildings are indicated on Map 2 – Positive Features and are individually detailed in Appendix II – Key unlisted buildings. These include the following: -

1 Albion Place 5 Albion Place 6 Albion Place 17/19 Bennetthorpe Rockingham Arms, Bennetthorpe The Earl of Doncaster, Bennetthorpe Regent Hotel, Regent Square (25/26 South Parade & 1 – 4 Regent Square) 7 Regent Square 8/9 Regent Square 10 Regent Square 27/28 South Parade

The cenotaph and the gates to Elmfield Park are also key unlisted features in the conservation area.

Other Positive Buildings As well as the listed and key unlisted buildings, most other buildings have a positive impact on the historic character and appearance of Doncaster – Bennetthorpe Conservation Area, and are shown as Other Positive Buildings on Map 2. These properties share a similar architectural style which is explored further in the next section and contribute positively to the conservation area. Unfortunately these have suffered from inappropriate alterations and poor replacement of elements such as windows and roof (see section on Negative Features).

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7. Traditional building materials and local details The main external treatment of buildings in the conservation area is stucco with stone dressings, with the increasing use of red brick to the eastern parts of the conservation area. To the west there are occasionally stone fronted buildings. There are a limited few that are in yellow brick. The roofs tend to be covered in natural slate although in some cases this has been later replaced by concrete, which is considered to reduce the character of the area (see Negative Features). The roofs have generally uninterrupted eaves, apart from around Regent Square where they are hipped and gabled. The roof slopes are also usually uninterrupted, apart from chimney stacks on the ridge or towards the gable ends, but in some places especially around Regent Square they are also punctuated with dormers.

Dormers and gables on Regent Square. These features are less

characteristic in other parts of the conservation area

The windows are in the main sliding sash of differing dimensions, normally 12 panes or on the first floor unequally hung 15 pane full-length sashes. Regent and Brunswick Terraces have examples of tripartite bow windows.

Tripartite bow windows and 12 paned vertically sliding sash on Brunswick Terace

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Regent Terrace and Albion Place have iron railings to the front, which in the case of Regent Terrace return up the external steps. Albion Place has examples of filigree balconies at first floor level.

Iron railing balconies and railings on Albion Place

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The later Victorian sash windows have either 1, 2 or 4 panes to their sashes, as can be seen in Regent Square. There are also numerous examples of Victorian bays that are usually canted. These can be either additions to older properties or are original features on contemporary properties.

Canted bays on properties on Albion Place Doors are panelled and are often set into classical surrounds.

Well detailed doors in elaborate surrounds that add to the character of the Bennetthorpe Conservation Area.

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Public realm Within a conservation area the public realm contains features that add to the local distinctiveness of the area. These can include street furniture and the materials in pavements. Some of these features may be more prominent than others, whilst some may not be original but still add to the character of the area.

Within Bennetthorpe there are examples of cobble stones

around the bases of trees and setts on accesses to driveways.

York stone pavements and bollards

can be seen down the side of 14 Albion Place.

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In the gardens of Regent Square is the reclaimed statuary of the town lion which was rescued from the old theatre which once stood in the Market Place and was moved here in 1902. It is set atop a base, capital and part of the shaft of a column from St. Mary Magdalene’s church which had also stood in the Market Place. Its condition is some concern and is mentioned later in Section 12. Against the plinth of the removed railings that formerly enclosed Regent Square is a drinking trough, which was presented to the town by the Doncaster Band of Mercy in 1888. It was for animals – mainly horses and cattle – and was originally located at the junction of Cleveland Street and St Sepulchre Gate, which at the time were both main thoroughfares. When the nearby buildings were demolished and the roads altered the trough was removed and later in or around the 1980s was relocated to Regent Square to preserve it. The recess in which it is located probably originally held a pump. The Doncaster Band of Mercy appears to have been part of a national organisation and troughs survive in other towns. Some are of a different design and occasionally include drinking fountains. It is believed that the Band of Mercy became subsumed into the RSPCA.

Town Lion and water trough in Regent Square

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Within conservation areas historic street signs can also add to the streetscape as can be seen on the end of Brunswick terrace.

Street sign on 54 Bennetthorpe, Brunswick Terrace

When changes are proposed to the public realm the above elements should be retained and used to guide the choice of materials and design.

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8. Character and relationship of the spaces in the area

Open spaces, such as gardens, car parks and playing fields can contribute to the Conservation Areas as much as the buildings. Trees and green spaces are dealt with in Chapter 9 of this document and are indicated on Map 2. Within the conservation area are the green areas of Elmfield Park and Regent Square, which contrasts with the generally built up nature elsewhere. The width of the road through the conservation area does give an open feel to the street scene and along with the restrained use of street furniture, does not have a cluttered appearance. Hall Cross Hill is hard paved and allows for easy pedestrian access to the town centre, away from the main vehicular route.

Openness of The Great North Road

Whilst outside of this conservation area, Town Field allows views into the area (see Doncaster – Town Field Conservation Area). The linear street pattern allows substantial views into and out of the conservation area, and are shown on Map 4 of this appraisal.

View from Town Fields

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9. Green Spaces and Trees The main green spaces are Regent Square and Elmfield Park. Although it is outside the conservation area, Town Field also makes a significant input to its character with its trees being visible through spaces between the buildings. Regent Square has been described as a green oasis to the town centre, a formal grass area lined by trees on its boundaries, which once would have had railings atop the low stone boundary wall. Whilst the area is immediately adjacent to South Parade and a major bus stop, it is well screened and has a secluded feel to it.

Regent Square

Elmfield Park was acquired by the Doncaster Corporation in December 1920 and was opened in 1923, along with the unveiling of the War Memorial. The gardens are formally laid out, with pathways and extensive seating. The adjoining grounds of Elmfield House and the Registry Office add to the green open character in this area.

Grounds of Registry Office

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Trees are a very important feature of this conservation area and make a significant contribution to its character and appearance. Of particularly value are the formal Victorian plantings of London Plane trees (Platanus x hispanica) that line Bennetthorpe and South Parade, making an attractive entrance to the town from the south and adding height, diversity and grandeur to the street scene.

Trees on Bennetthorpe

The other key species that help create the character of the conservation area are Lime and Horse Chestnut, which can be seen around Regent Square and within the grounds of Cavendish Court, Elmfield House and Elmfield Park along with other large species such as Sycamore, Beech, English Oak and Norway Maple. There are also examples of False Acacia, Walnut and Evergreen Oak (Quercus ilex) in the garden of 3 Albion Place but few other trees within the gardens. Ornamental tree species are not a significant feature of this conservation area except where they provide screening, notably around Regent Square where plantings of Holly, Laburnum, Cherry and Plum help to shelter the gardens from the surrounding vehicular traffic. Regent Square is also notable for several Yew trees and two Caucasian Wingnut trees (Pterocarya fraxinifolia), probably the only two examples of this species in the borough.

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Close up aerial photograph showing distribution of green spaces and trees

In recognition of the special contribution that trees can make to the character and appearance of conservation areas, they are afforded a level of protection similar to that of a Tree Preservation Order. Doncaster Council must be notified in writing 6 weeks before any work is carried out so that it has the opportunity to assess whether the proposed work will harm the character and appearance of the conservation area. Any person removing or pruning a tree within a conservation area, without first giving the statutory notification, is guilty of a criminal offence and liable on summary conviction to a heavy fine.

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10. Negative features Negative features are described in the English Heritage guidance as elements that detract from the special character of the area. In terms of the Bennetthorpe Conservation Area, there are very few negative features. The main negative features in terms of buildings are unsympathetic mid to late 20th century infill developments. None of these buildings take into account the character of the surrounding area. The flat roofed buildings on Thorne road do not link into the Victorian architecture, which is visible behind.

Shops on Thorne Road

The massing and detailing of the 1960s flats and shops adjacent to The Rockingham Arms does not take on board the architecture of the adjacent buildings. It is characterised by large horizontal windows and plain rooflines with little decoration of its frontage to give it a more intimate scale. Additions to this building that increase its height and add to its detrimental impact should be resisted.

Flats adjacent to The Rockingham Arms

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The modern flats on Welbeck Road, at its junction with Roman Road, are again out of keeping with the conservation area, due to their staggered frontage, materials, concrete tile roofs and horizontal window openings. They are in a modern style with an open frontage used for parking, which is another uncharacteristic feature within the area.

Flats on Welbeck Road

The car parking serving The Rockingham Arms is a large expanse of tarmac and whilst outside the conservation area, the adjacent Squash Club buildings do not present a quality ‘face’ to this conservation area. Landscape treatment of the car park would soften both the car park itself and this elevation of the Squash Club reducing the impact of both. The gable of the Rockingham Arms itself has a negative presence due to its large blank expense and the external fire escape.

Gable, car park and Squash Club adjoining The Rockingham Arms

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The car parking in front of Cavendish Court creates a sea of cars and block paving that provides a harsh environment both within the conservation area and to the setting of the listed building behind. Additional landscaping along the front would help to shield the impact and improvements to the signage would help give a more appropriate foreground to this space.

Car parking in front of Cavendish Court

Similar but on a smaller scale the car park to Earls Court also has a harsh appearance and some form of screening or enclosure would hide this private area from public view.

Car parking to rear of Earls Court

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The character of the area is being eroded by the use of materials that are odds with those used originally. This includes uPVC windows, concrete roof tiles, painted or clad properties. Installation of satellite dishes and location of bins in highly visible locations can also detract from the appearance of the area.

The use of uPVC windows and concrete tiles can rob a historic area of its character Another threat to the area is where boundaries have been removed and replaced with inappropriate treatments such as concrete fence panels.

Concrete panel fences can lend a cheap and temporary appearance to the area

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11. Neutral features

Neutral features are described as areas that neither enhance nor detract from the character and appearance of the conservation area. The modern office accommodation adjacent to The Earl of Doncaster attempts to recreate terraced effect of the three storey town houses adjacent. By breaking up the mass, the building does not overpower the area nor does it form a pastiche of early Victorian architecture, however the use of gables is not a character of this part of the conservation area.

Offices adjacent to The Earl of Doncaster

The commercial properties on Roman Road attempts to break up its mass by being of various heights, however as the same materials and details are used, the result is still fairly monolithic. In addition the use of curved window heads and stone plinths are not local characteristics.

Commercial Property on Roman Road

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The nursery and contemporary dwelling on Bennetthorpe, are outside of the conservation area but help mark the change from the suburban dwellings to the east to the more historic centre of Doncaster to the west. These premises are the redevelopment of a former petrol station and a council depot behind. Their architecture is contemporary and therefore does not echo the traditional forms in the conservation area but instead mark clearly their date of construction. Their scale is however low key. Boundary treatments however are quite hostile and some improved planting would be welcomed.

Nursery

Dwelling

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The properties called collectively Earls Court attempt to match the appearance of the Victorian building, 2a and 2b Bennetthorpe, which they are built either side of. They do not quite achieve this due to the use of concrete tiles for their roofs and poor window detailing. The buildings do however relate well to the scale of neighbouring buildings and do not detract significantly from the character and appearance of the conservation area as a whole.

Earls Court, either side of 2a and 2b Bennetthorpe

The Registry Office, whilst modern in appearance is hidden behind a tall stone wall and trees so that its impact is minimised.

Registry Office

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The Partially Sighted premises and the adjoining restaurant, both have frontages of a modest height and therefore of a scale to fit in. However due to the original function of the Partially Sighted premises as a garage, its form, especially to its rear is more akin to a large shed rather than the domestic form of its neighbours. The restaurant has fake half-timbering and overhang probably added in the 1920s to give it a ‘Tudor’ look. In fact this could be one of this conservation area’s earlier buildings, possibly even pre-1800 based on its scale. The careful restoration of the frontage of the latter would be welcomed and would better reveal its historic significance.

Partial Sighted premises and Restaurant on Bennetthorpe

To the rear of Cavendish Court are several extensions and annexes as well as the adjacent dwellings of 21-22 Town Field Villas. The latter overlooks Town Field. The architecture of all is of a fairly bland nature and due to the size and/or position of the properties they have a neutral impact on the area.

Premises to rear of Cavendish Court

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The lone dwelling on Welbeck Road that is currently in the conservation area is similar to the rest of the properties on this street and is typical of the period when it was constructed. However, the building does not make any particular impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area and therefore considered to make a neutral contribution.

1a Welbeck Road

The area around the entrance to Elmfield Park and adjacent to the War Memorial is also uninspiring. Better paving and more integrated planters/landscaping could enhance the area and provide a more impressive entrance feature to the park itself.

Entrance to Elmfield Park

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The entrance to the playing fields and open land of Town Field is very low key and the planters and gate do not act in enticing people into the area.

Entrance to Town Field. The concrete panelled fencing to Town Field

is considered to make a negative contribution to the area, and is mentioned within Doncaster – Town Field Conservation Area Appraisal.

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12. Condition of Buildings and Features Most buildings are considered to be in good condition although there are some concerns over the amount of buildings that are currently to let. Long-term vacancy could lead to neglect and this should be monitored in case this turns into a problem. In addition the condition of the town lion statuary is of concern and it has been subject to suggestions that it should be moved to the grounds of the Museum for safekeeping.

13. Problems, Pressures and Capacity for Change

The residential developments along Bennetthorpe are under threat by the need to ‘improve’ properties, the move to try to reduce future maintenance (although this is often not actually achieved) and improving insulation values. This can result in the loss of original features on historic properties through the introduction of uPVC windows and concrete tiles to roofs that are often detrimental to both the building and the surrounding area, and unfortunately the trend is likely to get worse unless efforts are made to counter this. Changes such as these are possible on residential properties under what are termed ‘permitted development rights’ and do not need planning permission. Commercial properties and flats however will require planning permission depending on the impact of any changes.

With the increased use of cars there is also the pressure to increase parking, and this can lead to the loss of walling with the introduction of additional or widened entrances to properties as well loss of front gardens. Alterations to boundary treatment with owners wishing to increase their privacy and security, and also reflect their individuality can often be at the costs of the unified character of the area, especially where historic fabric has been removed. The original dwellings are subject to changes in tenure including conversion to other uses such as apartments or offices. This may be accompanied by demands for extensions and additional car parking. These changes may be acceptable if the proposals are well considered and sensitive to the character and appearance of the conservation area. Conversion of buildings into commercial use is often accompanied by signage which can have a significant impact on the conservation area and change its appearance from residential to commercial.

The loss of trees (due to many of those originally planted when the area developed coming to the end of their lives), and the change in taste and uses of gardens, are contributing to the potential loss of the green character of the conservation area.

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14. Suggested Boundary Changes Since the designation of the conservation area, the area in and around has to some extent altered and buildings that were not considered important at the time of the designation of the conservation area are now considered to make a positive contribution, whilst buildings that are currently included may not now be beneficial to the general ambience of the area. The following areas are considered to be now worthy of inclusion: Entrance to Town Field Currently the grassed area to the side of the entrance to Town Field is not included but the rest of the area forming the entrance is. The grassed area is seen as a positive feature and also lies between this conservation area and that of Doncaster – Town Field. It is therefore seen logical that it be included in the conservation area. Elmfield House and Park Consideration has been given to the current boundary and whether the area containing Elmfield House and Park should be removed, extended or remain the same. Although the house and park is behind a wall these are still visible and form part of the character of the conservation area and therefore it is seen important that they remain within the conservation area. Other areas of the park were looked at to be included within the conservation area but these were felt to have little impact on the general appearance of Bennetthorpe. The current area of the park that is included, which includes the rose garden, has in addition a definable boundary, which extending into other areas of the park would make less clear. This area is also most connected to the setting of Elmfield House and as noted above this has important visually, as well as historic, links to Bennetthorpe and therefore most impact on the character of the area. The gates and wall along Roman Road however were considered to be of significance and add positively to the conservation area and therefore should be included. Elmfield Park will however be considered in the future as a Park and Garden of Local Historic Interest to protect the historic significance of the whole park. As well as the above areas that should be included the following area is recommended for omission. Properties fronting Roman Road/Welbeck Road Many of these properties make a neutral contribution to the area and are only included as they were formerly part of the backlands to Brunswick Terrace.

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There are also small areas within the present boundary of the conservation area which are recommended to be transferred to or from other conservation areas as they either have more in common with neighbouring conservation areas or are shared between conservation area. Buildings on Thorne Road These face towards Christ Church and therefore have more to do with the character and appearance of Doncaster – Christ Church Conservation Area than with Bennetthorpe and its conservation area.

Registry Office, wall and the main road The registry office and the wall to Elmfield Park are currently split between Doncaster – Bennetthorpe and Doncaster – South Parade Conservation Areas. Similarly the main road below the esplanade of South Parade is also split between the same two conservation areas. It therefore recommended that the boundary between the two conservation areas is amended to follow a more appropriate line. However the amalgamation of the two conservation areas to form one conservation area is also being considered, given their close relationship.

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15. Summary of Special Interest The special interest of Doncaster – Bennetthorpe Conservation Area is due to:

• The 19th century extension of Doncaster southeast along the Great

North Road towards the racecourse

• Georgian and Victorian buildings of formal design, in the form of:

impressive terraces of three storeys

individual villas

more domestic properties of two storeys, which are

more frequent towards the east

• Limited palette of materials:

wide use of stucco

red brick (mostly associated with two storey dwellings)

occasional use of stone facing

• Original use of natural slate for roofs.

• High quality detailing by the use of:

sash windows

panelled doors

bow, bay and tri-partite windows

railings and balconies

• Tree line boulevard of Bennetthorpe which is a wide ‘Georgian’

street

• Open spaces

Regent Square,

Elmfield Park

adjoining Town Field

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Part II – Management Proposals

16. Management Proposals Under Section 71(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, Doncaster Council is required to periodically review its conservation areas and to publish proposals for their preservation and enhancement. The purpose of the Management Proposals is to describe mid to long-term strategies for preserving and enhancing the special character and appearance of the Conservation Area. The Management Proposals set out the actions needed to address the issues raised in the Conservation Area Appraisal. The Proposals document recommends both the provision of good practice guidance information to clarify the existing powers, and proposes increased local authority controls within the area. This includes recommendations for further work required for their implementation. It is likely that most, if not all, of the actions itemised in ‘Recommendations’ will have to be co-ordinated by Doncaster Council possibly helped by funding from outside sources such as the Heritage Lottery Fund or English Heritage. It is accepted that, of necessity, actions will all need to be prioritised according to the availability of resources and it may not be possible to achieve all those scheduled.

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Recommendations

The Management Proposals recommend that: General 1. The Council should use ‘Doncaster – Bennetthorpe Conservation Area

Appraisal Part 1: Appraisal’ as a material consideration in determining planning applications

2. The Council should adopt the ‘Doncaster – Bennetthorpe Conservation

Area Appraisal Part 2: Management Proposals’ as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) in support of a Development Plan Document (DPD) within the emerging Local Development Framework (LDF)

3. The conservation area boundaries should be changed as

recommended in Section 14. 4. Consideration should be given to combining Doncaster – Bennetthorpe

and Doncaster – South Parade into one joint conservation area.

5. There is commitment to a five yearly review of the management of the conservation area.

Development Management 6. The Council should actively promote the protection of listed, key

unlisted and positive buildings. The Council would be unlikely to grant consent for the demolition of listed buildings, key unlisted or positive buildings, whereas depending on the merits of proposed replacements, buildings that are neutral could be considered for demolition, and demolition would be positively welcome for negative buildings.

7. The Council should undertake a heritage survey on all the buildings in

the conservation area to ascertain the rate of survival of original elements that contribute positively to the character and appearance of the conservation area, such as roof coverings, windows and doors. This information will inform any decision to serve Article 4 Directions over the whole or part(s) of the conservation area. Controls over front boundary walls, installation of satellite dishes and solar panels, and retention of front gardens could also be investigated.

8. The Council should ensure that development within the conservation

area complements the size and scale of the existing traditional

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buildings, and should respect the overall historic nature of this conservation area. In addition, any proposal that requires planning permission and necessitates an increase in bin provision that would be publicly visible would be expected to be accompanied by appropriate screening.

Maintenance and improvements 9. The Council should identify ‘buildings at risk’ and proposals for

remedial work to those identified should be encouraged.

10. The Council should assess tree cover in the area and produce a strategy for the management of trees and other landscape features within the conservation area.

11. The Council should proactively seeking agreement to repair and

rebuild wall and railings on publicly visible boundaries. 12. The Council should work interdepartmentally and with other bodies to

ensure that any works to the public realm respect the special character and appearance of the conservation area.

Increasing awareness and understanding 13. The Council should ensure that there is the preparation and formal

adoption of guidance explaining conservation policy and good practice and its promotion. Such guidance should include: -

• sympathetic repair and alterations to historic buildings • guidelines for modern development

14. The Council should ensure that the conservation area links into both

the Strategic and Local Green Infrastructures routes and policies. Green Infrastructures are a way of linking heritage, ecology and recreational assets so as to form a network of spaces, and as such, conservation areas are seen as an important contributor.

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Appendix I Useful Information & Contact Details

Sources of Information Design and Conservation Team Development Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council Colonnades House, Duke Street, Doncaster, DN1 1ER Telephone: 01302 734922 E-mail: conservation@doncaster.gov.uk Website: www.doncaster.gov.uk/planning

Local History Library Reference Library Central Library Waterdale Doncaster DN1 3JE Telephone: 01302 734320 E-mail: reference.library@doncaster.gov.uk Website: www.doncaster.gov.uk

Doncaster Archives King Edward Road Balby Doncaster DN4 0NA Telephone: 01302 859811 E-mail: doncaster.archives@doncaster.gov.uk Website: www.doncaster.gov.uk South Yorkshire Archaeology Services Howden House 1 Union Street Sheffield S1 2SH Telephone: 0114 2736354 / 2736428 E-mail: syorks.archservice@sheffield.gov.uk Website: www.sheffield.gov.uk

Doncaster Civic Trust 43 Ellers Avenue, Bessacarr Doncaster DN4 7DY E-mail: mail@doncastercivictrust.org.uk English Heritage - Yorkshire and the Humber Region 37 Tanner Row, York Y01 6WP Telephone: 01904 601 901 Website: www.english-heritage.org.uk Society for the protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) 37 Spital Square London E1 6DY Telephone: 020 7377 1644 E-mail: info@spab.org.uk Website: www.spab.org.uk/ Georgian Group 6 Fitzroy Square London W1T 5DX Telephone: 020 7250 3857 E-mail: info@georgiangroup.org.uk The Victorian Society (South Yorkshire Group) Graham Hague, 39 Cobden View Road, Sheffield S10 1HP Telephone: 0114 268 6729 E-mail: admin@victoriansociety.org.uk The Twentieth Century Society 70 Cowcross Street London EC1M 6EJ Telephone: 020 7250 3857 E-mail: caseworker@c20society.org.uk

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Bibliography Communities and Local Government (2010) Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment, TSO

Doncaster Civic Trust – Various Articles English Heritage (2011) Understanding Place: Conservation Area Designation, Appraisal and Management Tuffrey, P. (1993) Old Doncaster Memories – Streetwise, Doncaster Star Publications

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Appendix II Key unlisted buildings 1 Albion Place/Springfield House 1 Albion Place is an early 19th century building, which has been remodelled in the late 19th century. It is a three storey building, three bayed, with a stone front and concrete tile roof, although originally the latter would have been most likely to have been Welsh slates. The building is set above and behind a small front garden which adds to the grandeur of the building. The central front door is reached by a short flight of steps and the doorway has an elaborate stone surround. There are two storey bay windows to either side, which are also elaborately carved in stone, with large paned unequally hung vertically sliding timber sashes within. In the centre of the first floor is a decorative wall mounted plaque that reads ‘Springfield House’. The second floor also has unequally hung vertically sliding timber sash windows centred above the bay windows, and a central window. The latter is divided into four unequal panes and looks like a later modification. All three are set back in their openings, which all have surrounds. The roof has a dormer window that interrupts the overall look of the buildings. There are chimney stacks at either end of the building. The front boundary is made up of stone piers, which are larger where they flank the central gateway, with dwarf walls in between. Previously with railings and gates but now removed.

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Hall Cross Cottage, 5 Albion Place 5 Albion Place is a two storey, three bayed building of yellow brick, which is unusual for the area as most bricks are red. It has stucco sides and a slate roof. It has a late Georgian appearance. It is slightly asymmetrical due to there being an area of blank wall on the right-hand side of its frontage. It is set behind a small front garden. The front door is six panelled with a semi-circular fanlight above. The doorway is slightly set back in an arched recess and on either side are one storey canted bay windows. The bays have timber mullions and within them are relatively large paned (compared to the first floor windows) vertically sliding timber sash windows, these are replacements from the 1970s and the panes were previously even larger. Above the bay windows and the front door are three identical six over six paned vertically sliding timber sash windows. On the front eaves is a box gutter and there are chimney stacks at either end of the ridge. The front boundary is modern and is of little interest but does help to give a sense of enclosure to the front garden and define the pavement edge.

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6 Albion Place 6 Albion Place is believed to have been designed by B S Blundell in 1859 and was generally known as Treacle Hall. It has a ‘London’ feel to it. It is of three storeys and in stucco which is heavily modelled. Its upper two levels are three bayed but the ground floor has two large bay windows. It has a hipped roof, which is now covered with concrete tiles but from earlier photographs appears to have been originally in Welsh slate. The entrance to the building is from the side and the building is set behind a small front garden The ground floor stucco is banded and set within it are the two ground floor front bay windows. The latter are canted and their bases are also in stucco but are plain without any banding. Along the bottom is a black painted plinth. Within the bays are equally hung large paned vertically sliding timber sash windows. The bays are surmounted by a decorative stringcourse and elaborate balconies. The corners are emphasised by banded quoins. The first floor has three windows which are large paned equally hung vertically sliding timber sashes set back in their openings. Two of these are directly above the bay windows on the ground floor and the third is set centrally. They all have decorative surrounds which are topped with pediments, which are triangular on the outer ones and circular to the middle one. The second floor has three shorter window openings directly above the ones below, set back within which are equally hung large paned vertically sliding timber sash windows. These openings have eared surrounds with a continuous stringcourse at their sill level. There is also a cornice detail below the roof. The front boundary has a plinth with a modern dwarf wall above. The latter is of little interest but does help to give some sense of enclosure to the front garden and helps define the pavement edge.

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17/19 Bennetthorpe 17/19 Bennetthorpe is a three storey, two bayed building with an annexe on its left-hand side. The building is set on the pavement edge although the side annexe is set back on its upper levels. The main building is pitched front to back but the annexe is hipped. It appears to be early 19th century but with Victorian and later alterations. It is of brick which has later been rendered with white stucco with a concrete tile roof but appears to have been originally to have been natural clay pantiles. The building is divided into two properties, which coincides with the two bays of the main building. The division can be clearly distinguished due to the difference in detailing of their windows. The ground floor consists of two bay windows that are different in size, both of which project into the pavement. They are both in timber and have large paned equally hung vertically sliding sash windows within. There is also, to the extreme right-hand side, a six panelled front door which has a surround. There is a large paned vertically sliding timber sash window to the flat roofed single storey element of the left-hand annexe and the door to the left-hand unit is to the side of this annexe, which again has a surround. To the right of this door is a modern window and there is another to the left within a later rear offshoot. On the first floor, to the left-hand part of the main building there is a bay window that is detailed the same as that below, but slightly taller. There is a six over nine small paned vertically sash window on the right-hand side. Both windows have wrought iron balconies. There is a small paned vertically sliding sash timber window on the right-hand return. The left-hand annexe is set back at this level and has a large single paned vertically sliding sash timber window with another one directly above. There are similar windows above the door to the left hand side of this annexe.

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The second storey of the main building has two large windows that both appear too wide and from the old photograph below it can be seen that these were originally the same width as the first floor right hand sash window. The left-hand one may also have been originally shorter to match that to the right. There is also a small window to the attic on the right-hand side and a large chimney stack set centrally on the ridge.

Old photograph with 17/19 to the left-hand side

Rockingham Arms, Bennetthorpe The Rockingham Arms dates from around 1923. The building is set on the pavement edge and is faced with Ancaster stone, a fine grained high quality limestone. The building has a flat roof behind a parapet. It is of three storeys, with eleven bays to the main frontage, with plain narrow single bays either side. The frontage is predominantly symmetrical, with the three central bays given architectural embellishment and the outer bays of the main frontage are also given elaboration. The latter are wider and project slightly. The main front door is to the centre and is a double door with circular bosses with lions’ heads and has a simple surround. There are two further entrances within the projecting outer bays of the main frontage, which have more elaborate surrounds. Within the main frontage there is another door, in the third from the right bay. There are square windows to the rest of the bays with a continuous stringcourse at sill level. The windows either side of the main front door have surrounds. All windows are in metal divided into four panes, the upper of which are shorter than the lower ones. There is a further door

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within the left hand plain narrow bay and a narrow window in the corresponding right hand bay, the latter is divided with a short top and longer bottom pane. Above both are similar narrow windows on the two upper levels. Within the main frontage the first floor has semi-circular headed windows, the central three have elaborately carved surrounds, whilst those in the outer projecting bays have carved heads. There is a substantial stone balcony to the centre over the main door that is supported on large corbels. There is also an intricately carved string course at the level where the arch of the window head springs from. Within the main frontage of the second floor there are square window openings, with the same type of windows as the ground floor. Again those to the three central bays and within the projecting outer bays of the main frontage are given emphasis, this time by having surrounds with a keystone to the head. There are stringcourse details at floor, sill and just above window head level. There is a cornice detail between this floor and the roof, which is dentilled and a stylised pediment over the three central bays. The right-hand side return is bland with an intrusive fire escape, which is mentioned in Section 10 – Negative Features.

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The Earl of Doncaster, Bennetthorpe The Earl of Doncaster was built shortly before the Second World War and is heavily influenced by the Art Deco movement. It is a large building, but is made up of distinctly different parts, which are connected with its development and later alterations. The building is set at the back of the pavement. The various parts of the building have a similar architectural character and its windows have a horizontal emphasis. The original building is to the right-hand side, and is of three storeys. Behind the extreme right-hand part are the large reception rooms and due to the first floor being taller than the rest, being almost double height, give this element the appearance of a tower. Windows are grouped in threes to the centre, which on the ground floor is set within a light stone coloured rendered frontage. On the two upper levels of the tower the windows have a decorative ribbed surround in cream painted artificial stone with red brickwork on either side.

To the left of this tower element, and contemporary with it, is a five bayed element which again is rendered in a pale stone colour, which includes the main entrance within its right-hand bay. The latter is wider than the other bays. This entrance has a stepped surround which has recently had a modern canopy installed above it, which has been designed to be in keeping with the building. The other bays on the ground floor of this element have windows which have been also recently elongated. Windows on the first and second floor lie directly above the ground floor openings. Above these is a stylised

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parapet which has a later mansard roof set behind to provide another floor of accommodation. This roof continues over the later extension to its left which the mansard is likely to be contemporary with. This extension contains similar detail to the original part, and again is rendered in a pale stone colour, but its second floor is slightly higher and some of the windows are slightly different sizes and not quite as ordered as elsewhere. The left-hand element has been built a short time ago, which like the original, has a very ordered appearance and has a five storey tower element with detailing echoing that of the right-hand tower. However, unlike the earlier tower, but like the rest of the Hotel, its frontage is all rendered. The rest of this element is also rendered and is of four storeys, which to the right of the modern tower has an additional storey, which is set back and is fully glazed in an attempt to reduce its impact. The resulting building is prominent in the streetscape but has enabled the hotel to continue in its original function.

Regent Hotel, Regent Square (25/26 South Parade & 1 – 4 Regent Square) Regent Hotel is situated on a prominent corner of South Parade and Thorne Road and is made up of several three storey buildings, which are set behind small front gardens. Each building has a different treatment to their frontage being render, cream brick, stone, and red brick with stone dressings. Roofs are all in slate, with gables and decorative eaves details as consistent features.

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Predominantly windows are large paned vertically sliding timber sashes. These are in the form of bay windows to the ground floor, which are mostly canted but there are square ones on the building on the corner of Regent Square. The windows on the first floor are a mixture of single, paired, oriel and Palladian windows, the more elaborate forms tending to be on the buildings fronting Regent Square. The second floor windows are similar to the first floor but generally shorter. There is a modern glass infill linking two of the buildings.

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7 Regent Square In 1861 the Rev. F Britcliffe, a Baptist Minister bought a site in the north east corner of Regent Square and erected a neat stone faced house. This was to the design of George Haughton, an architect and civil engineer, who came to Doncaster in 1847 and practised for over 50 years. The builder was Harold Arnold who was just beginning to establish his reputation. The building is of two storeys with basement and attic giving it in fact four levels of accommodation. The stone has rusticated banding. The front entrance, which is to the left of the building, is reached by steps and the front door is four panelled with the upper panels being glazed with curved heads. Above the door is a semi-circular fanlight and the doorway has an elegant surround with a key stone and cornice that continues as a string course and then as a cornice to the bay window to the right. The bay window starts in the basement and is canted with stone mullions. Above the door is a single window whilst above the bay is a tripartite window. All windows are large paned timber sash windows. The building has deeply projecting eaves which are supported on brackets. The roof is in slates and has two gable fronted dormers which are centred on the openings below. There is a chimney stack to the right hand side. On the right-hand side there is a later single storey extension, which is of less interest. It has a banded frontage with a modern bay window and concrete tiles to its roof. The concrete decorative blockwork boundary wall between this and its neighbour is not particularly appropriate.

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8/9 Regent Square 8/9 Regent Square was designed by William Vernon Arnold as a pair of semi-detached villas around 1860. It is a two storey building in stucco. Its main frontage is of two bays with plainer recessed side bays. Its architecture is Italianate, with the use of symmetry, proportion and refined detailing, such as the cornice to its main frontage. It has a pitched roof but this is hidden by a parapet. The building is set back behind a small front garden Two square bay windows project from the main frontage on the ground floor. These are surmounted by decorative cornices with plain balconies above. These balconies were previously moulded and pierced. There are paired windows in the bays with similar paired windows above. The recessed side bays originally both contained front doors, but that to the left-hand is now a window. These have decorative surrounds with canopies above and there are single windows on the first floor. All windows are vertically sliding timber sashes whose panes are unusually subdivided horizontally. There is a central chimney. There are railings set in a stone plinth as the front boundary, which although modern add to the building’s setting.

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10 Regent Square 10 Regent Square was once known as Hall Cross Villa and was designed by John Butterfield, the Corporation Steward, who also designed the Guild Hall and the Market Hall. It is a three storey building with a sandstone symmetrical frontage, with render to the sides, and slate roof. It is of three bays, with the central one being recessed, whilst the outer bays are wider and are surmounted with gables. It is set behind a small sloping front garden with steps up to the central front door. The ground floor stonework is banded and has a stringcourse at first floor level, whilst the stonework on the upper levels is smooth. On the ground floor there are canted bay windows either side of the central doorway. There are large paned vertically sliding timber sash window to the bays. The doorway has a decorative door surround with a curved head with a carved head as the key stone. Set within the doorway is a six panelled front door with fanlight above. On the first floor above the bay windows are twinned curved headed windows, with one curved headed window in the centre bay. The window openings have decorative curved heads with stone sill and the windows are large paned sashes. The second floor is set within the pitched roof and has a single curved headed window in each gable with similar details to those below.

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27/28 South Parade 27/28 South Parade was built in 1857 by Samuel Hawksworth and was intended to be part of a larger scheme which did not in the end materialise. It is a pair of semi-detached villas which are two storeys with an attic storey set within the central gable. It is in white stucco set behind a small front garden. The roof is in concrete tiles which is partially hidden by a parapet, but would have originally been in natural slate. The ground floor has banded rustication whilst the upper levels are smooth. There are stringcourses at both first and second floor levels. There are canted bay windows on the ground floor with tripartite windows above. In the central part of the gable are two further windows. To either side are recessed two storey narrow annexes which contained the front doors with windows directly above on the first floor. All windows are large paned vertically sliding timber sash windows. There are remains of the original boundary treatment on the frontage facing Regent Square with an attractive balustrade but this has been unfortunately replaced with red brickwork on the South Parade frontage. There is a later extension to the right hand side, which is constructed in yellow brick with Welsh slate roof. The windows in this extension are different to the main building and are not centrally positioned.

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Appendix III Relevant Policies of the Doncaster Unitary Development Plan ENV 21 Protection of trees SENV 4 Conserving the built heritage ENV 25 Conservation Areas ENV 26 Demolition of buildings in conservation areas ENV 27 Enhancement of conservation areas ENV 28 Restoration schemes in conservation areas ENV 29 Designation and review of conservation areas

ENV 30 Listed buildings ENV 31 Repair and restoration of listed buildings ENV 32 Additions and alterations to listed buildings ENV 33 Preservation and enhancement of listed buildings ENV 34 Setting of listed buildings ENV 35 Protection of the archaeological heritage ENV 36 Archaeological evaluation of sites ENV 37 Development affecting archaeological sites ENV 38 Protection of sites from development SENV 6 Quality of design in new development ENV 52 Design of new dwellings ENV 53 Scale and appearance of new dwellings ENV 54 Alterations and extensions ENV 59 Protection of trees on development sites

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PH 8 Infill and small scale housing development SPH 4 Safeguarding residential land PH9-PH12 Residential Policy Areas PH13 Promotion of high standards in design SPH 5 Priority Residential Policy Areas PH16&17 Priority Residential Policy Areas T7 Road improvements.

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Appendix IV Community involvement Involving the community (and raising public awareness) has been part of the appraisal process. This has been undertaken by:

• Advertising of the Doncaster - Bennetthorpe Conservation Area Appraisal on the Council’s web-site in advance of its draft publication

• The draft appraisal was passed to South Yorkshire Archaeology Service, Neighbourhood Managers, Doncaster Civic Trust and Development Management for comments.

• The consultation was registered with Doncaster’s Consultation Team to ensure that it was in line with Doncaster Corporate guidelines

• An e-mail was sent on 6 December 2011 to the Chair and Vice Chair of Planning Committee and Local Ward Members, informing them of the appraisal, the forthcoming consultation and welcoming comments

• The appraisal was made available on the Council’s website on 6 December 2011 welcoming comments

• Site notices were erected on 8 December 2011 in and around Doncaster – Bennetthorpe Conservation Area, advertising the consultation of the appraisal and asking for comments. Copies were also made available at the Central Library, as well as at the Planning Department, again with notices welcoming comments

• A notice was placed in the Doncaster Star on 8 December 2011 advertising the forthcoming start of the consultation period for the draft appraisal and asking for comments

• The Consultation Period officially started from 12 December 2011 to 27 January 2012

• Handouts were delivered to properties within the conservation area on 21 December 2012.

Responses Doncaster Civic Trust agreed with most of recommendations and key views expressed within the draft appraisal. Suggestions were however made with regard to extending the conservation area to include more of Elmfield Park and to alter the description of the Earl of Doncaster. Concerns were also raised with regard the condition of the Lion statuary within Regent Square and the Trust offer to assist with it being moved to the grounds of the Museum. Three members of the public responded.

The first noted that the Fountain within Elmfield Park should be included within the conservation area.

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The second noted that the Council had funded the resurfacing of footpaths within Bennetthorpe and raised concerns over the condition of newly grassed areas

The third welcome the appraisal as they felt the area had been neglected of attention, encouragement and enforcement for too long. Of particular concern was the installation of satellite dishes and abundance of wheelie bins being stored in front gardens. Concerns were also raised over one of the properties on Bennetthorpe.

Amendments The boundary of the conservation area within Elmfield Park was reconsidered and it is suggested that this be amended to include the gates and stone wall onto Roman Road as these were considered to add to the significance of Bennetthorpe. The fountain, whilst in itself is of interest, is more connected with the layout of the park than to the character of Bennetthorpe in general. A review of Parks and Gardens of Local Interest is being considered and the importance of the fountain as a focal point of the layout will be part of the assessment. The description of the Earl of Doncaster has been amended and the condition of Lion statuary noted with Doncaster Civic Trust’s suggestion of moving it to within the grounds of the Museum for its safeguarding. The detrimental impact that satellite dishes and bins can have on the appearance of the conservation area is now noted and recommendations have been amended to take account of this. The monitoring of the condition of buildings is also mentioned in recommendations. Whilst not a planning matter, the concerns raised over the condition of the newly grassed areas was passed on to the Neighbourhood Team who will be monitoring the situation.