Holdenhurst Village Conservation Area Appraisal - Bournemouth ...

HOLDENHURST VILLAGE 

Conservation Area APPRAISAL 

MARCH 2014 

Borough Council

Produced by: 

Bournemouth Borough Council 

Conservation and Urban Design 

Town Hall Annexe 

St Stephen’s Road 

Bournemouth 

BH2 6EA 

Tel: 01202 451323 

Email: conservation&design@bournemouth.gov.uk 

All maps within this document, with the exception of the pre-1900 historic maps, are reproduced 

from Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller 

of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright. Bournemouth Borough Council 100019829. 

2013 

All oblique aerial photographs in this document copyright © BLOM Pictometry 2009.

Contents 

Page No. 

1 Introduction 1 

2 The Planning Policy Context 6 

Primary Legislation 

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 

Bournemouth Local Plan 

3 Summary of Special Interest 8 

4 Location and Setting 9 

Context 

General Character and Plan Form 

5 Historic Development 12 

Origins and Historic Development 

Activity and Uses 

Archaeology 

6 Spatial Analysis 25 

Relationship of Spaces 

Key Views and Vistas 

Landmarks 

7 Character Analysis 32 

Definition of character areas 

Architectural and historic qualities of the buildings 

Local qualities 

Contribution of vegetation and green spaces 

The public realm 

General condition of buildings 

8 Issues and Challenges 43 

Extent of Intrusion or Damage 

Challenges 

Holdenhurst Village Conservation Area Appraisal - March 2014 

i

9 Contribution of Buildings 47 

Positive buildings 

Neutral buildings 

Negative buildings 

An Audit of Heritage Assets 

10 Assessment of Existing Boundary 58 

Extended Area 1 


Christchurch Controlled Conservation Area 

11 Community Involvement 63 

12 Management Proposals 64 

Appendices 

Managing Change Positively 

Appendix 1 - Properties within the Conservation Area 

Appendix 2 - Relevant Legislation and Policy Documents 

Appendix 3 - Policy Wording 

Appendix 4 - Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) 

Appendix 5 - English Heritage Checklist 

Appendix 6 - Listed Buildings within the Conservation Area 

Appendix 7 - Bibliography 

Appendix 8 - Glossary 

List of Figures 

1 Bournemouth’s Conservation Areas 2 

2 Boundary of Holdenhurst Village Conservation Area 4 

3 Aerial View of the Conservation Area 10 

4 Milne’s Map of Hampshire 1791 13 

5 Copy of the Tithe Map (1841) of the Eastern Part of Holdenhurst 14 

6 Map of Holdenhurst in 1870 16 

7 Map of Holdenhurst in 1924 18 

8 Proposed New Road and Sewerage Works for Holdenhurst 1959 19 

9 Map of the Eastern Part of the Village with overlay of 1898 22 

10 Examples of Demolished Cottages Across the Eastern Part of the Village 23 

11 Map of Archaeological Finds 24 

12 Key Views and Vistas 26 

13 Location of Historic Walling to Former Farmsteads 37 

14 Contribution of Buildings to the Conservation Area 48 

15 Changes to the Conservation Area Boundary 61 

ii Holdenhurst Village Conservation Area Appraisal - March 2014

1 Introduction 

1.1 Holdenhurst Village Conservation Area 

is one of the 20 Conservation Areas that 

Bournemouth Council has designated in 

the Borough (Figures 1 and 2). 

1.2 The original conservation areas 

of Holdenhurst Village East and 

Holdenhurst Village West were the first 

conservation areas to be designated in 

Bournemouth on the 18 th June 1974. 

Following an assessment, undertaken 

as part of this Conservation Area 

Appraisal, the boundary of these 

two separate conservation areas was 

revised resulting in the formation 

of a single larger conservation area 

- Holdenhurst Village Conservation 

Area. This assessment also took into 

account the fact that the boundary 

of the original Holdenhurst East 

Conservation Area included land which 

lay within the Borough of Christchurch. 

As a result the boundary was revised 

to follow the Bournemouth Borough 

boundary line reflecting the fact that 

Bournemouth Borough Council has no 

legal jurisdiction over the land which 

lies within the administrative boundary 

of Christchurch. The reasoning behind 

all of the boundary changes is detailed 

in Chapter 10. 

1.3 The purpose of this Conseration 

Area Appraisal is to identify the key 

elements which contribute to the 

significance of the Holdenhurst Village 

Conservation Area which warranted its 

designation and those which detract 

from it. Having established these 

elements a clearer understanding of 

the forms of development that may 

or may not be appropriate can be 

established. From this opportunities 

for preservation and future 

enhancement can be identified. 

1.4 It is noted that no appraisal can ever 

be completely comprehensive and the 

omission of any particular building, 

feature or space should not be taken 

to imply that it is of no interest. It is 

the quality and interest of areas as a 

whole, rather than that of individual 

buildings or features, which should be 

the prime consideration in identifying 

Conservation Areas. 

1.5 The survey and appraisal of the 

Conservation Area was carried out 

between May 2011 and September 

2012 based on the format suggested 

by English Heritage in their guidance - 

Understanding Place: Conservation Area 

Designation, Appraisal and Management 

(2011). 

1.6 Public consultation with the local 

community and other interested parties 

took place for six weeks between 

16 th August and 27 th September 2013. 

Following consideration of all of the 

comments received the Conservation 

Area Appraisal was then adopted by the 

Council on 4th March 2014. 

Picturesque view towards Vicarage Cottages from the junction of Throop Road and Holdenhurst 

Village Road 

Holdenhurst Village Conservation Area Appraisal - March 2014 1

Figure 1 - Bournemouth’s Conservation Areas 

2 

Holdenhurst Village Conservation Area Appraisal - March 2014

Key 

Conservation Areas within 

Bournemouth 

Holdenhurst Village 

Conservation Area 

Bournemouth Boundary 


Figure 2 - Boundary of Holdenhurst Village Conservation Area 

4 



2 The Planning Policy Context 

Primary Legislation 

2.1 The concept of Conservation Areas 

was introduced by the Civic Amenities 

Act 1967, in recognition of the need 

to look beyond the listing of individual 

buildings, and to secure the protection 

for groupings of buildings. 

2.2 Government legislation is set out in 

the Planning (Listed Buildings and 

Conservation Areas) Act, 1990, and 

notes that ‘every local planning 

authority shall from time to time 

determine which parts of their area 

are areas of special architectural 

or historic interest the character or 

appearance of which it is desirable 

to preserve or enhance, and shall 

designate those areas as conservation 

areas’ (section 69). It also states 

that ‘special attention shall be paid 

to the desirability of preserving or 

enhancing the character or appearance 

of that area’ (section 72). It is also a 

duty of local planning authorities to 

formulate and publish proposals for 

the preservation and enhancement of 

conservation areas (section 71). 

National Planning Policy 

Framework (NPPF) 

2.3 The NPPF sets out Government 

planning policies and how these are 

expected to be applied. It notes that 

the purpose of the planning system is 

to contribute to the achievement of 

sustainable development, expressed 

as: economic, social and environmental 

roles. The environmental role 

includes “contributing to protecting 

and enhancing our natural, built and 

historic environment...” (p2). 

2.4 The NPPF refers to ‘designated 

heritage assets’ and ‘heritage assets’. 

Designated heritage assets are those 

protected under primary legislation 

and or registered by English Heritage 

and include Conservation Areas (p51). 

Heritage assets are those buildings, 

monuments, sites, places or landscapes 

identified as having a degree of 

significance meriting consideration in 

planning decisions because of their 

heritage interest. The term ‘heritage 

asset’ includes designated heritage 

assets (p52). 

2.5 The NPPF defines ‘significance’ as 

‘The value of a heritage asset to this 

and future generations because of its 

heritage interest. That interest may be 

archaeological, architectural, artistic 

or historic. Significance derives not 

only from a heritage asset’s physical 

presence, but also from its setting’ 

(p56). 

2.6 Not all elements of a Conservation 

Area will necessarily contribute 

to its significance (para 138) and 

when considering the designation of 

Conservation Areas, local planning 

authorities should ensure that an area 

justifies such status because of its 

special architectural or historic interest 

(para 127). 

2.7 The NPPF must be taken into account 

in the preparation of local and 

neighbourhood plans, and is a material 

consideration in planning decisions. 

Bournemouth Local Plan 

2.8 The Local Plan for Bournemouth 

consists of several documents. The 

primary document is the Core Strategy 

which provides the spatial strategy 

for the Borough for the period 2006 to 

2026 and was adopted in October 2012. 

Other documents are geographically 

specific e.g the Town Centre Area 

Action Plan or cover a particular topic 

e.g Affordable Housing. Some policies 

within the Bournemouth District 

Wide Local Plan 2002 are ‘saved’ 

6 


and therefore still remain relevant. 

They will be superseded in time by 

policies in other new development 

plan documents (DPDs) e.g detailed 

policies for Development Management. 

For detailed wording of relevant Local 

Plan policies, see Appendix 3. For a full 

schedule of current policies, see the 

Council’s website. 

Core Strategy (2012) 

2.9 The Core Strategy acknowledges the 

NPPF requirement to have a proactive 

strategy for the conservation and 

enjoyment of the historic environment. 

It states that the Council is producing 

a set of Conservation Area Appraisals 

that provide information on each 

Conservation Area and advice to 

prospective developers on how they 

should be maintained. The Core 

Strategy states that opportunities to 

continue to understand, preserve and 

enhance Bournemouth’s historic assets 

will be sought through a range of 

initiatives including Conservation Area 

Appraisals. Core Strategy Policy CS39 

seeks to protect designated heritage 

assets, which includes Conservation 

Areas (see Appendix 3). 

2.10 Other relevant Core Strategy Policies 

include Policy CS1, CS12, CS36 and 

CS37. Policy CS1 states that in making 

planning decisions the Council will 

reflect the presumption in favour of 

sustainable development and will 

encourage use of the pre-application 

process to find appropriate solutions. 

Policy CS12 protects community 

facilities such as allotments, places of 

worship and community halls. Policy 

CS36 refers to the Stour Valley Project 

and relates to the importance of the 

Stour Valley as a significant recreation 

and habitat resource. Policy CS37 

is concerned with the Green Belt 

and seeks to resist inappropriate 

development, including uses of land, 

within it. The South East Dorset Green 

Belt is long established and seeks 

to protect the physical identity of 

the town, by retaining areas of open 

land between built up areas. It also 

continues to protect the separate 

identity of the village of Holdenhurst. 

District Wide Local Plan (2002) 

2.11 Policy 4.4 of the Bournemouth District 

Wide Local Plan 2002 is still relevant 

to planning decisions affecting 

Conservation Areas. The policy ensures 

that development has regard for 

features that affect the character of 

Conservation Areas e.g scale, density, 

height form, massing and layout. The 

policy remains a material consideration 

in determining planning applications 

until superseded by polices in the 

Development Management DPD. 

2.12 Policy 4.11 of the Bournemouth District 

Wide Local Plan 2002 (relating to 

Holdenhurst East) is also still relevant 

to planning decisions (see Appendix 

3). This policy seeks to ensure that 

any new development is of a simple 

rural character and the siting of any 

new agricultural building is within an 

existing group. 

2.13 Other ‘saved’ District Wide policies 

that are also still relevant are 3.6, 

3.7, 3.9 and 3.12 which relate to 

development in the countryside and 

3.28 which relates to flood zones. 

These policies will remain a material 

consideration in determining planning 

applications in Holdenhurst Village 

until superseded by polices in the 

Development Management DPD. 


3 Summary of Special Interest 

3.1 Every Conservation Area has a 

distinctive character and appearance. 

The importance of the Holdenhurst 

Village Conservation Area is derived 

primarily from the survival of 

both historic farmhouses, barns 

and dwellings and the agricultural 

landscape which surrounds it. 

3.2 The Conservation Area is of historic 

and architectural interest and 

represents an important part of the 

history of Bournemouth. Although 

now contained within the Borough of 

Bournemouth, Holdenhurst has had 

its own separate identity since Saxon 

times. It is mentioned in the Domesday 

Book (1086) and at one time was 

more important than neighbouring 

Christchurch. 

3.3 Holdenhurst is a visible reminder of one 

of the villages that pre-dates the town 

of Bournemouth and is one of only four 

surviving villages of interest within the 

conurbation, the others being Throop, 

Wick and Talbot Village. Prior to the 

expansion of north Bournemouth the 

village would have been self sufficient, 

with a bus service, village post office, 

school and at one time even a smithy. 

3.4 The historic core of the Conservation 

Area is reinforced by the number of 

listed buildings. This includes three of 

a handful of historic thatched cottages 

left within Bournemouth and one of the 

last remaining timber framed cottages. 

The Conservation Area also contains a 

number of listed gas lamps which by 

virtue of still being powered by gas are 

a rare survival. 

to its interest). In general the buildings 

are small in scale, reflective of their 

village location. 

3.6 The pattern of development is also part 

of the special interest of the village 

and remains relatively intact, with 

informal groups of buildings distinctly 

clustered into two pockets - focused 

around the village green to the east 

and around the junction of Throop Road 

and Holdenhurst Village Road to the 

west. 

3.7 Although many of the original buildings 

have been converted, their original 

form remains as an important reminder 

of the area’s historic past. The village 

character and appearance is further 

reinforced by the continued use of 

several buildings for the purpose for 

which they were originally intended, 

such as the church and village hall, 

along with the farm buildings and 

continued use of the agricultural land. 

3.8 Despite the proximity of urban 

Bournemouth the Conservation 

Area retains its rural setting and 

contains many elements traditionally 

associated with a rural area. Within 

the Conservation Area the lanes 

are generally narrow with mature 

hedgerows and grassed banks bordering 

the lanes and fields beyond. The village 

green and the setting of the properties, 

surrounded by open fields adds to 

the overriding rural and agricultural 

character of the Conservation Area. 

3.5 The interest of the area also derives 

from the age of the core properties 

which range from the 1500s to the 

early 1900s. The varying use and age 

of these buildings results in a range 

of architectural styles and materials 

(which further typify this area and add 

8 


4 Location and Setting 

Context 

4.1 The village is located to the north-east 

of the Borough of Bournemouth, amid 

flat agricultural land, approximately 

3 miles from the town centre. The 

Conservation Area abuts the boundary 

with the Borough of Christchurch, 

with the north-east tip of the village 

(encompassing Wood Farm) falling 

within the Borough of Christchurch. 

4.2 The Conservation Area covers an area 

of approximately 53.13 hectares and 

is dominated by agricultural land, with 

two clusters of development to the 

east and west. These two clusters are 

approximately ½ mile apart as evident 

in the aerial photo overleaf (Figure 3). 

4.3 Just beyond the western boundary of 

the Conservation Area (along Throop 

Road) lies the Throop and Muccleshell 

Village Conservation Area. Throop and 

Muccleshell were originally attendant 

hamlets to Holdenhurst and also have 

Saxon origins. 

4.4 The Conservation Area lies within part 

of the South East Dorset green belt that 

forms a narrow strip to the northern 

edge of Bournemouth. The River 

Stour itself lies to the north of the 

Conservation Area. 

General Character and Plan Form 

4.5 The Conservation Area is rural in nature 

and is characterised by residential and 

agricultural buildings surrounded by 

agricultural land. Holdenhurst is a small 

settlement containing a total of 45 

dwellings, along with a church, village 

hall and several agricultural barns/ 

sheds. The age of buildings in the 

Conservation Area spans a considerable 

period of time and is reflected in the 

unique architectural style of each of 

the historic properties. 

4.6 The Conservation Area features 

traditional buildings of which the 

residential buildings are principally 

small scale semi-detached or terraced 

properties, however, there are a few 

examples of small historic cottages and 

barn conversions that are detached. 

The non-residential buildings (church, 

village hall, agricultural buildings) are 

all detached. 

4.7 The form of the Conservation Area 

has been established by physical 

constraints, administrative and road 

boundaries. The Conservation Area 

incorporates the length of Holdenhurst 

Village Road and this curving line partly 

gives the Conservation Area its linear 

form; taking in the two residential 

clusters and the expanse of fields in 

between. 

4.8 The plot sizes vary but are on the 

whole relatively generous. The 

historic terrace cottages lie within the 

smallest plots, having rather narrow 

rear gardens. The village has evolved 

organically and several of the dwellings 

constructed in the last century 

replaced thatched cottages or farm 

buildings that had fallen into disrepair. 

In general these replacement dwellings 

are within good sized plots. 

4.9 The eastern cluster of residential 

properties reflects the pattern of 

a medieval village with a cluster 

of agricultural dwellings forming a 

nucleated settlement surrounded by 

open fields. In many English villages 

the traditional cottages surrounded a 

village green and contained a church 

and ancient manor house. Holdenhurst 

encompasses all these elements apart 

from a manor house. 

4.10 The properties in the Conservation Area 

are listed in Appendix 1. 


Figure 3 - Aerial View of the Conservation Area 

10 



5 Historic Development and Archaeology 

Origins and Historic 

Development 

5.1 Historically much of the land between 

Poole and Christchurch was covered 

by a heathland of gorse, ferns and 

heather. It was also dotted with 

remains of the area’s rich prehistoric 

past, but uninhabited apart from the 

occasional village or hamlet such as 

Holdenhurst, Throop, Kinson and Iford 

along the fertile valley of the River 

Stour. 

5.2 It is the location of Holdenhurst, on the 

edge of the flood plain of the Stour, 

close to a crossing point, and bounded 

by heath to the west, that made it 

an ideal spot for early settlers. The 

large number of archaeological finds 

in the Bournemouth area, suggest that 

Holdenhurst was occupied from the 

prehistoric era onwards. 

5.3 It is also likely that the Romans settled 

or passed by the area as Roman coins 

have been found in Holdenhurst. A 

hoard was found buried in a vessel in 

1911. 

5.4 At the time of the Domesday survey 

(1086) Holdenhurst was known as 

‘Holeest’ meaning ‘holly copse’. 

The survey reveals that Holdenhurst 

had a chapel, a mill, 181 acres of 

meadow and three fisheries supplying 

a substantial hall. The number 

of fisheries and the extent of the 

meadows was large and, prior to the 

building of the Priory in Christchurch 

(then Twynham) in 1094, Holdenhurst 

would have been more important 

than the neighbouring Saxon Port of 

Twynham. The decline of Holdenhurst 

from its importance in the Domesday 

period is reflected in a lack of later 

expansion of the village. 

5.5 The administrative history of 

Holdenhurst is complicated as it moves 

in and out of crown ownership, and 

that of the Manor of Christchurch (of 

which Holdenhurst became a part). 

It passed regularly between absentee 

landlords who paid it little attention 

and consequently Holdenhurst 

developed slowly as a nucleated 

settlement according to the needs of 

the tenant farmers. 

5.6 Historically the Holdenhurst area was 

a part of the ‘Liberty of Westover’ 

(possibly derived from being ‘west of 

the Stour’), as the 1791 map in Figure 4 

demonstrates. The Liberty of Westover 

was divided into six tythings: Muscliff, 

Muccleshell, Throop, Iford, Tuckton 

and Wick and Holdenhurst. Holdenhurst 

tything covered a much larger area 

than the village as we know it today. 

5.7 The village would have been principally 

centred around the junction of the 

former Holdenhurst Road and the 

present Church Lane, this open space 

later became the village green. From 

Church Lane the track led past the 

Saxon chapel to connect with Ferry 

Lane which in turn led to the ropedrawn 

Blackwater Ferry across the 

River Stour. The ferry accessed the 

main routes to the local market towns 

of Christchurch and Ringwood, and 

the road to London. The location of 

Blackwater to the north of Holdenhurst 

can be seen in Figure 4. 

5.8 A village green in Holdenhurst is 

evidenced by the map in Figure 4, 

however, its present elongated shape 

is likely to be a more recent form as 

it is shown on later maps (see Figures 

6 and 7) with pathways across it. A 

number of cottages were built facing 

this space or in close proximity to it. 

The oldest surviving building in this 

location is the timber framed sixteenth 

century Magdalen Cottage No. 1 

Holdenhurst Village, behind No. 17 

12 


Figure 4 - Milne’s Map of Hampshire 1791 

Holdenhurst Village. Of the surviving 

early dwellings around the village 

green, No. 17 and The New House (No. 

16 Holdenhurst Village) of the 1600s 

stand prominently to the north of the 

green and the thatched cottage Holly 

Hurst, No. 20 Holdenhurst Village of 

the 1800s stands to the west of the 

green. 

5.9 Many of the villagers of Holdenhurst 

would have been farming on a small 

scale. The layout of homesteads around 

the green can be seen in the tithe 

map of 1841, shown in Figure 5. At 

this time a picture emerges of a fairly 

small community of yeoman farmers, 

husbandmen and cottars. 

5.10 The map of 1841 (Figure 5) also 

illustrates a more isolated homestead 

in an area known as Townsend, to the 

south-west of the village green. This 

should not be confused with the 1990s 

housing estate of the same name. The 

map reveals a cluster of buildings at 

this point at the convergence of three 

roads (where Holdenhurst Village Road 

meets Riverside Avenue). The buildings 

include a homestead, of which a 

sixteenth century cob barn survives 

today (Barn to former Townsend 

Cottages). Townsend was also the site 

of Holdenhurst’s Poorhouse, however 

this was demolished approximately 100 

years ago. 



Boundary 

Location of 

homesteads 

N 

Figure 5 - Copy of the Tithe Map (1841) of the Eastern part of Holdenhurst 

14 


5.11 Prior to the Inclosure Act (1802) 

Holdenhurst would have had an open 

field system divided into strips of 

arable and pastoral land. However, 

the Inclosure Act resulted in heathland 

surrounding Holdenhurst which was 

previously open to common access 

being parcelled up by appointed 

commissioners and sold to several local 

landowners. The enclosure of the fields 

encouraged speculative development 

on the heathland, ultimately resulting 

in the development of Bournemouth 

and the shrinking of Holdenhurst. 

5.12 A significant portion of the land in and 

around Holdenhurst was bought at this 

time by William Dean, a descendant of 

the Yeoman farmers of Holdenhurst. 

The Dean family built Littledown House 

and until the death of Alice Ellen 

Cooper-Dean in the 1980s, the direct 

descendants of the family continued 

to manage their land holdings in 

the Bournemouth area. Today this 

is managed by the Trustees of the 

Alice Ellen Cooper-Dean Charitable 

Foundation and a large portion of the 

land within the Conservation Area 

remains with their control. 

5.13 Throughout the eighteenth and 

nineteenth centuries the village 

appears to have developed organically 

with new buildings added when 

required, as opposed to the fashion for 

estate villages at this time. 

5.14 A significant number of the existing 

buildings in Holdenhurst date from 

the period 1800-1900, particularly in 

the western residential pocket. During 

this period The River Barn and The Old 

Dairy appeared, along with the Village 

School (now known as The Old School) 

and School House (1840), Vicarage 

Cottages (1867) and the Vicarage (now 

known as The Old Vicarage) (1883). 

5.15 To the eastern part of Holdenhurst 

a number of dwellings and barns 

were also constructed during this 

period. Hockeys Barn and Manor 

Farm Barn (extended in the 1990s) 

were built, along with Rose Cottage, 

Bramble Cottage and Nos. 21 and 22 

Holdenhurst Village. 

5.16 In the nineteenth century (1800-1900) 

a new church was constructed as the 

population of the village far exceeded 

the capacity of the Saxon chapel. In 

1834 a new church for Holdenhurst 

was opened, close to the old chapel 

(reusing some of the materials of 

the chapel in it’s construction). The 

site of the Saxon chapel is marked 

by a commemorative stone with an 

inscription. 

Commemorative Stone to Saxon Chapel 

5.17 Whilst Holdenhurst remained an 

agricultural based settlement, as 

neighbouring Bournemouth grew so 

did the opportunities for villagers 

within the building trade. In the mid 

nineteenth century Holdenhurst housed 

many bricklayers, carpenters and 

general labourers, as well as those 

involved with service and cottage 

industries such as laundry, dressmaking 

and glove knitting. 

5.18 In the nineteenth century the village 

was linked to Townsend to the south 

and Throop to the west. It was once 

described as ‘one long winding street 


Figure 6 - Map of Holdenhurst in 1870 

16 


of thatched cottages adorned with 

umbrageous elms’ (Chilver, 1980 p61). 

The linear pattern of the village along 

the road between Townsend and 

Throop can be seen in the map of 1870 

(Figure 6). At this time the main village 

consisted of dwellinghouses, farm 

buildings, an inn and a church; and 

to the west a pocket of development 

consisting of a terrace of cottages, a 

smithy, school, school house and some 

farm buildings. 

5.19 The agricultural depression of the 

nineteenth century would have 

impacted upon many of the yeoman 

farmers of Holdenhurst. Whilst the 

agrarian pattern of land use continued 

into the twentieth century, the decline 

and subsequent replacement of farms 

with residential dwellings slowly 

brought about changes throughout 

the century. This is reflected in the 

character of the village, with a move 

away from a farming community 

towards a semi-rural residential area. 

5.20 Looking at the map of Holdenhurst 

in 1924 (Figure 7) it can be seen that 

expansion has occurred principally 

to the western residential pocket. At 

the entrance to the driveway of Hurn 

Court a lodge has appeared (marked 

as P.O. on the map [post office], but 

now known as South Lodge). A Vicarage 

and 2 pairs of semi-detached cottages 

(1-4 Throop Rd) have been built, but 

conversely buildings have disappeared 

from the site next to The Old Dairy to 

the north-west tip of the Conservation 

Area. To the east, the only obvious 

changes are the replacement of the 

original thatched Elm Cottages with 

the current terrace and the addition of 

a hall (now known as The Old Billiard 

Room) next to Holly Hurst (No. 20 

Holdenhurst Village). 

5.21 Having passed through many 

changes of owner and administrative 

districts, Holdenhurst was eventually 

incorporated into Bournemouth in 

1931, when it fell under the control 

of Bournemouth Borough Council. 

The village fell within the county of 

Hampshire at this time, although this 

would later change to Dorset under 

the reorganisation of local government 

in the 1970s. It seems that in the 

hundred or so years it took for the 

town of Bournemouth to develop 

from a fledgling watering hole to a 

fashionable seaside resort, Holdenhurst 

had effectively disappeared, swallowed 

up by the town’s expansion. Indeed 

this led to one observer describing 

Bournemouth as ‘the monstrous child 

that Holdenhurst sired!’ (Fry, 1971). 

5.22 In the 1940s and 1950s the agricultural 

land around Holdenhurst was under 

serious threat with the need for 

roads and housing around north 

Bournemouth. Opposing the destruction 

of the historic fabric of England’s 

towns at this time were some early 

moves towards conservation. In 1952 

St John’s Church and Nos. 16 (The New 

House) and 17 Holdenhurst Village 

became some of the first buildings in 

Bournemouth to be listed. 

5.23 In the 1950s a new road and a 

sewage works were proposed next to 

the eastern residential area. When 

these were built in the 1960s this 

development, particularly the road, 

had a major impact upon Holdenhurst, 

as Figure 8 demonstrates. 

5.24 The new road (A338) severed the road 

from Bournemouth to Holdenhurst at 

Townsend. This cut off the through 

route from Littledown resulting in the 

only vehicle access to the properties in 

Holdenhurst Village being via Throop 

Road to the west of Holdenhurst. 

The loss of the through route to 

Holdenhurst left the settlement as a 

terminal village, destroying some of 


Figure 7 - Map of Holdenhurst in 1924 

18 


Hen Pond 

Proposed road 

(now A338) 

Figure 8 - Proposed New Road and Sewerage Works for Holdenhurst, 1959 

Sewage 

works 


the historical association of the area. 

5.25 Figure 8 not only demonstrates 

the impact of the new road on 

the landscape, but also illustrates 

properties that have been built 

since this time to the eastern part 

of the village, and those which have 

been lost. The western part of the 

settlement remained unchanged at 

this time, but to the east a number of 

building recognisable today have been 

built, the Village Hall and Nos. 24 and 

25 Holdenhurst Village (in place of the 

old Dairyman’s Cottage at Manor Farm). 

5.26 In the 1970s local authorities were 

given a duty to designate Conservation 

Areas and the properties within 

Holdenhurst and the setting of the 

village were duly given some protection 

under the designation of the original 

Holdenhurst East and Holdenhurst West 

Conservation Areas. 

5.27 Further protection for the setting 

of the village came with the 

establishment of the South East Dorset 

Green Belt which includes the whole of 

the Conservation Area within it. 

5.28 Since its designation the Conservation 

Area has continued to change. In the 

1980s a new dwelling, No. 18, was 

built on the site of Nos. 18 and 19 

Holdenhurst Village. In the 1990s a trio 

of listed cottages that were in poor 

condition were repaired, extended 

and converted into two dwellings 

(Nos. 21 and 22 Holdenhurst Village). 

Also several barns were converted 

to dwellings (The River Barn, The 

Old Dairy and Hockeys Barn). At 

this time a small infill development 

to an area known as Manor Farm 

(eastern part of Holdenhurst) was 

constructed to provide additional 

housing in place of several redundant 

agricultural barns/sheds. 

5.29 During the twentieth century several 

of the historic thatched cottages and 

agricultural buildings were demolished 

to the eastern half of the village. 

Figure 9 illustrates part of the village 

today with an overlay of 1898 to 

highlight the cottages and agricultural 

buildings that have been demolished 

since this time, Figure 10 contains 

photographs of examples of the lost 

cottages. 

5.30 As Bournemouth has expanded, 

Holdenhurst has gradually lost some of 

the essential characteristics of a village 

such as its independence. For example 

the post office and bus service. 

Today the village is supported by the 

The Village Green in 1973 

20 


neighbouring services on the northern 

fringes of Bournemouth. 

Activity and Uses 

5.31 The aerial photo (Figure 3) shows there 

is some variation in the land use today 

across the eastern and western parts 

of the village. To the western part the 

land use is dominated by residential 

curtilages with only a cluster of 

small fields (which appear to be used 

as paddocks). The section of land 

connecting the two residential areas 

of the village contains a narrow strip 

of woodland, South Lodge, Longbarrow 

Allotments, several fields and the road 

itself. To the east agricultural land 

surrounds the residential heart of the 

village, with the only other land uses 

being the religious site of St Johns 

Church and the community facility of 

the village hall. 

5.32 The overwhelming activities in the 

Conservation Area are residential 

and agricultural. Many of the former 

farm buildings that survive have 

been converted into residential 

accommodation. Where once there 

were many small farms now only the 

agricultural buildings of the former 

Holdenhurst Farm are in agricultural 

use. 

5.33 The earliest buildings in the 

Conservation Area are the timber 

framed Magdalen Cottage (No. 1 

Holdenhurst Village) and the cob barn 

to the former Townsend Cottages. 

Magdalen Cottage gets its name 

from ancient links to the Magdalen 

Charity that ran the leper hospital 

at Christchurch and rented out the 

cottage to help fund the hospital. The 

cottage would have originally been very 

small and despite a nineteenth century 

extension, being single storey it is still 

on a smaller scale than most of the 

properties in the Conservation Area. 

5.34 Agriculture has been one of the 

biggest influences on the plan form of 

Holdenhurst. The farmsteads that once 

surrounded the village green (shown 

in the Tithe map Figure 5) have long 

gone. Modern buildings now sit in the 

place of former farmhouses (such as 

No. 18 Holdenhurst Village) and the 

large gardens of some of the Manor 

Farm development are made up of 

the former agricultural plots of the 

farmsteads. 

5.35 Many of the yeomen farmers in 

Holdenhurst would have kept animals 

and at one time a village pound to 

enclose stray animals was in use. The 

site of the old village pound is shown 

on old maps in Church Lane close to 

Wood Farm, see Figure 6. 

5.36 The past use of the land for farming 

was assisted by ponds and drainage 

ditches across the eastern part of the 

village. Some of the old wayside rills 

(small streams) that ran in front of 

the cottages on the green can still 

be identified by ditches. The site of 

one of the old ponds, ‘hen pond’ is 

identifiable on the ground in the garden 

of Manor Farm Barn (see Figure 8). The 

importance of the watery landscape 

which once assisted the community 

of Holdenhurst is also identified in 

paragraphs 5.41 and 10.7. 

5.37 Whilst the majority of the buildings 

are currently in residential use, 

several dwellings are conversions of 

properties built for another purpose. 

The former village school, smithy and 

several of the barns have changed use 

to residences. In general the village 

has suffered the loss of a number of 

services in recent years, such as the 

post office, vicarage, bus service and 

telephone box. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

8 

7 


Boundary 

Buildings existing today 

Buildings existing in 

1898 

Buildings numbered on the map: 

1. Scotts Farm 

2. Elm Cottages 

3. Dale’s Farmhouse 

4. Three Elms Inn 

5. Dairyman’s Cottage 

6. Cottage on Manor Farm 

7. Holdenhurst Farmhouse 

8. Hurdles House 

9. Townsend Cottages 

9 

Figure 9 - Map of the eastern part of the village with overlay of 1898 

22 


1. Scotts Farm 

2. The Original Elm Cottages 

7. Holdenhurst Farmhouse 

9. Townsend Cottages 

8. Hurdles House (left) and 7. Holdenhurst Farmhouse [rear](right) 

Figure 10 - Examples of demolished cottages across the eastern part of the village 


Archaeology 

5.38 Links to prehistoric activity in the 

area around Holdenhurst has been 

uncovered in the past with the 

discovery of a long barrow to the 

south in 1926, on what is now Barrow 

Road (approximately 460m SSW of the 

southern corner of the Longbarrow 

Allotments, see Figure 11). Originally 

90m long, the barrow was destroyed 

during the construction of a housing 

estate in the 1930s. However, it was 

the subject of a rescue excavation 

January 1936, when Neolithic 

inhumations as well as Neolithic and 

Bronze Age pottery were uncovered. 

5.39 There is also evidence of Roman 

activity in the area with an 

archaeological find of coins of this 

date. The hoard was found west of the 

present village hall, approximately 

170m away (see Figure 11). 

5.40 There is likely to be undiscovered 

archaeology in the fields surrounding 

the village, being a settlement that 

dates back to Saxon times, within an 

area that has been inhabited since 

prehistoric times. 

5.41 The site of the old hen pond (in the 

garden of the Manor Farm Barn, as 

shown in Figure 8) is clearly shown 

on historic maps and although now 

drained it is marked in the landscape 

by a clump of trees and vegetation. It 

is possible that the site of this pond is 

a remnant of the fisheries mentioned in 

the Domesday Survey. 

 

● 

 

Coin Find 

Site of Longbarrow 

Site of Hen Pond 

Conservation Area Boundary 

Figure 11 - Map of Archaeological Finds 

24 


6 Spatial Anaylsis 

Relationship of Spaces 

6.1 The Conservation Area is 

characterised by the grouping of 

historic buildings within an agricultural 

landscape. This arises in part from 

the continued agricultural base of the 

settlement and the remaining isolation 

from the town of Bournemouth through 

physical distance, land use and in 

recent years the protection of the open 

landscape through green belt policy. 

6.2 Despite some recent infilling and the 

conversion of several buildings to 

residential use, the spaciousness and 

rural character of Holdenhurst is still 

evident. The sense of spaciousness 

across the Conservation Area is 

derived from the expanse of fields, 

the clusters of trees and the seclusion 

of the buildings. This openness allows 

significant views towards properties, 

adding to the visual prominence of 

several of the dwellings and farm 

buildings. 

6.3 A key gap within the Conservation 

Area is the space between the two 

residential clusters of properties. 

This parcel of land contributes to 

the Conservation Area by virtue of 

its openness and verdant land use 

incorporating arable crop growing, 

mature trees and hedgerows. 

6.4 The village green forms an important 

open public space. The grass of the 

green is bounded by low timber posts 

to designate the communal open 

area from the highway. This space 

is significant not only for its visual 

contribution to the eastern part of the 

village but as evidence of the evolution 

of the original pattern of development 

as a traditional English agricultural 

based village. 

6.5 The plots sizes are principally generous 

in size and many dwellings have large 

gardens. The gardens are important 

as the vegetation in them contributes 

to the greenery of the settlement. 

In addition, the space between the 

buildings allows for views from the 

street between properties. 

Key Views and Vistas 

6.6 In addition to the general street scene 

views there are several important views 

into, out of and within the Holdenhurst 

Conservation Area, as Figure 12 

demonstrates. 

Views into the Conservation Area 

Throop Road 

6.7 (1) On leaving the suburbs of north 

Bournemouth a transition point is 

reached between the urban area and 

a rural scene. The road narrows, the 

pavement disappears and the road 

becomes lined by trees and hedges. 

View 1 


Figure 12 - Key Views and Vistas 

26 



From the informal footpath north of 

Townsend Housing Estate 

6.8 (2 and 3) The isolation of the village 

is evident from this viewpoint. The 

vista across agricultural land towards 

trees and buildings in the distance 

all compound the rural setting of the 


6.10 (5) From the Wessex Way vehicle 

passengers can catch glimpses of 

the church and farm buildings to the 

south-eastern edge of the village. This 

viewpoint again shows the buildings 

in their isolated setting. This vantage 

point also affords night time glimpses 

of the gentle glow of the gas lamps. 

Views 2 and 3 

Wessex Way (A338) 

6.9 (4) The topography of the area is 

relatively flat and there are no 

elevated viewpoints into the village 

other than from the footbridge 

over the Wessex Way. From here, a 

panorama of the village is possible, 

showing the layout of the eastern part 

of the village. The view also enables an 

appreciation of the isolation between 

the east and west residential clusters 

of buildings, and reinforces the context 

of the buildings amongst the farmland. 

View 5 

Views out of the Conservation Area 

Holdenhurst Village Road 

6.11 (6) Looking through the decorative 

gates to Hurn Court the long driveway 

and avenue of trees focuses views into 

the distance. 

View 4 View 6 

28 


6.12 (7) The floodplain of the Stour 

is evident to the north of the 

Conservation Area. The River Stour 

itself is not visible, but the land 

is different in appearance to the 

surrounding farmland by virtue of being 

flat and low lying. 

6.14 (9) There are sufficient trees in the 

village to create a funnelling effect 

in places. On Throop Road the eye is 

drawn towards the pretty cottage, 

with the white of The Old Forge (No. 

14 Holdenhurst Village) standing out 

against the green of the trees. 

View 7 

View 9 

Views within the Conservation Area 

Throop Road 

6.13 (8) A view of a historic gas lamp and 

a pair of semi-detached cottages 

(Stockwell Cottage and Springfield) 

is the first glimpse of the village 

and sets the historic context for the 


Holdenhurst Village Road 

6.15 (10) The view below of Vicarage 

Cottages characterises the 

Conservation Area; pretty cottages set 

amongst greenery that line the village 

road. 

View 8 

View 10 


6.16 (11) Along Holdenhurst Village Road 

views across fields in the direction 

of Bournemouth adds to a sense of 

separation of the village. 

6.18 (13) As you reach The New House (No. 

16 Holdenhurst Village) the road opens 

out to give a view of the village green. 

The green is bounded by cottages and 

hedging and the whole scene adds to a 

sense of arrival at this point. 

View 11 

View 13 

6.17 (12) On approach to the eastern part 

of the village the rooftops of the 

Manor Farm development are visible 

above the hedgerows. The palette of 

materials used helps the buildings to 

blend into the environment. 

6.19 (14) The village green contributes 

to the character of the Conservation 

Area by adding to the sense of a rural 

location. Not only does it create a focal 

point for the village but it enhances 

the setting of the listed buildings and 

gives an impression of continuity in the 

landscape, with the village retaining its 

historic form. 

View 12 

View 14 

30 


6.20 (15) Views of the original farm buildings 

reinforce the rural nature of the 

Conservation Area, both those in 

agricultural use at Holdenhurst Farm 

and those converted to dwellings. 

6.22 No. 17 Holdenhurst Village and The 

New House (No. 16 Holdenhurst Village) 

on the village green are landmarks 

within the eastern half of Holdenhurst. 

The buildings are prominently sited 

on the green and are highly visible on 

approach from the south. They are 

a backdrop to the open space of the 

green and although the buildings are 

not as tall as the church, their scale is 

large within the village and they are 

distinctive within Holdenhurst. The 

dwellings can be seen in View 14 on the 

adjacent page. 

View 15 

Landmarks 

6.21 St John’s Church is a noticeable 

landmark building within the village as 

its scale, height and materials set it 

apart from the brick built buildings that 

characterise the village. The church 

can be seen from various vantage 

points both within and outside of the 


St John’s Church 


7 Character Analysis 

Definition of Character Areas 

7.1 In terms of its built form the overall 

character and appearance of the area 

is defined by the various phases and 

forms of development which occurred 

through its evolution. From its origins 

as an agricultural based village dating 

back to the Domesday period, to 

Victorian additions in the nineteenth 

century and a number of replacement 

buildings across the twentieth century. 

7.2 Development has tended to be gradual 

and piecemeal in nature. This has 

meant that as the area evolved over 

time the buildings represented by 

the various periods and forms of 

development are generally spread 

throughout the Conservation Area, 

either isolated or located together in 

small groups of similar aged buildings. 

7.3 Geographically the village is split into 

two residential pockets. However, the 

land use, building type and historic 

origins are interlinked to such a degree 

that these have not been separated out 

in the assessment of the character of 

the Conservation Area. 

7.4 There is a clear distinction between the 

built up character of the buildings and 

their softer landscape surroundings. 

The character and importance of 

the vegetation and green spaces is 

considered in detail in the following 

paragraphs, 7.44-7.55. 

Architectural and Historic 

Qualities of the Buildings 

7.5 Although the buildings are of unique 

designs they reflect the materials, 

styles and techniques of the periods 

in which they were built. Across the 

Conservation Area the architecture of 

the buildings is principally reflective 

of vernacular techniques in the local 

tradition of the pre 1800s buildings, 

through to the more standard design 

and machine made brick of the 

nineteenth (1800s) and twentieth 

century (1900s). 

Vernacular Techniques - pre 1800s 

7.6 Vernacular architecture is used in 

this instance to represent buildings 

constructed using locally sourced 

materials and following traditional 

building practices. The use of thatch 

is an example of a vernacular material 

and the original thatched cottages of 

the village would have been roofed 

using locally grown straw and utilising 

local craftsmanship. Early vernacular 

buildings in Holdenhurst would have 

been of timber framed or of cob walled 

construction, although few examples 

survive. In the seventeenth century 

hand-made bricks would have started 

to replace the ancient cob and timber 

frame construction techniques. 

Nineteenth Century - 1800s 

7.7 With advances in technology, improved 

transportation links and the mass 

production of materials resulting in 

cheaper building materials, later 

properties such as School House (1840) 

would have been built of standard 

materials such as factory produced 

brick and to a more standard design. 

7.8 The Victorian era (1837-1901) 

is renowned for its variety of 

architectural styles, but in Holdenhurst 

a simple style in keeping with the 

small scale dwellings prevails. The 

main exception to the simple styling 

is the former vicarage which is very 

much reflective of the late Victorian 

period and incorporates a number of 

characteristic architectural features 

such as bay windows and decorative 

roof tiles. 

32 


Twentieth Century - 1900s 

7.9 Whilst some European architects were 

experimenting with new materials 

and construction techniques, in the 

early part of the twentieth century 

Britain’s domestic architecture was 

influenced by a more backwards looking 

architectural tradition. Cottages, 

such as South Lodge (early 1920s), 

are reflective of the Arts and Craft 

movement, a style that reflects earlier 

vernacular traditions, utilising features 

such as heavy chimney stacks and 

sweeping catslide roofs. 

7.10 The interwar period (1920s and 1930s) 

was also influenced by the Art Deco 

style of the Modern Movement. This 

architecture with its bold shapes and 

smooth surfaces was usually associated 

with the leisure and entertainment 

industry. However, it did filter down to 

influence the design of more modest 

buildings including domestic dwellings. 

The Village Hall in Holdenhurst dates 

from this period. 

7.11 In the immediate post second 

world war period there was a great 

demand for new dwellings and a 

focus was placed on fast construction 

techniques that could mass produce 

housing quickly with less emphasis on 

architecture detailing. A shift from 

private individuals towards mass 

produced local authority housing was 

also seen at this time. Properties of 

this period such as Nos. 24 and 25 

Holdenhurst Village reflect the slightly 

plainer architecture detailing of the 

post war period. 

7.12 In more recent years architecture in 

the village has tended to reflect earlier 

styles but in a less exuberant way. For 

example, Bramleys (to the Manor Farm 

development) utilises a mix of past 

styles and materials associated with 

older dwellings (i.e. thatch) to add 

interest to the building. 

Local Qualities 

7.13 Holdenhurst contains a number of 

buildings of architectural merit (both 

listed and unlisted). These buildings 

contain a mixed palette of traditional 

materials including several examples of 

thatch roofing. As well as the materials 

used, the architectural detailing (for 

example the fine decorated windows to 

the church and the use of decorative 

door porches to dwellings) all adds 

visual interest contributing a richness 

to the character of Holdenhurst. 

Roof Coverings 

7.14 Dorset thatch has a style that is distinct 

from that of many other counties. 

A lot like Hampshire thatch roofing, 

typically Dorset thatch is very plain 

with little or no ornamentation to the 

ridge (as illustrated by Holly Hurst, 

No. 20 Holdenhurst Village; No. 17 

Holdenhurst Village; and Magdalen 

Cottage, No. 1 Holdenhurst Village). 

The normal practice of thatching in 

Dorset is to re-coat the roof, this 

means that many historic properties 

have an important series of layers of 

thatched material. 

Thatch Roof of Holly Hurst, No. 20 



7.15 Thatch is a vernacular material and 

historically would have been locally 

sourced. However, over the last 40 

years or so imports of water reed have 

been used instead of the produce of 

local farmers. Longstraw thatch was 

once perhaps the most widely used 

material across the country, with the 

other main technique being combed 

water reed. Changes in material results 

in a noticeable change in appearance 

of thatched roofs. 

7.16 Other traditional roof finishes include 

stone slate (as at St John’s Church), 

natural grey slate and plain red 

clay tiles. A couple of the Victorian 

properties with tiled rather than slate 

roofs utilise decorative fish scale tiling, 

this can be seen on The Old Vicarage 

and The Coach House. Ridge tiles 

across the Conservation Area are plain 

rather than decorative. 

Roof Form 

7.17 Whilst there are similarities, no two 

houses or terraces of dwellings are 

completely alike in Holdenhurst. The 

general roof form is either hipped or 

gabled and these two forms are evident 

in both the more historic and more 

recent dwellings. It is also noted that 

of the nineteenth century buildings 

there are both hipped and gabled 

examples, such as The Old School 

and School House. Roof pitches vary 

according to the roofing material used. 

The slate roofs are shallow pitched, 

whilst the tiled and thatched roofs are 

more steeply pitched. 

7.18 A number of properties incorporate 

exposed rafters with decorative 

timber rafter feet to the eaves; 

this can be seen at Springfield and 

Stockwell Cottage, Vicarage Cottages, 

The Old Vicarage, South Lodge, 

School House and No. 5 Holdenhurst 

Village. Decorative brick eaves are 

Chimneys 

characteristic of a few properties in 

the Conservation Area, including The 

Old Forge, No. 14 Holdenhurst Village; 

The New House, No. 16 Holdenhurst 

Village; and The Old School. A slight 

overhang of the roof to the eaves is 

also characteristic of the thatched 

dwellings and those with a slate roof 

covering. The tiled roofs don’t tend 

to have an overhang, although South 

Lodge is a clear exception with its 

overhanging eaves to the gables. 

7.19 The majority of chimney stacks remain, 

adding interest to the skyline within 

the Conservation Area. Most chimney 

stacks are simple with painted brick or 

render to match in with the property, 

however, there are some interesting 

examples of decorative brick stacks 

such as the tall angled stacks at South 

Lodge. The majority of chimney stacks 

also retain their (clay) chimney pots. 

Walling 

7.20 The earliest buildings in the 

Conservation Area are rare survivors 

in Bournemouth of their construction 

type. The barn of the former Townsend 

Cottages utilises the early building 

method of clay mixed with straw, 

gravel and sand (known as cob). 

Magdalen Cottage (No. 1 Holdenhurst 

Village) is of another ancient building 

method - timber frame construction 

(with later brick infilling). 

7.21 Nos. 21 and 22 Holdenhurst Village are 

unusual (and important) in that the 

cottages incorporate materials from 

the Saxon church that originally stood 

on this site. Originally three cottages, 

they are windowless to the north, west 

and east sides, and are of random 

ironstone. 

34 


Walling of Saxon church incorporated into 

Nos. 21 and 22 Holdenhurst Village 

7.22 The predominant construction material 

in the Conservation Area is brick. From 

the ancient hand made bricks of No. 

17 Holdenhurst Village to the recent 

brick buildings of the Manor Farm 

development. Whilst a few properties 

are rendered or painted, exposed brick 

is characteristic of the village. Apart 

from the yellow buff brick of Bramble 

Cottage, Oak Tree Cottage, The Three 

Elms, The River Barn and The Old Dairy, 

the predominant brickwork colour is 

red. 

7.23 The brickwork bond across the 

Conservation Area varies, however 

there are similarities relating to 

the age and type of building. The 

predominant bond is Stretcher Bond 

and is principally visible on the 

nineteenth and twentieth century 

dwellings, although the barns and the 

oldest dwelling utilise Flemish, Header, 

English and English Garden Wall Bond. 

Contrasting brickwork of Header Bond of 

The New House, no 16 Holdenhurst Village 

(left) and the English Bond of No. 17 (right) 

7.24 A number of properties utilise simple 

brick dressings as a decorative feature. 

The most common is the use of brick 

headers above the windows, this is 

illustrated by both agricultural and 

domestic buildings. Brick headers are 

also featured on dwellings across the 

age range and can be seen at both 


Village of the 1700s and Nos. 24 and 25 

Holdenhurst Village of the 1940s. 

7.25 Decorative gabled kneelers are 

characteristic of a handful of 

properties, principally twentieth 

century dwellings rather than historic 

buildings. Brick gabled kneelers can 

be seen at The New House and at 

Springfield and Stockwell Cottage, the 

Three Elms and No. 18 Holdenhurst 

Village. Decorative stone gabled 

kneelers can be seen at St John’s Church. 

Windows 

7.26 The characteristic window framing 

material in the Conservation Area is 

timber. There is some variation in 

window design across the different ages 

and types of properties although the 

predominant design is outward opening 

casements with plain glazing or leaded 

lights. Windows are a key characteristic 

of a building and where original 

windows are lost this can detract from 

the building’s appearance. 

7.27 Historically glass was an expensive 

material and large panes were costly 

and difficult to produce. The oldest 

properties in the Conservation Area 

have windows with small panes of 

glass set within leaded divisions 

(leaded lights). This is illustrated by 

the (outward opening) casements at 

Magdalen Cottage (No.1 Holdenhurst 

Village), No. 17 Holdenhurst Village), 

The New House (No. 16 Holdenhurst 

Village) and The Old Forge (No. 14 

Holdenhurst Village). 


7.28 An exception to the casement windows 

across the Conservation Area are the 

few examples of nineteenth century 

sash windows. These utilise slender 

glazing bars to divide the panes of glass 

and incorporate decorative horns and 

this can be seen at The Old Vicarage, 

School House and Rose Cottage. The 

Three Elms of the 1960s also benefits 

from attractive timber framed sash 

windows with slender glazing bars. 

7.29 Particularly interesting windows can 

be seen at St John’s Church. The 

decorative stained glass windows 

depict agricultural scenes, which add 

to the rural feel of the Conservation 

Area. 

Entrances and Porches 

7.30 Entrances are important architectural 

features of the properties within 

Holdenhurst Village. The majority of 

dwellings in the Conservation Area 

benefit from some sort of entrance 

porch. Tiled or slated door canopies in 

particular are a characteristic feature 

and serve to emphasise the importance 

of the home entrance as a key feature 

of the dwellings. There are many 

examples within the Conservation Area 

such as the projecting canopies at No. 

17 Holdenhurst Village (below), The 

New House (No. 16), Holly Hurst (No. 

20), Elm Cottages and The Three Elms. 

7.31 Doorway treatments within the 

Conservation Area include fully 

enclosed porches (The Old Billiard 

Room, The Old School, Nos. 24 and 

25 Holdenhurst Village and The Coach 

House), open sided porches with timber 

framing or timber brackets (The Old 

Forge, Manor Farm Barn, The River 

Barn, Hockeys Barn, Bramleys, The 

Goslings), as well as recessed entrances 

(the Village Hall, No.18 Holdenhurst 

Village). 

Doors 

7.32 Painted timber panelled or tongue and 

groove front doors are characteristic 

of the Conservation Area. Doors are 

generally solid, although there are 

a few examples of glazing within 

the door (very small panes to older 

properties). 

Ironmongery 

7.33 Some of the doors benefit from 

decorative hinges, letter boxes or door 

knockers. One of the most attractive 

examples of ironmongery in the 

Conservation Area can be seen at The 

Old Billiard Room (below). 

Front door to The Old Billiard Room 

Boundary Treatments 

Doorway to No. 17 Holdenhurst Village 

7.34 The treatment of boundaries is 

a very important element which 

36 


Walling 

contributes to the overall character 

and appearance of the Conservation 

Area. There are a range of boundary 

treatments within Holdenhurst and a 

notable variation between the eastern 

and western parts of the Conservation 


7.35 The original brick walling that remains 

as a boundary to some properties to 

the western part is generally tall for 

a front boundary (approx. 1.8m). This 

is because it is either a retaining wall 

(as in the case of The Coach House) or 

forms a part of old farm buildings (as 

at The Old Dairy and The River Barn). 

These walls are generally a reddish/ 

orange brick in a Flemish bond with 

brick on end coping and subtle pointing 

which blends with the background. 

7.36 To the eastern part of the Conservation 

Area the original boundary walls are 

lower and of an orangy/red brick. The 

predominant bond is English Garden 

Wall, but there are also examples of 

Monk bond (a type of Flemish Bond). 

The walls include some form of coping 

and the pointing is generally subtle. 

7.37 Holdenhurst formerly contained a 

number of farmsteads (as Figure 

5 shows) and part of the old brick 

walls to Dales Farm, Brinton’s Farm 

and Bank’s Farm are still evident in 

places (illustrated in Figure 13). The 

Walling to The Old Dairy 

Boundary wall to The New House 

Conservation 

Area boundary 

Historic walling 

Figure 13 - Location of historic walling to former farmsteads 


prevalence of old field and property 

boundaries adds to the character of the 

Conservation Area and the remains of 

the historic walling of the former farms 

to the eastern settlement provide a 

sense of continuity to the landscape. 

Railings along Holdenhurst Village Road 

Hedging 

Historic walling next to The Old Farm 

Railings 

7.40 Boundary hedging is a strong feature 

within the Conservation Area and 

forms a common boundary treatment. 

Some low brick boundary walls are also 

combined with hedging behind, with 

the greenery providing some additional 

height. 

7.38 Metal railings are a feature of the 

western residential pocket and along 

the northern side of Holdenhurst 

Village Road (in between the east and 

west residential pockets). Railings 

enable views through to the vegetation 

or dwellings beyond. 

7.39 In front of residential properties the 

railings are black, however alongside 

the wooded area their condition has 

deteriorated in places and they are 

visibly a rust colour. The railings are of 

a plain design characterised by slender 

posts with a thicker post at regular 

intervals. The railings to The Old Forge, 

No. 14 Holdenhurst Village, are finished 

with an undecorated spike. 

Hedging to the Old Billiard Room 

Fencing and gates 

7.41 Post and wire fencing is prevalent to 

the boundaries of the agricultural land. 

Open timber fencing is utilised to Nos. 

21 and 22 Holdenhurst Village, like 

railings this type of fencing defines the 

boundaries but enables clear views of 

the buildings beyond. 

7.42 Gates to pathways match the height of 

the low front boundary walls and are 

38 


of timber. In the few instances where 

a vehicle access is gated this is via a 

5 bar gate in timber. This type of gate 

is of an open nature and again allows 

views through to the dwelling beyond. 

Open boundaries 

7.43 Vicarage Cottages and No. 5 

Holdenhurst Village are set adjacent 

to the road and do not have a front 

boundary treatment. 

Contribution of Vegetation and 

Green Spaces 

7.44 The private front gardens, the 

agricultural land, the trees and 

hedges and the village green make an 

important contribution to the character 



Contribution of domestic gardens 

7.45 Front gardens tend to be small and 

generally set behind a wall, although 

some are behind a hedge or railings, or 

a combination. Gardens are generally 

well kept and the planting and hedging 

contribute to the verdant setting of the 


Landscape and Agricultural Land 

7.46 The Lower Stour Valley that 

Holdenhurst lies within is considered to 

be of landscape value. The river runs 

north of the village and is a haven for 

wildlife. There are many trees dotted 

along the river bank, particularly 

to the northern side. With the area 

being low lying views are afforded 

from the northern boundaries of the 

Conservation Area towards the river, 

and visa versa. Despite the proximity 

of Bournemouth the area retains a 

valuable landscape that is worthy of its 

green belt status. 

7.47 Views of agricultural land are 

afforded in between dwellings to both 

residential parts of the Conservation 

Area and when travelling along all 

roads in the village where the hedging 

is not too high or too dense. Whilst 

there is agricultural land within 

the Conservation Area itself, the 

patchwork of fields visible beyond 

is also important to the setting of 

the Conservation Area. All of this 

land helps to reinforce the historic 

connections and context of Holdenhurst 

which was originally an agricultural 

based village. 

7.48 The landscape around Holdenhurst 

contains a patchwork of agricultural 

land that contributes to the setting. 

The crops in the fields are generally 

low to the ground and views are 

afforded across fields and into 

the Conservation Area. The sense 

of openness greatly adds to the 

rural nature of the setting of the 

Conservation Area and contributes 

to the character. The importance of 

the agricultural use of the land is also 

noted in paragraphs 10.8 - 10.10. 

Importance of trees, hedgerows and the 

village green 

Trees 

7.49 Trees make a particularly valuable 

contribution as they provide a structure 

and mature landscape to the village. 

Within the Conservation Area there 

are several large mature street trees 

as well as dense tree lines and small 

wooded areas. The village contains 

many of our native trees consisting of 

the following species: Ash, Alder, Crack 

Willow, Downy Birch, Silver Birch, Goat 

Willow, Pendunculate Oak, Sessile Oak, 

Rowan and Yew. 

7.50 The large mature trees add a sense 

of age to the settlement and the 


two particularly fine Beech trees 

at the junction of Throop Road and 

Holdenhurst Village Road make a 

key visual contribution at the heart 

of the western residential part of 

Holdenhurst. Also within this part of 

the Conservation Area the garden of 

The Old Vicarage is very well treed 

with a substantial number of mature 

trees. 

7.51 Beyond The Old School on the northern 

side of Holdenhurst Village Road there 

is a fine quality strip of woodland that 

stretches for a considerable distance 

in between the western and eastern 

residential parts of the village. The 

importance of this is also noted in 

paragraph 10.12. The trees are mainly 

middle-aged specimens that are 

densely planted, the species here being 

mainly Pendunculate Oak and Scots 

Pine. 

7.52 Beyond Magdalen Cottage on Sturt Lane 

is a small pocket of woodland. Little 

has changed for centuries, and this 

wood is annotated on old maps and 

preserved in the old field name ‘wood’. 

7.53 The concentration of Yew trees (both 

native and Irish) around the church 

adds to the setting of this listed 

building and goes some way towards 

shielding the noise and visual intrusion 

of the A338. The front boundary of 

the church has a good quality and well 

established native box hedge. 

Hedgerows 

7.54 The Holdenhurst area contains many 

fine and established native, rural 

hedgerows. The hedgerows provide 

an excellent wildlife habitat due to 

their dense nature and form corridors 

in which wildlife can travel. The 

current retention, maintenance and 

improvement of these agricultural land 

hedgerows should be encouraged. The 

species of trees in these hedgerows 

are the native ones, in the main 

Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Field Maple, 

Hazel and Holly. 

Village Green 

7.55 The village green with its group of 

three large Horse Chestnut trees and 

Rowan tree forms a focal point for 

the eastern settlement. A sense of 

enclosure is created at this point with 

the open area framed by the buildings, 

boundary hedging and trees. The 

buildings around the green add to the 

ambience, and this coupled with the 

The village green 

40 


green of the grass and the group of 

mature trees seek to create a sense of 

place at this point. 

The Public Realm 

7.56 The treatment of the public realm 

makes an important contribution to 

the character and appearance of the 


7.57 The road through the village is 

generally devoid of pavement and road 

marking, this greatly adds to a sense 

of a rural area. The road surfaces 

are generally tarmac however, there 

are some unmade roads that are 

more reminiscent of country lanes/ 

farm tracks such as the lane leading 

from the village green to Wood Farm. 

Historic style road signs (Church Lane 

and Sturt Lane) also add to the historic 


7.58 The most notable examples of street 

furniture in Holdenhurst are the 

numerous grade II listed gas lamps 

that line the main Holdenhurst Village 

Road and Throop Road. The village is 

one of the few places in the country 

still to retain its old gas lamps with 

its Sugg Windsor lanterns, mounted on 

the original columns. The listed status 

of the lamps is of greater significance 

than their inclusion within the 

Conservation Area Appraisal. 

7.59 The lanterns are not just reflective 

of the area’s historic past but are 

important in providing illumination 

throughout the village. The gentle 

glow of the gas is less harsh than 

modern street lamps and contributes 

to a sense of antiquity in the village, 

positively adding to the character of 


7.60 Two red post boxes add interest to the 

street scene. To the eastern part of 

the village is a narrow Victorian box 

set into the wall of Holly Hurst, No. 

20 Holdenhurst Village. To the western 

part is a slightly later post box with the 

initials G.R. (probably dating from the 

1930s or 1940s) that is built into a brick 

pier outside the former post office (The 

Old Forge, No. 14 Holdenhurst Village). 

With both boxes set into a wall rather 

then free standing (as would generally 

be found in towns and cities) they add 

to the rural feel of the village. 

Victorian Post Box, Holly Hurst 

A Gas Lamp at Dusk 

7.61 The village green is surrounded by 

wooden posts to prevent vehicles 

eroding the grass. Whilst these are 

modern they are subtle being modest 

in size and of a material sympathetic 

to this location. A timber bench on the 

village green underneath the canopy 

of three large trees provides a place 

to sit and admire the view. A bench in 

this location emphasises the fact that 


this is an important public space with 

a character and appearance worthy of 

note. 

General Condition of Buildings 

7.62 Following something of a resurgence of 

the fortunes of the village over the last 

30 years a number of the properties 

have been modernised, existing 

agricultural buildings converted to 

residential use and some new dwellings 

constructed. 

7.63 The properties are generally very well 

maintained and many retain a wealth 

of original architectural features 

such as timber framed windows and 

chimney stacks. This may be a result 

of some of the dwellings being owned 

by large landowners in Bournemouth 

and perhaps it is as a consequence 

of these being rented out rather 

than owner occupied that they have 

remained well maintained but little 

altered, as opposed to being subject to 

modification as fashions change. 

7.64 Whereas Holdenhurst was once an 

isolated village, today it is within a 

short drive of the town centre and 

neighbouring employment hubs and the 

village accommodates professionals as 

well as offering a peaceful haven for 

retired people. The village provides 

a popular alternative to town centre 

or traditional suburban living. It is a 

desirable place to live and has the 

appearance of an affluent area, this is 

reflected in the properties being well 

maintained and benefitting from well 

tended gardens. 

Holly Hurst, No. 20 Holdenhurst Village; and The Old Billiard Room 

42 


8 Issues and Challenges 

Extent of Intrusion or Damage 

8.1 It is unfortunate that some 

development within the Conservation 

Area has been carried out under 

permitted development and therefore 

was exempt from planning control. It 

is also unfortunate that some recent 

developments, which occurred after 

the designation of the Conservation 

Area, have failed to preserve or 

enhance its character or appearance. 

Highway Intrusions and Services 

8.2 Highway modifications such as 

unsympathetically designed modern 

plastic road signs, plastic bollards 

and speed limit signs are features 

of an urban environment. These are 

considered to add clutter to the village 

and distract from it’s simple rural 

character. In addition, whilst some 

overhead telephone wires might be 

expected, in some parts of the village 

their density increases their visibility. 

impact that erodes the character of the 

Conservation Area, such as the gradual 

replacement of original timber windows 

in PVCu or the replacement of a roof in 

a different material. 

8.4 It is difficult to replicate the moulded 

profile and slender glazing divisions 

of timber in PVCu. Often the type of 

opening is not matched (i.e. a sliding 

sash is replaced with an outward 

opening casement) and the opening 

parts of the frame are much thicker 

than the fixed parts, leading to an 

unbalanced appearance. Horns and 

other decorative features also are 

often not matched in PVCu. 

Undesirable replacement PVCu windows 

Urban traffic sign 

Unsympathetic Alterations 

8.3 One of the most common threats to the 

Conservation Area is from inappropriate 

or unsympathetic alterations to 

properties. Some of these may be more 

obvious than others, but even small 

alterations can have a cumulative 

8.5 The introduction of urban elements 

such as hardstanding, gates or 

outbuildings, can all have a negative 

impact on the appearance of the 

Conservation Area. In this semi-rural 

area, the loss of gardens to parking 

is particularly visually prominent as 

a large expanse of hard standing is 

not expected and this coupled with a 

lack of vegetation makes for a stark 

appearance that is out of keeping with 



Loss of garden to parking 

Changes to Boundary Treatment 

8.6 One of the most visually prominent 

alterations is the changing of boundary 

treatment, particularly where the 

height is increased or a new material 

introduced. The loss of original fabric 

and vegetation is detrimental to the 

Conservation Area. Uncharacteristic 

materials, heights and designs all draw 

attention to these changes. 

Erosion of grass verges by the parking of 

cars 

Changes to and Loss of Vegetation 

8.8 There are a number of gardens in the 

vicinity of the church yard that have 

planted trees and shrubs that are nonnative 

and non-naturalised specimens 

that are not in keeping with the rural 

nature of this area. 

8.9 Unfortunately most of the internal 

field boundary hedgerows have been 

lost in the past due to mechanised 

farm methods, however the reforming 

of these hedgerows would be highly 

desirable if possible in the future. 

External Intrusions 

Tall front boundary treatment 

uncharacteristic of the Conservation Area 

Car Parking 

8.7 The parking of cars has also caused 

some harm to the Conservation Area 

as the grass verges to the side of the 

roads or the grass in front or to the 

side of properties has been eroded by 

unsympathetic parking. 

8.10 As well as unattractive features located 

within the area there are also those in 

close proximity which can be viewed 

from within the Conservation Area. 

These include the line of electricity 

pylons running parallel with the Stour 

and the busy A338, both detract from 

the rural setting of the Conservation 

Area. The A338 is not only highly 

visible from the south-eastern part of 

the Conservation Area but also clearly 

audible across the eastern residential 

part 

8.11 Beyond the Conservation Area is also 

the sewage works which at certain 

times can emit an unpleasant smell 

across the village. In addition close 

44 


to the western residential pocket of 

Holdenhurst Village, but lying just 

outside the conservation area, is Roffey 

Brothers – a horticultural business. 

This occupies a visually prominent 

location by the sharp bend in Throop 

Road and the site includes a number 

of large sheds and a large expanse of 

hardstanding. Although there is some 

screening from trees and hedging the 

site is open to views from its entrance 

and detracts from the setting of the 

village. 

Challenges 

Traffic 

8.12 One of the key pressures within the 

western part of the Conservation Area 

is traffic. The neighbouring settlement 

of Throop can be accessed along 

Throop Road, and the road is also a 

through route from the busy Castle 

Lane West. In addition the roads 

throughout the Conservation Area are 

narrow and the presence of lorries and 

other large vehicles makes it difficult 

for cars to negotiate the road and less 

safe for those on foot or travelling by 

bicycle. 

New Road 

8.13 A significant concern in recent years 

has been the proposal for a Castle Lane 

West Relief Road. This was detailed 

in the Bournemouth District Wide 

Local Plan (2002) but omitted from 

the Bournemouth Local Plan: Core 

Strategy (2012). Historically a parcel 

of land has been reserved between the 

A338 and the A347 at Northbourne, 

including an area of land to the south 

of Holdenhurst to the southern edge of 

the conservation area. If the provision 

of this road were to be reconsidered in 

the future, unless careful consideration 

is given to mitigate it, it would be 

visually apparent and its construction 

would introduce significantly more road 

noise across the village. 

New Junction to A338 

8.14 Another concern is the provision of a 

new junction to the A338. This relates 

to two separate schemes at Riverside 

Avenue (Park and Ride and an office 

development) both of which were 

granted planning permission but this 

has now expired. However, if either 

of these schemes were to be granted 

planning consent in the future they 

may require a road junction south of 

the village hall at the most southerly 

point of the conservation area. An 

additional junction on the edge of the 

conservation area would again result 

in a significant increase in traffic noise 

and visual intrusion. 

8.15 A junction at this location may also 

result in the loss of or impact on the 

setting of the ancient cob barn to the 

former Townsend Cottages. Any future 

proposals should seek to mitigate 

against sound and visual intrusion via 

measures such as embankments and 

planting and retain the barn which 

is important as the last remaining 

building of the original settlement of 

Townsend. 

New Housing 

8.16 One of the most damaging impacts 

on the setting of the conservation 

area would be if new housing were 

permitted. Holdenhurst lies within the 

green belt and as such continues to be 

protected by green belt policy. 

Flooding 

8.17 The Conservation Area partially falls 

within the designated flood plain 

of the River Stour. The properties 

are protected by a flood alleviation 


scheme of the early 1990s to provide 

a 1 in 65 years standard of protection. 

The banking and walling of the flood 

defences are visible in the landscape, 

particularly on approach to the eastern 

part of the village and to the rear of 


Village. Flooding should hopefully be 

a rare occurrence, however if it does 

happen there could be damage to the 

properties within the Conservation 


Flood defences holding back the water in 

November 2012 

Inappropriate land uses 

8.18 Inappropriate land uses within the 

Conservation Area or just outside of it 

could potentially cause damage. For 

example, the use of the neighbouring 

fields for events such as car boot sales 

could result in traffic problems and 

further erosion of the grass verges, 

as well as noise issues. In addition 

further expansion of neighbouring 

businesses such as Roffey Brothers on 

Throop Road, could have implications 

for traffic levels or visual amenity. 

Any land use which results in the loss 

of farm land or farm buildings would 

significantly impact on the character 



Unsympathetic alterations to dwellings 

8.19 There is constant pressure for 

alterations and redevelopment within 

a desirable residential area such as 

Holdenhurst. With the majority of the 

properties within the Conservation Area 

being single dwellinghouses there are 

a number of permitted development 

rights associated with them. It is 

possible for householders to undertake 

certain works without the requirement 

for planning permission. It is noted the 

Local Planning Authority has already 

removed permitted development rights 

on certain recent developments in an 

attempt to minimise unsympathetic 

changes to properties. 

8.20 Even minor alterations such as changes 

involving painting, rendering or 

cladding over a brick property can 

dramatically alter its appearance 

within the street scene. In addition, 

changes to original boundary walls 

could be visually prominent and 

culminate in an erosion of the 


New planting 

8.21 As the majority of the trees in 

Holdenhurst are species native or 

naturalised to this country, future 

planting of these species in this area 

should be encouraged as there is a 

lack of young trees growing to replace 

the mainly middle-aged and mature 

specimens present. The planting of 

non-native species in Holdenhurst 

should be discouraged and replacement 

with native species sought as the 

opportunity arises. There are also 

some hedges of Laurel and Leyland 

Cypress that should be discouraged. 

8.22 Unfortunately the Horse Chestnut 

trees on the green are showing signs 

of disease and the Rowan is in poor 

condition. If these trees need to be 

felled in the future it is important that 

they are replaced with native species. 

46 


9 Contribution of Buildings 

9.1 The buildings within the Conservation 

Area have been divided into one 

of three types – those which make 

a positive, neutral or negative 

contribution to the character or 

appearance of the Conservation Area. 

The classification of each building is 

shown in the map Figure 14. 

9.2 As highlighted by English Heritage 

Guidance (Understanding Place: 

Conservation Area Designation, 

Appraisal and Management, 2011) a 

number of factors help to determine 

whether a property makes a positive 

contribution to a Conservation Area. 

A list of these factors can be found in 

Appendix 5. Any one of these elements 

is considered relevant to a building’s 

classification, ‘provided that its 

historic form and values have not been 

eroded’. 

9.3 The listed buildings (including 

tombstones and gas lamps) within 

the Conservation Area by their very 

nature make a positive contribution to 

the area and their individual merit is 

identified in the later section ‘An Audit 

of Heritage Assets,’ see page 56. 

Positive Buildings 

9.4 Buildings that make a positive 

contribution generally have form, 

features and characteristics that 

define the period from which it 

dates (as detailed in the following 

paragraphs). The materials used; 

components such as windows, doors 

and chimneys; and the form and shape 

of the building including roofs, gables 

and bays, account for a major part 

of the consideration. In addition, 

the appropriateness of the setting, 

landscape and boundary treatments 

associated with these properties is an 

important consideration. 

9.5 Many of the positive buildings 

within the Conservation Area are 

also important evidence of the past 

agricultural use of the village, such 

as the various barn conversions; or 

as evidence of a more self-contained 

village, as demonstrated by the 

converted school buildings. 

9.6 The majority of the buildings 

within Holdenhurst Village are 

deemed positive contributors to the 

Conservation Area. The demolition 

of these buildings will be resisted by 

the Local Planning Authority, and any 

alteration should not harm or result in 

the loss of any features or elements 

that make an important contribution to 

their character or appearance. 

Vernacular Buildings: Pre 1700 

9.7 The few surviving examples of pre 

eighteenth century vernacular buildings 

within the village are rare even when 

considered across the Borough as a 

whole. Whilst the thatched roof of 

the cob barn to the former Townsend 

Cottages has not been replaced since 

its loss in a fire following an arson 

attack, it is nonetheless important 

for its use of cob construction. The 

importance of the barn is also noted in 

paragraph 10.11. 

Barn to Former Townsend Cottages 


Figure 14 - Contribution of Buildings to the Conservation Area 

48 



Eighteenth Century Buildings (1700s) 

9.8 The eighteenth century farm buildings 

at Holdenhurst Farm are considered to 

positively contribute to the character 

of the Conservation Area. The stables 

and threshing barn are of red brick, 

with arched openings to the stables 

and a central full height opening to the 

threshing barn. Although the threshing 

barn has been unsympathetically 

re-roofed in pantiles, the continued 

agricultural use of the two barns has 

meant they remain relatively unspoilt. 

Barns to Holdenhurst Farm 

Nineteenth Century Buildings (1800s) 

9.9 The nineteenth century buildings 

are all positive contributors to the 

Conservation Area and include the 

little altered Vicarage Cottages. The 

terrace dates from 1867, as testified 

by the central date panel. The charm 

of the cottages is a consequence of 

being little altered since built and 

their modest size. The wealth of 

original features and architectural 

detailing includes: brick dressings, 

timber framed windows, solid wood 

front doors, ironmongery, shared brick 

chimney stacks and slate roofing. 

Vicarage Cottages 

9.10 Across the road from Vicarage Cottages 

sits The Old Vicarage. Built in 1883 

this is an attractive building that 

retains many of its original Victorian 

architectural features including brick 

chimney stacks, timber framed sash 

windows, bay windows and decorative 

fish-scale roof tiles. The dwelling is 

set within approximately an acre of 

grounds containing numerous trees, all 

adding to its setting and the character 

of the Conservation Area. 

9.11 The former Coach House to the 

Vicarage was extended and converted 

to a dwelling in 1984. The original 

property has been significantly 

extended with the use of features such 

as decorative roof tiling. Despite the 

scale of the extension, which dwarfs 

the original building, the historic 

importance and appearance of the core 

building means overall the building still 

makes a positive contribution to the 


50 


stack and timber framed casement 

windows. Rose cottage is also modest in 

scale although it has a significant two 

storey rear extension. Despite the later 

addition the cottage retains a number 

of original features including fine sash 

windows to the road façade. Both 

cottages are considered to contribute 

positively to the street scene within 


The Coach House from Throop Road 

9.12 At the entrance to Sturt Lane sits 

No. 5 Holdenhurst Village, a modest 

nineteenth century dwelling that 

appears virtually untouched externally 

since built. The simplicity of the 

dwelling is part of its charm, as is 

the weathered brickwork and the 

original features it displays. There is 

no door to the road elevation, just 

timber framed casement windows with 

slender horizontal glazing bars. The 

overhanging of the eaves with exposed 

rafters and the solid brick chimney 

stack adds to the character of the 

building. 

Rose Cottage 

9.14 Hockeys Barn was converted to 

a dwelling in the late 1980s. The 

conversion introduced domestic 

elements such as rooflights and the 

infilling of the large barn doors. 

However, the building is clearly 

recognisable as a former agricultural 

barn and contributes positively to 



No. 5 Holdenhurst Village 

9.13 Fronting Church Lane are two small 

nineteenth century cottages, Bramble 

Cottage and Rose Cottage. Bramble 

Cottage is modest in scale and is of 

yellow brick with a slate roof with brick 

Hockeys Barn 


9.15 In the mid 1990s the site now 

containing The Old Dairy and The 

River Barn on Throop Road (with two 

derelict barns) was redeveloped. Prior 

to conversion to a dwelling The Old 

Dairy was roofless with basically only 

the brick shell intact. Today The Old 

Dairy has a pitched slate roof and a 

large extension to one side. The second 

barn at this site (now The River Barn) 

with its full height central opening to 

the front and rear was perhaps built as 

a threshing barn. Both properties relate 

to the former agricultural landscape 

of Holdenhurst and are still legible as 

former barns. 

Twentieth Century Buildings: 1900-1945 

9.17 Elm Cottages, Nos. 1-4 Holdenhurst 

Village, date from around 1914 and 

feature pebbledash walling, slate roofs, 

canopies supported on decorative 

brackets, timber doors and casement 

windows and front gardens with low 

boundary treatment. The cottages 

are small scale and sit comfortably 

adjacent to the village green. Although 

they have lost a chimney stack and 

have some modest rear extensions this 

has not seriously eroded their historic 

form, and their appearance from the 

village green is little altered since 

built. 

The River Barn 

9.16 Manor Farm Barn within Manor 

Farmyard incorporates two nineteenth 

century barns linked by a late 

twentieth century structure. Despite 

alteration through conversion to a 

dwellinghouse, the building is classified 

as positive as the former agricultural 

buildings are clearly recognisable 

through their scale, design and 

materials. 

Manor Farm Barn 

Elm Cottages 

9.18 Springfield and Stockwell Cottage 

on Throop Road are a pair of semidetached 

dwellings dating from the 

early 1920s. The properties have a 

similar appearance to the ‘Homes for 

Heroes’ dwellings on Muscliff Lane in 

Bournemouth. The dwellings reflect the 

vernacular style of architecture with 

timber weather boarding to the gables, 

stepped corbels in brick to support the 

ends of the steep terracotta tiled roofs 

and the whitewashed brick walls. Both 

properties have unsympathetic PVCu 

windows however, this does not detract 

from the overall appearance of the 

buildings and the cottages still retain 

a wealth of original features such as 

52 


the huge central chimney stack and 

sweeping cat-slide roof to the front 

porches. 

Stockwell (left) and Springfield (right) 

9.19 South Lodge sits on Holdenhurst Village 

Road at the end of the long driveway 

to Hurn Court. The property dates 

from the 1920s and is built in the 

Arts and Crafts style with prominent 

chimney stacks, feature catslide roof 

over the entrance, overhanging eaves 

and gables with decorative timber 

framing. Although the property has 

lost its original timber framed windows 

to PVCu replacements the property 

clearly reflects vernacular architectural 

detailing and blends in seamlessly in 

its sylvan setting. The contribution of 

this property is also noted in paragraph 

10.13. 

South Lodge 

9.20 The Old Billiard Room dates from 

the 1920s and although built for 

a utilitarian purpose it has the 

appearance of a cottage due to its 

small scale. Its neat front garden 

bordered by a hedge and timber 

gate reinforces its cottage setting. 

The property possesses architectural 

features used in the early twentieth 

century such as the use of pebbledash 

render to the external walls, chimney 

stacks, timber front door and timber 

casement windows. The building was 

originally the parish hall and is modest 

in scale; however, its conversion to a 

dwelling involved a rear addition to 

double the accommodation. Despite 

the extension the single storey nature 

of the building ensures the Old Billiard 

Room sits comfortably in its setting. 

Old Billiard Room 

9.21 The Village Hall dates from the 1930s 

and is reflective of the Modernist style 

of architecture with its attractive Art 

Deco porch and arched window to the 

gable. The building is of a scale and 

form that is reflective of buildings 

within the Conservation Area and the 

function of the building contributes 

to the village character. Despite 

the unfortunate plastic windows 

and concrete roof tiles the building 

makes an important contribution to 




the old Three Elms Inn, which had 

the appearance of a Georgian house; 

perhaps its replacement was designed 

to replicate this to help relate to its 

setting. Whilst the existing building sits 

relatively comfortably in its context, 

its features including timber framed 

sliding sash windows, chimney stacks 

and plain tile roof, greatly contribute 

to its appearance in this prominent 

location in the village. 

The Village Hall 

Twentieth Century Buildings: 1946 - 2012 

9.22 Nos. 24 and 25 Holdenhurst Village date 

from the 1940s and are semi-detached 

houses of brick construction with brick 

dressings, chimney stacks, plain clay 

tile roof and flat roofed porches. Brick 

detailing such as the brick stringcourse 

and brick headers to the windows 

add interest to the buildings and they 

benefit from an attractive setting 

separated from the road by vegetation 

and some historic boundary walling. 

Nos. 24 and 25 Holdenhurst Village 

9.23 On first glance the Three Elms appears 

older than it actually is. Despite its 

timber sash windows and steep roof 

slope with gabled kneelers, a closer 

inspection reveals the modern looking 

integral garage and a 1960’s house 

is revealed. The property replaced 

The Three Elms 

9.24 The majority of the buildings in the 

1990s Manor Farm development utilise 

quality materials and designs that are 

reflective of the historic properties 

in the village. The use of a thatched 

roof to Bramleys is a particularly fine 

attention to detail that helps the 

building fit into its setting. The scale of 

the buildings, the fact they are semidetached 

and the attention to detail 

such as the timber casement windows 

and chimney stacks, helps Bramleys, 

Oak Tree Cottage, The Goslings and 

Byre Cottage to blend into their 

context. Although some elements such 

as the gabled dormer window piercing 

the eaves to The Goslings are not 

reflective of the architecture of the 

village, overall the scale of dwellings 

and the materials used form a group 

that positively contribute to the 


54 


Bramleys 


Neutral Buildings 

9.25 Neutral elements neither enhance 

nor detract from the character or 

appearance of the Conservation Area. 

Reasons for this could be due to, for 

example, a lack of defined style or age 

or because certain alterations have 

harmed their original character but 

not to such an extent that it detracts 

from the character or appearance of 

the area. The properties identified as 

neutral elements still possess merit and 

provide some form of contribution to 


9.26 No 18 Holdenhurst Village was built 

in the 1980s and is considered to 

make a neutral contribution to the 

Conservation Area. It is of a dark 

brick and large in scale in comparison 

to many of the cottages across the 

Conservation Area. However, it is set 

within a good sized plot which goes 

some way to relieve its size and the use 

of gabled kneelers to the eaves adds 

interest to the overall design. 

9.27 The Old Farm is part of the recent 

Manor Farm development. The building 

is considered to make a neutral 

contribution to the Conservation Area 

because of its overall form and design. 

The main building is set back behind 

an elongated projecting single storey 

wing which incorporates a car port. 

The design with integral car port is 

uncharacteristic of the older properties 

in the conservation area. The change 

in scale of the main building from two 

to single storey to accommodate the 

lower wing results in a large expanse 

of roof. The position of the front 

wing also dominates the streetscene 

rather than the main dwelling itself. 

The insertion of unsympathetic white 

PVCu windows further reduces the 

contribution of the property. 

The Old Farm 


9.28 Holdenhurst Farm has several modern 

barns/sheds associated with the 

agricultural use of the site. Although 

they do not reflect the historic 

construction of farm buildings evident 

elsewhere on the farm they are typical 

of their context, utilitarian in style 

and use and do not cause harm to the 

setting. Overall these agricultural 

barns/sheds whilst not enhancing the 

Conservation Area, equally are not 

deemed to detract from it. 

9.29 Nos. 1-4 Throop Road date from the 

1920s and although altered, contain 

elements of period detail including 

chimney stacks and decorative brick 

banding. They are simple in form 

and appearance and sit relatively 

comfortably within the street scene. 

The scale of the original dwellings 

and their red brick construction 

is reflective of other properties 

within the conservation area. Whilst 

they have undergone a number of 

alterations including a large extension 

to No 2 and the insertion of plastic 

windows, overall they are considered 

to make a neutral contribution to the 

conservation area. 

one which detracts from its character 

and appearance. One such building 

has been identified in the Conservation 

Area – the Longbarrow Allotment 

building. Although the allotment site 

itself makes an important and valuable 

contribution to the conservation area 

as part of the landscape setting, 

the large modern green shed that is 

of a utilitarian design does not. Its 

appearance, form and materials are 

not reflective of the other agricultural 

buildings which characterise the area. 

The use of metal rather than timber for 

the facing material is not sympathetic 

to the landscape setting. If this 

building were to be altered or replaced 

in the future then any scheme would 

need to give careful consideration to 

the sensitive location of the building 

to ensure that it was of a high quality 

design which respected its site and 

surroundings. 

Longbarrow Allotments 

An Audit of Heritage Assets 

No. 3 Throop Road 

Negative Buildings 

9.30 A building which makes a negative 

contribution to the conservation area is 

9.31 There are 11 individual listings within 

the Conservation Area covering 1 

church, 3 tombstones, 9 dwellings and 

17 gas lamps (the rest of the group of 

28 lamps are beyond the Conservation 

Area). See Figure 14 for their location 

within the Conservation Area. A 

schedule of each of the individual 

listed buildings can be found in 

Appendix 6. 

56 


Chest Tomb to Richard Dean 

School House (left) and The Old School 

(right) 

9.32 The listed dwellings cover a range of 

dates, a variety of architectural styles 

and encompass a wealth of different 

materials. No two listed properties 

in Holdenhurst are the same. The 

differences between buildings 

illustrates how the village developed 

organically over time as new buildings 

were required. 

The Old Forge, No. 14 Holdenhurst Village 

Holly Hurst, No. 20 Holdenhurst Village 

9.33 A number of buildings such as The 

Old School have been converted and 

adapted to new uses over time. No. 

14 Holdenhurst Village is also a good 

example of adaptive reuse, now a 

residential dwelling, it once contained 

a forge in the adjoining outbuildings. 

The property was also at one time the 

village post office (closed in 1975). 

9.34 The barn to the former Townsend 

Cottages was originally listed along 

with Townsend Cottages in the 1970s 

(see photo on page 47). However, 

following a review of the barn in 2012 

instigated by English Heritage, they 

removed it from the statutory list. 

English Heritage noted that only the 

walls survive of the original structure 

and it had lost the group value with 

the cottages (which were destroyed 

by fire in the 1990s). English Heritage 

did however note that the barn is a 

poignant reminder of the rural building 

traditions and agricultural history of 

the area, and it is of local importance. 


10 Assessment of Existing Boundary 

10.1 An important aspect of the appraisal 

process is to assess whether or not the 

existing Conservation Area boundary 

should be revised. In response to this 

and upon completion of the detailed 

assessment of the significance of the 

area it was considered that east and 

west Holdenhurst were so closely linked 

that it would be a natural progression 

to combine the two Conservation Areas. 

10.2 The original boundary of the two 

separate Conservation Areas focused on 

the buildings in determining character 

as opposed to looking more widely at 

the historical integrity and significance 

of the landscape as a whole. 

10.3 It was also decided to revise the north 

east boundary of the conservation area, 

to follow the Bournemouth Borough 

boundary line, reflecting the fact that 

a small area of Holdenhurst Village lies 

within the Borough of Christchurch. 

10.4 The adoption of this Appraisal 

confirmed the revised boundary of the 

conservation area and the boundary 

changes are shown in Figure 15. 


10.5 As well as there being close 

connections between the two 

residential clusters of properties today, 

historically the two parts of the village 

would have been interlinked. For 

example, with the church to the east 

and vicarage to the west. 

10.6 The original Holdenhurst East boundary 

was drawn up in the 1970s before the 

Manor Farmyard development was 

constructed. The boundary followed 

the edges of various farm buildings that 

have long since been demolished. As 

Figure 15 demonstrates, the original 

boundary ran straight through the 

gardens of Manor Farm Barn, The 

Goslings, Oak Tree Cottage, Bramleys 

and The Old Farm. This resulted in a 

slightly unusual situation whereby the 

dwellings were in the Conservation 

Area but the majority of the rear 

gardens were excluded. 

10.7 It is also considered important to 

include landscape features beyond 

the residential properties. Extending 

the boundary beyond the Manor Farm 

Development allows for the inclusion 

of the remains of the watery landscape 

that once assisted the farming 

community in Holdenhurst. In the past 

Holdenhurst regularly flooded and the 

ditches of former streams (now cut 

off) and ponds they fed are evident in 

places. 

10.8 The importance of the agricultural and 

grazing land in and around the village 

to the setting of the dwellings should 

not be underestimated. The swathe 

of fields contributes to a sense of 

openness and facilitates views towards 

the village from the urban fringes of 

north Bournemouth. 

10.9 The remaining field boundaries most 

likely date to the Inclosure Act, 

however the patchwork of fields could 

contain a remnant of the medieval 

open field system. Comparing the 

aerial photo (Figure 3) with the historic 

map of 1924 (Figure 7) it can be seen 

that several of the fields have been 

increased in size over the last century. 

It was considered important to retain 

the remaining field boundaries and to 

this end it was a natural step to extend 

the Conservation Area across the fields. 

10.10 The Longbarrow Allotments were 

established in Holdenhurst in 1999 

following the sale of the land to 

the Council from the Cooper Dean 

Estate (with covenants). They form 

an important community asset for 

residents in the surrounding area. 

The allotments are well used and 

58 


Land that links the two residential parts of the Conservation Area (South Lodge is just visible 

amongst the trees in distance) 

many plot holders have erected small 

sheds. The view on the erection of 

sheds taken by the Local Planning 

Authority on allotment sites is the same 

– irrespective of whether or not the site 

lies within a conservation area. 

10.11 The allotments cover 3.2 hectares 

and were worthy of inclusion in the 

extended Conservation Area as they are 

a use sympathetic to the openness and 

agricultural nature of the surrounding 

environment. In view of the inclusion 

of the fields to the east and the fact 

that the allotment site directly abuts 

part of the Conservation Area boundary 

it was logical to include this site, not 

only because of its landscape value but 

because it enabled the re-linking of the 

east and west parts of the village as a 

single conservation area. 

10.12 The southwards extension of the 

Conservation Area below the Village 

Hall allowed for the inclusion of 

the cob barn to Townsend Cottages. 

This is one of the oldest buildings in 

Holdenhurst and is of local importance 

to Bournemouth. 

10.13 The extended area also contains 

elements of interest along Holdenhurst 

Village Road between the two 

residential pockets. The road is 

picturesque in places with tree 

branches overhanging the road causing 

a pleasing tunnelling effect. Part of the 

road is lined by railings and the many 

gas lamps along the route contribute to 

a sense of history. Views and vistas are 

afforded across the Conservation Area 

from sections of the road. 

10.14 Inclusion of more of Holdenhurst Village 

Road also allowed for South Lodge to 

fall within the Conservation Area. This 

is an attractive property of a modest 

scale that is very much in keeping with 

this semi-rural area. The dwelling has 

been assessed as positively contributing 

to the character and appearance of the 



10.15 One combined Conservation Area is 

also more straightforward in terms 

of developing a consistent policy for 

the management of the area. Any 

development within the Conservation 

Area must be appropriate to its 

surroundings. 

10.16 The extension of the conservation 

area to include Green Belt land does 

not mean that Green Belt policy gives 

insufficient protection or will be 

ineffective in the future. It reflects 

the fact that Conservation Area policy 

and Green Belt policy have different 

purposes. Conservation Areas are areas 

of special architectural or historic 

interest the character or appearance 

of which it is desirable to preserve or 

enhance, whereas the fundamental 

aim of Green Belts is to prevent 

urban sprawl by keeping land open. 

The revised boundary recognises the 

importance of the historic landscape 

setting of the two parts of Holdenhurst 

Village and acknowledges that the two 

original conservation areas form one 

coherent whole. 

10.17 The extension of the boundary to 

include the agricultural land to the 

south of the village means that the 

Conservation Area now includes a strip 

of land that was previously reserved 

for the Castle Lane West Relief Road. 

The inclusion of this land relates to the 

important contribution that it makes 

to the character and appearance of the 

Conservation Area particularly in terms 

of its use and historical association. 

Government legislation identifies 

that it is a duty of local planning 

authorities to determine whether 

further areas should be designated as 

conservation areas. In view of this it 

would not be appropriate to exclude 

the agricultural land, which has been 

identified as being important, for 

a road whose future is uncertain. 

However, the possibility of a future 

relief road is acknowledged within this 

Appraisal and has been identified as 

one of the possible challenges facing 

the conservation area (Paragraph 

8.13). If any such road scheme were 

to come forward in the future careful 

consideration of its impact upon the 

character and appearance of the 

conservation area would need to be 

undertaken. Any scheme would need 

to be assessed against the relevant 

Government legislation, policy and 

guidance at that time. 


10.18 The square pocket of open land 

nestled in the corner of Throop Road 

and Valley Road adds to the openness 

of the Conservation Area and makes 

an important contribution to the 

rural views across this corner of the 


10.19 This roughly square parcel of land 

contains no buildings and although it 

is divided up into a series of paddocks 

looking back at historic maps it was 

originally one larger field. At present 

this pocket of land is principally used 

for keeping horses, which is an ideal 

land use within this setting. 

60 


Holdenhurst Village Conservation Area Appraisal - March 2014 61 

Figure 15 - Changes to the Conservation Area Boundary

a valuable contribution to the 

rural character and appearance of 

Holdenhurst Village. In addition Wood 

Farm is clearly in agricultural use with 

its hay barns and farm vehicles. 

South Lodge (photographed in 1974) 

Christchurch Controlled 


10.20 The original conservation area of 

Holdenhurst Village East, covering 

the land which lay within the Borough 

of Bournemouth, was designated in 

June of 1974. The small part of the 

village which lies within the Borough 

of Christchurch was designated as 

a separate Holdenhurst Village East 

Conservation Area in November of 

1974. This small area to the north 

east corner of the village remains 

designated by that Authority and is 

controlled by them. 

10.23 Wood Farm lies at the end of Church 

Lane which narrows to a single track 

road. The farmhouse, its attached barn 

and an additional barn all date from 

the eighteenth century. The farmhouse 

is of red brick with a red clay tiled roof 

(formerly thatched). The farmhouse 

has attractive early nineteenth century 

casement windows with leadwork and 

there is a gabled porch to one end. An 

attached barn forms an ‘L’ shape with 

the farmhouse. Included in the local 

listing is also a detached eighteenth 

century barn with large timber doors 

with cladding set above above a brick 

plinth and a corrugated roof over. 

10.24 As well as being protected by 

conservation area status Christchurch 

Council has also identified Wood 

Farmhouse, its attached barn and the 

adjacent barn at the farm as buildings 

of local interest. 

10.21 This has resulted in a slightly unusual 

situation in that the Conservation Area 

straddles more than one authority. 

There is therefore a need to ensure 

that joint working occurs between 

the Boroughs of Bournemouth and 

Christchurch particularly in relation 

to the policy and management of 

the area around Wood Farm. This 

will ensure that any future decisions 

and developments affecting the 

Conservation Area in either borough 

do not inadvertently compromise the 

integrity of the other. 

10.22 Although Wood Farm is in a 

Christchurch controlled conservation 

area, the buildings clearly make 

Holdenhurst Village Hall 

62 


11 Community Involvement 

11.1 Involving the local community and 

raising public awareness is an essential 

part of the process when producing 

an Appraisal. As well as their use for 

planning, Appraisals also have a much 

wider application as educational and 

informative documents for the local 

community. 

11.2 In December 2006 the Council adopted 

a Statement of Community Involvement 

that sets out how the Council will 

ensure that all sections of the local 

community will have the opportunity to 

be actively involved in the process of 

policy development. 

11.3 In line with the Statement of 

Community Involvement public 

consultation was undertaken on the 

Draft Holdenhurst Village Conservation 

Area Appraisal for a six week period 

between the middle of August and the 

end of September 2013. 

11.4 A letter, questionnaire and summary 

document were sent to all properties 

located within the conservation area 

as well as to those in the proposed 

extended area. Letters or emails were 

also sent to key stakeholders, statutory 

consultees and property/land owners 

to notify them of the consultation and 

to provide them with the opportunity 

to comment upon the draft Appraisal. 

Council Officers also attended a 

Holdenhurst Village Parish Meeting 

during the consultation period to raise 

awareness of the draft Appraisal, 

to present key points and to answer 

any questions. Site notices were put 

up within the Conservation Area and 

copies of the draft Appraisal were 

made available at Castlepoint Library, 

at the Council’s Customer Service 

Centre and on the Council’s website. 

11.5 All of the comments received during 

the consultation period were evaluated 

and, where appropriate, changes 

were made to the document. Full 

consideration was given to all of 

the comments received prior to the 

adoption of this Appraisal by the 

Council. 

11.6 A total of twenty responses were 

received following the public 

consultation. There was a positive 

response in relation to the fact that the 

Appraisal had been well researched and 

was a thorough and holistic document, 

contributing to an authoritative 

understanding of the area’s historic 

significance. 

11.7 The comments expressed a strong 

support (70-75%) that both the key 

elements that make the area special 

and those that detract from it had 

been identified. There was also a 

strong agreement (70%) for both the 

suggested contribution of each of 

the buildings (positive, neutral or 

negative contributor) and the broad 

management proposals identified. 

Additional comments raised illustrated 

that there were significant concerns in 

relation to traffic and road safety with 

rat-running and the presence of large 

vehicles being of particular concern. 

11.8 In relation to the proposed boundary 

changes although only 50% of 

respondents directly supported the 

proposed boundary changes, an 

additional 25% wanted the Conservation 

Area boundary to be extended further. 

Only 20% did not want any extension/ 

change to the boundary at all. 

11.9 Details of the consultation process and 

the comments received can be viewed 

in the Holdenhurst Village Consultation 

Statement which is available on the 

Council’s website www.bournemouth. 

gov.uk/conservation. 


12 Management Proposals 

Managing Change Positively 

12.1 Understanding the character and 

appearance of the Conservation Area is 

clearly the starting point when making 

decisions about its management. It 

is important that the designation of 

a Conservation Area is not seen as an 

end in itself. The number of positive 

elements identified in this Appraisal 

clearly illustrates that the Conservation 

Area has much that needs to be 

preserved. 

12.2 The designation of a Conservation Area 

does not preclude new development or 

the change of use of existing buildings. 

However, it does mean that there are 

stricter controls in relation to building 

works, alterations and demolition and 

when undertaking tree works. 

12.3 In order for Conservation Areas to stay 

alive and prosperous they must adapt 

to meet the changing needs of people 

who live and work in them. The aim of 

positive conservation is to achieve this 

while at the same time preserving or 

enhancing those special architectural 

and historic elements which give 

the area its unique character and 

appearance. 

12.4 This Appraisal will therefore form the 

basis for establishing whether there 

is a need to formulate management 

proposals and this can be aided through 

the completion of a management plan 

for the Conservation Area. 

12.5 Management proposals could include: 

regular monitoring of change with 

a view to pursuing enforcement 

action against unauthorised works; 

providing local generic guidance such 

as policy or design guides; undertaking 

enhancement schemes to reinforce the 

area’s special qualities; or removing 

permitted development rights through 

the use of Article 4 Directions. 

12.6 Minor development such as domestic 

alterations and extensions can often 

be carried out without planning 

permission under the provisions of the 

Town and Country Planning General 

Permitted Development Order and are 

classed as ‘permitted development’. 

However, an Article 4 direction gives 

the local planning authority the 

power to restrict these ‘permitted 

development rights’ where they have 

the potential to undermine protection 

of the historic environment. The 

removal of permitted development 

would require owners/occupiers to 

submit an application to the local 

planning authority, for the particular 

development restricted, who would 

consider the impact of these works 

upon the character and appearance of 

the conservation area. 

12.7 As most of the buildings and land 

within the Conservation Area are 

within private ownership the scope 

to implement management schemes 

proposed by the local authority is 

limited. 

12.8 It must be remembered that not all 

works within a Conservation Area need 

formal planning consent and therefore 

owners, occupiers and developers are 

encouraged to undertake development 

in a manner that is sympathetic to and 

in keeping with the original property 

and the Conservation Area as a whole. 

12.9 The purpose of this Appraisal is to 

understand the importance of the 

area from a heritage perspective, 

highlighting what is positive and 

negative, and to involve the local 

community and interested parties 

in that process. It does not require 

individuals or organisations to carry 

out works to their land or property. 

However, it gives advice and highlights 

what they could do, if they wanted 

64 


to spend money on their land or 

property, which would be of benefit 

to them and also help to enhance the 

conservation area as a whole. This 

Appraisal also gives guidance on what 

could be done if finance or funding was 

to become available in the future, for 

example, from any external sources/ 

organisations. 

12.10 The next stage of work would be to 

produce a management plan setting 

out what works or projects could 

be undertaken to enhance the area 

and ensure that its special interest 

is not harmed by inappropriate 

development. This would require 

further consultation. 


Appendices 

APPENDIX 1: PROPERTIES WITHIN THE Conservation Area 

Church Lane 

Nos. 21, 22, Rose Cottage, Bramble Cottage - see entries under Holdenhurst Village. 


No. 1 Magdalen Cottage (now known as Forget-Me-Not Cottage), No. 5, No. 14 The Old Forge 

(formerly the Post Office), No. 16 The New House, No. 17, No. 18, No. 20 Holly Hurst, No. 21, 

No. 22, No. 24, No. 25, Barn to former Townsend Cottages, Bramble Cottage, Bramleys, Byre 

Cottage, Elm Cottages 1-4, The Goslings, Hockeys Barn, Holdenhurst Farm, Manor Farm Barn, Oak 

Tree Cottage, Rose Cottage, School House, South Lodge, St John’s Church, The Coach House, The 

Old Billiard Room, The Old Farm, The Old School (formerly the Village School), The Old Vicarage, 

Three Elms, Vicarage Cottages 1-6, Village Hall. 

Sturt Lane 

No.1 - see entry under No.1 Holdenhurst Village 

Throop Road 

No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, Springfield, Stockwell Cottage, The Old Dairy, The River Barn, 

Longbarrow Allotments. 

APPENDIX 2: RELEVANT LEGISLATION AND POLICY DOCUMENTS 

Bournemouth District Wide Local Plan (Feb 2002) 

Bournemouth Local Plan: Core Strategy (Oct 2012) 

Dorset Thatching Report: Code of Practice (2012) 

English Heritage - Understanding Place: Conservation Area Designation, Appraisal and Management 

(2011) 

National Planning Policy Framework (March 2012) 

Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 

South East Dorset Structure Plan, Dorset County Council (1980) 

South East Dorset Green Belt, Dorset County Council (1988) 

Statement of Community Involvement (2006) 

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 

66 


APPENDIX 3: POLICY WORDING 

Core Strategy Policy CS1: Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development 

When considering development proposals the Council will take a positive approach that reflects 

the presumption in favour of sustainable development contained in the National Planning Policy 

Framework. It will always work proactively with applicants jointly, in particular through the 

pre-application process, to find solutions which mean that proposals can be approved wherever 

possible, and to secure development that improves the economic, social and environmental 

conditions in the area. 

Planning applications that accord with the policies in this Local Plan (and, where relevant, with 

polices in neighbourhood plans) will be approved without delay, unless material considerations 

indicate otherwise. 

Where there are no policies relevant to the application or relevant policies are out of date at the 

time of making the decision then the Council will grant permission unless material considerations 

indicate otherwise – taking into account whether: 

a. any adverse impacts of granting permission would significantly and demonstrably 

outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the National Planning Policy 

Framework taken as a whole; or 

b. specific policies in that Framework indicate that development should be restricted. 

Core Strategy Policy CS12: Retaining Community Uses 

Proposals for development which would lead to the loss of premises or sites used, or last used, for 

a community use will not be permitted unless: 

• the development is the same, similar or related to that use; 

• adequate alternative facilities and services are available locally; 

• replacement facilities and services are proposed nearby; or 

• it can be demonstrated that there is no demand for the use and that there is a greater 

benefit to the area resulting from the proposed use. 

Core Strategy Policy CS36: Stour Valley Project 

The Stour Valley has the potential to act as a sub-regionally significant recreation and habitat 

resource. The Council and partners will promote sustainable public access and implement a 

management plan that considers the following: 

• Sustainable access from the urban area, to a continuous walking, cycling and bridleway 

route through the valley, including links to the north of the River Stour; 

• Gateway points in the valley offering education, interpretation and other public facilities; 

• A demonstration farm and visitor centre at Hick‘s Farm, Muscliffe; 

• Habitat restoration including floodplain grazing marsh, reed beds, wet woodland and instream 

corridor habitats; 


• Opportunities for flood water attenuation and storage; and 

• Creating a valley landscape that performs the function of a Suitable Alternative Natural 

Greenspace‘ (SANG). 

Core Strategy Policy CS37: Green Belt 

The South East Dorset Green Belt will continue to be designated in the Borough. Within the Green 

Belt inappropriate development, including uses of land, will not be permitted. Inappropriate 

development will include any development which does not maintain the openness of the land or 

which conflicts with the purposes of including land within the Green Belt. 

Core Strategy Policy CS39: Designated Heritage Assets 

The Local Planning Authority will seek to protect designated heritage assets from demolition, 

inappropriate alterations, extensions or other proposals that would adversely affect their 

significance. Proposals for development likely to result in substantial harm to, or loss of, Grade II 

listed buildings or parks and gardens will only be approved in wholly exceptional circumstances. 

Where a proposal for alteration, extension or demolition is likely to affect a designated heritage 

asset or its setting, the developer will be required to submit an assessment of that assess and 

indicate the impact of the proposal on the asset. 

Bournemouth District Wide Local Plan (2002) Policy 3.6: Development in the Countryside 

Development that is acceptable in the countryside will be approved providing: 

(i) The design of any building is of a high standard and the siting, scale and materials are 

appropriate and sympathetic to its setting and to neighbouring buildings; 

(ii) 

(iii) 

(iv) 

(v) 

(vi) 

It will not damage the amenities of neighbouring residential properties; 

It will not result in excessive traffic generation; 

It is, wherever possible and when appropriate, sited to form part of an existing group of 

buildings; 

It does not involve the loss of any significant tree cover and is accompanied by a landscaping 

scheme; 

It is enclosed by boundaries which will prevent or substantially deter trespass onto 

neighbouring farmland or sites of ecological importance; 

(vii) Any extension does not materially change the impact of the building on the countryside. 

Bournemouth District Wide Local Plan (2002) Policy 3.7: Conversion of Rural Buildings 

Planning permission will be granted for the conversion of rural buildings to other uses where the 

following criteria are met: 

(i) The building is of permanent and substantial construction; 

(ii) The proposed conversion does not harm the character or appearance of the building as it 

exists or of the area in which it is located; 

(iii) 

Vehicular access is already available, being convenient and safe to use and either already of 

68 


(iv) 

(v) 

adequate width, alignment and construction, or readily capable of being made so without 

adversely affecting the appearance of the area; 

Any proposed use should not have an adverse effect on traffic movement levels within the 

countryside area and its adjoining access road; 

That the new use proposed for the converted building does not harm the amenities of 

existing dwellings in the area. 

In applying this policy, priority will be given to uses that generate employment. 

Bournemouth District Wide Local Plan (2002) Policy 3.9: Non Agricultural Activities 

Non-agricultural activities linked to farm business diversification will be permitted, provided these 

are appropriate in the countryside and green belt, and are compatible with continuing farming 

operations. 

Bournemouth District Wide Local Plan (2002) Policy 3.12: Camping, Touring or Static Caravan 

Sites 

Within the green belt the development of new camping sites and sites for touring or static 

caravans or the extension and intensification of existing sites for such uses will not be permitted. 

Elsewhere planning permission will be granted where: 

(i) It would not result in visual intrusion; 

(ii) There is adequate and satisfactory vehicular access both to and from the site itself and on 

roads leading to and from the site; and, 

(iii) 

It would not adversely affect the amenities of nearby residents. 

Bournemouth District Wide Local Plan (2002) Policy 3.28: Flooding 

Development will not be permitted in, or in the vicinity of, areas liable to flood, watercourses or 

flood defence works where it would impede floodwater flows, reduce the capacity of washlands 

or increase flooding risks elsewhere, lead to danger to life, damage to property or where it could 

interfere with drainage authorities ability to carry out maintenance work, and neither should 

development lead to wasteful expenditure on remedial work. 

Bournemouth District Wide Local Plan (2002) Policy 4.4: Development in Conservation Areas 

Development proposals in Conservation Areas should preserve or enhance the character or 

appearance of the area. In determining applications for development, the local planning 

authority will have regard to the following: 

i) Scale, density, height, form, massing, layout, materials, colours, vertical or horizontal 

emphasis, and detailed design of the proposed development in relation to the predominant 

character of buildings in the area or, in the case of extension, to the character of the 

principal building; 

ii) 

Retention of the original building plots where their relationship with the pattern of 

development and other plots makes a contribution to the character or appearance of the 



iii) 

Protection of existing street patterns, open spaces, trees, hedgerows, walls, views and 

other elements which are an integral part of the Conservation Area. 

Bournemouth District Wide Local Plan (2002) Policy 4.11: Holdenhurst East 

Where proposals for development are submitted in Holdenhurst East Conservation Area, they will 

also be assessed against the following criteria: 

i) The development shall be of a simple rural character reflecting that of the existing historic 

buildings within the settlement. 

ii) 

The siting of any new agricultural building shall be within an existing group and be 

positioned so as to avoid interference with into, out from or within the village. 

APPENDIX 4: TREE PRESERVATION ORDERS (TPOs) 

There are a number of TPOs covering the Conservation Area, and these protect all trees that were 

present in 1977, when the orders were made. Any trees younger than this are protected by virtue 

of their position within the Conservation Area if they have a stem diameter greater than 7.5cm, 

when measured 1.5m above ground level. Permission must be sought from the Local Planning 

Authority before carrying out any work to protected trees. 

APPENDIX 5: ENGLISH HERITAGE CHECKLIST 

Check list to identify elements in a Conservation Area which may contribute to the special 

interest (English Heritage, Understanding Place: Conservation Area Designation, Appraisal and 

Management, 2011). 

A positive response to one or more of the following may indicate that a particular element within 

a Conservation Area makes a positive contribution provided that its historic form and values have 

not been eroded. 

• Is it the work of a particular architect or designer of regional or local note? 

• Does it have landmark quality? 

• Does it reflect a substantial number of other elements in the Conservation Area in age, 

style, materials, form or other characteristics? 

• Does it relate to adjacent designated heritage assets in age, materials, or in any other 

historically significant way? 

• Does it contribute positively to the setting of adjacent designated heritage assets? 

• Does it contribute to the quality of recognisable spaces including exteriors or open spaces 

with a complex of public buildings? 

• Is it associated with a designed landscape e.g. a significant wall, terracing or garden 

building? 

• Does it individually, or as part of a group, illustrate the development of the settlement in 

which it stands? 

• Does it have significant historic association with features such as the historic road layout, 

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urgage plots, a town park or a landscape feature? 

• Does it have historic associations with local people or past events? 

• Does it reflect the traditional functional character or former uses in the area? 

• Does its use contribute to the character or appearance of the area? 

APPENDIX 6: LISTED BUILDINGS WITHIN THE Conservation Area 

All Grade II 

St John’s Church, Holdenhurst Village 

3 Tombstones in Churchyard of St John’s, Holdenhurst Village 

28 Gas Street Lamps, Holdenhurst and Throop 

No. 1 Magdalen Cottage Holdenhurst Village (now known as Forget-Me-Not Cottage) 

No. 14 The Old Forge, Holdenhurst Village (formerly known as the Post Office) 

No. 16 The New House, Holdenhurst Village 


No. 20 Holly Hurst, Holdenhurst Village 



School House, Holdenhurst Village 

The Old School, Holdenhurst Village 

The full list description for each can be read on the statutory list compiled by English Heritage 

(see http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/). 

APPENDIX 7: BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Bruce, G. A Fortune and A Family: Bournemouth and the Cooper Deans (1987) 

Chilver, K. Holdenhurst Mother of Bournemouth (1980) 

English Heritage. Understanding Place: Conservation Area designation, Appraisal and Management 

(2011) 

Fleming, J., Honour, H. and Pevsner, N. The Penguin Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape 

Architecture (1999) 

Fry, A. The Forgotten Village (1971) 

Jenner, M. The Architectural Heritage of Britain and Ireland: An Illustrated A-Z of Terms and Styles 

(1993) 

May, V. and Marsh J. (ed) Bournemouth 1810-2010: From Smugglers to Surfers (2010) 

Perrin, L. Study of Holdenhurst Village (unpublished) (1994) 

Peters, J, Coulding, D. and Ridley, M. Bournemouth Then and Now (1978) 

Scott, J. S. A Dictionary of Building, Penguin (1964) 

Young, D. S. The Story of Bournemouth, S.R. Publications Ltd (1970) 


APPENDIX 8: GLOSSARY 

Art Deco 

Arts and Crafts 

Bay window 

Bond 

Casements 

Catslide roof 

Cob 

Corbel 

Cottars 

Eaves 

Estate Village 

Farmstead 

Fish-Scale Tiles 

Frieze 

Gable 

Gabled Kneelers 

Georgian 

A style of the 1920s and 1930s characterised by unfunctional ‘modernism’ 

e.g. streamlining in architecture. Usually associated with leisure and 

entertainment buildings. 

A late C19 English movement to revive handicrafts and reform 

architecture by using traditional building crafts and local materials. 

A window or series of windows projecting outwards from the main wall of 

a building. 

The layering of bricks regularly in a wall according to a pattern for 

strength. 

Windows which are hinged at the side. 

A roof that extends down from the ridge of a two storey building to single 

storey level. 

Building method utilising clay mixed with straw, gravel and sand. 

Brick, masonry or concrete projection from a wall face, usually as a 

support for a beam or roof truss. 

Farm-labourer having free use of a cottage. 

The edge of the roof that overhangs the wall below. 

Purpose built model village for workers on a country house estate. 

A farm together with its buildings. 

Decorative tiles with the appearance of fish scales. 

A decorative band. 

The triangular section of wall enclosing the end of a pitched roof from 

cornice or eaves to ridge. 

The block of stone or brick set at the top of the gables to finish the eaves 

of a parapet or coping. 

Period of architecture 1714-1830 (reign of George I, II, II and IV) which 

reflects the Classical style of architecture. 

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Half-timbered or 

timber framing 

Homes for Heroes 

Homestead 

Husbandman 

Ironstone 

Leaded lights 

Rafter 

Sash window 

Tithe map 

Vernacular 

Architecture 

A method of construction in which walls are built of interlocking vertical 

and horizontal timbers. 

Post World War One initiative by the Government to appease workingclass 

grievances about the acute shortage of affordable homes to rent. 

It required local councils to build houses that were fit for the heroes 

returning from the battlefields. 

House or cottage and adjoining land. 

A tenant farmer. 

Rock consisting of mainly iron-bearing ore. 

Rectangular or diamond shaped panes of glass set in leaded cames to 

form a window. 

Sloping beams which form the framework of a roof. 

Vertical sliding timber window. 

A map of the parish produced to identify land ownership to facilitate 

payment of one tenth of produce to the church. 

Construction using local materials and traditional building techniques. 

Victorian Of the period of reign of Queen Victoria, 1837-1901. 

Weatherboarding 

Yeoman 

External cladding composed of overlapping horizontal wooden boards. 

A man holding and cultivating a small landed estate. 


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Borough Council

Holdenhurst Village Conservation Area Appraisal - Bournemouth ...

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