Langcliffe - Yorkshire Dales National Park

Figure 36: Sundial and relief,Old Vicarage (photo © GabyRose, YNDPA, 2009)16DCLG et al. (2010) PPS5:Historic EnvironmentPlanning Practice Guide,paragraph 124.f) Prevalent Local and Traditional Building Materials and the PublicRealmTraditional materials, surfaces and street furniture can contributepositively to the significance of a conservation area as they have thepotential of providing a unique setting to the historic architecture, giventhey are well kept and in good condition. Likewise, inappropriatematerials, surfaces and street furniture will have a detrimental effect tosome extent and, in extreme cases, even put the whole conservationarea at risk. In addition, [t]ransport proposals can affect the setting ofheritage assets and highways authorities are advised to consult with thelocal planning authority in such circumstances 16 .Traditional materials. The vernacular buildings of the LangcliffeConservation Area are mainly made of local limestone, though somefacades have external renders in muted colours. Chimneys, and windowand door surrounds are also in stone, and roofs covered in slate tiles laidin diminishing courses. There are only few painted features, such assome window surrounds, which are kept in neutral tones of white orcream. The overall appearance of the built environment is that of naturalshades of grey and rough textured surfaces.Timber is used for authentic windows and doors, cast iron for rainwatergoods, and clay pots for chimneys. Unfortunately, some of these featureshave been replaced with uPVC items, which have a detrimental effect onappearance of the buildings (see 4.4.k).Public realm. While most of the roads and lanes are covered in tarmacfor vehicular use, the area surrounding the fountain has a reinstatedcobbled surface (figure 20). Overall, the hard standing is very wellbalanced with the grassed areas in the village. There is a mixture ofmodern concrete and cobbled kerbs, as well as individual stones alongverges to keep people from driving onto the grass, and some very goodexamples of gullies and edge-of-carriage cobbles and stonework.It is unusual that the village entrance to the north is sometimes gated.The gate, however, is rusty metal and not of a local Dales style. Streetfurniture includes several late-twentieth-century lamp posts, which arequite inappropriate for Langcliffe Conservation Area. Wooden waymarkers and telegraph poles recede well into the background. Forrecreational purposes, several timber benches are dotted around theGreen, along with a basic children’s playground on its southern edge.There is a circular bench around the Stocks Tree with high metal fencingbehind which detracts from the tree. At the Green’s northern tip, there is anotice board with written codes of behaviour. Conservation works to thiswere grant aided by the Authority in 1993/4. Finally, the traditional castironroad names work well with the historic environment.34