Themes For Land Use Landscape and Character Justification and Evidence Downton Conservation Area The Parish of Downton and the landscape in The main features of the Conservation Area are it sits has a character developed over many set out in the Conservation Area Appraisal and centuries of human activity. It is predominantly Management Plan, published in December 2008. rural with the village of Downton nestling on the The key characteristics are as follows: floor of the Avon Valley towards the southern end of the Plan area with the hamlet of Charlton All Saints to the north. There are scattered Its distinctive settlement layout and buildings within the rural area, including the the contrast between the village core cluster of redeveloped Standlynch Farm and The Borough. buildings, the historic Trafalgar Park House and Survival of the important former business units at Botleys Farm. industrial core (now redeveloped as housing) to the village, centred on the The village of Downton straddles the plain, river. being a historic river crossing. Part is designated The setting of the valley floor as a Conservation Area (PLAN) containing over 85 comprising flood plain and former water listed buildings, including Grade 1 Listed St. Laurence Church, Moot House and Manor meadow systems. House. The Moot is a scheduled monument. It is Distant glimpses of buildings in a also an area of some archaeological significance, mature treed landscape. not only with the Moot but also early Neolithic The importance of local views, finds (now in Salisbury Museum) and remains of particularly from the Moot. a Roman Villa off Moot Lane including a fine Continuous building lines providing good mosaic (also in Salisbury Museum). It is quite enclosure, defining roads and spaces possible that further evidence of past human complimented by the use of brick and activity remains to be found. flint boundary walls. The valuable survival of a significant number of thatched buildings, individually and in groups. The use of high quality eighteenth century brickwork, often to earlier timber framed buildings. Deep narrow plots often backing onto open countryside. In addition, the appraisal highlights locally significant buildings that currently fall outside the Conservation Area boundary. These are: Wick Lodge, South Lane Cottage and the Lode Hill flint retaining wall. The recommendation of the appraisal is to extend the existing boundaries to Figure 3: Key incorporate these buildings in the future. Conservation Area
Themes For Land Use Landscape and Character Justification and Evidence The Parish of Downton and the landscape in it sits has a character developed over many centuries of human activity. It is predominantly rural with the village of Downton nestling on the floor of the Avon Valley towards the southern end of the Plan area with the hamlet of Charlton All Saints to the north. There are scattered buildings within the rural area, including the cluster of redeveloped Standlynch Farm buildings, the historic Trafalgar Park House and business units at Botleys Farm. The village of Downton straddles the plain, being a historic river crossing. Part is designated as a Conservation Area (PLAN) containing over 85 listed buildings, including Grade 1 Listed St. Laurence Church, Moot House and Manor House. The Moot is a scheduled monument. It is also an area of some archaeological significance, not only with the Moot but also early Neolithic finds (now in Salisbury Museum) and remains of a Roman Villa off Moot Lane including a fine mosaic (also in Salisbury Museum). It is quite possible that further evidence of past human activity remains to be found. Figure 3: Key Downton Conservation Area The main features of the Conservation Area are set out in the Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan, published in December 2008. The key characteristics are as follows: Its distinctive settlement layout and the contrast between the village core and The Borough. Survival of the important former industrial core (now redeveloped as housing) to the village, centred on the river. The setting of the valley floor comprising flood plain and former water meadow systems. Distant glimpses of buildings in a mature treed landscape. The importance of local views, particularly from the Moot. Continuous building lines providing good enclosure, defining roads and spaces complimented by the use of brick and flint boundary walls. The valuable survival of a significant number of thatched buildings, individually and in groups. The use of high quality eighteenth century brickwork, often to earlier timber framed buildings. Deep narrow plots often backing onto open countryside. In addition, the appraisal highlights locally significant buildings that currently fall outside the Conservation Area boundary. These are: Wick Lodge, South Lane Cottage and the Lode Hill flint retaining wall. The recommendation of the appraisal is to extend the existing boundaries to incorporate these buildings in the future. Conservation Area
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