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Introduction
This conservation area is defined by two ancient routes, Hulme Hall
Road and Swann Lane, by the later Hill Top Avenue and by two converging
railway lines of the former London and North Western Railway. The
old settlement of Hulme Hall and the fields of Swan Meadow and Swan
Acre share their names with the ancient routes. Hill Top Avenue,
although taking its name from the now demolished Hill Top Farm,
was not laid out until the end of the nineteenth century as part
of the growling suburban development which took place in response
to the opening of the passenger railway systems. The area thus contains
a continuity of building types ranging from timber-framed houses,
scattered cottages, former farmsteads, Victorian villas, churches
and terraced and later detached and semi-detached dwellings. The
predominant characteristic of this area however is that of a suburb
which retains a rural atmosphere with an abundance of trees, hedges
and planting in private gardens. Varied and harmonious views appear
along the broad curve of Hill Top Avenue, the generous setting of
Hulme Hall and nearby buildings, and the more intimate and winding
aspect of Swann Lane.
Click image to enlarge
Historical Development
Until the mid 19th century the nature of this area was agricultural,
with fields and a few farmsteads, individual cottages and hamlets
clustered around Hulme Hall, the local manor house. A map of Cheadle
Hulme dated 1763 shows Hulme Hall Road and Swann Lane as the only
roadways in the area with the afore-mentioned types and groupings
of properties fronting onto or near to them. On the 1844 Tithe map,
whilst there was still a patchwork of fields, there were by then
two very recently constructed railway lines to Macclesfield and
Crewe (and beyond) from Manchester via Stockport. Near to Hulme
Hall was the first station which had been opened in 1842. This is
now the white house behind the railway cottages opposite the Hesketh
Arms Hotel. In 1845, the station was moved to its present site at
the junction of the two railways. Some of the land on which this
Macclesfield line was constructed was part of the grounds to Hill
Top House. A condition of its sale was that the railway company
erected a high wall around the house and gardens to shield them
from the railway. This wall can still be seen at the northern corner
of Swann Lane. With the improvement in rail services came a gradual
influx of people to the neighbourhood. The Ordnance Survey map of
1872-5 shows several large detached and semi-detached villas along
Swann lane and Hulme Hall Road, together with the Congregational
church on Swann Lane and All Saints church which became the parish
church in 1868. A general village shop was opened about this time
in the Smithy Green area and in 1864 the Lord of the Manor, W B
Hesketh built the Hesketh Arms in place of the old Horse and Jockey
Inn. Hill Top Avenue does not appear until the second edition of
the 1898 map which shows only a few houses towards its northern
end. By 1938 the area had become well developed with road frontages
built up and several new link roads and cul-de-sacs of new houses.
Listed Buildings and Buildings of Local Interest
Hulme Hall, listed Grade n, has been owned over the centuries by
a number of locally illustrious families - the Vernons, Savages,
Moselcys and Davenports. This Cheadle Hulme manor house, which may
stand on the site of an earlier house, is of late sixteenth or early
seventeenth century date and is built of timber square-panel box
framework with extensive restoration and brick additions of nineteenth
century date. I, Higham Street, listed Grade H and formerly known
as Hill Cottage, is of a similar date and construction as Hulme
Hall, with nineteenth century additions and alterations. The oldest
part is timber, box-frame construction on a sandstone plinth, with
a stone-flagged roof. It is reputed to have been an inn, a weaver's
cottage and a farm. All Saints Church, was built in 1863 in the
High Victorian Gothic style. The Hesketh Arms, takes its name from
the Hesketh family, lords of the manor at the time of its re-building
in the nineteenth century. Traditionally, the Court Baron, the assembly
of the freehold tenants of the manor, and an event called 'dinnering
day' were held here, when the tenants who owed 'suit and service'
were summoned to pay their dues and enjoy the fare provided. The
Church Inn, a local landmark of late eighteenth or eariy nineteenth
century date, was typical of many rural cottages of the period in
that beer was sold on the premises. In 1880 it was acquired by Robinsons,
the brewers.
Architectural
Character
The character of this area may be described as that of a rural suburb
with a range of diverse yet harmonious styles of housing from different
periods. Firstly, from the early phase are Hulme Hall and the nearby
No I Higham Street, both timber framed and statutorily listed buildings.
Secondly, there are the surviving former farmhouses and cottages
and the later Victorian villas and terraced houses, which although
not listed, are good examples of their respective domestic building
types and periods. Thirdly, some of the detached and semi-detached
residences built during the earlier decades of the present century
also constitute good examples of the architectural styles of their
day. For example, on Hill Top Avenue, several houses have been designed
with vernacular details such as applied Tudor style timber framing
on frontages and gables. Particularly noteworthy are the two storey
corner window bays surmounted by small conical roofs. Fourthly,
there are those homes, which considered together in relation to
their garden or landscaped surroundings, provide worthwhile insights
into the development of the 'English Suburb'. If further residential
and other development is proposed, the existing scale of nearby
houses and space about them necessarily will be major considerations
in the protection of the existing quality of the environment.
Conservation
Policy Guidelines
(1) The presumption in al conservation areas is that the existing
building stock will remain, unless there are justifiable reasons
for demolition and redevelopment.
(2) Full applications must be made for planning permission, listed
building and conservation area consents. These should include detailed
plans and elevations of any proposal in its setting, together with
precise specification of all materials to be used. Some form of
three dimensional representation of the proposals may also be necessary.
All applications will be advertised in the local press to allow
comment in addition to the consultation with neighbours.
(3) The design of any
new buildings must be in keeping with the style, size and massing
of adjoining buildings or with the essential architectural character
of the conservation area.
(4) Alterations or extensions
to existing buildings should be designed in sympathy with the architectural
character of the buildings to which they relate.
(5) The materials and
colour of any new development should be complementary to those on
existing adjacent buildings.
(6) The existing landscape
framework of the area should be respected in the design of new planting
schemes. Where sites have existing tree coverage, a tree survey
is required as part of any planning application to show the impact
of development on the existing landscape.
(7) Environmental improvement
schemes should reinforce the architectural style, urban design and
landscape character of the area.
Conservation
Area Designation
Local Planning Authorities may designate areas of special architectural
or historic interest as conservation areas. The distinctive overall
character of such an area usually derives from a combination of
some, if not all, of the following:
Unity of scale and appearance in street frontages.
Continuity and quality of building materials or landscaping.
Architectural design, e.g. in period styles.
Street pattern, street furniture and paved surfaces.
Archaeological or historical features and environmental quality.
Conservation areas may
be large or small, often centred on listed buildings, but not always
- for pleasant groups of unlisted buildings and the aspects noted
above, all contribute to the special quality of an area. This can
be adversely affected if the area's environmental significance and
historic heritage are not adequately recognised, interpreted and
protected. Any change should preserve or enhance the general character
of the area.
Listed Building
Consent
Certain buildings have been statutorily listed by the Secretary
of State for the Environment, as being of special architectural
or historical interest. Anyone intending to demolish or partially
demolish such a building, or to extend or alter it, needs listed
building consent'. This is required whether or not the works are
internal or external and the application has to be made to the Local
Planning Authority. It is an offence to carry out work on a listed
building without first obtaining this consent.
Conservation
Area Consent
Anyone wishing to demolish or partially demolish an unlisted building
within a conservation area must first apply to the Local Planning
Authority for ' conservation area consent'. There are certain minor
exemptions to this rule on which officers of the Planning Department
will give advice. In assessing whether consent should be granted,
the Authority will take account of not only the individual merit
of the building, but also its group value and importance in relation
to the character or appearance of the area, the effect of its removal
and the merits of any proposals to replace it.
Protection of
Trees
All trees in a conservation area are protected, whether or not they
are already included in Tree Preservation Orders. Anyone wishing
to lop, top, fell or uproot a tree must give the Local Planning
Authority six weeks written notice of this intention, during which
time a Tree Preservation Order may be made by the Authority. It
is an offence to proceed with work affecting trees within a conservation
area without the Council's consent.
Advertisements
Certain advertisements and shop signs can be unsightly intrusions
in the local scene. Whilst some advertising can be justified to
ensure the viability of businesses in the area, it must not be allowed
to dominate the conservation area setting. If need arises, the Council
may designate Areas of Special Control, as part of environmental
enhancement proposals.
Special Controls on Development
The character of a conservation area can be spoilt by an accumulation
of relatively minor but inappropriate alterations to buildings and
their immediate surroundings. Planning permission is not required
for certain categories of small scale development known as 'permitted
development'. However, for a number of conservation areas, 'Article
4 Directions' have been made to bring these permitted developments'
under planning control. Anyone proposing to alter or demolish any
structure or part of a structure should therefore contact the Planning
Department to check whether consent is required. The telephone number
of the West Area Control Team is 061474 3537.
Grants
These may be available from the Stockport Council, English Heritage
and other funding organisations in respect of listed buildings,
or buildings not listed but of architectural merit and particular
importance to the character of a conservation area. Grants may be
made towards agreed expenditure for the satisfactory completion
of:-
(a) Essential structural
and remedial measures necessary to prevent major physical deterioration
of the property.
(b) The restoration of the external and internal character of the
building in keeping with its listed description and status, and/or
architectural significance in a conservation area setting.
Further Advice
Write to:
The Director of Technical Services
Technical Services Division
Hygarth House
103 Wellington Road South
Stockport
SKI 3TT
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