The Hunsbury Hill Centre

Conservation Management Plan

June 2007

Produced on behalf of:

Northamptonshire ACRE
by DEK Architects
© Northamptonshire ACRE 2007
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Fig 1 The farmhouse from the garden (from the Centre Archive - K Cropper May 2005)

(Cover design by Karen Cropper - image altered from aerial view of

the Hunsbury Hill Centre 1981 from the Centre archive)

FINAL DRAFT
June 2007

The Hunsbury Hill Centre

Conservation Management Plan

prepared for
Northamptonshire ACRE
Hunsbury Hill Centre, Harksome Hill
Northampton NN4 9QX
Tel: 01604 765888
Email: [email protected]

by
DEK Architects
Millbarn House, 2A Leire Lane, Dunton Bassett,
Leicestershire, LE17 5JP
Tel: 01455 202888
Email: [email protected]

© Northamptonshire ACRE 2007

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No Item Page

Contents 3

i Introduction 6
ii Definition 6
iii Limitations 6
iv Acknowledgements 6
v Copyright 6
vi Contributors 6
vii List of figures 7

1 Summary ........................................................................................................... 8
1.1 Statement of heritage merit ......................................................................................8
1.2 How that merit is vulnerable .....................................................................................8
1.3 Summary of policies .................................................................................................8
1.4 Stage/date of adoption .............................................................................................8
1.5 Requirements for assessment of project proposals..................................................8
1.6 Executive Summary..................................................................................................9

2 Background....................................................................................................... 9
2.1 Introduction to the Hunsbury Hill Centre...................................................................9
2.2 Owner’s organisation/ involvement/ responsibility ....................................................9
2.3 Statutory designations ..............................................................................................9
2.4 Reason for Conservation Management Plan and use of it .....................................10
2.5 Scope of the plan/ limitations..................................................................................10
2.6 Those involved in preparation ................................................................................11
2.7 Associated documents ...........................................................................................11
2.8 Consultation process ..............................................................................................11
2.9 Statement on adoption process ..............................................................................11

3 Understanding the site................................................................................... 12

3.1 Description of the Hunsbury Hill Centre..................................................................12
3.2 History, context and development of the site..........................................................12
3.3 Social history ..........................................................................................................14
3.4 Management of the Centre .....................................................................................15
3.5 Detailed description of site’s interest ......................................................................16
3.6 Areas requiring further assessment........................................................................16

4 Assessment of significance .......................................................................... 18

4.1 Summary of assessment ........................................................................................18
4.2 Archaeology............................................................................................................18
4.3 Architectural significance........................................................................................18
4.4 Development of the Centre.....................................................................................19
4.5 Community/social value..........................................................................................21
4.6 Cultural importance ................................................................................................22
4.7 Historical context ....................................................................................................22
4.8 Geographical context..............................................................................................22
4.9 Ecology/ wildlife ......................................................................................................23
4.10 Educational/ public potential ...................................................................................23
4.11 Public/ recreational value .......................................................................................23
4.12 Significance as a historical record ..........................................................................24
4.13 Significance of component parts ............................................................................24
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5 Vulnerability and related issues.................................................................... 25

5.1 Existing/ proposed uses .........................................................................................25
5.2 New/ alternative uses .............................................................................................25
5.3 Sensitive features ...................................................................................................26
5.4 Areas of conflict ......................................................................................................26
5.5 Management issues ...............................................................................................26
5.6 External factors.......................................................................................................27
5.7 Accessibility ............................................................................................................27
5.8 Health & safety issues ............................................................................................27
5.9 Public/community expectations ..............................................................................27
5.10 Limitations to understanding the significance .........................................................28
5.11 Physical condition...................................................................................................28
5.12 Previous alterations ................................................................................................28
5.13 Statutory controls....................................................................................................29
5.14 Area & boundaries ..................................................................................................29
5.15 Setting ....................................................................................................................29
5.16 Limitations on resources.........................................................................................29

6 Conservation policies .................................................................................... 30

6.1 Identifying appropriate uses ...................................................................................30
6.2 Management of the Centre .....................................................................................30
6.3 Maintaining the site.................................................................................................30
6.4 Conservation philosophy ........................................................................................30
6.5 Protection of the site...............................................................................................30
6.6 Potential for development of the site ......................................................................30
6.7 Protection of the setting..........................................................................................30
6.8 Coordination of elements of the site .......................................................................30
6.9 Improvement of access ..........................................................................................31
6.10 Interpretation of the site..........................................................................................31
6.11 Impact of alterations ...............................................................................................31
6.12 Provision of visitor facilities.....................................................................................31
6.13 Statutory requirements ...........................................................................................31
6.14 Maintaining the site records....................................................................................31

7 Implementation and review............................................................................ 31

7.1 Use of the Conservation Management Plan ...........................................................31
7.2 Review of the Conservation Plan............................................................................32

8 Appendices ..................................................................................................... 33
8.1 Site map .................................................................................................................33
8.2 Site records ............................................................................................................33
8.3 Building record drawings ........................................................................................34
8.4 Historic maps ..........................................................................................................34
8.5 Photographic record ...............................................................................................34
8.6 Condition survey of the buildings............................................................................35
8.7 Maintenance plan ...................................................................................................35
8.8 Ecological surveys ..................................................................................................36
8.9 Accessibility audit ...................................................................................................37
8.10 Fire risk assessment...............................................................................................37
8.11 Historical development records ..............................................................................37
8.12 Associated uses records ........................................................................................37
8.13 Social historical records..........................................................................................37
8.14 Statutory approvals.................................................................................................37
8.15 Archaeological survey ............................................................................................38
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8.16 Heritage Impact Assessment..................................................................................38

9 Bibliography.................................................................................................... 39

10 Further Reading.............................................................................................. 39

11 Glossary .......................................................................................................... 40
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i Introduction
The purpose of this Plan is to provide a framework against which proposals for repair
or change and general management decisions which affect the Hunsbury Hill Centre
(HHC) property can be assessed to ensure that there is no adverse effect on its
significance. An appropriate definition of significance occurs in a document by
Marquis-Kyle and Walker1 in: “the cultural significance of a place is embodied in its
fabric, its setting and its contents; in the associated documents; in its use; and in
people’s memories and association with the place”. The Conservation Management
Plan aims to look at all aspects of the site, its history, context, past and current
usage, which contribute to its significance. It is a guide which should be accessible to
all who have an interest in the site, should be regularly used to assess the impact of
proposed repairs and alterations, and reviewed and revised to incorporate new
information and the effects of change.

ii Definitions
This Plan refers to the Hunsbury Hill Centre which comprises the farm buildings and
surrounding land including the adjacent woodland areas as defined on the site map.
Throughout the Plan references to the “site” should be taken to include the buildings,
their immediate setting and other parts of the property as defined by the site map in
Appendix 8.1. The Plan relates to the whole area as well as the internal fittings,
fixtures and collections within the buildings.

iii Limitations
The Conservation Management Plan is not intended to be a complete history of the
site but provides only sufficient background information, or references to where such
information can be found, to set the context for the site in physical, historic and social
terms, and enable decisions to be made on the implications of change.

iv Acknowledgements
Northamptonshire ACRE wish to acknowledge with thanks all those who have made
contributions to the content of the Conservation Management Plan, for their time and
effort in helping to provide information for incorporation in the Plan.

The plan of Hunsbury Hill Farm in the Bouverie collection reference B(D) 620 (Figure
2) and the George Clark pencil drawing GCPS Vol. 34, No. 82 (Figure 8) are from the
archive in the Northamptonshire Record Office who have given permission for the use
these images in the Plan.

v Copyright
Copyright of this document remains with the Northamptonshire ACRE. The text in the
document may be reproduced free of charge in any format without specific
permission subject to acknowledgement being made of the copyright holders and the
source of the material by reference to the title of the Plan. All photographs and
illustrations are individually credited and reference to quoted text is made in
footnotes. A bibliography is included in Section 9.

vi Contributors
Rod Conlon
Karen Cropper
Richard Moss
Northamptonshire ACRE
Northamptonshire Archaeological Society
Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records Centre
1
P Marquis-Kyle & M Walker: The Illustrated Burra Charter, ICOMOS Australia, 1996.
Hunsbury Hill Centre Conservation Management Plan Final Draft
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Northampton Borough Council, Jane Jennings

Northamptonshire County Council
Phil Richardson
Dick Rose
Tom Welsh

vii List of figures

Fig 1 The farmhouse from the garden (from the Centre Archive - K Cropper May 2005) ......2
Fig 2 Probable Plan of Hunsbury Hill Farm c1770 from the Northants Records Office........13
Fig 3 Layout of the Farm buildings today .............................................................................14
Fig 4 The lower part of the yard c1976 showing the foddering and cart hovels ...................16
Fig 5 Bay windows to the garden front of the farmhouse .....................................................17
Fig 6 Fabric Survey - Plans of the farmhouse with pre-conversion room labels ..................19
Fig 7 Reference plan of the buildings and immediate grounds ............................................20
Fig 8 Pencil sketch of the Farmhouse garden by George Clark dated October 28th 1854 ..24
Fig 9 Site map ......................................................................................................................33
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1 Summary

1.1 Statement of heritage merit

The Hunsbury Hill Centre is a collection of farm buildings constructed as a ‘model’ farm
around 1770, following the enclosure of land which included the common fields of the
Parish of Hardingstone. The original buildings date from a period of major expansion of
agriculture and the introduction of improved methods of farming. The farmhouse is
listed Grade II and, although the listing description (see 2.3 below) refers to the
farmhouse only, all the other buildings within the curtilage of the listed building are
protected. The buildings should be considered to be of importance as a group, because
they were constructed in one phase, specifically to make best use of the farming
methods of the time. It is believed to be the earliest model farm of this period in
Northamptonshire. Despite subsequent changes, the main buildings are still essentially
as originally constructed.

1.2 How that merit is vulnerable

Inevitably, some changes have been made to the site, in both additions and losses of
buildings, and to the surrounding landscape of the farm since it was formed around
1770. One of the barns has been removed, because it became unsafe, but the base of
walls was retained as animal pens and can be clearly seen on site. In the late 19th
century much of the farm land was quarried for ironstone and, although the land was
reinstated, it was in poorer condition for agricultural use. In its more recent past (since
1986) most of the land attached to the farm has been sold for development, including
the housing to the south and east of the site. Changes in use, farming of the land
having ceased by 1977, have required further changes to the buildings to provide
facilities compatible with the current community and office uses. The remaining land
around the farm buildings is unused and provides a natural wooded habitat for wildlife.
A pair of farm workers’ cottages and outbuildings are now in private residential use and
excluded from the site.

1.3 Summary of policies

The policies set out in this Plan aim to ensure that the significance of the buildings and
their setting are not adversely affected by proposals for repair, alteration or use of the
buildings and their environs.

Policies establish a framework for ensuring the retention of the significance,

accommodating appropriate uses, prioritising repair and conservation, defining a
conservation philosophy, meeting statutory controls, working within available resources,
enhancing public appreciation, maintaining and managing the site, and influencing
future external intervention.

1.4 Stage/date of adoption

This is the Final Draft of the Conservation Management Plan incorporating comments
and information received on the second draft issued in March 2007. The Final Draft
was approved by the Project Steering Group on 24th May 2007 and recommended for
formal adoption by the NACRE Board at their next meeting on 18th July 2007.

1.5 Requirements for assessment of project proposals

Proposals for repair or alteration of the buildings and the heritage assets within the site
should be reviewed against the policies set out in this Plan, enabling a heritage impact
assessment to be drawn up. This will identify the possible impact of the project
proposals and identify where proposals should be reviewed to mitigate the impact to
protect the significance of the site. (See Appendix 8.16)
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1.6 Executive Summary

An Executive Summary of the Conservation Management Plan has been prepared and
is available as a separate document with an introduction, summaries of the Audience
Development Plan and Access Plan and list of other relevant documents.

2 Background

2.1 Introduction to the Hunsbury Hill Centre

The Hunsbury Hill Centre houses administration and community facilities for
Northamptonshire ACRE, the Rural Community Council for Northamptonshire. The
property was leased by the organisation in 1977 from the Northampton Development
Corporation and ownership acquired in 1986. The facilities at the Centre utilise the
original farmhouse and adjacent barns but other buildings are currently underused and
could provide additional facilities for NACRE or other organisations. Information on the
Centre’s facilities can be found at the website www.hunsburyhillcentre.co.uk.

2.2 Owner’s organisation/ involvement/ responsibility

Northamptonshire ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) is an independent
charitable organisation and part of the national ACRE network. The organisation works
to improve the quality of life for rural communities in Northamptonshire, especially those
from the most disadvantaged groups. The strategic aims are:
• To encourage and support rural community action.
• To support the identification of rural needs, particularly for the disadvantaged.
• To raise awareness of rural issues, lobby and influence policy.
• To support the provision of affordable, accessible rural services.
• To work in partnership with others, encouraging co-operation and influencing the
allocation of resources.

The organisation was formed in 1946 and became a Company Limited by Guarantee in
March 2000. Annual expenditure is in the region of £700,000 per annum. The Board of
Directors/ Trustees (12 at present) have a wide range of experience and expertise
including local government at a senior level in academic, business, ecclesiastical,
judicial and voluntary sector backgrounds, with observers from a range of interested
organisations who also make useful contributions. Further details can be found at
www.ruralnet.org.uk/~northantsacre.

The organisation has 12 full-time and 7 part-time personnel, who cover a wide range of
core activities and projects with the overall objective of supporting the regeneration and
development of Rural Communities.

2.3 Statutory designations

Hunsbury Hill Farmhouse was listed Grade II in 1976 with the following description:

“Harksome Hill, Camp Hill (Grade) II 232091 LB0335 25A 22 Jan 1976
Hunsbury Hill Farmhouse
(Hunsbury Hill Centre)
NN4 9QX
C18, with additions. Ashlar, Welsh slated roof with stone coped side gables. 2 storeys
and attic, gabled dormer. 1st floor has 3 sash windows with vertical glazing bars under
cambered relieving arches. 2 ground floor canted bay windows with glazing bars,
entablature. Lower 2 storey wings at oblique angles, on south C18, on north mid to late
C19. Single storey late C19 pentice-roofed addition to main block on west.”
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Although the description refers only to the farmhouse, under the terms of The planning
(listed buildings and conservation areas) Act 1990, “any object or structure fixed to the
building and any object or structure within the curtilage of the building, which although
not fixed to the building, forms part of the land and has done so since before 1st July
1948 are also treated as part of the listed building”2 Any alterations to any part of the
site will therefore require Listed Building Consent from Northampton Borough Council.
Planning permission may also be required for a change of use or for alterations
involving new building works.

Under The Planning (Applications for Planning Permission, Listed Buildings and
Conservation Areas) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2006, a Design and Access
Statement is required to accompany an application for Listed Building Consent and this
Plan should be referred to in compiling such a Statement.

The Government has issued policy guidance on historic buildings in Planning Policy
Guidance Notes PPG15, Planning and the Historic Environment 1994, and in PPG 16,
Archaeology and Planning 1990. The documents advise on best practice in the care
and management of historic sites and emphasise the need to understand the
significance of the site before changes are made. The guidance is for both those
responsible for the historic site and for local planning authorities dealing with
applications for consent to alter historic buildings.

2.4 Reason for Conservation Management Plan and use of it

The purpose of this Plan is to provide a basis for assessment of proposals for change
to the site by setting out details of the historical development and current usage of the
buildings. It will provide a means of familiarisation with the historical background for all
those who are involved in managing or working on the buildings, setting, contents and
features, and particularly for those involved in the decision process for proposals which
may affect the significance of the site, allowing an informed assessment of the impact
of change to be made.

The Plan is a working document which should be referred to by all those whose
activities affect the site, which should be reviewed on a regular basis following its
adoption by the Northamptonshire ACRE Trust to ensure that policies are updated as
required following changes in legislation or the acquisition of new information on the
significance of the site.

2.5 Scope of the plan/ limitations

It is not practical to include in this Plan all the information available on the site. The
Plan is intended to cover as much information as is necessary to the decision making
process in a summarised form and provide policies against which proposals for change
should be considered, to ensure that the significance of the historical and cultural
character of the site is not adversely affected. It is a summary only of known
information. Where known, references to sources of further information are provided
which may help those who need to examine specific aspects of the site to gain a more
thorough understanding of the implications of specific proposals for change. A separate
document, the Building Database, is being prepared which contains detailed
descriptions of the buildings and their historical features.

All aspects of the site and uses are considered and references to further information
are given. The Plan highlights the aspects of the site which are thought to be vulnerable
2
The planning (listed buildings and conservation areas) Act 1990, HMSO.
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to change; the physical condition of buildings, past changes, current and possible future
uses, resources, management and external factors are considered.

2.6 Those involved in preparation

A list of contributors is given at the beginning of the document (page 5). The Centre has
sought to invite contributions from a wide variety of people who have associations with
the general use and specific aspects of the site and welcomes any additional
information which can add to the safeguarding of this important site.

2.7 Associated documents

A Condition Survey report has been prepared (December 2006), which is available for
reference at the Centre, advises of the current condition of the fabric of the buildings,
recommending and prioritising repairs which will need to be carried out. A previous
report was prepared in May 1998 by Northampton Borough Council Construction and
Property Services on behalf of Northamptonshire ACRE. Condition reports had also
been prepared in 1976 by Northampton Development Corporation for incorporation in
the lease. These reports are not included in this Plan but are retained in the site archive
for reference.

A document labelled “Hunsbury Hill Farm: A Record, Fabric Survey” has been obtained
from Richard Moss, which provides a description of the construction and building
materials of the farmhouse and farm buildings, with plans of the farmhouse marked up
to show the dates of different parts of the building (see Figure 6) and labels rooms with
their use before alterations approved in 1977. The document is undated but refers to
“the 1977 pre-conversion plans” and to mangers in the foddering hovels being
dismantled in November 1977.

The Centre archive also contains a large number of photographs of the site. A number
of these are included in the Plan and the full archive index is listed in Appendix 8.5.
Other relevant documents located are either included in appendices where it has been
possible to reproduce them or a reference provided to where they can be found.

2.8 Consultation process

All contributions from consultations have been reviewed by the Editor and incorporated
in the Plan. The Plan has been made available in draft to all contributors, users and
visitors to the site for comments, which have been reviewed, corrections and additional
information incorporated, and the document revised and refined before adoption.

The purpose of the consultation process has been to:

• inform as many stakeholders and interested people as possible on progress with
the project
• check that consultees think the contents of the report cover all the aspects that it
should
• check for any inaccuracies or additional available information on the historical and
social context of the site

2.9 Statement on adoption process

The Final Draft was approved by the Project Steering Group on 24th May 2007 and
recommended for formal adoption by the NACRE Board at their next meeting on 18th
July 2007.

Further reviews will be made on a regular basis to incorporate new information which
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comes to light or changes in uses, management or legislation which need to be

considered.

3 Understanding the site

This section of the Plan provides details of the architectural and historical development
of the site and its associations with the locality.

3.1 Description of the Hunsbury Hill Centre

The site lies on the south side of Danes Camp Way (the A45) approximately 3 miles
south of the centre of Northampton. The land is elevated above the road level and falls
from east to west. Much of the land belonging to the farm when it had ceased as a
working farm by 1977 was acquired by the Northampton Development Corporation and
has been developed for housing. An area of light woodland south-east of the Spinney
remains as open space but is no longer part of the Centre property. The Hunsbury
Hillfort lies to the south-east and Camp Hill, the Industrial Museum and Railway of the
iron extraction industry lies adjacent to the hillfort.

The site extends to 5.43 hectares (13.4 acres) as shown on the Site Map in Appendix
8.1, with the Hunsbury Hill Farm buildings towards the east end. The land to the west is
occupied by the Hunsbury Hill Spinney, an area of mixed woodland and ponds, with
open meadow between the Spinney and Danes Camp Way. To the north east of the
farm buildings is a smaller areas of woodland. East of the farmhouse is an oval shaped
garden area enclosed by an iron railing fence with mature tree and shrub planting
around a lawn. On the south side of the farm buildings is a terraced grassed area now
providing car parking. The access to the site is from the east off Harksome Hill, one of
the access roads to the adjacent housing.

The farm buildings are arranged around an elongated octagonal yard, the farmhouse
on higher ground at the east end with splayed wings forming angles of the octagon.
The farmhouse is separated from agricultural buildings on the north and south sides of
the yard which provided the main barns, stable and cow house. Beyond the barns are
open fronted ‘hovels’ (sheds) used for feeding livestock. At the west end of the yard,
opposite the farmhouse, is an open fronted cart hovel facing away from the yard its
doors now blocked in. There are two long cattle sheds attached to the back of the
south–west hovel added in the early 19th century.

The site also includes an open fronted pole barn, post 1965, providing garaging for the
Centre. An adjacent brick outbuilding, now in private ownership with the farm workers
cottages, is believed to have included a smithy. The wooded areas are natural features,
the Spinney identified on early maps and probably planted in the early days of the farm
to provide cover for birds and animals for hunting. Ponds were created after
Northamptonshiore ACRE first leased the property.

3.2 History, context and development of the site

The length of human occupation in the area is know from the Hunsbury Hillfort, an Iron
Age settlement dating from the period 700-400BC3, about half a mile from Hunsbury Hill
Farm where traces of much earlier settlement have been identified. The Domesday
Book mentions Hardingstone in the Collingtree Hundred as belonging to the King and
the land obviously farmed at that time: “Hardingstone: 5 hides. Land for 4 ploughs
besides the inland. 2 ploughs there. 4 villagers and 10 smallholders with 4 ploughs. 2

3
J Waller: Hunsbury Hillfort, www.jwaller.co.uk/nas/Hunsbury_Hillfort.
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mills at 50s; from the meadows and pastures 66d.”4The precise location of the
cultivated areas is difficult to define due to the extent of recent development and the
enclosure map contains later additions.

The land was therefore cultivated over a long period and Conlon5describes it as
standing on one of the common fields of the Hardingstone Parish. The extent of farming
and population will have varied with changes in the major historic periods of expansion
and contraction of activity in the area. By the mid 18th century, the period when the
Hunsbury Hill Farm was established, improvements in agricultural practice were
changing the desired size and capabilities of farms, expansion of population and
concentration in urban areas due to industrial expansion leading to an increased
demand for food. In addition, the enclosure acts allowed common land to be taken into
private ownership providing the ability to create farming units of a size on which new
methods of farming could be carried out. Hunsbury Hill Farm was just such a “model
farm”, created specifically to utilise the latest methods of the period.

The estate of Delapre Abbey and manor of Hardingstone, to which the land belonged,
was purchased by Edward Bouverie in 1764. Bouverie was responsible for enclosing
much of the land and by 1770 had built the Hunsbury Hill Farm. There is a drawing of a
farm in the Bouverie collection at the Northamptonshire Record Office which is
endorsed externally ‘Plan for a New Farm from Mr Robt Taylor 1769’. There is an
accompanying estimate of the same date from builder/architect John Wagstaff of
Daventry which is for a farm ‘…for the Honle Mr Bowverie in Hardingstone Field’. This
was not the farm built at Hunsbury Hill, but almost certainly influenced the final design5.
There is, however, another plan of about the same date which does show exactly the
same layout as the Hunsbury Hill Farm (see Fig 2).

1 The House
2 Wood Hovel
3 Stable
4 Chaff House
5 Barns
6 Cow House
7 Hog Sty
8 Foddering Hovels
9 Cart Hovel
10 Yard
11 Farm Yard
12 Garden
13 Hay Rick Yard
14 Corn Rick Yard

Fig 2 Probable Plan of Hunsbury Hill Farm c1770 from the Northants Records Office
(From the Bouverie collection, reference B(D) 620)

4
History from the Sources series; Domesday Book, Northamptonshire, Phillimore, 1979.
5
R Conlon: Hunsbury Hill Centre, Northampton, Historical Report, November 2005.
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Fig 3 Layout of the Farm buildings today

The farm appears to have been built in one phase closely following the plan and
remains intact with the exception of the south barn which has been removed, the
additional early 19th century cattle sheds and changes to the farmhouse itself dating
from the mid 19th century. In its latter days as a working farm the separate pole barn
was added and part of the south-west C19 cattle shed was extended. In 1980-81 The
Northamptonshire ACRE refurbished the High and Low Barns to provide meeting
rooms. At times the central yard has been subdivided with timber fencing and stone or
brick walls as can be seen on photographs in the Centre archive dating from 1976.

3.3 Social history

The land around the Centre has been occupied since the Iron Age although the farm
buildings of c1770 are believed to be the first built on the site. The Domesday Book
entry for Hardingstone mentions two mills and these may be Upton Mill and Duston Mill
(both water mills) shown on the 1810 Ordnance Survey map on the north side of the
road (now Danes Camp Way). Conlon notes that there are no signs of any of the
buildings on the farm being used as a mill and it was probably unnecessary with two
mills so close. The land lies on the southern edge of the river Nene and was good
quality farmland.

Although it was cultivated as arable land prior to enclosure, a large part of the farm
acreage was meadow land when the farm was built and used for cattle rearing. This is
compatible with the production of food to serve an expanding urban area. The arable
areas may have been used for livestock feed rather than to produce cereal crops to
feed the population. It is possible that in addition to meat and dairy products the leather
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from hides was used in shoe making, one of the major industries of Northampton. The
addition of the cattle sheds in the early 19th century demonstrates an increase in
livestock activity on the farm which is the result of both an increase in population
demand and of reduced exports due to the war in Europe. Food production was also
required to serve the army and navy during the Napoleonic war period.

The construction of the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal in 1815 will have
improved transport and further increased the market for farm produce. In 1872 A S
Bouverie leased the mineral rights of the Hunsbury Hill and Brier Hill farms5 and much
of the land was quarried for iron extracted from the ironstone at the Hunsbury Hill Iron
Works, located adjacent to the railway which ran parallel to the canal north and west of
Hunsbury Hill Farm. In the 1870’s a tramway was constructed to serve the iron works
crossing the farm land on the west side of the farm and passing through the Spinney,
leading up to Camp Hill. A brick works is also identified on the 1880 Ordnance Survey
map, adjacent to the ironworks north of the farm. This suggests that the land gave
access to some of the Upper Estuarine clays used in brick making which underlie
Oolitic rock but are overlaid above the ironstone. Ironstone extraction in the immediate
vicinity of the farm continued from around 1870 to around 1900 when the land was
returned to agricultural use. All ironstone working on Hunsbury Hill had ceased by 1921
when the furnaces at the iron works closed and the tramway was abandoned6. The
cottage adjacent to the farmhouse is called ‘Mrs Burman’s Cottage’. Mrs Burman’s
father was a horseman (in charge of horse-powered engines) at the iron works and she
later rented the cottage after farming was re-established.

In the period 1881-1891 the farm was occupied by the military, the farmhouse used as
accommodation by soldiers possibly from the Weedon or Barracks Road barracks.

The site of the Camp Hill works was developed as a country type park from 1970 with
the formation of the ironstone museum, incorporating a railway museum and railway
track with working engines and rolling stock, a children’s play area and barbeque site
and a rural skills centre. The railway museum is operated by the Northamptonshire
Ironstone Railway Trust in conjunction with Northamptonshire County Council. The Iron
Age hillfort is within the park area7.

3.4 Management of the Centre

Northamptonshire ACRE uses only part of the building stock of the Hunsbury Hill
Centre, the farmhouse providing office accommodation for administration and meeting
spaces as well as document storage. The High Barn and Low Barns (see farm map in
Appendix 8.2) have been refurbished to provide spaces which are let for a variety of
community uses (such as weddings, family gatherings, meetings and training events).
The open hovel at the north-west corner of the yard is used, with the adjacent lawned
area at the west end of the yard, as an outdoor seating area and the hovel in the south-
west corner is used to store BBQ equipment supplementing this facility. The other
buildings are at present unused at this time except for storage. The hire of the High and
Low Barns is managed by ACRE’s full-time and part-time Centre staff, supported by an
administration team, who are also responsible for the general administration of ACRE’s
Rural Team’s activities.
Northamptonshire ACRE offers support to individuals, community groups, local
authorities, town and parish councils and any agency working in rural areas, providing
advice and guidance on managing rural issues, obtaining funding, advising on

6
‘The Ironstone Quarries of the Midlands: Part III Northampton Area’, Eric Tonks, 1989.
7
See ‘Hunsbury Hill park’ on the Northampton Borough Council’s website at
www.northampton.gov.uk
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legislation and as a voice in issues of strategic planning. In particular support is given

for the provision of village halls, post offices and village shops, rural housing and
transport, social enterprise and social exclusion issues.

3.5 Detailed description of site’s interest

The site’s interest lies in it’s connections with the long term settlement of the area as
well as in the historical evidence contained in the farm buildings, in their construction at
one time in accordance with a specific ‘model farm’ plan for and their continued use as
a working farm up to 1977 (date to be confirmed). The farm buildings are well laid out in
an arrangement which both simplified working patterns and accommodated new
methods of farming. The enclosed yard allowed collection of manure to improve
fertilisation of the fields, improving land production and healthy livestock. Although on a
very different scale, Culzean Castle in Ayrshire has a farm buildings group of a similar
period (1777-90, Robert Adam) built in a square around a yard to enable the manure to
be stored in a central holding area for spreading on arable fields (see The English
Model Farm: Building the Agricultural Ideal, 1700-1914; Susanna Wade Martins).

Fig 4 The lower part of the yard c1976 showing the foddering and cart hovels

It is not clear when the Hunsbury Hill Spinney was planted. It is shown on the enclosure
map but this has had several later features such as the Canal added. It also appears on
the 1810 Ordnance survey map and may have been planted or extended from natural
woodland to provide coverts for birds and habitat for game hunted by the estate owner.

3.6 Areas requiring further assessment

The Condition Survey of the buildings identifies areas requiring further assessment for
repair. The survey should be reviewed on a regular basis to maintain the buildings in
satisfactory condition. Proposals for alterations are excluded from the scope of this
Plan but the Plan should be referred to when considering alterations which may affect
the character of the site. The Building Database records the features of the buildings
considered to be of historical interest some of which merit further investigation and
recording.

A survey of bats and nesting birds (see Appendix 8.8) has been carried out but
proposals affecting protected species should be assessed against the survey and
further detailed surveys may be required of specific areas affected. If areas of bat
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habitat are going to be affected a DEFRA licence may need to be obtained. The Wildlife
Trust has undertaken surveys of the ecology of the Hunsbury Hill Spinney and ponds
and future reviews of the surveys should be referred to this Plan.

Surveys required under health and safety or other legislation such as a Fire Risk
Assessment, Accessibility Audit, Asbestos Survey are outside the scope of this Plan
but any recommendations in such reports to improve facilities or meet current or new
legislation will need to be assessed against the Plan policies.

No known archaeological excavations have been carried out on the site. Due to the
historic settlement of the area any proposals which involve new building works requiring
excavations for foundations or services would give the opportunity for archaeological
monitoring of excavations. Trial holes may provide further evidence of the past uses of
the site and its context.

The architectural details of the farmhouse, which has fine timber panelled reception
rooms and marble fireplaces, suggests the house was built for a person of some social
standing. Research to establish the background of the original tenant would be of
interest to see if he was more than a tenant farmer and possibly had other involvement
with the Bouverie estate.

Fig 5 Bay windows to the garden front of the farmhouse

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4 Assessment of significance

4.1 Summary of assessment

This assessment of significance of the Hunsbury Hill Centre site is based on available
documentation and comments from contributors.

4.2 Archaeology
No known archaeological investigations have been carried out on the site which is the
subject of this Plan. However, considerable interest has arisen from the Iron Age
hillfort, just half a mile from the farm buildings, on land belonging to the farm when
formed in 1770, and the adjacent Ironworks railway. The index of the Historic
Buildings and Sites Monuments Record is included in Appendix 8.15 and includes
one reference to Hunsbury Hill Farmhouse and one to the Farm as well as several
relating to the hillfort and field evidence of ‘cropmarks’ relating to earlier agricultural
activity.

Pevsner8 records that during the ironstone workings of 1882-84 some 300 storage
pits were found relating to the hillfort. Neolithic artefacts including arrow heads were
also found. There is no reference to Hunsbury Hill Farm in the Northamptonshire
volume, the first and second editions pre-dating the listing of the building in 1976.

4.3 Architectural significance

The principal architectural significance of the farm buildings lies in their construction
at one time as a model farm rather than the more common development over a long
period. The farmhouse is a yeoman’s residence rather than a gentleman farmer’s
house but contains a number of features showing the investment in the original
construction and later additions of maintained income from the land. The farm
buildings are well laid out in an arrangement which both simplified working patterns
and accommodated methods of farming new to the late 18th C.

The buildings are constructed in a mixture of ironstone and brick. Although the origin
of these materials is unknown it would be of interest to investigate whether they were
obtained locally, the ironstone being readily available. The roofs are also a mixture of
slate (on the farmhouse and High and Low Barns) and clay pantiles (on the cattle
sheds and hovels). Pantiles, only made in England from around 1700 and imported
from the Netherlands, are more commonly found further north in Lincolnshire, where
they are still made, and Yorkshire 9. The transport of materials from any distance, at a
time prior to the construction of the canal, supports the importance attached to the
building of the model farm. Internally the farmhouse has some fine features in
fireplaces and timber panelling, a degree of enhancement not found in simpler
farmhouses. This suggests that the farm, although always tenanted, was intended to
be an exemplary part of the Bouverie Estate.

Even in the simple farm hovels there are architectural details such as the round brick
piers complete with entasis which are unusual in this context. The 19C livestock
sheds, either side of the outer yard still have the stone and timber mangers and
subsequent changes to the divisions between the barns can be identified by internal
walls not being tied into the external walls.

8
Nikolaus Pevsner: The Buildings of England, Northamptonshire, Penguin Books, 1995.
9
The Development of English Building Construction; C F Innocent; Cambridge University
Press, 1916 (reproduced by Donhead 1999).
Hunsbury Hill Centre Conservation Management Plan Final Draft
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Fig 6 Fabric Survey - Plans of the farmhouse with pre-conversion room labels

4.4 Development of the Centre

The original farm buildings were constructed around 1770 on land farmed from as
early as 122010 and believed to be one of the medieval common fields of the
Hardingstone Parish. The land does not appear to have been previously built upon5.
Conlon has identified in the Northamptonshire records office a drawing showing the
design for a model farm by Robert Taylor which is believed to have been used for the
Hunsbury Hill Farm, both from the layout of the buildings and the size and shape of
the central yard. No similar group of farm buildings is known of in the region.

The layout of the original buildings is shown in Figure 2 and appears to have
comprised the farmhouse at the east end of the farmyard with splayed wings on north
(dairy) and south (kitchen) sides. Adjacent to each wing was an access to the
farmyard. On the north side of the yard, from the east end was a small building used
as a hog sty, a cow house and a larger barn identified by Conlon as the hay barn,
because of its location next to a hay rick yard on the plan. On the south side was a
wood store, a stable and another larger barn identified as the corn barn. To the west
side of both barns, built on the splay, were foddering hovels for livestock facing into
the yard. Between these was a cart hovel facing west, out from the yard, with an
access to the fields on its south side.

10
‘Hardingstone Parish Survey 1972’; D Hall, Northamptonshire Archaeology, Vol 15, 1980.
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Of these buildings, the hog sty appears on the drawing to be set at an angle to the
north range of buildings closest to the farmhouse and there is now no evidence of
this. It is likely that it was replaced during the 19C to provide a larger and better
ventilated building before 1872 when a deed plan shows the current layout11. The
construction of the east end as a farm workers cottage (known as Mrs Burman’s
Cottage, after the last occupier) may be of the same period. The Low Barn may have
been rebuilt at the same time, both buildings being in brick instead of stone as the
original barns and hovels.

Fig 7 Reference plan of the buildings and immediate grounds

(numbers refer to the Building Database building references)

The Hunsbury Hill Centre Date

1 Offices (Farmhouse) C18
2 Mrs Burman’s Cottage (hog sty & cow house) C19
3 High Barn (Hay Barn) C18/C19
4 Bar (Cattle Hovel) C18
5 Cart Hovel C18
6 BBQ area (Cattle Hovel) C18
7 Cattle shed C19
8-9 Cattle shed C19
10 Store C19
11 Cattle shed C19
12 Low Barn (wood hovel & stable) C19
13 Open space (barn) C18
14 Parking area (Implement shed) C20
15 Grounds

11
‘Hunsbury Hill Farm: A Record, Fabric Survey’, undated, unsigned.
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A single storey extension was added to the yard side of the farmhouse forming a
connecting passage between the Kitchen and dairy wings and a two storey extension
added to the south-west side of the north wing, providing additional rooms and a back
stair to the upper floor both dating from the 19th century. An extension providing a
back kitchen and dairy was added at right angles to the north wing of the farmhouse
which has since been demolished, the line of the roof clearly visible in the north wing
wall and the base of walls still in place. Before 1810 two additional livestock sheds
were added to the ends of the foddering hovel at the south-west corner of the yard,
one running south from the south end and one at the west end running south-west.
The opening to the fields between the foddering hovel and the cart hovel was infilled
leaving only a small doorway and this may have been done at the same time. The
south barn was demolished around 1930 as it was unsafe but the lower part of the
walls either side of the door openings were retained as open livestock pens and are
still in place.

A horse engine was used to provide power for threshing machinery in the High Barn
(the corn barn) driving an axle fixed below one of the trusses with three belt drive
wheels of different sizes. The horse drive was located outside on the north side of the
barn and at least in the 1930’s was in the open, there being no engine house. There
is no evidence remaining of any enclosure or the engine capstan gear which ceased
to be used after it broke in the 1930’s and was removed with other iron for the war
effort.

Separate from the farm complex are an open fronted pole barn, now used for car
parking, on the south side of the access road built after 1965 (not shown on an aerial
photograph of that date). Two cottages used by farm workers, now in private
residential use, are no longer part of the Centre and further adjacent outbuildings to
the south of the Centre car park are in the same ownership. The aerial photograph of
1965 also shows a walled garden to the south side of the access drive (Harksome
Hill) which has since been developed for housing although part of the wall remains on
the south side of the site entrance.

4.5 Community/social value

The farm buildings at Hunsbury Hill Centre provide valuable evidence of the
agricultural methods at the period of its formation and continuing use. The relatively
minor later changes and additions to the buildings illustrate adaptation to meet
changes in farming practices, industry and society of the locality. Change in the use
of the land, from farming to quarrying for ironstone, in the late 19th century clearly
shows the effect of changes in industrial activity in the area. Although there is no
specific evidence of quarrying for stone at Hunsbury from an earlier period, ironstone
was extensively used for building masonry from the 13th century and some stone may
have been locally quarried for building.

Census records and lease information provide an interesting record of the people
involved in farming the site which could be further developed to examine the change
of occupation of family members at the times of change of use of the land, in
particular whether members of the tenant families were employed at the iron or brick
works when much of the farm land was given over to these industrial uses. The use
of the farm for billeting of soldiers between 1881and 1891 suggests it may not have
been occupied by the tenant at this time.

From 1984 the Natural History Society Astronomy Section had an observatory
(located to the south of the Low Barn where the concrete base and telescope mount
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can still be seen) with a fibreglass dome. This was moved from Hunsbury Hill to
Cottesbrooke in 2000 when the area became subject to light pollution from nearby
building development and sports ground floodlighting (see section 8.12 for source).

4.6 Cultural importance

The Hunsbury Hill Farm is considered to be an important example of agrarian activity
from the middle of the 18th century when the land was first enclosed. The associated
activity in the area going back to the Neolithic period however emphasises the
importance of the area which is recognised in the Hunsbury hillfort site and the Iron
railway museum.

4.7 Historical context

From early times cattle on the pasture of the Nene Valley provided hides and oak
bark required for tanning was also supplied from local woodland. This supported the
leather industries in Northampton which is believed to have produced more than
required for local consumption even in medieval times. From the middle of the 17th
century Northamptonshire began to specialise in the production of boots and shoes
and became the most important boot producing district in England. The fine displays
in Northampton Museum show this. The industrialisation provided a ready market for
local farm produce and the introduction of the canal, and later railway, extended
supply to other markets. The construction of the farm also fits historically into a period
of extensive home production required by the Napoleonic War between 1793 and
1815 to feed the Army and Navy12.

4.8 Geographical context

The site of the buildings is elevated between 97 and 103m above sea level and lies
on the south side of the alluvial valley of the river Nene on an area of Inferior Oolite
rock. The ground is good agricultural land as is demonstrated by the long period of
agricultural use. The Inferior Oolite includes Northamptonshire Sand and Ironstone at
the base of the beds which have been quarried in a number of areas.

The Nene valley is a major highway of communication between the two most
important towns of the county, Northampton and Peterborough. The river itself formed
an important route for water traffic in the past, and road and rail links also follow the
valley route. The river was easily navigable by barges due to the relatively level
central section, the main fall in height from its source being in the first 14 miles of the
river. The Nene is subject to flooding which leaves an improved soil due to the silt
which is washed onto low lying lad beside the river but this will not have occurred on
the lands of the Hunsbury Hill Farm which are elevated well above the flood plain
level.

The availability of good communications supports agriculture, easing transport of

goods encouraging levels of production in excess of the needs of local demand. The
farm was perhaps intentionally sited alongside the ancient drover’s road leading from
South Wales to the Midlands to have a ready supply of young stock for fattening and
supply to local markets. The climate of the region also supports agriculture with a
moderate level of rainfall. Wheat thrives on the clay soil above the alluvial valley
which provides good pasture land. Stock rearing is profitable as long as there is
demand and requires associated crops for animal feed.

Of the Nene valley pastures, the regular floods result in a fine silt being deposited on

12
See ‘Nelson’s purse’, Martyn Downer, Bantam Press, 2005
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adjacent fields making it possible to keep the land in permanent pasture without
impoverishing the soil. On more elevated land the soil requires more assistance or
improvement by the usual routines of crop rotation or applying manure the pasture.
The layout of the farm around a courtyard allowed manure to be collected more easily
and spread on the pasture to improve the soil condition.

4.9 Ecology/ wildlife

The ecology of the woodland area and ponds in Hunsbury Hill Spinney has been
surveyed by the Wildlife Trust and their survey details are included in Appendix 8.8.
While similar ecology may be expected in the other wooded areas, these are closer to
the A45 Danes Camp way trunk road which will intrude both noise and fumes to the
periphery and thus may make the environment less favourable for some species. At
present human activity outside the Centre buildings is limited and the ground is
overgrown in places. Changes in the range of uses or access to the wooded areas
could result in effects on the established ecology and this should be carefully
considered.

A bat survey has been carried out13 (also referred to in Appendix 8.8) and identifies
areas of the buildings used by bats, a protected species. Any changes to the
buildings must be carried out without affecting bats or their roosts. The bats may also
use adjacent woodland for foraging. The use of the buildings by nesting birds has
also been confirmed by survey evidence14.

4.10 Educational/ public potential

The Centre already provides amongst its current uses a meeting venue suitable for
educational purposes but could provide more direct interpretation of the model farm
and its associations with the ironworks and hillfort. The woodland areas could offer
access to the local ecology although this would need to be carefully managed to
avoid an unnecessary degree of disturbance of habitats.

The Centre has been used by local schools as the subject for local history along with
the ironworks museum and hillfort. A document entitled “Hunsbury Hill Farm: Study of
buildings and past use” was produced by Nene College (now Northampton
University) giving tasks for students visiting the farm to help interpret and identify
what they could see. Copies of some school students’ project papers have been
acquired by the Centre and are retained in their archive. The level of detail of
information contained in these reflects the age range of the originators but they are of
interest in including details of conversations with a past tenant of the farm.

4.11 Public/ recreational value

The Industrial Museum already provides a recreational area around the working
railway and information on the iron works. The provision of access to the model farm
could provide associated areas of interest and additional facilities for local skills
workshops and displays providing information on the agricultural developments which
lead to the establishment of the farm and its subsequent development as a working
farm.

13
Bat Report, Hunsbury Hill Centre, Northampton, Phil Richardson, Bat Consultant,
27/09/06.
14
Bird Report, Hunsbury Hill Centre, Northampton, Phil Richardson, Bat Consultant,
27/09/06.
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4.12 Significance as a historical record

The site’s significance lies in the integrity of the farm buildings, its construction as a
model farm and in the retention of elements of the original construction which makes
interpretation of the original farm concept easily made. The connections with the iron
works and brick works on land originally part of the farm is of historical importance as
it demonstrates the changes which occur due to pressures of industrialisation. The
Spinney is described in the most recent survey by the Northamptonshire Biodiversity
Records Centre as containing traces of ancient woodland (see Appendix 8.8).

4.13 Significance of component parts

The significance of the various elements of the site such as buildings and Spinney
vary in nature and will require consideration of a different nature when looking at the
effect of proposals. At present the Spinney offers little opportunity for alternative uses
other than increased access as suggested above. The buildings however could be
considered for a wide variety of different uses which will have varying degree of
impact. Within the livestock sheds there are mangers built in brick along the back wall
which reduce available floor space but represent an important element of their
original use. Some uses such as exhibition and display of the buildings to represent
their original use would not require the removal of these components but alternative
uses requiring removal in whole or part would require a detailed justification against
the policies of this Plan. Within the farmhouse itself details such as the panelling and
fireplaces should be retained undisturbed wherever possible as alterations could be
justified only with the greatest difficulty.

Fig 8 Pencil sketch of the Farmhouse garden by George Clark dated October 28th 1854
Permission to reproduce from Northamptonshire Records Office (Ref: GCPS Vol. 34, No. 82)

The farmhouse garden is lawned with planted borders, now to some degree
overgrown, and investigation of the original landscaping of the garden area would be
of value. It is known that the wife of John Shaw, tenant farmer between c1852-1871
was a keen gardener and there is a sketch of the garden by George Clark dated 24th
October 1854 in the Northamptonshire Records Office which is assumed to record
the garden as it was then (Figure 8). The sketch, whilst faint, is helpful in that it shows
the chimney to the 19C extension to the north wing dating this to before 1854. The
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remaining land around the buildings includes open space to the north-west of the
buildings with views over the Nene valley which could offer the opportunity to provide
interpretations of how the land may have looked at the time of enclosure of the farm.

5 Vulnerability and related issues

5.1 Existing/ proposed uses

The Northamptonshire ACRE’s existing use of the site is limited to the buildings, the
open land and woodland adjacent being unused. The current use is to provide office
and meeting accommodation with the High and Low Barns being available for hire by
community groups and businesses for a range of activities from wedding receptions
to seminars. The unused buildings provide an opportunity to increase the use of the
site but changes and additional uses may have an affect on areas of significance in
the need to alter the buildings, provide additional parking and alternative access. A
Feasibility Study was carried out in 2004 by Architects Stimpson Walton Bond for
Northamptonshire ACRE looking at possible improvements to existing facilities and
the potential for use of underused spaces. Such new proposals must be designed
and built to meet current legislative requirements for Structural integrity, fire
precautions, ventilation, waste disposal, heating and energy conservation and
access, although in some cases flexibility is allowed in order to maintain the historic
significance of the listed building. All alterations of this nature must be considered
against the policies set out in Section 6 of the Plan.

The Feasibility Study mentioned above looks at the potential for alternative use of
attic floor space in the farmhouse which is currently used for storage; use of the
Cottage at the east end of the High Barn, currently disused; possible provision of a
wheelchair access lift in the High Barn; enclosure of the open fronted hovels to
provide additional useable space and the construction of a Reception space on the
site of the demolished barn. An impact assessment should be carried out to consider
the effect of these proposals.

The unused landscape around the buildings could also offer opportunities for access
extending use of the wider site but such changes will also have a potential impact of
the significance of these landscape elements. The ecology of the Spinney may be
particularly vulnerable to increased access unless strictly controlled.

5.2 New/ alternative uses

Changes in the use of the site and buildings are inevitable as needs of users alter, as
has happened in the past, and the nature of new uses should be considered against
the impact on the significance of the site. In general terms, uses which require a
minimum intervention in the building environment should be acceptable but the
greater the alteration to the listed buildings and site setting required to accommodate
a new use, the greater the impact will be on the site’s significance.

The potential for providing exhibition space for subjects such as the farming history of
the Centre is obvious and such a use should have a minimal impact. Facilities
provided at the time of refurbishment of the High and Low Barns as conference
spaces have already introduced changes to accommodate the flexible use of these
spaces. Further alterations may be required to meet changes in legislation relating to
alternative uses as well as to meet the general health and safety requirements of
public access and working environments. The recommendations in the Audience
Development Plan commissioned to look at the potential for new uses should be
considered against the Policies in the Conservation management Plan.
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Planning permission was granted in 1980 for the construction of four Training
Workshops in a separate building sited on the existing car park area. This was not
constructed and the permission will have lapsed.
5.3 Sensitive features
Extending the range of uses can introduce conflicts in the desire to make facilities
more flexible and there is a danger that features specific to the original use of the
buildings and landscape may be lost to achieve this greater flexibility. Careful
consideration needs to be given to all proposals for change to reduce the potential
impact on the significance of the site.

5.4 Areas of conflict

The requirement to meet current legislation in the operation of the site relating to
public access and workplace safety may introduce conflicts with the conservation of
the historic character of the site. For example, some alterations to access by the
provision of ramps to the Low Barn have already been made and further
consideration may be desirable to improve access to the farmhouse which has
stepped access from most approaches. The need to consider alterations to adapt for
alternative uses of the site may introduce conflicts in considering the effect on the
historic significance against the provision of facilities which will ensure the long term
future of the site.

Considerable expansion of the Northampton built-up area occurred from 1968 after
Northampton was officially designated a “new town” and the Northampton
Development Corporation was set up to work in partnership with the local authority.
Expansion was mainly to the east and south of the town and designed to
accommodate new residents, mainly from the London area. From 1970 the expansion
started with slum clearance, road widening and new road schemes, which resulted in
an influx of new and varied commercial and industrial activity. Danes Camp Way was
constructed off the new southern ring road, Nene Valley Way, around 1980 when the
Hunsbury Hill Farm land was being developed for housing. Proposals to extend
Danes Camp Way are incorporated in the Northamptonshire County Strategic
Development Plan to link with the A45 and divert through traffic from the town centre.
This is likely to lead to increased traffic on the roads adjacent to the site.

5.5 Management issues

The need to meet changing legislative requirements for workplace safety, fire
precautions and access for persons with disabilities may require alterations to be
considered against the policies set out in the Plan. In some cases there may be a
need for investigative work in connection with meeting regulations such as the
preparation of an asbestos survey. As long as such investigations do not require
destructive examination of historic features of the site there should be no problem in
meeting such regulations. Where examination is intrusive however, the work should
be considered against the Plan policies to minimise the impact.

The maintenance requirements of the site, especially the buildings, should be

considered in order to reduce the need for increased amounts of work due to delays
in carrying out routine or essential maintenance. A management policy for the regular
inspection of the building stock should be considered and wherever possible repairs
highlighted by inspections carried out as soon as possible.

In general terms it is to be expected that greater use of the site will allow buildings
and landscape to be better maintained and introduce a need to ensure that
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maintenance is carried out without undue delay. Increased use is therefore to be

encouraged as long as use does not adversely impact on the significance of elements
of the site.

5.6 External factors

Considerable development has been undertaken over the years, most recently with
the residential development of the farm land since farming activity ceased in the
1970’s. This level of development has considerably changed the landscape around
the site. A watch should be kept on proposals for further development around the site
to ensure that appropriate representations can be made if it is considered that the
proposals may affect the significance of the site. This should include review of future
editions of the Regional Spatial Strategy (due to be published in its final form in
2008), the Northamptonshire County Structure Plan (to be superseded by a number
of Strategic Plans by September 2007) and Northampton Borough Council’s Local
Plan (to be superseded by Local Development Framework Plans by 2009) which set
out regional and local planning policies for development. Separate Plans are
prepared for waste and mineral extraction policies. Planning applications for local
development involving development or changes of use of adjacent land should also
be monitored. Changes to the listed status of the site would also impact on its
significance.

5.7 Accessibility
The physical restrictions of the sloping site have an impact on accessibility. From
December 2006 the last section of the Disabled Discrimination Act to be brought into
force requires an Access Equality Scheme to be drawn up looking at access issues to
the whole property. An Access audit has been carried out and is available as a
separate document. The provision of improved access to the buildings may impact on
both the landscape and buildings and care will need to be taken to ensure that the
significance of the site is not adversely affected. Access to the outer site areas
including the woodland, garden and Spinney may also impact on their significance
and should be undertaken only with due consideration for the significance of the
landscape and ecology.

5.8 Health & safety issues

Health and safety regulations must be met to ensure the well-being of staff, visitors
and users of the site facilities. The historic status of the site cannot be used as an
excuse for evading such legislation but does introduce the need to consider
proposals arising from risk assessments and health and safety policies against the
Plan policies to ensure that the impact can be minimised.

The site lies within an area subject to radon gas emissions and an application was
made in 2004 for the installation of an extract fan housing. Radon gas is emitted from
the ground naturally but may collect in voids below buildings and current legislation
requires the provision of protective membranes and/or extract plant to ensure that
gas does not enter into buildings. Provision of suitable protection in the course of
alterations may require more extensive work to be undertaken affecting the
significance of ground floors.

5.9 Public/community expectations

It is only to be expected that the expectations of users and visitors to the Centre will
include not only a wish to see the site presented to best advantage but the provision
of facilities to meet desired levels of comfort. It is reasonable to want to provide
facilities which will encourage increased use and help to protect the long term future
Hunsbury Hill Centre Conservation Management Plan Final Draft
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of the site. However, the need to meet these issues may raise consideration of
changes which impact on the significance of the site and will need to be considered
against the policies in this Plan.

An Audience Development Plan has been prepared based on interpretation of the

results of questionnaires inviting comments from sectors of the public who may be
interested in using facilities at the centre.

5.10 Limitations to understanding the significance

The accommodation of alternative of uses supported by Northamptonshire ACRE,
where this requires alterations to the existing buildings, will limit the capacity to
provide a full interpretation of specific past uses and this will place greater importance
on buildings retained to demonstrate the farming activities. It is not expected that the
display of material showing the farming history of the site will be the dominant activity
on the site, because of the priorities for the Hunsbury Hill Centre to provide
accommodation for Northamptonshire ACRE and facilities to support the
organisation's activities of working with rural communities.

Interpretation of the original agricultural use of the site will be limited by the reduced
area of land remaining attached to the Centre. Of the 13.4 acres the largest
proportion is occupied by the Hunsbury Hill Spinney and only a small area remains as
open space. This would limit the introduction of livestock to present an active farming
display, at least of larger animals, should this be considered. Interpretation material
can be provided to describe the use of the site and links could be established with the
Iron Age hillfort to show the differences in farming methods of the different periods, as
well as Iron Works Museum at Camp Hill to show the connections with industrial
activity in the locality.

5.11 Physical condition

The physical condition of the buildings has been assessed in the Condition Survey of
December 2006. Such condition surveys should be prepared every 5 years to identify
and prioritise repairs which will be required in the following period with estimated
costs for repairs to assist in planning for the necessary resources. A copy of the
report is available for reference if required. Whilst the buildings currently in use are
generally in satisfactory condition, any maintenance repairs recommended should be
carried out without undue delay.

The condition of the remaining land has not been assessed as it has not been used
for agricultural purposes since farming activity. The condition of the Hunsbury Hill
Spinney is outlined briefly in the NBRC survey (see Appendix 8.8) which includes
recommendations for opening the canopy to improve light levels. This should be
undertaken only after a detailed assessment by an Environmental advisor to ensure
that habitats are not affected by the clearance.

5.12 Previous alterations

Previous changes to the building stock as described in section 3.2 have lead to the
loss of one of the main barns and other elements of both the original farm buildings
and later additions. However these can be represented graphically to show the
development of the farm at different periods and the reasons for alterations to the
buildings and land uses can be explained in exhibition material on site. Past changes
represent the changing life of the farm and land and are an important part of the
development of the site. There is a temptation to reverse more recent changes
because they were inappropriate to the original concept of the site, but such
Hunsbury Hill Centre Conservation Management Plan Final Draft
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alterations should be carefully considered to ensure that the record of past changes is
not lost.

5.13 Statutory controls

More recent alterations are subject to the need for approvals under statutory controls
and future alterations which affect the significance of the site will require to be fully
considered under Planning and Listed Building legislation. These will require
applications for consent which should be accompanied by a full justification in an
impact assessment which should help to reduce the vulnerability of the site.
Legislation which provides protection of ecology will also assist in reducing
vulnerability to change.

5.14 Area & boundaries

The adjacent residential development of the original farmland has introduced new
neighbouring users who may come into conflict with the Centre and impact on the
periphery of the site. Shared boundaries may be affected by the desire for privacy or
the wish to open views from adjacent houses, the effects of which may be outside the
control of the Northamptonshire ACRE. Although the roads along the west and north
boundaries appear visually to be adequate for the current level of traffic, there may be
proposals in the future for road widening which may affect the boundaries of the site.
Such proposals should be monitored, considered against the Plan policies and
objections made where the significance of the site may be affected.

5.15 Setting
Proposals for the wider area setting may also impact on the setting of the site and the
Regional, County and Local Authority development proposals should be monitored so
that representations can be made against policies which may be considered to impact
on the site.

5.16 Limitations on resources

As Northamptonshire ACRE is a charity, the resources available for the maintenance
and development of the site are likely to be limited. Where proposals have to be
altered to meet the provisions of legislation and the Plan policies elements of the site
may become vulnerable if necessary work is deferred. The listed status of the
building may enable applications for grant aid to be sought from funding organisations
and the potential for this should be examined.
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6 Conservation policies
(Formally adopted by the Board of Trustees on 21/02/07)

6.1 Identifying appropriate uses

Uses of the Centre will be considered against the effect of the use on the historic
fabric and character of the site. Where a use is not considered appropriate to the
available building stock an alternative facility may be considered in other buildings
which may require refurbishment to accommodate the use, or if none can be
identified, outside the site.

6.2 Management of the Centre

Operational decisions in relation to the management of the Centre should continue to
consider the conservation of the site and these decisions will now be reviewed
against the policies set out in this Plan.

6.3 Maintaining the site

The ACRE trustees should continue to ensure the future conservation of the site
through a regular programme of inspection, maintenance and repair in accordance
with priorities identified in the Condition Survey of the buildings and recommendations
relating to other aspects of the site and the effect of proposals for repair shall be
considered against this Plan.

6.4 Conservation philosophy

Repair and maintenance works on the site buildings will be carried out using
materials and methods of workmanship in accordance with acknowledged methods of
conservative repair. Alterations should be carried out in a way which will allow a
reversion to the previous form without loss of historic fabric or materials. The effect of
work on specific features of the site may require advice to be sought from specialist
consultants.

6.5 Protection of the site

The ACRE will endeavour to maintain the historic integrity of the site and consider all
project proposals against the policies set out in this Plan.

6.6 Potential for development of the site

All project proposals shall be considered against this Plan to assess the effect on the
site and ensure that no adverse effect on the significance or removal of historic
material results.

6.7 Protection of the setting

All external influences which may affect the significance of the site shall be monitored
and representations made as appropriate to resist proposals which could have an
adverse effect on the site or its environment.

6.8 Coordination of elements of the site

The different features of the site will be considered in the context of the whole site
and consideration will be given to the effect of proposals for one element on other
elements of the site.
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6.9 Improvement of access

Proposals for improved access and facilities for persons with disabilities shall be
encouraged but will need to be assessed against the policies of this Plan. The effect
of these measures must be balanced against the safeguarding of the significance of
historic buildings and site while ensuring that the requirements of statutory
regulations are met.

6.10 Interpretation of the site

Wherever public access is offered to the buildings and environs, consideration should
be given to providing information which will allow a full appreciation and
understanding of the site.

6.11 Impact of alterations

The impact of repairs and alterations to the site will be considered by undertaking an
impact assessment for all projects affecting the site.

6.12 Provision of visitor facilities

Proposals which provide improvement of facilities for visitors shall be encouraged but
will need to be assessed against the policies of this Plan.

6.13 Statutory requirements

All proposals shall be processed through the statutory control procedures relating to
listed buildings and protection of ecology. The requirements of new legislation and
regulations should be assessed so that the Centre can be advised of the likely effect
of legislative changes. This Plan cannot override legislative requirements but the
effects should be considered against the policies of this Plan.

6.14 Maintaining the site records

Before any alterations are undertaken the affected area will be recorded and the
information added to the site archive records. Archive material will be made available
to interested parties. Any new material obtained should be reviewed for inclusion in
the site archive.

7 Implementation and review

7.1 Use of the Conservation Management Plan

NACRE's Board of Trustees through its Properties Committee has the responsibility
for the care and maintenance of the site and in this capacity will take on the
responsibility for ensuring that the Conservation Management Plan, once adopted, is
referred to and proposals correctly and effectively assessed against the policies in the
Plan. The Plan should be referred to at the earliest stage of proposals and used as a
general management tool to ensure that full consideration is given to the effects of
changes involved in proposals. A record of the impact of any proposals affecting the
site should be kept and retained on file for review to ensure that the assessment
processes are being effectively carried out.

The Plan should be referred to, not only in relation to proposals for alterations but
also in relation to routine maintenance and annual programmes of work on the Centre
site. The maintenance plan outlined in appendix 8.7 should be reviewed regularly to
ensure that the site is not vulnerable due to lack of or late maintenance and after any
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new condition survey is carried out.

The Plan should be made available to all members of staff, to all those involved in
decision processes within the Northamptonshire ACRE organisation and to external
consultants commissioned for work on the site.

The Plan should be available to any outside organisations who may be involved in
proposals for the site or funding organisations. Local and Regional Planning
Authorities may wish to refer to the plan when drawing up planning guidance on the
site or its surrounding area.

7.2 Review of the Conservation Plan

The Plan should be reviewed and updated every five years or earlier to take account
of changes in legislation, designation, the effect of specific alterations carried out or
new information arising from site investigations or outside research. Revisions should
be circulated for comment to those who have made contributions to the original
document and to any other persons or organisations the Centre considers can
contribute to the full understanding of the site and review of the Plan.

Scheduled date for adoption of the Final Draft: 18th July 2007.
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8 Appendices

8.1 Site map

The site map is based on the Ordnance Survey data and reproduced under licence.
Crown copyright preserved 2006. The Hunsbury Hill Centre is located at grid
reference SP 73204 58893. The site boundary is shown as a dashed line.

Fig 9 Site map

(Based on the Ordnance Survey and reproduced under licence. Crown Copyright 2005)

8.2 Site records

The site archive contains the following information:

1 Photographs (see Appendix 8.5)

2 Copy of a lease dated 24th April 1978 to the Northamptonshire ACRE from
Northampton Development Corporation (incorporating Schedule of Condition
dated September 1976).

3 ‘Hunsbury Hill Farm’, a study of buildings and past use; Nene College,
undated (Richard Moss et al, 1983).

4 ‘Hunsbury Hill, a place of kings’; A local history of Hunsbury; Jessica Wooley;

July 2004.

5 Copies of census records for the years 1851-1901

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6 ‘Hunsbury Hill Centre, Northampton, Historical Report’; prepared by Rod

Conlon for Northamptonshire ACRE, November 2005.

7 Sketch of the garden at Hunsbury Hill Farm, 24th October 1854, by George
Clark, from a sketch book in Northamptonshire Record Office.

8 ‘Hunsbury Hill Farm: A Record, Fabric Survey’, undated, unsigned. (This is a

description of the form and materials of construction rather than a condition
survey and includes plans of the farmhouse with rooms labelled as their use
before conversion to offices.)

8.3 Building record drawings

All drawings are the copyright of the originator or the Northamptonshire ACRE.
Permission to reproduce part or all of any drawings listed must be obtained from the
originator or Northamptonshire ACRE.

The following drawings are available in the site archive:

1. Northampton Development Corporation plan 1976

2. Details of refurbishment/alterations to the High and Low Barns 1980-81

3. Hunsbury Hill Centre, Stimpson Walton Bond Drawing number 2241.101, Plans
as existing Jan 2004

8.4 Historic maps

The following maps showing the Hunsbury Hill Farm are accessible in the
Northamptonshire Record Office (reference numbers shown in brackets) and are
reproduced in ‘Hunsbury Hill Centre, Northampton, Historical Report’ by Rod Conlon
(see Appendix 8.2, item 6).

1 The Hardingstone enclosure map of 1765/6 (NRO Map Inc 46)

2 Ordnance Survey 2inch map 1810.

3 Plan of the farm from a deed of 1872 (NRO B(D) 1408)

8.5 Photographic record

There is a large collection of black and white and colour photographs in the Centre
Archive that form part of the original lease agreement between the Northampton
Development Corporation and the Rural Community Council dated 1976. A selection
of these photographs is reproduced on the HHC website (see
www.hhcrestoration.org.uk) with comparison current photographs. An index is
available of the collection of nearly 600 images.
Hunsbury Hill Centre Conservation Management Plan Final Draft
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8.6 Condition survey of the buildings

The following reports of condition surveys are available in the Centre Archives.

1 Schedule of Condition attached to the lease to Northamptonshire ACRE dated

September 1976.

2 Structural Inspection of the Hunsbury Hill Centre, Northampton; Construction

and Property Services, Northampton Borough Council, 1998.
3 A Fabric Survey containing a detailed description of the house and farm
buildings, including measured plans of both floors of the house and naming all
the rooms, undated and without authorship but with an internal reference
which indicates it is post 1978.

A new survey was carried out as part of the preparation of this Plan and is available
at the Centre.

4 Condition Survey Report, Sarum Architects, December 2006.

8.7 Maintenance plan

A full Maintenance Plan has been adopted by NACRE’s Properties Committee which
includes general recommendations as listed below and a schedule of repairs based
on the recommendations in the latest Condition Survey.

1 Every five years a thorough inspection of the building should be made by a qualified
Architect or Surveyor to report on the condition of the fabric and advise on the need
and priority for repairs. Any reports recommended on specific installations in items
below should be available before the Architect or Surveyor carries out his inspection
so that comments and recommendations made in such reports can be incorporated in
the Condition Survey report.

2 Northamptonshire ACRE staff, including the Site Supervisor, are responsible for
making regular inspections of the buildings to look for damage which requires
attention. This is important because small defects, if left unattended, can lead to
major work being required. It is recommended that these ‘walk round’ inspections
should be done each month and after severe storms, which may cause damage to
roof coverings, chimneys, parapets, etc.

3 Every three months checks on all rainwater pipes, gutters and outlets should be
made to ensure that water is drained freely from the buildings.

4 Every three months any manhole covers and gullies on all accessible sections of
underground drains should be lifted to check that drains are clear and free flowing.

5 Any blockages noted in rainwater goods, gullies or underground drains should be

cleared immediately.

6 External timber joinery, particularly on south facing facades, will require protection on
a regular basis to ensure that exposed timber does not rot. Gloss painted or stained
woodwork should be treated in accordance with the paint or stain manufacturer’s
recommendations and at least every five years. Flaked paint should be removed and
any bare timber should be primed or base sealed before painting.
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7 Cast iron rainwater goods and other external metalwork should be re-painted on a
regular basis and at least every 5-10 years (depending on the paint system used and
exposure). During re-decoration any corrosion should be removed and bare metal
should be thoroughly cleaned and primed before painting.

8 Every five years the condition of the electrical installation should be inspected by an
NICEIC registered Electrician and any faults reported should be rectified as soon as
possible. The inspection should include all electrical heating equipment whether fixed
or moveable.

9 Each year, in the late summer before the systems are switched on, gas boilers and
water heaters should be serviced and gas service valves and pipes checked for safe
operation, by a CORGI registered engineer. The condition of heating systems,
radiators and pipework, should be regularly checked for leaks during the heating
season.

10 Fire precautions systems such as fire extinguishers, emergency lighting and fire
alarms if installed, should be regularly maintained and serviced annually by the
installer or other approved engineer, qualified to provide certificates of satisfactory
operation.

11 The Centre is required to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment under the provisions of
the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) which requires that a
‘Responsible Person’ is appointed to oversee the conduct of fire safety measures.
This can be done by carrying out a Fire Risk Assessment which should be a written
document assessing the risks to building users and physical and management
measures to be taken for safety in the event of a fire. The Assessment should be
regularly reviewed and updated to cover any changes to the built environment or use
of the buildings.

12 The Health and Safety Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 require that a
survey be carried out to record the location of any materials known or believed to
contain asbestos. A survey has been made and materials identified have been
labelled accordingly. No work should be instructed which requires materials to be cut,
drilled or disturbed in any way and materials should be removed only by a licensed
asbestos removal contractor. Certain asbestos materials may now be handled by an
unlicensed contractor but the nature of the material should first be confirmed by
analysis of samples.

8.8 Ecological surveys

1 Bat Report, Hunsbury Hill Centre, Northampton,
Phil Richardson, Bat Consultant, 27 September 20068 (available on the
website www.hhcrestoration.org.uk as a separate report)

2 Bird Report, Hunsbury Hill Centre, Northampton,

Phil Richardson, Bat Consultant, 27 September 20069 (available on the
website at www.hhcrestoration.org.uk as a separate report)

3 County Wildlife Site Survey, Hunsbury Hill Spinney and Hunsbury Hill Spinney
Pond, Site number 179, Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records Centre,
August 2005 – reproduced below.
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4 County Wildlife Site Survey, Hunsbury Hill Spinney and Pond, File Code:
N/18.8.92 The Wildlife Trusts, August 1992.

8.9 Accessibility audit

An Access Plan, including an accessibility audit, has been prepared as part of the
Project Planning Grant work. The Access Plan will be a separate document to this
Conservation Management Plan.

8.10 Fire risk assessment

A fire risk assessment report has been completed by Northamptonshire ACRE and
was approved by the Property Committee on 22/11/2006 (date to be confirmed). The
Fire Risk Assessment document forms part of the Centre’s Health and Safety
documentation.

8.11 Historical development records

The plan of the farmhouse reproduced in section 4.3 identifies the dates of different
elements of the building. A plan of the farm buildings similarly identifying the dates of
construction of the various elements and the location of demolished buildings taken
from historical records could be prepared when a detailed survey of the site has been
carried out.

8.12 Associated uses records

Within the area of the Hunsbury Hill Centre the only known alternative uses of the site
are the use of the buildings as a billet for troops, mentioned in section 3.3, and the
observatory referred to in section 4.5. The use as a billet was advised following a
conversation between Rod Conlon and Richard Moss. This occurred during the
period when the land was being quarried for ironstone. The dates of the observatory
were advised in a telephone conversation between the Editor and Nick Hewitt, a
member of the Northamptonshire Natural History Society Astronomy Section.

8.13 Social historical records

Copies of census records for the years 1851-1901 are available in the Centre archive.

Rod Conlon’s Historical Report on the Hunsbury Hill Centre includes a list of identified
owners and tenants of the farm from 1770 to 1979 when the Northamptonshire ACRE
acquired the property, with source references.

8.14 Statutory approvals

Northampton Borough Council’s Planning Department archive holds details of the
following applications submitted for work at the Hunsbury Hill Centre.

(Part of the NBC archive is being scanned for digital storage and is not currently
accessible – details to be added)
Hunsbury Hill Centre Conservation Management Plan Final Draft
Northampton ACRE Page 38

597/77 Planning Permission: Conversion of farmhouse to offices

LB18/77 Listed Building Consent: Conversion of farmhouse to offices

767/80 COSIRA (Council for Small Businesses in Rural Areas), 4no Training
workshops.

93/LB06 Listed Building Consent: Internal alterations at HHC.

N/2002/49 Northamptonshire ACRE, Radon remedial works

N/2002/1278 Planning Permission: Northamptonshire ACRE, Disabled access ramp

with railings (to Low Barn).

N/2002/1279 Listed Building Consent: Northamptonshire ACRE, Disabled access

ramp with railings (to Low Barn).

N/2004/0302 Listed Building Consent: Hunsbury Hill Centre, Harksome Hill, NN4
9QX; Installation of external fan housing for Radon gas extraction; approved 8 April
2004.

8.15 Archaeological survey

No known archaeological investigations have been carried out on the site of the farm
buildings. The farm, constructed around 1770 is reported to have been built on open
land rather than on the site of previous buildings. The proximity of the Iron Age hillfort
and the industrial site of the ironworks, from which a tramway passed close to the
west side of the farm buildings leading down to the canal, makes it possible that
artefacts may be uncovered in the course of excavations for new works and trial
excavations under an archaeological watching brief may be desirable before new
construction is carried out to identify traces of previous occupation from the period of
agricultural use or earlier.

8.16 Heritage Impact Assessment

Proposals which involve alterations to a historic building should be carefully assessed
to establish the effect on the significance of the site. A Heritage Impact Assessment
looks at the consequences of a specific proposal and at what can be done to reduce
the adverse effects of the scheme. Mitigation may be achieved by a range of actions
from finding an alternative site to recording the existing site in detail before work is
carried out.

The table below gives headings for assessing the impact of proposals

Proposed work Examine specific works envisaged

Relevant Conservation Policy Refer to policies in the Conservation

Management Plan and statutory guidance

Significance of element affected Examine in detail the significance of areas

affected
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Possible impact of work Assess the impact in light of significance

Mitigation Suggest design alternatives or archaeological

mitigation

The impact assessment is an essential on-going part of the Conservation

Management Plan process, to ensure that a scheme for alterations or management
proposal is measured against the Plan policies. It can also help to identify further
information or recording which may be required to assess a scheme.

9 Bibliography
(notes in the text refer to the references numbered below)

1 P Marquis-Kyle & M Walker: The Illustrated Burra Charter, ICOMOS Australia,

1996.

2 The planning (listed buildings and conservation areas) Act 1990, HMSO.

3 J Waller: Hunsbury Hillfort, www.jwaller.co.uk/nas/Hunsbury_Hillfort.

4 History from the Sources series; Domesday Book, Northamptonshire,

Phillimore, 1979.
5 R Conlon: Hunsbury Hill Centre, Northampton, Historical Report, November
2005.

6 Nikolaus Pevsner: The Buildings of England, Northamptonshire, Penguin

Books, 1995.
7 The Development of English Building Construction; C F Innocent; Cambridge
University Press, 1916 (reproduced by Donhead 1999).

8 Bat Report, Hunsbury Hill Centre, Northampton,

Phil Richardson, Bat Consultant, 27 September 2006.

9 Bird Report, Hunsbury Hill Centre, Northampton, Phil Richardson, Bat

Consultant, 27 September 2006.

10 Further Reading

The English Model Farm: Building the Agricultural Ideal, 1700-1914; Susanna Wade;
Martins Windgather Press, 13 May 2002.

Historic Farmsteads, Preliminary Character Statement: East Midlands; English

Heritage & The Countryside Agency; University of Gloucestershire, 2006.

English Heritage: The Conversion of Traditional Farm Buildings: a guide to good

practice.
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11 Glossary

Term Definition
ACRE Action with Communities in Rural England

cambered An arched shape such as at the head of a

window
canted Set at an oblique (more than 90 degrees)
angle
conservative repair Repairs carried out in accordance with
established conservation practice minimising
alteration to historic building fabric
curtilage The land attached to a building as part of its
enclosure
entablature The decorative head to a door or window
which comprises an architrave, frieze and
cornice. The frieze may be plain or decorated
and the cornice projects forward of the frieze.
entasis A slight convex swelling of the shaft of a
column
HHC Hunsbury Hill Centre

Hovel A shed for livestock or storage

model farm A farm constructed in a single phase

specifically designed to make best use of the
farming methods of the time
NACRE Northamptonshire ACRE (see ACRE)

Pantile A clay roofing tile of curved S shaped section

pentice-roofed A roof at a lower level to the main roof of a

building
yeoman A man holding and cultivating a small landed
estate