Held at:	Border Archaeology
Reference:	BA2079LGT
Source:	Original Document
Title:	Guest Contribution: Heritage Assessment of Longtown Outdoor Education Centre
Place name:	Longtown
Date:	2022

Description:

Introduction

This report, although produced in September 2022 for a very specific purpose in connection with developments at the Longtown Outdoor Education Centre, contains a considerable amount of more general historical analysis and information about the Borough of Longtown, its Castle and a number of important properties and features in the vicinity. The report is copyright by Border Archaeology and is reproduced here with their kind permission. An Executive Summary and Index of Contents are shown below; the full report is available for download as a PDF file here

Ewyas Lacy Study Group

 

Heritage Assessment of Longtown Outdoor Education Centre

Executive Summary

 

Border Archaeology (BA) has produced a Heritage Assessment with regard to a proposed new multifunction dining facility, with kitchen, office and associated facilities, at Longtown Outdoor Education Centre, Longtown, Herefordshire, HR2 0LD. The results of this assessment, which considers the impact of the proposed development on designated and non-designated heritage assets within a 2km radius of the site, are summarised below:

 

The overall impact of the proposed new multi-use dining facility at Longtown Outdoor Centre in heritage terms has been assessed as Slight to Moderate. The key impacts of the development in heritage terms relate to the setting of the historic linear medieval settlement of Longtown, the historic core of which is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The site is located to the immediate northeast of the Scheduled Monument, within an area which historically appears to have remained as marginal pasture land on the fringes of the core settlement throughout the medieval and post-medieval periods. The results of a field evaluation recently undertaken on the proposal site yielded no evidence of archaeological remains associated with medieval settlement.

In terms of heritage impacts, it is considered that there would be a limited impact on views looking north along the main street and adjoining fields towards the historic core of the settlement, in which the new dining facility would be partially visible overlooking the settlement earthworks to the south of the Outdoor Centre; however these views are already restricted by the existing tree lined hedge along the southern flank of the site and could be reduced even further by appropriate enhancement of this hedge boundary.

There would be a limited impact on long-distance views looking eastwards from elevated vantage points along the Hatterrall Ridge towards Longtown and a more noticeable impact on panoramic views looking westwards from several vantage points on the eastern slopes of the Monnow Valley along the Ewyas Harold road which offer elevated, wide-ranging views of the historic settlement. From these vantage points along the Ewyas Harold road, the proposed new building would be visible to the rear of the Outdoor Centre and intervisible alongside several key heritage assets within the Scheduled Area of the medieval town (including the castle itself, the former church of St Peter and the Outdoor Centre, both of which are Grade II listed).

However, it is considered that the proposed new dining facility, due to its reduced massing, sympathetic traditional design (utilising local materials and taking inspiration from the landscape and traditional buildings in the surrounding locality) and siting to the rear of the Outdoor Centre, would be read from these long-distance views as a subservient outbuilding forming part of the existing complex of buildings associated with the Centre and would not noticeably distort the historic linear form of the settlement. It is suggested that further enhancement of the landscaping along the eastern flank of the site would further reduce potential impacts.

In terms of the National Policy Planning Framework, it is considered that the impact of the proposed development can be assessed as less than substantial harm and would rank towards the Slight to Moderate level of this spectrum of impact.

While it is recognised that there would be an impact on historic views of the medieval settlement of Longtown, particularly with reference to long-distance views as experienced looking W from the Ewyas Harold road, it is considered that this would be offset by the sensitive design, massing and location of the new facility. Moreover, in terms of the planning balance, it may be argued that these impacts should be weighed against the significant public benefits which would accrue from the proposed development, in terms of providing improved, more easily accessible dining and learning facilities for schoolchildren visiting the Outdoor Centre, as well as providing continued and enhanced support for local community groups and after school clubs in the form of an improved flexible space.

Taking all these factors into account, it is considered that the proposed new multi-use dining facility can be supported in heritage terms.

 

 

Contents :

1 Executive Summary	3
2 Introduction	4
3 Historical and Archaeological Assessment	11
3.1 Prehistoric	11
3.2 Romano-British	11
3.3 Medieval	12
3.4 Post-medieval	14
3.5 Historic Environment Record Gazetteers	15
4 Site Assessment	19
5 Heritage Assessment	21
5.1 Methodology	21
5.2 Aims and Objectives	21
5.3 Criteria for Assessment of Potential and Importance of Heritage Assets	21
5.4 Consultation of Records relating to Designated and Non-Designated Heritage Assets	25
6 Description of Heritage Assets & Assessment of Significance	25
6.1 Identification of Designated Heritage Assets	26
6.2 Identification of Non-Designated Heritage Assets	26
6.3 Assessment of Designated Heritage Assets	27
6.3.1 Longtown Castle and Town	27
6.3.2 Outdoor Centre (formerly The Mountain Centre) Grade II	31
6.3.3 Former Parish Church of St Peter’s, Longtown	34
6.3.4 Sun Inn Cottage	35
6.3.5 The Ferns	36
6.3.6 Great Turnant	38
6.3.7 Lower Turnant	39
6.3.8 Rhiw Arw Cairn	41
6.4 Assessment of Non-Designated Heritage Assets	42
6.4.1 Castle Lodge	42
6.4.2 Castle Cottages and School House	43
7 Description of Proposals	44
8 Assessment of Magnitude of Impact	57
8.1 Longtown Castle and Town	57
8.2 The Outdoor Centre (formerly The Mountain Centre) (Grade II)	60
8.3 Former Parish Church of St Peter, Longtown	61
8.4 Sun Inn Cottage	61
8.5 The Ferns	61
8.6 Great Turnant	62
8.7 Lower Turnant	62
8.8 Rhiw Arw Cairn	62
8.9 Castle Lodge (Non-Designated Heritage Asset)	63
8.10 Castle Cottages and School House (Non-Designated Heritage Asset)	63
9 Overall Assessment of Impact and Conclusions	64
9.1 Assessment of Overall Impacts	64
9.1.1 Longtown Castle and Town	64
9.1.2 The Outdoor Centre	64
9.1.3 Former Parish Church of St Peter	65
9.1.4 Sun Inn Cottage	65
9.1.5 The Ferns	65
9.1.6 Great Turnant	66
9.1.7 Lower Turnant	66
9.1.8 Rhiw Arw Cairn	66
9.1.9 Castle Lodge	66
9.1.10 Castle Cottages and School House	67
9.2 Conclusion	67
10 Copyright	69
11 References	69
12 Appendix 1: Historic Maps	71