gosforth conservation area character statement - Newcastle City ...

streetscape itself helps to provide a
unifying element to the overall character
and appearance of the conservation area.
Elmfield Road is characteristic of this,
despite the many different housing types
and periods of development, the overall
streetscene is one of a suburban,
comfortable middle class residential
street.
Open Space
Within the conservation area there are
very few areas of open space which
effectively form a wildlife corridor linking
the Town Moor to the surrounding
countryside. The most significant of these
are found between the High Street and
Moor Road North, comprising the Gosforth
Central Park and the South
Northumberland Cricket Club. The cricket
club, although containing a large area of
open space, is almost entirely devoid of
vegetation other than grass. Furthermore,
it is surrounded by a combination of
buildings and tall brick walls. As a result it
contributes surprisingly little to the overall
landscape character of the conservation
area. Gosforth Central Park appears to
have been laid out from scratch on former
agricultural land or that of a small holding
in the early twentieth century. The park
has a semi-formal character with
reasonably large trees, and substantial
areas of shrub planting. It makes a
Gosforth Central Park
significant contribution to the landscape
character of the area and also to the
overall appearance of the conservation
area.
There are a number of pockets of open
grassed areas throughout, the largest
being at the east end of Elgy Road. This
is of little landscape character but does
appear to be well used as an informal
recreational space. A second “pocket”
can be found behind Roseworth Avenue,
fronting onto the High Street. This is
Open space, High Street
undeveloped land which contains a
number of very substantial trees, notably
beech. The trees are approximately 150-
200 years old and are most certainly relics
from the former Roseworth estate. A third
area is on the southern fringe of the
conservation area, bordering the Little
Moor. Unlike the other two areas this is
planted with shrubs and flower beds but it
is of no particular landscape significance.
Other open spaces can be found in the
northern section, linked to the All Saints
Church and Trinity Church on West
Avenue. The grounds of both are relatively
low key and formal with mature trees and
grassed areas linked to the character and
use of the churches. Opposite All Saints
Church is the Gosforth Tennis and Bowling
Club which is largely screened from the
road by privet hedging and fencing.
32 Gosforth Consevation Area Character Statement