5: victorian villages - The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

A. DESCRIPTION
Location/distribution of type
Large institutional developments are located
throughout the Borough, but are particularly
associated with the larger settlements
(Windsor and Maidenhead), as well as the
racecourse at Ascot.
Physical Influences
The underlying geology and soils are rarely
expressed in townscape character.
However, in some instances, open
greenspace within the grounds of
institutions provides references to the
underlying geology e.g. oaks, beech and ash
on clay, and pines or more ornamental
species such as Cedar of Lebanon on sands.
Topography underlying this type tends to be
flat or gently undulating and therefore does
not greatly influence the urban form.
Developments often originate from the 19 th Century
and earlier, for example at Ascot Racecourse.
[1891-1912 Map Data supplied by Ordnance
Survey and Landmark Information Group.
Reproduced from Ordnance Survey information with
the permission of The Controller of Her Majesty’s
Stationery Office, Crown Copyright, Licence Number
10001926].
Townscape Character
Land Use/Image
Land use is institutional and includes
hospitals, military barracks, emergency
services and racecourses. Buildings are
often large in scale and clearly distinct from
surrounding buildings, in terms of
proportions, materials and aesthetic. The
use of severe, utilitarian or monumental, and
occasionally decorated facades create a
distinct image.
Human Influences
The type bears witness to a relatively long
history of built development, alteration and
redevelopment, with developments within
this type often originating in the 19 th
Century or earlier and being subsequently
adapted, amended, added to or re-built. As
such character is eclectic and varied, with
contrasting built periods and styles
juxtaposed in close proximity.
Buildings are often large in scale and clearly distinct
from their surrounding townscape, as in this example
from Windsor.
Urban Form
Development is usually located alongside
main roads leading into settlement centres.
Principal blocks (equivalent to 3-5 storeys)
are set well back from the street, although
smaller buildings (equivalent to 2 storeys)
may front directly onto the street. Street
frontages are defined by high walls, railings
or hedging.
RBWM Townscape Assessment 90 Final Report 2010: Volume 3