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

Views/Landmarks
Glimpsed views are available from public
roads to the ‘private’ grounds of the
institutions, e.g. courtyards and forecourts
and car parks, and associated visual clutter
including signage and vehicles.
Key frontage buildings form landmarks e.g.
at Ascot Racecourse.
Experience
These are busy and active urban
environments, although activity is often
sporadic or seasonal e.g. at the racecourse
and the barracks. The variety of built detail
adds to the visual interest of the townscape.
Spatial relationships are rarely of a ‘human’
scale and can be experienced as imposing or
uncomfortable.
development, and the lower grade of
materials used for buildings and open spaces.
In spite of successive high profile
redevelopments and provision of new
facilities the type has often retained areas of
intact Victorian development.
The single character area within this type
(16A: Ascot Racecourse) is judged to be in
particularly good condition/an intact
example of the type.
Forces for Change
This townscape type is often evolving and
has undergone much change and
redevelopment. The stability of character is
therefore variable.
Forces for change which were evident
during the site visit were identified as
follows:
Architectural detailing contributes to visual interest,
as seen here at Ascot.
B. EVALUATION
Redevelopment and re-siting of original
infrastructure (e.g. re-location of stands
at Ascot Racecourse) and associated
implications for spatial character.
Incremental redevelopments and
additions have resulted in a variety of
scales, orientations and use of materials
in some areas.
The use of temporary buildings in
education and health institutions.
Modern ancillary buildings which have
ignored the original scale/architecture.
Condition
The condition of the urban environment
associated with this type is variable
depending on the nature of the institutional
use. Privately owned institutional properties
are often in a good, well maintained
condition, with prestigious, landmark
buildings adding to this quality. Forecourts
and open spaces are simple, neat,
uncluttered and generally well managed. In
contrast public sector institutional
developments have a more neglected air,
due to the more piecemeal character of
Low grade of materials used for open
spaces and paving in public sector
institutional developments.
Guidance/Opportunities
It is recommended that the following
principles are taken into account in the
development design process and in public
realm improvement projects:
Retain remaining 19th Century buildings.
Ancillary buildings and development in
the surrounding area should seek the
integration of historic buildings and use
a complementary palette of materials.
RBWM Townscape Assessment 92 Final Report 2010: Volume 3