Maidenhead Riverside Conservation Area Appraisal - The Royal ...

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Maidenhead Riverside Conservation Area Appraisal
8
Character Areas
8.1 The Conservation Area lies within the area analysed in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Townscape Assessment (2008), which provides an assessment of the character and composition of the built
environment of the whole of the Borough area that is outside the designated green belt. The analysis includes
a factual description of the townscape of all settlements, defines generic townscape character types that occur
throughout the Borough, and identifies character areas within each settlement that fall within these generic
types. Using this analysis two character types are identified within the Maidenhead Riverside Conservation
Area: Victorian/ Edwardian and Riverside Villa Suburbs, and Leafy Residential Suburbs. Whilst the analysis of
the character types in the Townscape Assessment has been used in reviewing the Conservation Area, and the
guidance of that document can be considered together with this appraisal, for the purposes of this study a
slightly different approach to character has been taken to include detailed consideration of the historic
development and functioning of the area, as well as the nature of the present buildings and landscape.
8.2 Taking this more detailed approach has resulted in the identification of four character areas as opposed
to the two identified in the Townscape Assessment, however, the general descriptions and boundaries are
taken into consideration. The four character areas display different characteristics, albeit with certain common
themes. The first area is in two parts and defined by the residential development south of Brunel’s Bridge and
north of Boulters Lock. This zone encompasses the north and south boundaries of the Conservation Area. The
second character area encompasses the 18th century development near Maidenhead Bridge and the subsequent
19th century building within the former gardens. The third character zone focuses on the central core of the
Conservation Area, the promenade, parks and bridges. Finally, the fourth character area includes Boulters
Lock and Ray Mill Island.