St Marks and Canal Conservation Area Appraisal - Ealing Council

St Marks and CanalConservation Area AppraisalDraft for consultation January 2007

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalST. MARK’S AND CANAL CONSERVATION AREACHARACTER APPRAISAL1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................... 31.1. THE DEFINITION AND PURPOSE OF CONSERVATION AREAS.....................................................................31.2. THE PURPOSE AND STATUS OF THIS APPRAISAL ....................................................................................31.3. SUMMARY OF SPECIAL INTEREST .........................................................................................................52. LOCATION AND SETTING................................................................................................... 52.1. LOCATION AND CONTEXT.....................................................................................................................62.2. GENERAL CHARACTER AND PLAN FORM................................................................................................73. HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT AND ARCHAEOLOGY........................................................... 93.1. HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT.....................................................................................................................93.2. ARCHAEOLOGY.................................................................................................................................194. SPATIAL ANALYSIS .......................................................................................................... 204.1. THE CHARACTER AND INTERRELATIONSHIP OF SPACES WITHIN THE AREA .............................................204.2. KEY VIEWS AND VISTAS .....................................................................................................................225. THE CHARACTER OF THE CONSERVATION AREA ...................................................... 255.1. CHARACTER AREAS AND THE QUALITY OF ARCHITECTURE...................................................................255.1.1. Sub Area no 1: Lower Boston Road and Boston Place ........................................................265.1.2. Sub Area no 1 architectural interest ......................................................................................265.1.3. Sub Area no 2: The stretch of the River Brent from Hanwell Bridge to the Canal. ...............285.1.4. Sub Area no 2 architectural interest ......................................................................................285.1.5. Sub Area no 3: The Canal .....................................................................................................305.1.6. Sub Area no 3 architectural interest ......................................................................................305.2. KEY UNLISTED BUILDINGS..................................................................................................................325.3. BUILDING MATERIALS AND LOCAL DETAILS ..........................................................................................345.4. CONTRIBUTION OF OPEN SPACES, TREES AND LANDSCAPE..................................................................365.5. THE EXTENT OF INTRUSION OR DAMAGE (NEGATIVE FACTORS) ............................................................385.6. GENERAL CONDITION ........................................................................................................................395.7. PROBLEMS, PRESSURES AND CAPACITY FOR CHANGE.........................................................................396. SUGGESTED BOUNDARY CHANGES ............................................................................. 407. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT............................................................................................ 428. SUMMARY OF ISSUES ...................................................................................................... 429. PLANNING AND POLICY FRAMEWORK.......................................................................... 4310. GLOSSARY......................................................................................................................... 4611. BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................5012. LIST OF MAPS.................................................................................................................... 5112.1. HISTORIC MAPS................................................................................................................................5112.2. ANALYSIS MAPS ...............................................................................................................................5113. APPENDIX - STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION .............................................................. 5213.1. LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTED .................................................................................................5213.2. ST. MARK’S AND CANAL CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL QUESTIONNAIRE .......................................53Ealing Borough Council 2006 2

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal1. Introduction1.1. The definition and purpose ofconservation areasAccording to Section 69 of the Town and CountryPlanning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act1990, a Conservation Area (CA) is an “area of specialarchitectural or historic interest the character and theappearance of which is desirable to preserve orenhance”. It is the duty of Local Authorities to designatesuch areas and to use their legal powers to safeguardand enhance the special qualities of these areas withinthe framework of controlled and positive management ofchange.1.2. The purpose and status of thisappraisalSt. Mark’s and Canal CA was first designated in 1982and extended to include part of St Bernard’s Hospital sitein 1991.The scope of this appraisal is summarised in thefollowing points:1. Assessment of the special interest of thearchitectural and natural heritage of St. Mark’sand Canal CA highlighting elements of specialmerit, which contribute to the character.2. Assessment of the action needed to protectand enhance the special qualities of the CA.3. Assessment of the need to revise theboundaries of the CAThis document replaces the existing appraisal publishedin 1999. However, it is not intended to be comprehensivein its scope and content. Omission of any specificbuilding, space or feature or aspect of its appearance orcharacter should not be taken to imply that they have nosignificance.The methodology of the CA Character Appraisal for St.Mark’s and Canal follows the guidance provided by thePlanning Policy guidelines 15: Planning and the HistoricEnvironment (1994); the Guidance on Conservation AreaAppraisals by English Heritage (2005); and the Guidanceon Management of Conservation Areas by EnglishHeritage (2005).The analysis has been conducted on the basis of visits tothe area, the involvement of local associations, and withconsultation of primary and secondary sources on thelocal history and architecture.Ealing Borough Council 2006 3

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal1.3. Summary of special interestSt Marks and Canal CA is situated in the formerhistoric County of Middlesex south west of EalingTown Centre. St Marks and Canal CA is in theward of Elthorne in Hanwell district.The land-form is strongly defined by the BrentRiver Valley to the east and by the GrandJunction Canal to the south. The relationship ofthe built fabric with the natural surroundingsprovides the CA with its unspoiled atmosphere.The CA has a slightly varied topography due tothe descending land towards the Brent Valley andtowards the canal. The settlement has late 18 th century origins butmainly developed during Victorian times.Buildings are grouped along Lower Boston Road,Boston Place and Green Lane. Green Lanefunctions as the linkage between St Marks Villageand the Canal.The CA has a rather homogeneous architecturalheritage with buildings mainly from the 19 thCentury and later. St Marks School (1855), StMarks Church (1879), Cottages at Nos 5-11 (early19 th Century), the structures connected with StBernard’s Hospital (1829), Windmill Bridge (1855-61) and the Keepers’ Cottages along the canal(early 19 th century), are amongst the most notablebuildings in the CA.The CA has a mainly residential use with a fewrecreational premises and a school.Three areas of Character are distinguishablewithin the CA.1. The developments along Lower BostonRoad and Boston Place.2. The stretch of the River Brent fromHanwell Bridge to the canal.3. The canal including Hanwell Flight ofLocks from the Top Lock to its junctionwith the River Brent.Mix of construction materials but mainly yellowand brown bricks with details in red brick andstone, a few Code stone keystones, slate or tiledroofs.Timber sash windows, angled bay-windows andmulti-panel doorways constitute an importantelement in the pattern of early facades.Ealing Borough Council 2006 5

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal2. Location and setting2.1. Location and contextSt Mark’s and Canal CA is situated in the former historicCounty of Middlesex south west of Ealing Town Centre.The CA is in the south west part of Hanwell within theElthorne ward in the London Borough of Ealing.The CA is 3,47 km 2 in area and it is delimited by theGrand Union Canal on the south side, the River Brent onthe western side, Uxbridge Road to the northern side andWestminster Road and Green Lane to the eastern side.Viaduct Pub on Uxbridge RoadThe northern section of the CA includes part of LowerBoston Road as far as St Marks School and formerChurch. The central part of the CA includes the smallgreen, called Boston Place, and the propertiesimmediately surrounding it up to Westminster Road to theeast. The southern part of the CA includes a substantialstretch of the Grand Union Canal, from Top Lock on thewestern extremity up to the confluence of the Canal withthe River Brent on the east. Along the northern side ofthe Grand Union Canal, the CA includes parts of StBernard’s Hospital.Elthorne ward, of which St. Mark’s and Canal CA is apart, has a population of 12,328 of which 55% is of nonBritish ethnic group Indian/ Pakistani being the largestethnic group constituting 20,2 % of the population (2001Census).Uxbridge Road looking eastwardUxbridge Road looking westwardEaling Borough Council 2006 6

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal2.2. General character and plan formThe physical character of St. Mark’s and Canal CA ismostly determined by the presence of the Grand UnionCanal to the south side and River Brent to the west. Theeastern side of the CA, west of the River Brent, has still avery open and unspoiled character as fields at the rear ofLower Boston Road and Green Lane are mainly free fromdevelopments (with the only exception of Walker Close)and offer wide views toward the Brent Valley.Lower Boston Road is the main northern approach to theCA. The road has a curvaceous line while descending agentle hill that reaches Boston Place. The small green isthe epicentre of this part of the CA and the bondingelement of the surviving features of the older part of thevillage with the former St Mark’s Church, the Dolphin Puband St Marks School all grouped around it. From BostonPlace the CA runs southward along the side with GreenLane flanked by row of terraces or semidetachedcottages. Here the topography slightly descends a hilltowards the canal.The character of the CA changes quite radically from thenorth to the south.Lower Boston Road and the buildings around BostonPlace and along Green Lane still maintain the characterof a traditional English village. While the open viewsalong the Canal side on the south of the CA and viewsalong the Brent River reinforce the rural and unspoiledatmosphere of the CA. Although, along the westernmostsection of the canal within St Marks CA, industrialdevelopments transform the character of the area fromrural to industrial. Also, along the River Brent, views ofthe imposing structure of Ealing Hospital on the west sidecreate an abrupt visual disturbance of the gentleness ofthe natural environment.The River BrentThe Grand Union CanalLower Boston Road looking southwardBoston PlaceEaling Borough Council 2006 7

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal2.3. Landscape settingThe geological setting of Hanwell is defined by heavyLondon Clay in the northern part and light loam andgravel with traces of brick-hearth, which predominatessouth of Uxbridge Road, around St. Mark’s and CanalCA 1 .Due to the presence of the Brent Valley, the land aroundthe CA is rather hilly allowing wide views of the CA and ofits surroundings.In terms of its surroundings, three regions can beidentified:View of the Brent Meadows fromHanwell BridgeOn the eastern border of the CA is the landoccupied by the buildings related to EalingHospital (north east) and St Bernard’s Hospital(south west).On the north-eastern side the CA is boundedby Hanwell Clock Tower CA.On the south side the CA contains BlackberryCorner, Jubilee Meadow and Long Wood(Public Open Spaces) that blend with OsterleyPark further south.Meadows on the south bank of theGrand Union CanalMeadows on the south bank of theGrand Union Canal1 Baker, T. F. T., Cockburn, J. S., Pugh, R. B. (Editors), History of the Countyof Middlesex: Volume 4, 1971Ealing Borough Council 2006 8

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal3. Historic development andarchaeology3.1. Historic developmentIn the 18 th Century much of this area was still part ofHanwell Heath, with small village settlements clusteredalong and around Uxbridge Road. The character of thearea was mainly rural and the principal activities werefarming and agriculture. (See Hanwell Map in 1800 Andthe Enclosure Map of 1837)Towards the end of the 18th Century and during the 19 thCentury, major changes to this area occurred, thusgradually transforming its rural nature into a moresuburban character.Firstly, the construction of the Grand Junction Canalbetween 1793 and 1814 was a major event thatcontributed to this transition. The Grand Junction Canalwas London's principal link with the rest of the UK's canalsystem. It provided the transport infrastructure to bringgoods from the industrial conurbations of the north andmidlands to the capital. The Act of Parliament toauthorise its construction was passed in 1793 and workstarted in the same year. The construction of The GrandJunction Canal brought labourers into the parish frommany parts of the country, leading to the intensification ofconstruction activity in the area and the building of workercottages as well as larger houses.The building of Middlesex County Asylum on thesouthern section of St Marks CA also contributed to thetransformation of the character of the area. Work on thenew asylum started in 1829 on land to a major part (44acres) purchased from the Earl of Jersey. The architectwas William Alderson.The neo-classical design consisted of a central octagonalpanoramic tower with a basement and two floors. Thewindows have a tall aspect with semicircular bondedgauge brick arches at the top. The east side of thecentral tower was intended for the male and the westernfor the female patients. The newer extensions whichwere added in 1859 are readily identifiable by their flatbonded arches to the tops of the windows 2 . Hanwell waschosen for its position outside of centres of population,but not too far for the occasional visit from London.Brent Bridge in the 19 th CenturyUxbridge Road passing over BrentBridge (now Hanwell Bridge) in the early20 th CenturyBrent Bridge in the early 20 th Century2 Roberts, A; Cracknell, P.; Piddock, S.; Rutherford, S.(1981). Asylum architecture. The asylumsindex. Middlesex University, London, England. Retrieved on 2006-09-26.Ealing Borough Council 2006 9Windmill portrayed by J.W.M Turner in1810

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalHanwell “Lunatic Asylum” became a self sufficient“village” which contained a farm, gardens for freshproduce, a laundry, a brewery and a graveyard. Localartisans, for example, a tailor and a shoemaker worked atthe asylum which was supplied with goods from localworkshops. Many of the Victorian properties inWestminster Road are from this time and they wereprobably initially built in relation to the asylum.Layout of the Hospital, 19 th CenturyAerial view of St Bernard’s Hospital c. 1920Ealing Borough Council 2006 10

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalThe Enclosure Act of 1814 was another event that greatlycontributed to the change of character of the area. TheAct put an end to the old method of strip-farming and theresulting increase in land values encouraged morefarmers to give up their smallholdings on the slope andmove further south.Larger landowners were gaining control over most of theland to grow hay to meet the ever-increasing demandfrom London. Rows of terraces were built along UxbridgeRoad and around it and farmers were forced to seekwork elsewhere.But it was with the coming of the railways in the mid-19 thcentury, first the GWR at Hanwell Station (1839) followedby the Southall to Brentford line (1859), that VictorianHanwell begun to engulf the villages and commons ofthis part of the Middlesex.In the 19 th century the northern part of the CA wasoriginally exploited for gravel extraction. Boston Place, infact, was once a gravel pit. Later in 1903, the Councilbought and laid it out for the use of the children growingup in the newly developed “Olde Hanwell”. The Dolphinpublic house and a few of the dwellings around the smallgreen - Laurel Bank Villas and Frederick Villas - areVictorian but the Factory Yard area towards UxbridgeRoad was earlier and densely populated. A well knownactivity in the Factory Yard was a glove factory run by aJohn Fownes, recorded there since1795. The cottage atNo 11a was a Cart House. While Cottages at no 5-11 inBoston Place are early Victorian.The Parish of Hanwell in 1800Westminster Road on the north-easternmost end of theCA used to be the road chosen by middle-classprofessionals for their homes. Mid-Victorianprofessionals, in fact, found this road a convenient placeto set up residence. Always along Westminster Road, theschool of Non-Conformist Union Church of 1867 is nowSt Mary Assyrian Church.From 1870s onwards the land between Lower BostonRoad and the canal was laid out in a rectangular streetpattern and the development of housing in the southernpart of the CA and along Green Lane for the growingpopulation commenced in earnest.Enclosure Map of 1837Ealing Borough Council 2006 11

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalAll the small terrace houses and semidetached housesalong Green Lane and to the east of it were built between1887 and 1919. The only exception is the propertiesaround the Fox Inn known as Oak Cottages built before1875.The historic development of St. Marks CA is indissolublylinked to the St Marks School.St Marks School was built in 1855 on the corner of GreenLane and Lower Boston Road. Part of the school wassited on glebe land to replace the Charity National Schoolin Halfacre Road. From about 1870 the school wasalways troubled with over-crowding. The building wasthen extended and altered on many occasions from 1870onwards. In 1895 it was enlarged and acquired itsextensive grounds when the adjoining market gardenwas closed down in the 1960s 3 .Opposite to St Mark School was St Marks Church, built in1879 by William White 4 as a daughter church of theParish Church sited on the high ground to the north. Thechurch became independent from the main parish churchin 1919 when the part of St Mellitus parish was assignedto it. Due to lack of attendance and financial support, StMarks was declared redundant in 1980. The church waslater converted into private flats 5 .St Marks School in the 19 th CenturySt Marks Church before conversion intoaccommodationThe Fox public house in the late 19 thCentury during the fox hunt3 Johnson, M.K., The Story of St Marks School, 19554 William White, F.S.A. (1825 - 1900) was an architect, famous for his part in the 19th CenturyGothic revival. A pupil of Sir George Gilbert Scott.5 A series of articles from 1972 to 1987 on The Ealing Gazette record the succession of eventsthat brought St Marks Church to redundancy first and to be finally converted into accommodation.Copies of the relevant issues of The Ealing Gazette are at Ealing Local History Library.The Fox public house in 1908Ealing Borough Council 2006 12

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal1870 OS MapOn the OS Map of 1870 The “Viaduct” public house andBrent Bridge are clearly marked at the junction ofUxbridge Road with Lower Boston Road. A fewstructures are shown either side of Lower Boston Road:on the east side is the “Heath Cottage”, while on the westside a few small cottages are named as “Kent Cottages”.Nos 5-11 Lower Boston Road are already shown on thisOS map. The open space now occupied by the greenwas already named as “Boston Place”. St Marks Schoolappears in its original configuration with an elongatedrectangular plan and an outside gymnasium - it is markedas “National School”. Westminster Road had not yetbeen opened at this time. But further east along LowerBoston Road terraces at Nos 67-73 seem to have beencompleted.Green Lane appears completely clear from constructionsand the area between Green lane and the Brent Riveralso still appears to be fields.Along the canal the structures of Hanwell Asylum areclearly shown with the chapel and the burial ground.Keepers’ Cottages along the canal are shown up toWindmill Bridge and Norwood Top Lock. Around TopLock a few scattered small structures appear alongGlade Lane. The Sanitary Station on the south bank ofthe canal is also shown.The little open space at the meeting point of the BrentRiver with the canal also seems to be still free ofconstructions by the time of the 1870 OS map.1890 OS MapOn the OS Map of 1890 the “Viaduct” pub (here onlymarked as “Inn” and Brent Bridge are clearly marked atthe crossing of Uxbridge Rod and Lower Boston Road.Terraces along the western side of Lower Boston Roadappear complete as well as the Laurel Bank Villas andFrederick Villas on Boston Place. No 17-10 on LowerBoston Road and the Dolphin public house are shown.The Factory Yard north of Boston Place is clearlymarked. By this time Westminster Road had beenopened, St Marks Church had been built and extensionworks to the front and rear of St Marks School areshown.Major changes are recorded along Green Land were theeastern side appears completely filled with cottages. Atthe southern end of Green Lane, at the meeting point ofthe River Brent with the canal, the Fox pub and OaksCottages had been built.No major changes can be recorded along the canal andthe River Brent with the only exception of a few ancillarystructures around the Asylum and the nurseries along theeast bank of the Brent.Ealing Borough Council 2006 13

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal1910 OS MapIn the OS Map 1910 Terraces along Lower Boston Roadappear to have been completed. Boston Place is laid as“Recreational Ground” and it has the shape that it hasnow. Three cottages appear on the site that today isoccupied by Vine cottages. St Marks School showsfurther extensions. The western side of Green Lane alsoappears to have been filled with cottages. The CottageHospital appears on the western side of Green Lane setback from the streetline where today’s Mount Olive Courtstands 6 . By 1910 the areas east of Green Lane appear allfully edified and St. George’s Field is marked as“allotment gardens”.Further plant nurseries had been placed along the Brent.1930 OS MapThree pairs of semidetached houses appear on GladeLane. No other major changes are recorded on the OSmap from 1930 apart from the further intensification ofnurseries along the Brent.6 The Cottage Hospital was closed in 1978 and was replaced with the 24 flatsof Mount Olive Court. A small clinic also in Green Lane, has been replacedwith houses.Ealing Borough Council 2006 14

OS 1870

OS 1890

OS 1910

OS 1930

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal3.2. ArchaeologySt Marks and Canal CA has a very strong archaeologicalsignificance.The UDP acknowledges the archaeological significanceof the area including St Marks and Canal CA amongstthe 23 Areas of Archaeological Interest within the LB ofEaling 7 . Along the River Brent the remains of cineraryurns and a variety of Stone Age flint tools andimplements were found. Between Osterley Park andElthorne Park there is crop mark evidence from early fieldsystems and possible prehistoric barrows.In addition the CA contains important Scheduled AncientMonuments, such as Brunel’s Three Bridges, the brickboundary wall to St Bernard’s Hospital and the HanwellFlight of Locks.7 Ealing UDP 2004, See Policy 4.9 and Map Sheet 9Ealing Borough Council 2006 19

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal4. Spatial analysis4.1. The character and interrelationship ofspaces within the areaThe layout of the village core stayed unchanged over theyears and still consists of the buildings that evolvedaround Boston Place, along Lower Boston Road, aroundSt Marks School and Church and only later it included thehouses along Green Lane. The built core of the CA issurrounded on the east and south by the more naturaland open environment of the canal and of the RiverBrent.Two key points in the village street layout are thecrossing of Green Lane with Boston Place and the smallopen space at the southern end of Green Lane where thecanal and the River Brent meet.Along Lower Boston Road and around Boston Placeproperties are tightly arranged in compact rows ofterraces or semidetached houses with very narrowinterspaces between them. But at the rear they give wayto a much more open environment and they visuallyblend with the open situation of the Brent Valley. AroundBoston Place building size, detailing and roofscapevaries due to the fact that developments occurred atdifferent times and for a range of uses. The threelandmark buildings of St Mark’s Court, St Marks Schooland the Dolphin public house create punctuationelements around the small green producing anarticulated townscape.Buildings in the CA are mainly two storey arranged eitherin continuous rows or in pairs of semidetached housesthat form compact road fronts. Victorian houses alongLower Boston Road and around Boston Place have amore middle-class appearance; while Victorian cottagesalong Green Lane area are workers’ cottages and have amore compact appearance.In this part of the CA façade pattern are mainly definedby sash windows and have only a modest threedimensionalarticulation due to the recurrent use of baywindows on the ground floor.Green Lane is a straight track slightly descendingtowards the canal side. The lane is flanked by a denselydeveloped row of cottages. The slightly variedtopography of the land allows a distant view of the treecovered hill that is part of the open land preserved on thesouth side of the canal. At the southern end of GreenLane, before the canal, is a group of Victorian cottagesthat are loosely arranged around a small open space withthe Fox public house on its eastern side.Boston Place from northwestern cornerLower Boston Road looking eastwardGreen Lane looking southwardSmall bridge over the Brent at itsmeeting point with the canalEaling Borough Council 2006 20

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalA narrow alleyway leads to the canal side at thesouthernmost end of the little square approximately at thepoint where the canal joins the River Brent. The keepercottages along the southern bank of the canal arepunctuations along the waterfront and create visualinterest and diversity in this part of the CA by producing agood balance between nature and manmade structures.St Bernard’s Hospital high boundary wall encloses thecanal area on the northern side of the walk and creates adistinctive contrast between the openness of thesouthern bank of the canal and its northern bank.Walking westward along the canal, a small path openingon the northern side leads to the Fitzherbert Walk thatflanks the River Brent up to Hanwell Bridge northward.Along Lower Boston Road and along the southern end ofGreen Lane it is possible to view the allotments and theriverside along the Brent. Along the portion of the RiverBrent contained in the CA there is less manmade activity.On the eastern side of the river the CA comprises viewsof open spaces and allotments up to the rear ofproperties along Lower Boston Road. On the westernside, the nearby district Hospital with its imposing andharsh massing has a dominant presence on the riverside,that, despite being outside the CA, contributes to create amore suburban and industrial atmosphere.Meeting point of the River Brent withthe Grand Union CanalSouth bank of the canal with one of thekeepers’cottages and a narrow boatThe canal with Bernard’s Hospitaltowpath on the northern sideFootpath leading to the FitzherbertWalkEaling Borough Council 2006 21

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal4.2. Key views and vistasThanks to natural lofty vantage points - within or outsidethe CA - it is possible to obtain rather inclusive views ofwide portions of the CA from various points.Long vistas: There are a number of significant longvistas along the major streets.Approaching the CA from northwest and lookingnorthwards from Lower Boston Road it is possible toattain a striking view of the imposing structure of Brunel’sWharncliffe Viaduct set in the greenery of the BrentMeadows. Lower Boston Road dips slightly as itapproaches the Uxbridge Road and the view is closed inthe foreground by the Viaduct public house – “a jolly tiledEdwardian pub” 8 .Thanks to the descending topography of Green Lanetowards the canal it is possible to gain a pleasant view ofthe compact frontage of the cottages flanking the lanefrom both ends of the street. In addition the view of thecompact stretch of the pitched roofs of the cottages alongGreen Lane – especially on the eastern side – with theirtall chimneystacks creates a very compelling roofscapeview. Again, the lofty topography of the northern end ofGreen Lane allows a view of the green hills on thesouthern side of the canal bank.Long views along the picturesque eastern section of thecanal included in the CA up to the Top Lock representone of the most attractive visual experiences enjoyablewithin the CA. The flight of six locks and keeper cottageson the south side and the compact surface of theboundary wall of St Bernard Hospital create a uniquearrangement of water, hard surfaces and greenery.From the higher level of Hanwell Bridge as well as fromWindmill Bridge, long and distant views of the narrowwater corridor of the canal and of the River Brent providea positive contrast to the urban and heavy traffic contextof Uxbridge Road and Windmill Lane.View of Wharncliffe Viaduct fromLower Boston RoadView of the eastern side of Green LaneView of the Brent from Hanwell Bridge8 Pevsner, N., Cherry, B, The Buildings of England, London 3: North West, 1991View of Boston PlaceEaling Borough Council 2006 22

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalWide views: There are number of wide views thatcontain the small green of Boston Place or open spaceswithin or surrounding the CA. In the northern part of theCA one of the most significant wide views is of the wideexpanse of Boston Place green, obtainable from thecorners of its polygonal shape.Views of the open fields along the banks of the canal andwide views of the allotment fields at the rear of GreenLane Green seen from the River Brent are alsoevocative.View of St Marks SchoolClose views: A number of close views include significantarchitectural landmarks. Compelling views of St MarksSchool and of St Marks Court are obtainable from thevarious points of Boston Place. The two prominentbuildings framed by the small green and by mature trees,stand either side of the northern end of Green Lane andfunction as a gateway element to the southern section ofthe CA.Narrow views: A number of pleasant narrow views areachievable through small gaps between buildings alongGreen Lane that give partial visual access to secludedspaces at the rear. Another pleasant narrow view followsthe narrow footpath that connects the canal side to thesmall and sheltered square that is surrounded by theVictorian cottages and the Fox pub.View of St Marks CourtWide view of fields along the canalNarrow footpath connecting the canal with Oak CottagesEaling Borough Council 2006 23Narrow view of the Factory Yard

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal5. The character of theconservation area5.1. Character Areas and the quality ofarchitectureThis section deals with the value and location ofprominent historical buildings within the boundary of theCA. It includes structures and areas that representimportant architectural and natural landmarks in St.Mark’s and Canal CA and that significantly contribute toits character. This section has been subdivided to reflectthe fact that the character of the CA changes significantlywithin its boundary.The CA breaks down into three sub-areas of character:1. The developments along Lower Boston Road andBoston Place2. The stretch of the River Brent from HanwellBridge to the canal.3. The canal including Hanwell Flight of Locks fromthe Top Lock to its junction with the River Brenteast of St. Bernard’s Hospital.Sub Area 1: LowerBoston Road andBoston PlaceSub Area 3: TheCanalSub Area 2: RiverBrent from HanwellBridge to the CanalListed BuildingsLocally Listed BuildingsEaling Borough Council 2006 25

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal5.1.1. Sub Area no 1: Lower Boston Roadand Boston PlaceBoston Place is a small open space with mature trees. Itis the geographical centre of the old settlementdeveloped during Victorian times around the St Mark’sSchool and the former church. The small green at thecore of St. Marks CA Area contributes strongly to its“traditional English village” atmosphere. Boston Roadfollows an undulating curve and, when approached fromthe south, it still has an unexpected open characterdespite the occasionally heavy traffic. Residentialbuildings are mixed with recreational and educationalpremises in this part of the CA. This mix of uses andbuilding types reflects the traditional elements of ahistoric English village and offers a selection of significantpieces of townscape.5.1.2. Sub Area no 1 architectural interestApproaching the junction with Westminster Road, a widegrass verge on the left faces a small group of wellproportionate mid-Victorian houses at Nos 17-19. Thepair of semidetached houses is set back from the road.Elevations are in yellow stock brick and stucco withpitched roof in states. Both show signs of extensions andalterations. On the lower east side of the Boston Roadadjacent to Boston Place is the late-Victorian Dolphin pubwith elevations in red brick and a steeply pitched slateroof. Its massing, size and details relate very well with thebuilding of St Marks Court on the opposite side of theLower Boston Road.Boston Place itself is surrounded by white painted castiron bollards joined by a continuous single rail. Thebuildings around the green are a mix of Victorian andmodern. Of note are the paired Victorian Villas on theeast side of the green, Laurel Bank Villas and FrederickVillas. An early-Victorian row of small cottages at Nos 5-11 (Locally Listed), punctuate the south east corner ofBoston Place. The yellow stock-brick, single-bay, twostoreycottages with shallow pitch roof, retain many oftheir original features and are one of the earlier example,of domestic architecture in the CA.A curved stock brick wall at No11a in the northwestcorner of the green is an interesting survival and possiblyincorporates an earlier stable and wagon block.Between these Victorian remains lies a moderndevelopment of Vine Cottages built in 1986 thatsympathetically blends with the historic context.Boston Place, viewed from the southVictorian terraces along Lower BostonRoadLower Boston Road Nos 17-19Cast iron bollards surrounding BostonPlaceEaling Borough Council 2006 26

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalOpposite of Boston Place, and on the eastern side ofGreen Lane, is the former Church of St. Marks (LocallyListed).St Marks Church was built in 1879 by William White inred brick with decorated stone detailing in the typical neo-Gothic style of the time.A steeply sloping roof of brown tiles covers the buildingand a wood bell-cote is placed in the south-easterncorner. The plan-form of the interior originally includednorth and south aisles and chancel. The church boasteda wood lectern carved at Oberammerg and a more recentstone altar register from 1883 9 . In 1980 the Church wasdeclared redundant and was sensitively converted intoflats, St Marks Court, in 1989 to form “a building ofinterest in its own right” 10 . The new attic dormers fit wellinto the steep tiled roof and the square-headed lowerwindows with moulded stone lintels sympatheticallycomplement the Dec tracery above.Next to the former church, on the corner of Green Lane,is St Mark’s School (Locally Listed).The earlier lower sections are in red brick with stonedetails all arranged in a simple neo-Gothic style. Lateradditions are in red and yellow bricks matching the scaleto the neighbouring church.Lower Boston Road Nos 5-11Lower Boston Road No 11aLaurel Bank VillasSt Marks CourtSt Marks School9 Ealing Museum, Art and History Society, Art, Architecture and History of Ealing Churches.Ealing Borough Council 2006 27

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal5.1.3. Sub Area no 2: The stretch of theRiver Brent from Hanwell Bridge tothe Canal.The main interest of the second sub-area is the tranquiland unspoiled character of the short stretch of the RiverBrent, despite in parts being visually disturbed by moderndevelopments. The way the river curves adds to theheightened sense of interest, complexity and scale. Butas it moves beyond the Wharncliffe Viaduct and HanwellBridge, the new hospital is a prominent feature thatdominates the valley and eliminates the axial dynamismof the river curving around this part of Hanwell.Fitzherbert Walk running along the western bank of theRiver Brent is the link between this part of the CA withthe Flight of Locks on the southern side, thus offering theopportunity to enjoy two of the most pleasantlyconstructed and natural environments of the Brent RiverPark and St. Marks and Canal CA. Along the Fitzherbertfootpath it is possible to gain visual access to Billet Hartallotments that occupy a good portion of the eastern bankof the Brent. Further south, the walk leads to theattractive Fox public house neighbourhood.5.1.4. Sub Area no 2 architectural interestThe Fox public house (Locally Listed) originally built in1820 has strong connotations for Hanwell’s inhabitants.The pub – initially called The Fox and Goose – was stillused as the meeting place for the local fox hunt at theturn of the 20 th century.As it appears now the attractive yellow brick building withdetailing in red brick creates visual interest and diversityin this section of the CA where 14 early cottages arenicely arranged around it. The two-storey cottages inyellow bricks were originally known as Oak Cottages andwere built sometime prior to 1875 which makes themprobably amongst the earliest in the area. Some of thecottages have been rendered and so create a pleasantcontrast with the yellow brick surfaces of the remainingunrendered ones. The cottages bear clear signs ofalterations and joinery replacements but in general thosechanges have been executed in a sensitive mannerreflecting the traditional context.The River BrentHanwell Bridge from Fitzherbert WalkAllotments at the rear of Green Laneseen from the Fitzherbert Walk10 Pevsner, N. op.cit. 1991Ealing Borough Council 2006 28

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalThe Fox public houseOak Cottages (west side)Oak Cottages (south east of the Fox)Oak Cottages (south west side)Oak Cottages (south west side)Oak Cottages (south west side)Ealing Borough Council 2006 29

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal5.1.5. Sub Area no 3: The CanalThe canal runs in a gentle loop from west to east. Themain feature of the eastern stretch of the canal up toWindmill Bridge is the flight of six locks which raise thecanal by over 53 feet. Surpassed the Windmill Bridge, inthe western stretch of the canal included in St Marks CA,the wonderful balance between water, greenery, hardsurfaces and change of ground level gives way to a moreurban/industrial and blunt character.5.1.6. Sub Area no 3 architectural interestAccessing the canal from the southern end of GreenLane and heading westward, immediately on the righthand side is the Lock Keeper’s Cottage at Lock 97(Listed, Grade II) of the Grand Union Canal. This keepercottage, like the remaining five cottages, is now privatelyowned.The cottage at lock 97 is a two-bay, two-storey unit fromthe early 19 th C. The façade pattern is nicely defined bymulti-paned, double-hung, timber sashes and by a timberdoor with a simple hood. The building is covered by apitched slate roof fully hipped to the right up to thechimney stack on the left, indicating that this is half of amatching pair of houses of which one half has beeneither demolished or never built 11 .Further west on the south bank of the canal, is theKeeper’s Cottage at Lock 95 (Listed, Grade II). This isa two-bay, two-storey, early 19 th C house in stock bricks.The main elevation has a symmetrical configuration withmulti-paned sashes on either side of the central doorway.The original symmetry has been disrupted by the lateraddition of a small opening on the upper level. Thecottage is covered by a flat pitched hipped slate roof withend stacks. The setting of the well proportioned house ina wide plot of grass framed by good size mature treestogether with the narrow boats that line-up along thisportion of the bank provide this stretch of the canal with aunique rural and unspoiled atmosphere.At this point of the canal, the CA incorporates thesouthernmost part of St. Bernard’s Hospital site,including the hospital Brewery House and the quartermile long hospital wall which forms the northern boundaryof the canal (Scheduled Ancient Monument). Thetowing path wall was built in 1831 to secure residents ofthe Middlesex County Asylum. It is made of plum andyellow stock bricks in English and Flemish bonds.Eastern stretch of the canalKeeper’s Cottage at lock 97Keeper’s Cottage at lock 9511 www. imagesofengland.orgSt Bernard’s Hospital wall and breweryEaling Borough Council 2006 30

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalThe highest part has triangular projecting piers andarched blind windows that create a distinctive patternwithin the solid surface of the wall. The beautiful wallalong the side of Hanwell Flight prevents the newdevelopment of the hospital nearby from compromisingthe unity and balance of the CA in this section.Another interesting early 19 th Keeper’s Cottage (Listed,Grade II) is located on the south bank at Lock 93. Theone storey building in stock bricks with later multi-paneddouble-hung sashes has a central brick porch with roundarches on three elevations. The cottage is covered by aflat pitched hipped slate roof with a central stack.The last Cottage on the south bank before WindmillBridge is at Lock 92 (Listed, Grade II). The early 19 thcentury two-storey, stock brick cottage has anasymmetric main elevation. On the upper level windowsare casements with glazing bars. On the ground floorthere is one angled bay-window with a hipped roof onone side, and two round headed windows on the otherside. The simple timber doorway is positioned in thecentre.Further west on the canal is the extraordinary WindmillBridge (Scheduled Ancient Monument), locally knownas “Three Bridges”. Designed by Isambard KingdomBrunel and built between 1855 and 1861, it is a uniquestructure at the meeting point of road, railway and canal.A cast iron trough carries the canal over the railway anda cast iron bridge carries the road over both.At the westernmost end of the CA, at Lock 90, isprobably one of the best preserved Keeper’s Cottagesof the canal (Listed, Grade II). Other structures ofinterest in the curtilage of the cottage are the walls,gates, sluices and brick bridge. The cottage dates backto 1855 and has the usual treatment and fittings. Thebridge dates to the early 19 th century and wasconstructed in local brown bricks that now have beenpainted in white. The segmental arch parapet walls are inunaltered condition.Triangular projecting piers and archedblind windows of St Bernard’s Hospitalbaundary wallKeeper’s Cottage at lock 93Windmill BridgeKeeper’s Cottage at lock 90Keeper’s Cottage at lock 92Ealing Borough Council 2006 31

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal5.2. Key unlisted buildingsA number of unlisted buildings in St. Mark’s and CanalCA contribute positively to the character of the areadespite not meeting the criteria for statutory or possiblylocal listing. They reflect the age, style and material of asubstantial number of buildings in the CA and are areminder of the gradual development of the settlement.The following buildings already mentioned in the previoussections are considered a positive contribution to thecharacter of the CA.The Dolphin public houseSub Area 1: The Dolphin public House Nos 17-19 Lower Boston Road Frederick Villas Laurel Bank VillasSub Area 3: Oak Cottages around the Fox PubAlso the early lampposts remaining in Green Lane (2)and Boston Place (3) are worthy of special protection.Early lamppost in Boston PlaceOak CottagesEaling Borough Council 2006 32

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalTownscape Analysis for Sub Area No 1Locally Listed BuildingsPositive ContributionNeutral ContributionNegative ContributionEaling Borough Council 2006 33

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal5.3. Building materials and local detailsA large number of the early buildings in the CA show theuse of yellow stock bricks and local brown bricks laid inFlemish bond or English bond. The use of stuccomouldings is common in mid-Victorian terraces, whilerenders or paint on brick walls is only evident on rareexamples and seem to have been applied always at alater stage. The use of reddish bricks is found only in thedetailing of prominent structures like St Marks School, StMarks Court, the Fox and the Dolphin public houses. Theuse of stone detailing is found in St Marks Church andSchool. Also Coade stone keystone detailing is commonin mid-Victorian houses.Timber sash with Coadestone keystoneAn important early feature that has survived includes theportions of early boundary walls built with local brownbricks or stock bricks laid in Flemish bond or Englishbond with a variety of copings. Particularly interesting arethe early wall at no 11a of Lower Boston Road, the bricksegmented arched wall of the Top Lock Bridge and, ofcourse, the boundary wall of St Bernard’s Hospital.These walls also display different kinds of pointing suchas raised or flush mortar joints.Only a few late Victorian/Edwardian interventions bearmock Tudor embellishments.On mid-Victorian houses around Boston Place and onthe Keeper’s Cottages along the canal, roofing isgenerally hipped with low pitches covered with Welshslates. Pitched slate or flat tiles roofs are common in late-Victorian workers’ cottages along Green Lane, alongLower Boston Road and in the cottages around the Foxpub. Early tall chimneystacks still survive. They are inbricks with clay pots. Only the chimney stacks on theVictorian terraces along Lower Boston Road have beenrendered.The terraces along Lower Boston Road, opposite to theHeath development, have a basement level accessiblevia exterior staircases. The presence of this feature isdue to descending street level towards Boston Pace.Red brick and stonedetailing on yellow brickelevationMock Tudor detailing on the gable ofthe Fox public houseWith regard to windows, double-hung, multi-paned timbersash windows are the predominant type in Victorianbuildings in the CA. In later Victorian/Edwardian buildingstwo-pane sash windows are common. Casementwindows are to be found mainly in later replacements.Large pointed gothic windows are to be found in St MarksChurch and School.Slate and flat tiles roofsEaling Borough Council 2006 34

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalMany of the Victorian and late-Victorian cottages haveside, angled bay windows.Later windows have not always been executed inharmony with the context. Some are in metal ordetrimental uPVC and are of disparate shape andcolours.There are still a few remaining examples of earlydoorways, in the form of simple painted timber doors.Very interesting white painted cast iron gas lamppostsremain in Boston Place and in Green Lane on the site ofthe entrance to the former cottage hospital.Angled bay-windowEarly timber doorwaysEarly lamppostLate Victorian pavingYellow brick chimneystack withlater clay potsEaling Borough Council 2006 35

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal5.4. Contribution of open spaces, treesand landscapeA fundamental contribution to the character of St. Mark’sand Canal CA is made by its natural setting, in particularby the Grand Union Canal on the south side and by theopenness of the surrounding landscape on the westernside of the Brent River Valley.Within the CA boundary a prime feature of the characteris provided by the small green designated Public OpenSpace 12 . The small green constitutes the bondingelements for architectural features around it. Trees andgreen fences around properties also constitute animportant part of the rustic character of St. Mark’s andCanal CA. They provide a natural progression betweenspaces, and they enhance the streetscape as they helpto frame views into and out of the area and betweenbuildings.Equally, the CA benefits from its broad setting thatincludes a substantial portion of Brent River Park and theGrand Union Canal.Both the River Brent and the canal are Green Corridors 13 .The Brent and the canal are also defined as a GreenChain and as a Nature Conservation Site of MetropolitanImportance by the London Ecology Unit due to the veryprolific wildlife and flora 14 .The Brent River Valley has been transformed since theRiver Brent Park was instigated by Ealing in 1972. TheBrent River Park is a large green space which isdissected by the River Brent. This natural landscape hasrecently been improved through the River Brent Projectand further plans are proposed for future improvements 15 .The Brent River Park is a special area of MetropolitanOpen Land and Public Open Space, in the very heart ofthe borough. It acts not only as amenity land but also asa flood plain assisting in flood control. 16Small green in Boston PlaceThe canal from Norwood LockFields along the canal12 Ealing UDP 2004, See Policy 3.4 and Map Sheets 2, 3 and 413 Ealing UDP 2004, See Policy 3.2 and Map Sheets 1, 2 and 1514 LBE, The Brent River Park – Report of Landscape Proposal, 1977; Brent River and CanalSociety Newsletter, November 200615 http://www.brent.gov.uk/RiverBrent16 Ealing UDP 2004, See Policy 3.1 and Map Sheets 1, 2 and 15Brent River ParkEaling Borough Council 2006 36

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalEqually Hanwell Flight, on the Southall / Hanwell bordersis a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).This includes the side-ponds of the keepers cottages, thevegetation at the Windmill Bridge, the grassland atTrumpers Field, the embankments and wooded fringe atSt. Bernard's Hospital, and Fitzherbert Walk along theRiver Brent to Hanwell Bridge. Trees in this area arepartially covered by a Tree Protection Order (TPO).Fitzherbert Walk (part of the Capital Ring footpathSystem) is a pleasant riverside walk through woodlandthat follows the River Brent, connecting Brent Meadowwith the Grand Union Canal towpath at the HanwellFlight. The Fitzherbert Walk and the canal towpathprovide an informal recreational space ideal for walking,picnicking and cycling.Bell Hart allotmentsFitzherbert WalkEaling Borough Council 2006 37

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal5.5. The extent of intrusion or damage(negative factors)There are a few intrusions into the CA: The new Ealing District Hospital andaccommodation blocks, exacerbated bymonolithic massing and the topping and croppingof trees on the hospital site create a verydisruptive element at a very narrow point of theriver.The dismissed plots and industrial premises alongthe canal west of Windmill Bridge contribute to theabrupt change in the character of the CA fromrural to industrial. The canal itself gave rise to theindustrial development of this area, and the visualquality which any such location has can only be akind of attraction if it was not for small scaleclutter and detritus. The state of abandon andneglect of sections of the canal make the massesand colours of the sheds and the profile ofchimneys and boats become an unattractivemess.The loss of front garden trees and fences together withloss of garden walls constitutes a threat to the area’scharacter. Boundary walls between properties were animportant element of the character of the 19th Century.However, large portions of original boundary walls andfences have been demolished (see Lower Boston Roadclose to the junction with Uxbridge Road) and replacedinappropriately. This has resulted in a significant loss indefinition of the streetscape and a loss of the originalspatial hierarchy between public and private spaceswithin the CA.Later boundary walls have been executed with materials,design or technologies, which are inappropriate to theircontext. The thinning of trees and hedges along GreenLane, in front of the Victorian properties along LowerBoston Road and Westminster Road, but especiallyalong the western-most stretch of the canal betweenThree Bridges and the Top Lock is one of the threats tothe character of the CA.The CA is under a number of other threats that include: Extensions that are disrupting the traditionalspatial relationship between buildings Bulky dormers windows that disrupt the roofscape Continuous porches Loss of the traditional fenestration patternstogether with later doorways where material,design and decoration patterns are not in keepingwith the character of the CANew security unit of Ealing Hospitalseen from Fitzherbert WalkMonolithic massing of Ealing HospitalDismissed plots and structures alongthe western section of the canalHardstanding in front of terraces alongLower Boston RoadEaling Borough Council 2006 38

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal5.6. General conditionThe overall condition of most of the fabric in the CA issound, although the state of neglect of some public openspaces and footpaths cluttered with fly tipping is aconcern for the CA. For example, the footpath that leadsto the Fitzherbert Walk from Hanwell Bridge, the smallgreen in Boston Place, or the slope to the rail tracks atThree Bridges are very often spoiled with disposals andrubbish; this detracts from their amenity significance.5.7. Problems, pressures and capacity forchangeThere is little capacity for major change within the CA. Inthe course of the years all plots have been developed ina reasonably sensitive manner. Further intensificationcould detract from the rather openness of the CA.Later boundary wall built withunsympathetic materialsRoof extension that disrupts theroofline of the street and the pleasantproportions of this Victorian houseLater fenestration and porchFly-tipping at WindmillBridge Graffity at Windmill Bridge Fly-tipping along the BrentEaling Borough Council 2006 39

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal6. Suggested boundary changesThe appraisal of St. Marks and Canal CA and of itsimmediate surrounds has shown the need for theextension of the CA boundary. This action would applyfurther control to the preservation and enhancement ofareas that are an integral part of the historical and naturalsetting of the present CA. In particular Green Lane andthe properties situated along it are an integral part of thehistory and character of the current CA. Cottages alongGreen Lane and located behind it along St Margaret’sRoad are part of the earliest domestic developments inthis area and are a document of the building activity thattook place to accommodate workers coming fromelsewhere to work in Hanwell. Properties on the easternside of Green Lane were built in between 1870-90, andthey are not only are well preserved remains of theearlier grain of this area but are also visually blended withthe adjacent parts of CA.The boundaries of the CA are proposed to be extendedto the following areas:The properties either side of Green Lane up toproperties west of St. Marks Road including St.George Fields playground.Ealing Borough Council 2006 40

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal7. Community involvementIn accordance with English Heritage guidance, theCouncil has involved key stakeholders during theappraisal process, a list of which is appended. This initialconsultation process has been undertaken in a number ofon site meetings with representatives of local amenitygroups and in the form of a questionnaire sent to keystakeholders based in and around the CA. Thequestionnaire called for careful consideration and insome instances detailed responses. Due regard to thequestionnaire responses has been paid in this text. Asummary of the responses is included in the Appendix.There will be a further opportunity for dialogue throughthe next steps leading towards the adoption.8. Summary of issues Visual intrusion from developments in thesurroundings of the CA, e.g. Ealing Hospital’sstructures The state of neglect of some open/public spacesin the CA Loss of front yard trees and fences Loss of front yard walls to create parking for cars The poor condition of some of the buildings in theCA The general inappropriate design of recentdevelopments:1. New boundary walls with inappropriatematerial and design with the addition ofout of character decorative railings2. Changes to the fenestration3. Continuous porches4. Bulky dormers that disrupt the roofscapeEaling Borough Council 2006 42

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal9. Planning and Policy frameworkA summary of the principal legislation and policyguidance applicable to St. Mark’s and Canal CA is set outbelow:The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas)Act 1990 sets out the process of assessment, definition,or revision of boundaries and formulation of proposals forCAs as well as the identification and protection of ListedBuildings. Authorities are required to pay specialattention to the desirability of preserving or enhancing thecharacter or appearance of the CA, or in case of ListedBuildings, to have special regard for their preservation inthe exercise of their powers under the Planning Acts.Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) Note 15, for local andother public authorities, property owners, developers,amenity bodies and public, sets out Government policesfor the identification and protection of historic buildings,CAs, and other elements of the historic environment.Ealing Council’s Unitary Development Plan (UDP) orLocal Development Framework (LDF) includes itsstatutory policies for implementing the Acts and apply thePPG. This Appraisal should be taken into account whenconsidering planning or listed building applications withinthe Conservation Area.The prime objective of the relevant legislation andguidance is the preservation and/or enhancement ofcharacter or appearance of CAs. Any proposeddevelopments which conflict with that objective should benormally expected to be refused. PPG 15 and local policyalso support a presumption in favour of preservation ofany buildings or objects which are considered to make apositive contribution to the character of a CA. At thesame time, it is recognised the need to accommodatechanges which respect or reinforce the character of thearea in order to maintain its vitality.Many local planning policies – not only those for designand conservation – can affect the developments in a CA.For instance polices on sustainable development,meeting housing needs, affordable housing, landscape,biodiversity, energy efficiency, transport, people withdisabilities, employment and town centres can allinfluence development and the quality of the environmentin CA. However, policies concerned with design qualityand character generally take greater importance in CAs.The adopted UDP’s section on Urban Design includespolicies dealing with:Ealing Borough Council 2006 43

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal Design of Development (4.1) Mixed Use (4.2) Landscaping, Tree Protection and Planting (4.5) Statutory Listed Buildings (4.7) Conservation Areas (4.8) Ancient Monuments and Archaeological InterestAreas (4.9) Commercial Frontage and Advertising Signs(4.10)Throughout the Urban Design section, references aremade after each policy to further relevant documents andpolicies, including: SPG 5: How to Prepare an Urban DesignStatement SGP 12: Greening Your Home Ealing LA21: Keeping Your Front Garden Alive PPG 15: Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas PPG16: Archaeology and PlanningPPG 19: Outdoor Advertisement Control“By Design - Urban Design in the PlanningSystem: towards a better Practice”(CABE &DETR, 2000)“By Design – Better Places to Live: A CompanionGuide to PPG 3” (CABE, 2001) The London Plan, Policy 4B.5, 4B10, 4B11, 4B12,4B14Policy 4.8 for CA states:The Council will preserve or enhance the characterand appearance of CAs and their setting.New developments, built or otherwise within oradjacent to the CA, will be permitted provided thatthey are well related to the existing character of thearea in terms of its historic and architectural qualityand green setting. The Council requires that anydevelopment proposal adhere to the Council’sspecific CA guidelines.The council will refuse planning permission and CAconsent for development of existing buildings, unlessthe proposed replacement development will preserveor enhance the character of the CA. Whereappropriate, the Council will also make Article 4Directions that restrict development rights granted bythe General Permitted Development Order.It is the Council’s intention to create new andextended CAs in the Borough, in areas which meritthis status, having regard to the individual quality ofthe area as a whole.Ealing Borough Council 2006 44

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalThe criteria for further designation or extension ofCAs are sets out as: The area concerned must be the setting forone or more of the following:1. Listed Buildings, or a group of buildings ofgood design from any period especially whenthey create an attractive townscape.2. Urban open spaces or historic village greens.3. Features of historic or archaeological interestincluding industrial or transport heritage.4. Landscape features including, water, trees,and gardens of value for their plant, wildlife ortheir amenity of the surrounding area.5. An historic street pattern. The area should have some cohesionof character worthy of preservation. The benefit of preserving thatcharacter must be considered to begreater than the loss of certainpermitted development rights havingregard to the financial and resourceimplications of such action.Detailed advice on policies contained in the UDP, onrestrictions on Listed Buildings, residential andcommercial properties in Conservation Areas, and forguidance on the procedure to apply for permission,can be obtained from the London Borough of Ealing,Planning and Surveying Services, Perceval House,14-16 Uxbridge Road, London, W5 2HL, Tel 0208825 6600, email: planning@ealing.gov.uk, or,alternatively, from the Council’s website atwww.ealing.gov.uk.Ealing Borough Council 2006 45

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal10. GlossaryAshlar hewn blocks of masonry neatened and laid inhorizontal coursesArch the spanning of an opening by means other than alintel. Most commonly arches are curved and made up ofwedge shaped blocks. Numerous variations exist e.g.Blind, Triumphant, VernacularBand an unmoulded, projecting string course, oftendelineating a floor/storeyBargeboards projecting boards set against the incline ofthe gable of a buildingBay the vertical division of the exterior, (or interior) of abuilding marked by a window opening. They may beRound, (or Canted) orSquareBond style of laying Headers, (bricks laid with the longside at right angles to the face of a wall), and Stretchers,(bricks laid with the long side along the face of the wall),within masonry courses. Flemish Bond is wherealternate Headers and Stretchers are used in the face ofthe wall. English Bond is where alternate courses ofbricks in the facing wall are either Headers or StretchersButtress a mass of masonry or brickwork projecting fromor built against a wall to give additional strengthCapitals the top or head of a column, pier or pilaster,which relate to Classical architectureCasement window a window hinged vertically to openlike a doorCladding an external covering applied to a structure forprotective/aesthetic purposesCoade Stone an artificial cast stone used from thesecond half of the 18 th Century for decorative keystonesColumn an upright, often supporting, structure either,round, square or rectangular in formCoping a capping or covering found on top of a wall.They can be flat or sloping to discharge waterCornice a projecting, decorative moulding found alongthe top of a building refers to a cornice made up of aseries of small square blocks Dentil CorniceEaling Borough Council 2006 46

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalCorbel a projecting block, usually stone, supporting ahorizontal beamCourse a continuous layer of stones or bricks found in awall. Referred to as String, (horizontal) or Soldier(vertical)Cupola a dome that crowns a roof or turretCurtilage the available space attached to a propertywhich forms a singular enclosureDoor hood a projected moulding above an exterior doordesigned to through off the rainDormer window a projecting window placed vertically ina sloping roof with a roof of its ownDressings a decorative feature made of stones, mostcommonly set around windowsEaves the underpart of a sloping roof overhanging a wall,(Oversailing), or flush with itElevation the external wall or face of a buildingFaçade commonly the front face of a buildingFanlights a window, often semi-circular with radiatingglazing panels, found over a door in Georgian buildingsFenestration the arrangement of windows in a buildingFinial a formal ornament, (usually in Fleur-de-Lis) at thetop of a gable, pinnacle or canopyFootprint the total area over which a building is situatedGable the triangular upper part of a wall found at the endof a ridged roofGrain refers to the arrangement and size of buildings inthe urban contextHardstanding an area of hard material used for parkingcars within the cartilage, (often front garden space) of ahouseHipped roof a shallowish pitch with sloping at the verticalendsKeystone central wedge-shaped stone at the crown ofan archMortar mixture of cement, (or lime), sand and water laidbetween bricks as an adhesiveEaling Borough Council 2006 47

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalLintel a horizontal supporting element of timber, metal orstone found across the top of a door or windowMansard roof has a double slope where the lower part issteeper than the upper partMoulding a continuous projection or groove useddecoratively to throw shadow or rain water off a wallMullion a vertical element (glazing bar) that divides awindow into two or more lightsPantile a roofing tile with a curved S shape designed tointerlockParapet a low wall used as a safety device where a dropor edge existsPediment a low pitched Gable above a PorticoPier a solid vertical masonry support (or mass) found inbuildings and wallsPilaster a shallow pier projecting slightly from a wallPinnacle a small pyramidal or conical shaped crowingelementPitched roof the most common type. Gables exist ateach end of the pitchPlinth the projecting base of a wall or columnPointing the exposed mortar finish to brick or masonryjointsPolychromatic multi-coloured brickworkPortico a roofspace open or partly enclosedQuatrefoil a set of decorative openings, often leafshaped cut into an archQuoins dressed bricks found at the corners of buildings,usually laid so that the brick faces are alternately largeand smallRagstone rubble masonry, rough building stones orflints, generally laid in irregular coursesRecess space set back in a wall, often the setting for anentrance porchRender plaster or stucco applied to a wallEaling Borough Council 2006 48

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalRooflight a window set flush into the slope of a roofRusticated masonry cut in huge blocks, often in itsoriginal hewn state, that is normally found on the lowerhalf of buildingsSash window a window that is double hung with woodenframes (sashes) that slide up and down with pulleysSepulchre a recess with Tombchest designed to receivean effigy of ChristSett paving slabsSills the horizontal element found at the base of awindow or door frameStucco a form of plaster used internally or externally todecorate or protectTransom a horizontal bar of stone or wood across awindowEaling Borough Council 2006 49

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal11. BibliographyEnglish Heritage, Guidance on Conservation AreaManagement Plans, 2005English Heritage, Guidance on Conservation AreaAppraisals, 2005Ealing Council, Adopted 2004 Plan for the Environment,2004Pevsner, N., The Buildings of England. London 3: NorthWest, 2002Hounsell, P., Ealing and Hanwell Past, 1991Mc Ewan, K., Ealing Walkabout, 1983Elwin, G.; King, C., Grand Union Canal, 1981LBE, Revitalization in South Hanwell, 1969Reynolds, S., (Editor), History of the County ofMiddlesex: Volume 3, 1962Johnson, M.K., The Story of S. Marks School, 1955Cranage, D. H. S., An Inventory of the HistoricalMonuments in Middlesex, 1937Ealing Museums, Art and History Society, Art,Architecture and History of Ealing Churches* Historic images are from: St. Mark’s and CanalResidents’ have been kindly provided by Hanwell HistorySociety, Hanwell Steering Group and Ealing LocalHistory Centre.Ealing Borough Council 2006 50

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal12. List of Maps12.1. Historic Maps1) Parish Map 18002) OS 18703) OS 18904) OS 19105) OS 193012.2. Analysis Maps6) CA Boundary and settings7) CA Key views and vistas8) Sub Area 1 - Townscape analysis (Statutorylisted, locally listed, key unlisted, negativebuildings)Ealing Borough Council 2006 51

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal13. Appendix - Stakeholderconsultation13.1. List of stakeholders consultedEaling Civic SocietyJudy HarrisRobert Gurd (Chairman Ealing Civic Society)60 Beaufort RoadEaling W5 3EASave Ealing’s Open SpacesMs V. Barns9 Oakely CloseHanwell W7 3BQSt Marks and Canal CA PanelMary Hall72 Half Acre RoadHanwellLondon W7 3BJLes WallisRectory Cottage135 Church RoadHanwellLondon W7 3BJMyrtle Gee2 The HeathLower Boston RoadHanwellLondon W7Beryl Pankhurst41 Manor Court RoadHanwellLondon W7 3EJDerek Smith70 St Dunstan’s RoadHanwellLondon W7 2HBHanwell History SocietyBarry Morgan25 Halfacre RoadHanwellLondon W7 3JHDavid Blackwell18 Cuckoo LaneHanwellLondon W7 3EYEaling Borough Council 2006 52

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal13.2. St. Mark’s and Canal ConservationArea Appraisal Questionnaire1. Please list any special qualities, distinctivefeatures or areas, which you consider a positivecontribution to the Conservation Area.Responses:The most important features are the River Brent, thecanal and Hanwell Flight of Locks, the bridge at TopLock and the Towpath Wall. The open spacealongside the canal and the Billett Harp Allotmentsare also contributing to the unspoiled character of theCA.The buildings that contribute to the character of theCA are: St Marks Church, St Marks School, HanwellBridge, St Bernard’s Hospital buildings, The Foxpublic house, the Oaks Cottages and the nearbyViaduct pub.2. Can you identify any key feature – within the builtor natural environment – that you feel have beeneroded over time?Responses:Hedges of the CA especially: Hanwell Flight of Locks where the secureunits and fencing are too close Fitzherbert Walk where the secure unitsand fencing are too close, also WalkerClose where its prominent lighting towersare too high over the river Site next to Windmill Lane, which hasbecome like a caravan site detracting fromthe Ancient Monument.3. Can you identify any development that has takenplace since designation, which you feel had anegative impact of the character of theconservation area? If yes, why?Responses: The new buildings on the Ealing Hospital sitewhich are visually intrusive, these being theRegional secure unit and the new women’ssecure unit which is currently underconstruction. These are modern buildings ofno architectural merit. The new women’s unitis especially intrusive and damaging to theCA.Work by Network Rail to remove trees on therailway embankment south of Windmill Bridge. The new housing along St Margaret’s Road –basically a housing estate with imitationEaling Borough Council 2006 53

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisalcottages. They have little architectural merit –they do not improve or enhance the CA.4. Can you identify any areas on the attached mapthat you consider should be included or excludedfrom the Conservation Area? Please give yourreason.Responses: Both sides of Green Lane which is historicallyinteresting providing a link between thevillage green and St Marks Church with theFox PH and Hanwell Flight of Locks First few houses in St Margaret Road on thesouth side - numbers 1-20 Some of the other older buildings on StBernard’s Hospital site could be included. The two Victorian lampposts in Green Laneoutside the former Queen Victoria hospital siteshould be protected It would be desirable to exclude Walker Closeand the new development between the canalon St Margaret’s Road (near the Fox)5. How effective do you consider the presentcontrols over development to be? Please explain.Responses:If used, current controls would be adequate but thecurrent planning service appears to be inconsistentand uninformed.6. Apart from the Listed Buildings within theConservation Area, are there any buildings orstructures that you consider are of architectural orhistorical significance? Please give details.Responses: 1,3 St Margaret’s Rd and some of thecharming unaltered houses on the east side ofGreen Lane Two interesting lampposts by the flats inGreen Lane. Public Houses in the CA contribute to thecharacter and should be locally listed.7. Can you identify any open spaces, significanttrees or hedges that you feel make a significantcontribution to the special character ofConservation Area? Please listResponses: The Brent River Park including Billett HartAllotments The River Brent and adjoining open space Open space along the canal, The railway embankment at 3 Bridges.Ealing Borough Council 2006 54

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal8. What would you say were the most significantviews, vistas or panoramas, within, into or fromthe Conservation Area? Please give details.Responses: Along Fitzherbert walk both from HanwellBridge and from the other end. Up and down the Hanwell Flight, the View ofTop Lock and Three Bridges. The view down the towpath from 3 Bridges. The entrance to Green Lane – the St MarksSchool and Church. The view of the Fox pub as seen going downGreen Lane. View from the raised open space on the northside of the canal.9. In your opinion, what impact does road traffichave upon the Conservation Area?Responses:Little impact in general. Traffic mainly confined totraffic jams in Lower Boston Road and parkingdifficulties along Green Lane10. Do you think there are any areas that wouldbenefit from being car-free? If so please describe.Responses:No11. Are the streets and public areas generallyappealing and easy to use? Please comment.Responses:Fitzherbert Walk is muddy and should be resurfaced.The roadway west of Monorep at Top Lock Southallwhich provides access to their rear premises is oftenblocked by parked/unloading vehicles. This is animportant link and the route should be safe forpedestrians who have a right of way.12. Do you think that street furniture in character withthe Conservation Area? If not, whatimprovements could you suggest?Responses:Lampposts could be improved13. Do you have any concerns about personal safetywithin the area? Please give details.Responses:Walking along Fitzherbert Walk.14. Do you feel that sufficient Conservation Areadirection exists to guide development proposals?Please give details.Ealing Borough Council 2006 55

St. Mark’s and Canal Conservation AreaCharacter AppraisalResponses:Probably there is sufficient guidance, but planningofficers not always use it.Ealing Borough Council 2006 56

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