3.2 Traditional built form
Most of the older buildings are predominantly
vernacular or agricultural in nature and traditionally constructed
of stone walls under clay tiled roofs. They can be generally
divided into two general type forms - ‘simple’
or ‘refined’.
Simple buildings10
are typically small with low roof lines and irregular plan
forms, often sited to maximise the potential of their constrained
plot for the production of food. These buildings are unassuming
and constructed from randomly coursed local stone often roughcast
rendered.
Wall openings generally have oak lintels and
occasionally brick details with painted casement windows.
Boundary walls are constructed from local stone with large
irregular capping stones. All materials were locally sourced.
Most historic and all agricultural buildings in the Parish
could be described as 'simple'.
Refined buildings11
are typically larger, grander, more assertive and set in gardens
laid out for pleasure rather than food production. These buildings
are formally planned within grounds which usually front directly
onto the highway. Exterior treatment is either smooth render
or exposed good quality local stone. Wall openings are carefully
detailed, often stone or brick dressed, with painted sash
windows. Boundary walls are constructed from local stone with
carefully articulated 'cock & hen' or dressed stone capping,
occasionally topped by decorative iron railings. Imported
specialist materials were frequently incorporated.
Site topography, garden shapes and sizes and
the proximity to neighbouring properties have helped to give
each building and each settlement its own distinctive character.
In steeply sloping areas, such as Church Hill, Olveston, buildings
jostle for space, while in flatter areas, such as The Street,
Olveston, a more harmonious form has resulted from continuous
facades and well defined boundary walls. Towards the edge
of the villages houses are set further apart within generous
grounds, such as on Old Down Hill. Towards the centre houses
are often joined together. Being close to relations, school,
shops, church and water was essential in the days of foot
transport.
To ease construction and minimise the use of
expensive materials ‘simple’ buildings were originally
only one room deep with low floor to ceiling heights. As a
consequence rooflines are generally low which gives an overall
impression that development in the Parish is of a small scale.
Only a few buildings, such as Hill House, the White Hart and
the Old Vicarage in Olveston; Grove House in Tockington and
Old Down House extend above two storeys and form focal points.
Roofs were generally pitched at 45o to maximise
the roof space for habitation and covered with overlapping
clay pantiles topped by a round tiled ridge running from chimney
to chimney. Occasionally, Welsh slate was used on ‘refined’
buildings with hipped roofs replacing the gable end typical
of the area. Doors and windows were symmetrically arranged
where possible. Glass was extremely expensive, so window sizes
tended to be small.
A significant degree of gentrification took
place during the Georgian period with many ‘simple’
properties ‘upgraded’ to reflect the style of
the day. The process continues today with properties enlarged
or altered in response to current needs and aspirations. The
challenge, which this Design Statement addresses, is to enable
change but in a way which retains local character.
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