Downholme conservation area can be extended into the Yorkshire Dales National Park the Authority’s members have agreed.
Gary Smith, the authority’s director of conservation and community, told the members that the application to extend the conservation area was unusual for two reasons:
First, that the part of the village within Richmondshire District Council’s area already had conservation status; and secondly because Hudswell and District Parish Council had asked the Authority to extend it into the National Park.
Mr Smith said that the Authority had worked with the villagers, the parish council and the district council on the appraisal.
Members were told that there were no objections to the proposed extensions although at first the Ministry of Defence was concerned about the potential obligations for remedial or other works on its land. It was, however, assured that no such work would be necessary.
It was reported that the district council had indicated its intention to support the boundary extensions which will affect minor inclusions in its area.
The areas to be included in the extended conservation area are:
- The north side of the main street inside the village which includes important historic buildings like the Bolton Arms, Downholme Hall ruins and the former smithy as well as the central village green, the pin fold and a churn stand.
- The area at the northern edge of the village which includes the remains of former mining industries and fine views into Swaledale, to How Hill and Downholme Hall ruins.
- The triangular green which provides a significant entrance into the village from the west, with the Vicarage and surrounding mature trees and hedges.
- The large open fields to the north with medieval lynchets, the quarry with lime kiln, quarry-foreman office building and explosive magazines, and the church.
ARC News Service
