RADWINTER ROAD

Sec.on 1 – Loca.on and area covered

From the northern end of Radwinter Road at the junc3on with Church Hill, opposite the Rose and Crown Pub, to the southern gateway of the village near Hill Farm. Incorporated within this are the dwellings within the Ashdon conserva3on area (outlined in red) and the dwellings outside of the conserva3on area (blue). The area finishes at the yellow marked line in the north. The conserva3on area is linear in nature and there are many listed and buildings of interest within it, however there are also gaps within the conserva3on area where the dwellings are excluded. Those buildings that are included are noted in their individual descrip3ons.

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Sec.on 2 – Views, Townscape and Landscape

The most significant views in this area are marked on the map in the Summary:

1. At the southerly entrance to the village by Hill Farm there is a 3meless landscape view across the valley.

2. Either side of the road there are far-reaching views with All Saints Church visible at the top of the hill to the west and across Mill Field to Bragg’s Mill windmill to the east. A few dwellings along Kate’s Lane are visible across the fields.

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3. Midway down the lane, there is a mature Horse Chestnut tree on the western side, to the south of LiTle House, providing a direct view into the village Conserva3on Area.

4. Below the streetscape looking northwards towards Crown Hill, dated 1910 in comparison with 2020.

5.The junc3on of Crown Hill looking South up Radwinter Road, dated 1910 in comparison with 2020.

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Sec.on 3 – Landmarks

The key landmarks in this area are:

Buildings - Tudor CroY and Ashdon Bap3st Church.

Landscape Features – the Horse Chestnut Tree, mature na3ve hedgerows and uninterrupted views across farmland.

Sec.on 4 – Topography

The north-south aspect from the outer edge of Ashdon down to valley of the River Bourne is flanked by undula3ng agricultural land to both east and west.

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Sec.on 5 – Buildings:

The western side of Radwinter Road from the southerly end by the village entrance sign to the northern most point of Radwinter Road at the junc.on with Church Hill.

Hill Farm – Mid C19 - Red brick, with slate hip and and valley roof. Several chimneys, sash windows with glazing bars and large bays to front. Later single storey addi3on.

Outbuildings:

• Three converted single storey brick-built coTages used as holiday lets.

• Commercial unit – partly 3mbered black gable roofed barn with weather cock on the top. An original drainage culvert opens out onto the road opposite Hill Farm CoTages.

• An addi3onal single storey barn used by Hill Farm at the back of the Commercial unit, previously used as a workshop. There is access to Radwinter Road onto the highway via small door.

• Garage workshop

• Children’s Nursery building.

• Red brick bungalow, converted from old farm building, at entrance of the southern track adjacent to the Farmhouse.

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The LiVle House – Early C20- Edwardian era, the house sits on a large plot with mature trees and is hardly visible from the road. There are four lime trees subject to preserva3on orders along the front verge. The red brick and part pebble dashed house has sash and casement windows and a gable & valley roof with bold roll roof 3les. The property has a black 3mbered cart lodge plus an addi3onal outbuilding and part gravel drive. This property marks the southern edge of the conserva.on area on the west side of the road.

BartleV’s Barn – previously the forge adjacent to The Old Smithy. This is a black 3mber clad building set close to the road. Ridged 3les, concrete entrance drive. Currently used as a builders yard. Within the conserva.on area.

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The Old Smithy – Grade II Listed C17-C18 3mber-framed and plastered house. Two storeys. Three window range of casements. A thatched gabled porch, with straw hare finial and exposed 3mber-framing projects from the front. Roof thatched, half hipped at the north and south ends, with an internal rectangular chimney stack. ATached garage. Frontage open to the road with a mature and well-kept grass front garden with tradi3onal plan3ng. Within the conserva.on area.

Tudor Barn – Grade II Listed C17 3mber-framed and weather-boarded 4-bay barn with a pan 3led roof. Open frontage to the road with a grassed front garden and block paved driveway. Within the conserva.on area.

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Tudor CroZ, formerly known as New Sandons – Grade II Listed. C16-C17 3mber-framed house has a cross wing at the north end. All the 3mber-framing is exposed. Two storeys and aecs. Casement windows with modern laece leaded lights. Clay pan 3led gable roof with a central chimney stack to the main block, with 4 diagonal shaYs (rebuilt or restored). Within the conserva.on area.

The flint wall at the front has been extended along the gravel driveway. Set back from the road with a mature front garden. The Harcamlow Way footpath runs alongside this property.

Bap.st Manse – Red brick, UPVC casement windows with feature first storey bay. Bold roll roof 3les. Integral garage. Front brick wall is partly demolished for easy access to concrete slab drive. Narrow side garden. Open frontage to the road, with pavement in a bad state of repair.

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Wes[ields with feature weatherboards and brick built, with modern casement windows. ATached garage with gravel drive and lawn open to the front. Current planning applica3on for proposed two storey side and single storey rear extension with associated internal altera3ons. UTT/19/2937/HHF

Meadowside double fronted, rendered dwelling with storm porch. Casement windows. Bold roll roof 3les. A fenced front garden with a sloped grass bank and a block paved drive.

Coppers – the original Police Sta3on for Ashdon. Painted brickwork, metal CriTal windows and clay roof 3les. Set back from road, with open frontage, front lawn and retaining wall. ATached garage. Tarmac drive. Narrow pavement to front in bad state of repair.

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Turpins – Grade II Listed C17-C18 3mber-framed and plastered coTage with tradi3onal Essex parge3ng. Renovated and extended in the C20. Two window range, casements. Central doorway. Roof thatched and a central chimney stack with a sunk panel in the base. Close to the road with mature, na3ve hedge and entrance gate. Weatherboarded annexe/garage. Current planning applica3on for glazed link, removal of internal par33on walls. Change french doors to a window. Addi3on of doors to the garage. UTT/19/1798/HHF. Narrow pavement to front. Within the conserva.on area.

Windy Ridge – Elevated posi3on above the road with retaining wall and mature na3ve hedging. Single storey dwelling with painted render and feature brick wall. Slate roof 3les and casement windows. ATached double garage. Block paved driveway, narrow pavement frontage.

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The Old Bakery – Grade II Listed C17-Cl8 3mber-framed and plastered house. Renovated in the C20. One storey and aecs. The windows are partly casements and partly double-hung sashes with glazing bars. A modern porch projects on the front. Roof thatched, hipped at the north-west end, with 3 dormers and a central chimney stack. There is a single storey addi3on at the south-east end. Screened by a mature hedge. Block paved drive and established trees in the front garden. Pavement frontage. Within the conserva.on area.

White Horse House – Grade II Listed C17 3mber-framed and plastered building with a C19 block added at the north end to make an L shaped plan. The original south block is one storey and aecs. Casement windows, one small oriel bay. The dormer window has old leaded casements. Thatched roof, two running hare straw finials on top and a millennium weather vane. One dormer and a central chimney stack. Part of the roof at the south end is pan3led. The north block is C19 red brick.

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Two storeys. Three window range, double-hung sashes with glazing bars. Roof slate, hipped, with a central chimney stack. Within the conserva.on area.

The building was occupied from the beginning of the 20th century by the Conserva3ve Club and was transferred to the Parish Council in the 1970s to become a community asset. Porch and front door in front of the river accessed from Radwinter Road. This is the only thatched Village Hall in Essex. The second part is a compara3vely new building which is now the Main hall and was opened in 1997.

The eastern side of Radwinter Road from the southern entrance to the village to northern end of Radwinter Road at the junc.on with Church Hill.

Opposite Hill Farm is a low single-story barn with flint walling to front. This was the site of the original Hill Farmhouse before it was burnt down. Currently it is used as a garage and storage.

Hill Farm CoVages - A pair of semi-detached dwellings. Modern slate roof, brick built, casement windows.CoTages are set back from the road with a low na3ve hedge in front and driveway to one side. Current planning applica3on for proposed conversion of barn to a single dwelling. Altera3ons to exis3ng access and parking areas serving 1 and 2 Hill Farm CoTages. UTT/20/0152/FUL

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Mill Field House – 1970s design. Gable Roof with clay 3led roof, one chalet style sec3on with dormer. UPVC windows and pale brickwork. Set well back from the road with large front garden and in-out gravel drive. Detached double garage. Four mature trees in the front. Open aspect to the back with views across Mill Field.

Ryedale – Currently a bungalow but with planning permission granted for demoli3on of porch, first floor extension to bungalow and erec3on of two storey rear and single storey front and side extensions. Conversion of detached garage to residen3al annex. UTT/18/1187/HHF

The Beehive - Bungalow with single story extension, rendered with pan3led roof. Timber built garage. Set well back from the road behind a mature na3ve hedge with gated frontage and gravel/tarmac drive.

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The Vicarage – brick built chalet style dwelling with slate gable roof and large dormer casement windows. External chimney breast. Front and rear garden with na3ve hedging and extensive tarmac driveway.

Three Gables – Chalet style bungalow with rendered exterior and pan3led roof. Screened from road by a mature laurel hedge. Large front and rear garden. Part shingle driveway with substan3al retaining brick walls.

Mill View – built in 2007. Timber framed, weatherboarded dwelling with clay 3led roof and mul3-paned casement windows, in dormer and box-bay style. Large storm porch. Shared gravel driveway with 3mber framed cart lodge and clay 3led roof. Set above the road behind a na3ve mixed hedge and extensive retaining wall. A mature holly tree stands by the corner of the driveway in the front garden. Marks the southern edge of the conserva.on area on the eastern side of the road.

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Hillside House - late C19 – with C21 addi3ons. Timber framed and weatherboarded with mul3-paned casement windows, with two bays. Front porch. Slate roof and brick chimneys. Set above road level, with grass bank and bordered by yew hedge. Within the conserva.on area.

Burns – rendered dwelling with feature parge3ng. Casement windows, with circular feature windows at the front. Detached garage. Open to the road with brick retaining wall and a tarmac drive. Within the conserva.on area.

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Terrace of CoVages – including Lowick, Orchard, Swallow and Harvest CoTage. These terraced coTages are built on the site of an old orchard, which was connected to Tudor CroY. Well screened with established hedgerow at the front. Comprising mainly red brick exterior with red bold roll roof 3les and casement windows, except Swallow CoTage which is part 3mbered/part rendered. Within the conserva.on area.

The Chestnuts – Elevated above the road. Fully rendered with a gable and bold roll roof 3les. Plain casement windows. Open frontage with a grassed front lawn. Extensive retaining red brick wall, central steps. Driveway to rear of property.

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Apple Tree House – Rendered with pan3led roof, large gable end and casement dormer windows. Secluded and set well back from the road behind a large na3ve hedge and mature front garden. Gate to the property provides pedestrian access, vehicular access to rear via Kate’s Lane.

Chapel Farm – Grade II Listed. C16-C17 3mber-framed and plastered house built on a T shaped plan. Two storeys.The south front has 2 window range of double-hung sashes with glazing bars, the other windows are mainly casements. Roof 3led, with an original central chimney stack to the north wing, with 4 octagonal shaYs. Iron gate providing pedestrian access, vehicular access to rear via Kate’s Lane. Extensive na3ve hedging to front and gardens with mature trees. Within the conserva.on area.

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Ashdon Bap.st Church – built in 1835 with possible earlier origins. A prominent building, largely unaltered, constructed of red brick with central doorway and arched detail above. Original windows and slate roof; also simple decora3ve arch detailing supported by brick detailing. Within the conserva.on area and on the UDC Local Heritage List.

Allgood CoVage – Late C19 - previously a pair of coTages, converted to a single residence. UPVC casement windows. Iron gate to the side. Frontage directly onto road, with narrow pavement.

Abercorn Villas - Grade II Listed. C18 3mber-framed and plastered and pargeted buildings with pan3led roof. Comprising a terrace of three dwellings.Two storeys, with two window range of modern casements. Frontage directly onto highway with iron hand rails and steps up to the front door of both. The central dwelling has a squirrel design on the plasterwork. Within the conserva.on area.

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The Mal.ngs – Grade II Listed C18 3mber-framed and plastered house. Two storeys. Three window range, mainly double-hung sashes with glazing bars. The south range of windows are modern casements. Pan3led roof. Black 3mbered cart lodge with clay pan3led roof. Two brick chimneys. Oak gate and gravel drive. Frontage is directly onto the road with narrow pavement in front. Brick wall and garden to the side of the property. Within the conserva.on area.

Forget-Me-Not CoVage & Willow CoVage are aTached by a floa3ng arch above a shared gravel driveway. This opens onto a tradi3onal coTage garden. Forget-me-not CoTage is brick built with casement windows.

Willow CoTage is the old butcher’s shop with painted render and mixed mul3-paned casement and sash windows. The front door opens straight onto the pavement. Within the conserva.on area.

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The Old Fox – Grade II Listed Formerly The Fox Inn. A 3mber-framed and plastered building of C17 origin, with C18 external features. Two storeys. Three window range, mainly casements with glazing bars. The ground storey has a small canted bay with double-hung sashes and a 3-light double-hang sash, both with ver3cal glazing bars. Pan3led roof with a central rectangular chimney stack with a panelled base.Fully rendered painted plasterwork with a black skirt. Frontage directly onto road, with narrow pavement. The gated driveway to the side is gravelled and has access to the outbuildings and back garden. Within the conserva.on area.

WiVenham CoVage – C19 . Formerly a pair of coTages one of which was the Old Post Office, converted and extended in C20 into single dwelling. Cambridge stock brick with feature Virginia Creeper. Wooden front door, with storm porch. Casement windows are decora3ve with stone sills. There is a scroll design feature underneath the soffits and fascias. Gated entrance to the side with access to a separate double garage set back from the road. Gravel drive and brick wall running along to the bridge. Within the conserva.on area.

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Sec.on 6 – Facili.es

The main facility in the road is the Village Hall which faces Church Hill but has access via Radwinter Road. This is a main focal hub of the village and hosts numerous village events, clubs and private par3es.

In the past, Radwinter Road was home to the original post office, blacksmith, butcher, baker, two public houses and the old police sta3on. The only remaining facili3es leY now are The Bap3st Church and the Village Hall.

The Bap.st Church dates to 1835 and con3nues to aTract regular Sunday worshippers. The Hall at the back of the Church is used to host a monthly Breakfast Café for the village as well as regular lunches for old people and other events.

Bap.st Carpark and Village Hall Overspill Car Park. An asset for the community providing valuable off street parking. A raised plinth car park, par3ally laid with tarmac, with chain link fence alongside the pavement and low brick wall.

Radwinter Road accommodates both the Bap3st Church Manse and the Vicarage for St Mary’s Church.

Sec.on 7 – Employment

White Horse House – contains offices currently occupied by independent financial advisors Andrew Cohen & Associates.

Hill Farm – over the years the farm has significantly diversified to include a range of holiday coTages– Meadow CoTage, Woodland CoTage and Orchard CoTage. In addi3on to the Ashdon Children’s Nursery, a car servicing and repair garage and a converted barn.

BartleV’s Barn – builders yard for HW BartleT’s & Sons.

Sec.on 8 – Gardens

The majority of the houses at the northern end of Radwinter Road are closer to the road, notable excep3ons are Chapel Farm and Apple Tree House which are set well back with front gardens. As the road progresses to the southern end of Radwinter Road, the houses are set further back with larger frontage and rear gardens of varying sizes.

Many houses on the eastern side of the road have extensive views across Mill Field towards the Windmill. Several houses on the western side have far reaching views over The Donkey Field and farmland beyond.

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Sec.on 9 – Green and Blue Infrastructure & Open Spaces

The River Bourne runs underneath Radwinter Road at its junc3on with Church Hill. It is a tributary of the River Granta which it joins in Bartlow.

The most significant open space is behind the houses on the north western side of Radwinter Road. Located behind the Bap3st Church Car Park, this area is known locally as The Donkey Field. The ordnance survey map below dates back to 1800s and shows it marked as New Sandons. The Harcamlow Way footpath crosses the field and is heavily used by walkers at all 3mes of the day. The field is accessed alongside the Bap3st Church car park and contains the Millennium Oak Tree planted by the Ashdon Women’s Ins3tute. There is a sec3oned area for grazing, currently occupied by the small ponies who are stabled on the plot.

Another notable open space is on the western side of Radwinter Road, to the south of Hill Farm. There is a footpath along the north west edge of the field bordering the conserva3on area. Un3l recently this field was used as arable land. Outline planning applica3on was recently granted with all maTers reserved except for access, for a residen3al development of four detached houses together with access to Radwinter Road. UTT/18/1429/OP . This plot has subsequent been sold to a property developer.

The plot is in an elevated posi3on above the road and is flanked by a mature na3ve mixed hedgerow and an historic chestnut tree. Ordnance Survey maps da3ng back to the 1800s show that the field contains a natural spring well and it is the gateway to the Conserva3on Area of the village.

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Sec.on 10 - Roads and Lanes

Radwinter Road is a semi-rural road in character. The road is not straight and narrows considerably in various sec3ons. On the western side of Radwinter Road, to the south of Hill Farm there is a significant varia3on in height from the road to the base of the horse chestnut of approx 4-5 metres. The slope of the bank is approx 8 metres.

Despite a sharp increase in the volume and size of vehicles using it, in recent years it has not been regularly maintained by Essex County Council.

The carriageway is not wide enough to allow vehicles to pass each other safely. One of the narrowest points is outside Apple Tree House where it measures just 4.2 metres in width. The widest point is outside The Old Bakery and measures approx 4.8 metres. Drivers frequently use residents’ driveways as passing places which causes extensive damage.

There has been systema3c erosion of verges through a combina3on of surface run-off water, excessive wear and tear from heavy traffic and road works. The replacement of water pipes and installa3on of fibre op3c cables has further degraded the condi3on of the road surface. Collec3vely this has resulted in the forma3on of deep gullies; the largest currently measures 50cm in width and is 30cm deep, which is an extreme hazard for road users. These issues have been logged repeatedly with Essex County Council Highways but are not scheduled for repair.

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Sec.on 11 – Pavements, Paths and Connec.vity

The pavements along Radwinter Road are principally along the northern most end of the road towards Church Hill and are sited from Tudor CroY on the west side and Burns on the east side. They vary in width and state of repair as a result of damage caused by vehicles moun3ng the pavements to pass each other. The pavement is very narrow in places, measuring just 70cms outside The Old Bakery and is par3cularly narrow in front of Turpins where it measures just 50cms.

The absence of any footpath towards the southern end of Radwinter Road is a safety issue for all pedestrians, given the volume and speed of traffic. The speed limit of 30mph is clearly marked on entry to the village and along Radwinter Road, but this is consistently ignored.

There is a feature cobbled curb along the stretch of road outside the White Horse House and WiTenham CoTage opposite. It finishes at the driveway of the Village Hall and the Old Fox.

The turning for Kate’s Lane to the east, is opposite the Bap3st Church Car Park.

Sec.on 12 – Street furniture

Ashdon Village Sign is flanked by a wooden gateway and dual 30mph signs. In addi3on there is a speed sensor road sign outside Three Gables, however this does not operate reliably.

Grit bin in the Bap3st Car Park

Charity Clothes bin in the Bap3st Car Park

There are LED powered street lights at intervals along either side of the road

There are two no3ce boards outside the village hall.

The recently re-sited post box is outside the village hall following the closure of the post office.

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Sec.on 13- Special characteris.cs

In the past, Radwinter Road was the loca3on for many of the original businesses that served the village including the original site of the village Post Office, the forge , the bakery, the butchers and two public houses: The Old Fox and The White Horse Inn.

Much of Radwinter Road sits within the designated Ashdon village Conserva3on Area.

Sec.on 14- Detrac.ng Characteris.cs/ Desired improvements

Residents of Radwinter Road are increasingly concerned and frustrated with the speed and volume of vehicles that use the road. During the last decade, the expansion of the Ashdon Children’s Nursery at Hill Farm has resulted in increased traffic during pick up 3mes. The number and size of heavy agricultural vehicles using the road has spiralled as it is used as a main route to other rural farming communi3es. Satellite naviga3on systems have diverted large lorries through the village as a short cut, despite the unsuitability of the highway for this class of vehicle.

The resul3ng degrada3on to the highway, driveways and verges has increased to a point that it is now in urgent need of repair. Some residents have become aware of structural damage to retaining walls along their proper3es.

There is liTle adherence to the clearly marked speed limits. The variability of driving skills makes the road unsafe for pedestrians, even along the exis3ng pavements, which are frequently mounted by vehicles and are now in a bad state of repair.

As a maTer of increasing urgency and safety, many residents would like to inves3gate viable op3ons for traffic calming measures and restora3on or installa3on of pavements to resolve these issues.

Intrusive u.lity poles and cables

In the longer term, the appearance of Radwinter Road could be greatly enhanced if there was an opportunity for UK Power Networks and Openreach to trench the overhead electric wires and telegraph cables, which currently detract from the visual aesthe3c.

U.li.es

Over the last few years, intermiTent remedial works carried out by Affinity Water, Anglia Water and Gigaclear have had a detrimental effect on the condi3on of the highway. During these various excava3ons there have also been numerous issues with the water supply and incidents of backed up effluent because of damage to sewerage pipes. There has been considerable inconvenience to residents at these 3mes.

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Flooding

In 2007 and 2014, Ashdon suffered from major flooding incidents. Radwinter Road played a significant role in both of these events because the gradient of the highway acts as a funnel for excess water travelling to the junc3on with Church Hill. This remains an ongoing issue at all 3mes of the year. Even aYer modest precipita3on the road suffers from significant surface water runoff, from both farmland, the road surface and hardstanding driveways along the highway. For extended periods of the year, the drains are blocked by silt and pebbles which exacerbates the problem. (See photos below)

Streetscape

There is considerable poten3al for enhancement of the road which could be achieved through the encouragement of soY and hard landscaping ini3a3ves. For example:

1. The plan3ng of na3ve hedges, trees and the addi3on of grassy verges to the front of proper3es where possible.

2. Installa3on and maintenance of gravel or block paved driveways instead of non-permeable surfaces such as tarmac or concrete which add to surface run-off issues.

3. Considera3on of soil reten3on solu3ons such as grassy slopes, sleepers or tradi3onal flint walling rather than use of urban brick which can look out of place in the conserva3on area.

4. Encouraging the choice of tradi3onal red clay or tradi3onal slate roof 3les for new builds, renova3on projects or extensions.

5. Avoiding the further urbanisa3on of the road through the removal of trees, hedgerows and groundworks to banks and verges.

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