LOCATION AND SETTING
3.2
Templefields employment area lies further west, on the other side of
the A414. To the south of the conservation area is Gilden Way,
Mark Hall School and areas of designated Green Wedge, which
include Marigolds Cricket Ground, allotments and playing fields.
Further south is the development at Newhall.
3.3
Immediately adjacent to the conservation area are a range of
housing areas developed in the New Town era such as East Park,
Chippingfield, Jocelyns and Faircroft Little Bays. North of St Johns
Avenue and Bury Road is a Territorial Army Centre and a collection
of roads - Manor Road and The Hill - built in the 1920s.
Location and Context
3.0
3.1
Old Harlow conservation area is located in the Old Harlow
Ward, in the north eastern corner of the District. Like many other
residential areas in the town, Old Harlow is a self-enclosed and selfcontained neighbourhood. It is separated from the rest of Harlow by
areas of Green Wedge and two major roads - the A414 to the west
and Gilden Way to the south.
To the east lies two other conservation areas, Harlowbury and
Churchgate Street. Further east is agricultural land which separates
Harlow from the M11. To the north of Old Harlow is the River Stort,
the East Anglia Railway Line and Harlow Mill Train Station. The
A414 and an area of Green Wedge lie to the west of the
conservation area.
Harlow 2010 - the wider context
© Crown copyright.Harlow District Council Licence No.100019627
Old Harlow Conservation Area
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Old Harlow Conservation Area Appraisal
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Extent of the conservation area
3.4
The current conservation area boundary includes parts or all of the
following roads:
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Park Hill
Penshust
Market Street
Mulberry Terrace
Fore Street
St John’s Walk
Station Road
High Street
The Wayre
St Johns Avenue
Bury Road
New Road
Cowlins
Watlington Road
Mulberry Green
Mulberry Gardens
Old Road
3.5
The extent of the conservation area boundary is shown below.
3.6
In 1994 the conservation area was extended to include Bury Road,
New Road, areas of St Johns Avenue and Watlington Road.
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Old Harlow Conservation Area Appraisal
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Landscape Setting
3.7
Green Wedges found to the west and south of Old Harlow – an
integral feature of the original Gibberd Masterplan - have ensured
that Old Harlow has remained a separate neighbourhood and
retained its distinct village character. The landscape setting of the
conservation area is also defined by the fields around Harlowbury
Chapel on Old Road.
Spatial Analysis
3.9
Although it is defined as a single conservation area, Old Harlow is
a collection of different character areas or districts, the most
prominent and historic being the late Medieval district around
Market Street, the High Street and Mulberry Green. There are two
Victorian character areas in the conservation area, around Park Hill
to the west and around Bury Road and New Road to the east.
3.10 The High Street pedestrian precinct is the main focus for
commercial and social activity in the conservation area. Minor
nodes exist around pubs in Market Street and Fore Street and at
Mulberry Green.
3.11 Station Road effectively splits the conservation area in two. Despite
the presence of a pedestrian crossing point linking Fore Street and
the High Street, heavy volumes of traffic in both directions mean
that Station Road severs connection between these two areas.
The landscape setting of Old Harlow
Source: © Google Earth
Topography
3.8
The conservation area has a slightly undulating topography. Market
Street and Fore Street are positioned on a slight hill which falls with
a gentle gradient in both directions - towards Park Hill and along the
High Street down to Mulberry Green. This is most notable along the
High Street, which slopes in an eastern direction from the junction
with Station Road, down towards the Gibberd Blocks. At Mulberry
Green there is a steep hill rising towards the eastern boundary of
the conservation area.
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Old Harlow - Spatial Analysis
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3.12 Other important public spaces within the conservation area are The
Garden of Remembrance, spaces between Fore Street and Market
Street, the village triangle opposite the Green Man Hotel in
Mulberry Green and gardens around churches off Market Street
and Fore Street.
3.15 There are a number of major landmarks in the area. The George,
The Gables and The Marquis of Granby all fulfil this function and
are found at the entrance to Market Street and Fore Street. The
Gibberd Blocks also act as a landmark at the eastern entrance to
the High Street precinct.
3.13 The Green Wedge and the A414 provide a well-defined edge to the
west of the conservation area. Vehicular traffic west of Park Hill is
blocked, which significantly reduces east-west traffic movement on
Market Street. Gilden Way serves as a bypass, ensuring the
majority of through traffic circumnavigates the conservation area.
3.16 A number of landmark buildings also exist along the High Street as
it stretches past The Garden of Remembrance and winds down
towards the Ambulance and Fire Station and on towards Mulberry
Green.
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Contribution of Green Spaces and Trees
3.17 There are a number of significant green spaces in the conservation
area and adjacent to it:
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Dense foliage along between the conservation area and the A414
provides an effective buffer, cocooning the conservation area from
the noise generated by traffic.
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The Garden of Remembrance - the largest and most significant
public park in the conservation area.
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The cricket ground and green areas around the Church House
contribute to the landscape setting of Mulberry Green and preserve
the separation of Mulberry Green and Old Harlow.
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The village triangle and large Oak tree opposite The Green Man
pub and hotel in Mulberry Green is a small, yet significant feature of
the village and helps to define the Mulberry Green’s village
Character.
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The line of mature trees which run up the northern side of Mulberry
Green hill follow the topography of the area play a significant role in
establishing the character of Mulberry Green and shaping attractive
views in the area.
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Church gardens around the St John the Baptist Church provide a
hidden and enclosed enclave of greenery.
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Tree planting around the car parking areas between Market Street
and Fore Street help to reduce the dominating effect of parked cars
and concrete areas.
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The avenue of mature English Plane trees along St Johns Avenue
is a very significant feature of the street and helps to define its leafy,
Garden Village character.
© Crown copyright.Harlow District Council Licence No.100019627
© Crown copyright.Harlow District Council Licence No.100019627
Old Harlow Conservation Area Appraisal
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Land Uses and Activity
3.18 Commercial and retail land uses are concentrated along the High
Street precinct and at the junction of Station Road with Fore Street.
Very little commercial activity is spread across the rest of the
conservation area, which is generally residential apart from a
number of churches, halls and public houses.
3.19 The High Street contains a range of shops, financial and
professional services, cafes, restaurants and a library.
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Old Harlow Conservation Area Appraisal
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TOWNSCAPE ANALYSIS
3.20 The conservation area contains 40 listed buildings. This includes
three grade II* listed buildings and 37 grade II listed buildings. There
are also 6 locally listed buildings in the area.
3.21 The conservation area also contains a number of unlisted buildings
of significant townscape merit. These are shown on the townscape
analysis map below, as are buildings which are considered to make
a neutral contribution to the character of the area. Buildings which
have a different character to the conservation area are also
identified.
3.22 There are a number of significant views in the area. The most
significant view is up and down the northern side of Market Street,
which reveals a consistent, curved line of buildings, some of which
remain unchanged from the15th, 16th and 17th century.
3.23 Other important views in the conservation area are found:
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up and down the High Street precinct;
along the eastern side of the High Street, passed Chestnut
Cottage;
across The Garden of Remembrance towards Victoria Hall;
along Oddfellow’s Terrace;
along Mulberry Terrace;
along Kimberly Terrace.
towards the Fire Station and Ambulance Station;
up and down Mulberry Hill; and
down the avenue of trees on St Johns Avenue.
© Crown copyright.Harlow District Council Licence No.100019627
Old Harlow Conservation Area Appraisal
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