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De Beauvoir Road
De Beauvoir Road forms one of the longest north-south axis roads in the
Conservation Area. It has a variety of house types including paired villas with
recessed front porch areas so characteristic of other buildings in the Conservation
area and short terraces (see Figure 39).
Figure 39: Terrace on west side of De Beauvoir Road
The mix of houses is generally pleasing and on the whole De Beauvoir Road is well
maintained, although until recent years a number of derelict houses towards
Downham Road have detracted from the overall quality of the street. De Beauvoir
Road has the largest number of listed buildings after Northchurch Road and De
Beauvoir Square; all of them are of the same villa type that are also listed in
Northchurch Road. Towards the north, Nos. 146-50 have porches with columns set
into the ground as in Southgate Road.
Figure 40: Factories on the east side of De Beauvoir Road south of Englefield Road
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Between Northchurch Terrace and Englefield Road on the east side of De Beauvoir
Road are a number of two and three storey factories and workshops. These industrial
buildings had their origins in the manufactories that occupied the long back gardens
of Mortimer Road mentioned in the Booth enquiry during the late 1890s. By 1902 the
site was occupied by a builder’s merchant, a picture-framer and a wheelwright.
Today some of these industrial premises have been converted into residential
accommodation, including live/work units. However the east side of De Beauvoir
Road still has an industrial character now occupied by purpose built factories (sign
makers and clothing manufacturers) mostly dating from the 1950s.
A new addition to the landscape of De Beauvoir Road is a timber-framed building by
the architect David Adjaye. It was constructed in about 5 days in summer 2006 by
Eurban. It is a solid timber system, made from spruce designed to improve thermal
and acoustic performance with a low carbon footprint. The building contrasts
dramatically with the rest of the Conservation Area, but seems to nestle well into the
site at the rear of No. 14 Northchurch Terrace (see Figure 41).
Figure 41: Timber house by David Adjaye built in 2006
De Beauvoir Road is also the location of St Peter’s Church which was consecrated in
1841 and the adjacent modern vicarage (dating from c.1970s). The original vicarage
is sited behind the church in Mortimer Road. St Peter’s Church was designed by W.
C. Lockner and built in stock brick. In style it is minimal decorative Gothic and the
west tower, which forms the entrance, has corner pinnacles.
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Figure 42: St Peter’s, De Beauvoir Town c.1850
De Beauvoir Square
The east side of De Beauvoir Square was completed by 1823 during the first phase
of development by William Rhodes. At that time the square was known as Park
Place. Along the east side was a long terrace (three-storey with basement) known as
Nos. 1-16 Park Place, built for Rhodes by John Sanders c.1822, and erected virtually
back-to-back with another terrace (three-storey) in Derby (from 1909 Lockner) Road.
These buildings were demolished c.1970 for the Lockner Estate.
On the other three sides of the square the builder, Thomas Smith erected from 1838
semi-detached ‘Dutch’ gabled villas of very unusual Tudor-Jacobean design for
Benyon de Beauvoir. The north, west and south side of the square consists of pairs
(with the exception of a threesome on the north side and no 30 which stands on its
own), mostly two bays, in stock brick with stone dressings: all have high pitched roofs
and are two storeys over basements, with attics under sharp-gable ends. Features
include elaborate clusters of chimneys, lozenge shaped leaded lights, door canopies,
crenulations and stucco window surrounds. Some of the houses still have their
original lozenge glazing. The north side of the square was begun first and finished by
1839, but the whole square was completed by c.1841. It is probable that they are to
the design of W.C Lockner who designed St Peter’s Church (1841) and the adjacent
vicarage, which is similar in style to the villas.
Figure 43 & 44: Nos. 20 & 21De Beauvoir Square
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The north side of the square comprises five pairs of houses and they are amongst
the finest and earliest in the Conservation Area. There are five surviving pairs on the
west side and five on the south side. Two other Tudor-Jacobean houses survive on
the estate – one was the former vicarage in Mortimer Road and No. 82 Northchurch
Terrace. These distinctive houses are very different in character to the rest of the De
Beauvoir Town which tends to have Italianate features. On the north-west corner of
De Beauvoir Square are a group of modern flats (Nos. 11 & 12) disguised to match
their neighbours (see Figure 45) in the square. Unfortunately a number of these have
large satellite dishes on their front elevations which detract from the aesthetic quality
of the square.
Figure 45: Modern flats on west side of De Beauvoir Square replicating the original houses
Figure 46: De Beauvoir Square with houses on the north side
The central square itself is an important public amenity in the De Beauvoir
Conservation Area, the railings surrounding the square are grade II listed. Planned
originally as one of four squares and an octagon that were to embellish the area it
was the only one built in the early 1820s. By the end of the 19th century it was
somewhat neglected and The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association (MPGA),
founded in 1882 to preserve small areas of urban open land, rescued it, improved it
and opened it to the public. Today it is a leafy green oasis with children’s play areas,
seating and a rose garden. It is well maintained and the setting for many local picnics
and community activities.
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Northchurch Road and Northchurch Terrace
In the original plans for the estate this street was known as Church Road and so it
remained until well into the 20th century. The north side of Northchurch Road was
built between 1841-1846, while the south side was constructed slightly later between
1844 and 1847. Northchurch Road (and its continuation, Northchurch Terrace,
formerly also Northchurch Road) is of great importance to the Conservation Area;
both for its central location in the layout of De Beauvoir Town and for it being the only
access point to De Beauvoir Square from the west. Currently there is only pedestrian
and cycle access to the Square from Northchurch Road and Terrace.
Its importance is enhanced by the type of buildings that it contains. With the
exception of two terraces of four houses each, this road is exclusively designed as
detached villas or semi-detached houses. The villas of Northchurch can be classified
into two general types; the villa with fully stuccoed elevations and villas with exposed
brickwork and partly stuccoed elevations (see Figures 47 & 48). Some have Ionic
pilasters to the top floors and grand balustraded approaches to side entrances.
Almost all of the villas of Northchurch Road are listed buildings and those that are not
statutory listed are locally listed (see Appendix B).
Figure 47: Partly stuccoed semi-detached villas in Northchurch Road
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Figure 48: Fully stuccoed villas in Northchurch Road
Some of the villas in Northchurch Road have two storey flank extensions and as a
result some of the villas have lost some of their original symmetrical appearance, for
example the flank extension to No. 31 and No. 33, has resulted in the loss of the two
semi-detached villas and made them a terrace. Other villas have single storey flank
extensions which are more sympathetic additions. Many of the houses have beautiful
front gardens and generally any off street parking has been arranged in a
sympathetic manner without detracting from the houses.
The south side of Northchurch Terrace is occupied by the side flank of St Peter’s
Church. The north side includes No. 10, a Tudor Jacobean detached house built with
the houses in De Beauvoir Square. Adjacent is a terrace of redbrick ‘half-houses’ or
maisonettes (more commonly found in outer London suburbs such as Leyton) with
full height bays constructed in the Edwardian era on former garden ground taken
from No.20 De Beauvoir Square. They are quite unlike anything else in the
Conservation Area, but are well designed and contrast dramatically with the nearby
Tudor Jacobean houses.
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Figure 49: No. 10 Northchurch Terrace
Figure 50: Nos. 2-8 Northchurch Terrace
Stamford Road
Like Ardleigh Road, Stamford radiates out from the centre of the Conservation Area,
and has a number of apex sites with paired villas. To the north-west is a modern
development with timber window bays, De Beauvoir Place which goes round into
Tottenham Road. On the east side is The Trolley Stop Bar (formerly The De
Beauvoir Arms) an attractive Victorian public house with an adjacent theatre bar. It is
a three storey red brick building with a later bow window inserted into the front
façade.
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As in De Beauvoir Road there is a mix of house types, both semi-detached houses
and flat fronted terraces, within the same street. In some places the paired villas
have been filled between the gaps; which dilutes the quality of the villas, for example
at Nos. 21-23. Elsewhere in the street are examples of poor window and door
replacements. Some houses are particularly attractive and have tall windows with
balconies. No. 2 is a very attractive detached villa on a shallow plot. It is wide and
doubled fronted with a porch with Ionic capitals and a frieze band architrave (see
Figure 51). Unfortunately it occupies a site adjacent to Mick’s Car Body shop with its
large red sign.
Figure 51: No. 2 Stamford Road
At the junction of Stamford and Mortimer Roads is a highly prominent detached villa
(formerly two properties; No. 121 Mortimer Road and No. 4 Stamford Road) which is
now certified as a dangerous structure, due to the tunnelling activities of a long-time
resident. The condition of the building is blighting the Conservation Area as it is
boarded-up, unsafe and diminishing the value of adjacent properties as well as the
quality of life of those living nearby. It is imperative that the building is refurbished, as
it stands on an important apex or focal point in the De Beauvoir Conservation Area.
Figure 52: Dangerous structure on apex site of Stamford and Mortimer Roads
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Mortimer Road
Mortimer Road is an attractive street that is also blighted by the above corner site. As
in other roads of the Conservation Area there is a mix of pairs and terraces, some
with stucco to the ground floor and others plainer with brick. Nos. 84 and 86 are good
pairs of two-storey cottages with basement. Of interest is the adjacent Brewster
House (No. 82A), a double-fronted two storey house plus basement.
Figures 53 & 54: Houses in Mortimer Road
The Talbot PH, recently restored forms a strongly-defined corner despite
inappropriate picture windows. It has stucco rosettes in the window architraves.
Former small shops and a restaurant on the west side of Mortimer Road have in
recent years been converted to residential use.
To the rear of St Peter’s Church on Mortimer Road is the former vicarage by W.C.
Lockner, now a private home.
Figure 55: Former vicarage to St Peter’s in Mortimer Road c.1980
Hertford Road
Hertford Road south of De Beauvoir Square is quite different in character to the
surrounding streets because it has an industrial and new-build character. It looks
over the former Metropolitan Hospital on Kingsland Road, and towards the former
Metropolitan Hospital Nurses Home of 1927 (by Young and Hall) in Enfield Road
which is within the adjacent Kingsland Conservation Area (see Figure 67). The latter
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has been refurbished into a desirable housing scheme during the 1990s. Also visible
from Hertford Road is Enfield Road Board School dating from 1894, which is now
converted into apartments.
On the west side of the street is a substantial industrial/warehouse building (Nos. 8793, Boris Ltd.) erected in 1913. It is attractively designed and is two storeys with red
and yellow brick with wide windows. It has been used for storage for a number of
years and needs refurbishment as it is a fine industrial building (see Figure 56).
Adjacent at No. 85 is the former Mission Hall for St Peters Church, also neglected
awaiting reuse. It has a fine gable with stone carvings, including faces of monsters on
the sides. If both buildings were restored they would make a positive contribution to
the de Beauvoir Conservation Area.
Opposite on the east side of Hertford Road is a new three storey development built in
yellow brick during 2007 (See Figure 58). To the south are modern developments
(from the 1980s and ‘90s) of little merit, although all provide off-street parking. At the
junction with Downham Road is a corner shop.
Figure 56: Warehouse at Nos. 87-95 Hertford Road
Figures 57 & 58: New developments on Hertford Road
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Hertford Road north of De Beauvoir Square contains Benyon Cottages (Nos. 97-107)
a symmetrical group of three pairs dating from 1839. The centre pair has a shared
gable and a tablet ‘BENYON COTTAGES A.D. 1839’. They are two storeys with a
basement and built in stock brick with stuccoed basements (see Figure 59).
Figure 59: Benyon Cottages in Hertford Road
North of Englefield Road, there is great uniformity of the housing in Hertford Road.
Here are modest two storey hipped-roof cottages with recessed side entrances with
round-headed doors. All retain their small front gardens behind brick walls see Figure
60). This part of Hertford Road is very quiet as it is a no through road.
Figure 60: Cottages in the north part of Hertford Road
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Ufton Road
At the corner of Ufton Road and Downham Road is a modern Council garden (Ufton
Gardens) with verdant trees, bushes and benches. It seems underused, but is full of
birds. The De Beauvoir Conservation Area lacks public green space and it seems a
wasted opportunity for the inhabitants of the area. On the opposite corner is a
concrete football pitch, in front of which are four large lime trees.
Figure 61: Ufton Gardens
On the east side of Ufton Road is a 1980s infill ‘Georgian’ development with three
rows of two storeys and basement, in yellow brick. They contain flats. At the rear is
Seville Mews with 9 two storey cottages. The west side of Ufton Road retains
terraces of two storeys with basement with tall steps leading to the front doors.
Towards Northchurch Road there is a terrace with ‘bookends’ and moulded window
and door architraves. Some of the houses retain cast iron balconettes with
anthemion motifs.
Lawford Road
Lawford Road is a short street that runs south from Northchurch Road to Downham
Road, it was originally the southern continuation of Culford Road and was re named
in 1985 when it was made a cul-de-sac. The houses on the west side of Lawford
Road are all in ‘bookend’ terraces, some with good surviving parapets and many with
good front gardens, notably No. 51. Behind No. 75 is Haines Close, a modern
development.
The east side is mix of different terraces including the flat fronted terrace of six
houses at Nos. 70-80. Other short terraces are more typical of De Beauvoir, although
Nos. 58-62 have canted bays added in the later 19th century. Generally it is a very
quiet leafy street with large numbers of street and garden trees.
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Southgate Grove
Southgate Grove is a short, quiet street with some interesting and attractive houses.
The houses which are two storeys with basements, have pediments on gables, with
segmented moulded arched ground floor windows and brackets to the door
architraves. The houses are grouped in terraces of four and there are four groups –
two on the south and two on the north. All have good front gardens and there are
enormous trees at Nos. 5 and 6.
Figure 62: Nos. 3-6 (consecutive) Southgate Grove
On the south side of Southgate Grove near Southgate Road are four refurbished and
new build flats and houses (Harbour View, Tides Reach, Starboard and Portside)
with nautical elements hidden behind very modern railings and gates. Hidden down a
cobbled mews to the rear of the south of Southgate Grove is Orchard Mews a
modern courtyard development which is of excellent design. Designed in 1984 by
Campbell, Zogolovitch, Wilkinson and Gough (CZWG) for Kentish Homes, it
comprises 15 mews houses with quirky Arts and Crafts motifs including substantial
side turrets hung with red tiles that have domed roofs with wide projecting eaves.
Interestingly (and intentionally?) the shape of the roofs at Orchard Mews are similar
in design to motifs employed on the brick piers of garden walls in De Beauvoir
Square (see Figures 63 & 64).
At the corner with Ufton Road there is an attractive three storey 1950s block of flats
built in yellow brick with metal balconies and set in a leafy garden plot.
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Figures 63 & 64: Orchard Mews and wall in De Beauvoir Square
Downham Road
Downham Road is the gateway into De Beauvoir. This busy east-west route from
Southgate Road to Kingsland Road, forms the southern boundary of the
Conservation Area. Immediately to the south are the tower blocks and six storey slab
blocks in dark brick of the LB Hackney’s De Beauvoir New Town Estate built between
1962 and 1972, which contrasts dramatically with the low-rise houses of the De
Beauvoir Conservation Area to the north.
There are a few notable pairs of villas on the north side of Downham Road including
No. 96 which has a front porch with Ionic fluted capitals and a dentil course to the
elaborately moulded architrave. It also has a tiled path and a leafy front garden
behind a privet hedge. The adjacent house No. 98 has an anthemion cast iron
balcony. The houses are brick faced with stucco architraves and moulded cornices.
Some other villas are plainer and without porches. Nos. 100 and 102 have very good
gardens. There is a K6 telephone box designed in 1927 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott that
is listed. Further eastwards on Hertford Road are a number of car repair workshops,
which spill onto the pavement and have a negative visual impact on the Conservation
Area.
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Figure 65: No. 98 Downham Road
4.4
Plan Form and Streetscape
De Beauvoir Conservation Area is a planned middle-class speculative development
that although initiated in the early 1820s, was largely built between 1838 and 1850.
The original complex radial plan with four squares and a central octagon was never
completed but elements of the early scheme survive including De Beauvoir Square,
axial corner sites and radiating roads from the site of the planned octagon. All the
roads in De Beauvoir are spacious and wide, lined with attractive and architecturally
interesting houses and villas built in the 1830s and ‘40s. Almost all the houses have
established front gardens and many contain large established trees. Apart from on
Southgate and Englefield Roads, gardens have not been universally turned over to
parking. Due to the style and plan of the semi-detached houses and short terraces,
many of the houses have areas to the side which have been converted into parking
spaces, thus retaining the gardens immediately in front of the houses.
The height of the houses in De Beauvoir varies between two and three storeys
(sometimes with basements). Apart from the Tudor Jacobean style houses in De
Beauvoir Square the predominant building style in De Beauvoir is Victorian Italianate.
There are two important layout designs; many buildings are villas, being semidetached, with entrances set back and designed to look like separate blocks to the
side. The other main design is the short rows of terraces with projecting bays at the
ends, known as bookends. The elaborate detailing and strong architectural design of
the buildings is important in providing interest to the streets. Despite there being little
open space, apart from De Beauvoir Square and Ufton Gardens, the De Beauvoir
Conservation Area feels open and light, due to wide streets, the views between pairs
and short terraces of villas, many street trees and good front gardens. St Peter’s
Church despite being at the centre of the area is hardly seen from any part of the
Conservation Area, due to the enormous trees that enclose and encroach on the
building. It should be a focal point, but is barely visible except from the north side of
De Beauvoir Square.
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4.5
Views, Focal Points and Focal Buildings
The most important views are out of the De Beauvoir Conservation Area towards
Balls Pond Road and the almshouses; towards the De Beauvoir New Town Estate
from Downham Road and across De Beauvoir Square towards the Lockner Estate.
Within the De Beauvoir Conservation Area the most important views are along
Northchurch Road and Terrace, the views of De Beauvoir Square, the view towards
the Scolt Head and the views of the villas on the axial points. The view towards the
tall De Beauvoir Primary School in Tottenham Road is also important. Views of the
terraces on the south side of Balls Pond Road are significant but not always clearly
visible due to the amount of traffic in the road.
Figure 66: View to Balls Pond Road from Culford Road
Other important views within and just outside the De Beauvoir Conservation Area
are:
• View towards the Edwardian terrace opposite the church in Northchurch Terrace
• The View across De Beauvoir Square
• View into Orchard Mews
• The view of the villas in Southgate Grove
• View south along De Beauvoir Road
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Figure 67: View from Hertford Road towards the former Metropolitan
Hospital Nurses Home in Enfield Road
The only religious building in the Conservation Area should act as a focal building,
but St Peter’s is only clearly visible from De Beauvoir Square. The former vicarage in
Mortimer Road is a focal building, as is the single Tudor Jacobean villa in
Northchurch Terrace. Another focal building is De Beauvoir Primary School in
Tottenham Road. The Scolt Head and the Talbot are both focal buildings, being in
prominent locations. A number of semi-detached houses sited on axial corners are
focal buildings. However there are a number of buildings on these sites that need
repair. The former slipper baths in Englefield Road is a focal building. Some of the
terraces and villas are of sufficient size and grandeur to act as focal buildings in
views along the streets.
4.6
Landscape and Trees
The most important green space within the De Beauvoir Conservation Area is De
Beauvoir Square which is an important centre of informal recreation and children’s
play activity. Over recent years it has been refurbished and is well maintained. It has
plenty of grass, mature trees and rose bushes and many benches for relaxation.
Ufton Gardens is an area of tarmac with bushes and seating. It has plenty of mature
trees and without doubt provides a good habitat for birds and small wildlife. It isn’t the
most attractive open space and perhaps could benefit from Council attention. Within
the Conservation Area are planters and small areas filled with bushes and flowers,
especially at the end of no through roads.
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Figure 68: Planting and street trees at the junction of Northchurch Terrace and De Beauvoir Road
There are a number of mature street trees on all the roads within the Conservation
Area and some important trees stand in the front gardens. De Beauvoir Conservation
Area is fortunate in retaining many well-maintained front gardens with very few being
paved over for parking spaces. The most important trees and gardens are:
• Street trees in Northcurch Road and Terrace;
• Street trees in front of Brunswick Place, Balls Pond Road;
• Beer garden to the front of Scolt Head;
• Street trees in front of football pitch on corner of Downham and Ufton Roads;
• The front gardens in Northchurch Road and Terrace;
• The front gardens in Southgate Grove;
• Mature trees in Churchyard of St Peter’s;
• Trees and planting in De Beauvoir Square;
• The front gardens in De Beauvoir Square;
• The garden and playground at Our Lady and St Joseph Primary School,
Tottenham Road/
4.7
Activities and Uses
De Beauvoir Conservation Area is principally a residential area with a few pockets of
industrial/manufacturing activity and a few shops. Most of houses were built in the
second quarter of the 19th century, as part of a planned development on land owned
by the Beauvoir family. Today some of the large properties have been converted into
flats but in many streets, most houses are still in single family occupation. Within the
Conservation Area there are significant amounts of modern infill developments of
varying quality, dating from the 1950s onwards, located in former mews and at the
ends of gardens. There are a number of corner shops and several public houses
(The Scolt Head, Talbot, The Trolley Stop Bar, The Perseverance PH, The
Wellington) but many small shops that previously existed on the estate in Hertford
Road, Mortimer Road and Tottenham Road no longer exist. On Balls Pond Road a
number of shops, including a Polish supermarket, flourish.
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Figure 69: Shops at Nos. 82-102 Hertford Road c. 1960 (demolished)
Today some former industrial buildings have been converted into live/work units. But
factories and workshops still survive in De Beauvoir Road, Downham Road,
Tottenham Road and Southgate Road.
There is one church and a former chapel within De Beauvoir Conservation Area. Both
St Peter’s Church and the former Maberley Chapel on Balls Pond Road are listed
grade II. A number of public buildings exist within De Beauvoir Conservation Area.
The first is De Beauvoir Primary School built in 1874 (see Figure 22). The second is
the former slipper baths in Englefield Road, now used as a Vietnamese Community
Centre.
Compared to even ten years ago, there are very few examples of derelict or run
down properties within the de Beauvoir Conservation Area. Many houses have been
renovated in recent years including properties formerly on English Heritage’s
Buildings at Risk Register. Today there are two significant derelict houses – the
problem house at No. 121 Mortimer Road/No. 4 Stamford Road and No. 45
Buckingham Road, although we understand that proposals for renovation of 45
Buckingham road will be odged with the Council shortly. Some properties at the
southern end of Southgate Road are also in need of repair. There are also several
industrial buildings in Hertford Road that require refurbishment or reuse.
Many of the most obvious underused or vacant sites have already been exploited for
new development within the De Beauvoir Conservation Area. However there are
potential long-term sites for redevelopment along Tottenham Road; the car park in
Bentley Road; the large block occupied by Our Lady and St Joseph RC Primary
School; parts of the Kingsgate Estate and sites currently utilised for industrial
purposes on the east side of De Beauvoir Road.
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5 THE BUILDINGS OF THE CONSERVATION AREA
5.1 Introduction
De Beauvoir Conservation Area contains an interesting variety of buildings dating to
the early to mid-19th century, many of which are listed or locally listed. The best
quality buildings are St Peter’s Church, the Tudor-Jacobean houses in De Beauvoir
Square, the houses and terraces in Northchurch Road and Terrace. There are also
groups of houses and villas in other streets of the Conservation Area, which although
unlisted are relatively unaltered and which make a really positive contribution to the
character of the Conservation Area. These are called “Buildings of Townscape Merit”
and are marked on the Townscape Appraisal Map. De Beauvoir Square is an
important example of a London Square and is an important ‘green’ element in the
character of the Conservation Area.
The more important of these buildings have been described in section 4.3 above ‘The
Buildings of the Conservation Area’.
5.2 Listed Buildings
There are 147 listed buildings or structures within the Conservation Area, all of which
are listed grade II. This is a very large number for any Conservation Area and
comprises many individual houses and terraces. Listed buildings are all included in a
list at Appendix B.
5.3 Buildings of Local Significance
There are 150 “locally” listed buildings in the Conservation Area. These are buildings
which make a contribution to the character of the Conservation Area and which
Hackney Council consider to be of local significance due to their age, architectural
detailing or because of some unusual feature. They include a range of villas and
terraced houses mainly in residential use. Although not statutorily listed, the buildings
are considered to be of sufficient local significance to warrant consideration in a
planning context. These are all included in a list at Appendix B.
5.4 Buildings of Townscape Merit
Apart from the listed and locally listed buildings, a large number of unlisted buildings
in the Conservation Area have been identified as “Buildings of Townscape Merit”.
These are usually well detailed examples of mainly late 19th century houses or
commercial premises which retain their original detailing. As such, they make a
positive contribution to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area, and
any proposals to alter or demolish such buildings will be strongly resisted by the
Council (see Policy EQ13 of the UDP of 1995). Together, these buildings provide the
cohesive and interesting historic townscape which is necessary to justify designation
as a Conservation Area.
Of special merit are the examples of good quality terraced houses, pubs and schools
and a few industrial buildings within the Conservation Area. They are marked on the
map of De Beauvoir Conservation Area.
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Listed Buildings
Listed buildings are more tightly controlled than unlisted buildings and are subject to
separate legislation. “Listed Building Consent” is required for all alterations and
extensions which affect the special architectural or historic interest of the building,
and as both the exterior and interior of the building is listed, the Council’s approval is
therefore required for a wide range of work. Further guidance can be obtained from
the Council but briefly, the type of work commonly requiring Listed Building Consent
includes:
• The installation of new windows or doors;
• All extensions (planning permission may also be required);
• Removing internal features such as fireplaces, walls, timber partitions, panelling,
and shutters;
• Removing or altering a staircase;
• Altering or demolishing a boundary wall.
This list is for guidance purposes only and is not exhaustive. If you are in any doubt
as to whether you require Consent, please contact the Council’s conservation staff
before commencing work. It is a criminal offence to alter a listed building without
Consent and carryout out work illegally can result in a substantial fine or even
imprisonment.
When considering applications for Listed Building Consent, the Council will usually
require the applicant to submit a detailed archaeological evaluation or report of the
building which will describe the historical development of the buildings and its site, as
well as identify the special features which contribute to its architectural and historic
interest. All proposals which affect listed buildings must preserve these special
features, and applications which propose their removal are unlikely to be acceptable.
Extensions to listed buildings will be judged in a similar way to those to unlisted
buildings (Para. 7.5) but will additionally need to satisfy the following:
• Extensions should be secondary in size, bulk and footprint to the original building;
• Extensions will need to be carefully detailed to marry-in with the original building;
• Traditional materials and details will be required.
Further information about listed buildings can be found in PPG15 (see paragraph 2.1,
above) and in the UDP.
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6 “SWOT” ANALYSIS
De Beauvoir Conservation Area is notable for its important individual streets
containing properties of character, mainly well-preserved early-Victorian houses, a
building type that Hackney has in many varied examples. The houses and villas in De
Beauvoir Conservation Area are amongst the very best within the borough, as
recognised by the large numbers of listed and ‘locally’ listed buildings. Other
buildings have been identified within this appraisal as making a positive contribution
to the character or appearance of the Conservation Area (Buildings of Townscape
Merit). Together these form an interesting and unified historic streetscape,
contrasting with the openness of De Beauvoir Square’s green space at the centre of
the Conservation Area and the high-rise Council estate to the south of Downham
Road. However, a number of negative features have impacted on the quality of the
historic environment, many of which are reversible given the necessary funding and
commitment.
6.1 Strengths
The most positive features of the Conservation Area are:
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The original layout of the streets is successful in creating a feeling of
spaciousness. This is created by the wide streets, paired villas and terraces of
four to six houses;
Wide streets, some of which are traffic calmed;
Most of the area is residential and the main traffic routes are around the
perimeter, making the residential area quiet;
Good preservation and maintenance of character of the houses;
A large number of listed and locally listed buildings;
Striking design of the houses in De Beauvoir Square;
Villas in Northchurch Road;
A number of streets which have coherence are homogenous and contain a
completeness of historic fabric and individual characteristics. There is both
uniformity of character but paradoxically an interesting variety of houses in De
Beauvoir;
Numbers of Buildings of Townscape Merit, all creating a cohesive townscape;
The survival of well-kept front gardens to many houses;
Green and leafy with good street trees;
Glimpses of gardens and trees between the houses;
Large number of beautiful front gardens;
Apex sites on triangular plots with landmark buildings;
The predominantly residential nature of the area and its human scale;
Survival of early to mid-19th century houses of definable quality, with good
external features such as doorcases, iron work and sash windows;
Good quality details on the early Victorian 19th century buildings including stucco,
stone and brick features such as cornices, lintels, window reveals and door
surrounds;
Some modern developments of high quality (e.g. Orchard Mews);
Survival of iron boundary railings in some streets;
Survival of small public houses in the De Beauvoir Conservation Area;
Strong community spirit (De Beauvoir Association);
Balls Pond Road’s attractive listed and locally listed early 19th century terraces;
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De Beauvoir Square’s green public space;
Views towards De Beauvoir Square from the adjoining streets;
A few interesting industrial buildings and warehouses especially in Hertford Road.
Good sense of community with many community organisations and a growing
number of local events and activities.
6.2 Weaknesses
The most negative features of the Conservation Area are:
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The very busy traffic and pollution in Balls Pond Road;
Traffic in Englefield Road;
The run down corner shops in the Conservation Area;
Loss of front gardens to parking in certain roads (Englefield Road and Southgate
Road);
Lack of public open space;
Some vacant and derelict properties requiring repair that detract from the high
quality of the streetscape;
Some inappropriate side extensions which are not in keeping; too high or have
inappropriate details;
Loss of architectural features, especially windows and doors;
Satellite dishes placed on front of properties within the Conservation Area;
The general neglect of recreational areas near Ufton Road.
Few community meeting places.
6.3 Opportunities
The following points are “opportunities” which the London Borough of Hackney or
private owners could implement, subject to the necessary funds being available:
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Repair historic buildings using the correct materials and details;
Encouragement of those on prominent axial sites to refurbish gardens and
reinstate railings;
Repair the dangerous structure at No. 121 Mortimer Road/No. 4 Stamford Road;
Preparation of up to date design guidance on the types of houses in the area;
Encouragement of high quality new design;
Preparation of a ‘good practice’ guide for off street parking;
Continue to support the replacement of front boundary railings, gates and walls;
Educational opportunity for the public, schools, colleges exploring design and
history;
Encourage small corner shop owners to improve their existing shopfronts;
Encourage community groups to participate in the planning process;
Aim to renovate houses in Southgate Road near to Downham Road;
Improve the planting and maintenance of green areas near Ufton Road;
Control the loss of front gardens to parking and other important historic features
by serving an Article 4 Direction.
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6.4 Threats
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Loss of original detailing, especially to single family dwellings which retain certain
permitted development rights;
Inappropriate alterations, such as large side extensions and painting of brickwork;
Small shops with low profit margins do not generate funds for repairing the
buildings;
Poor quality shop fronts and shabby car workshops reinforce an air of neglect,
especially in Downham Road;
Inappropriate redevelopment on vacant sites;
Increasing property prices might mean more subdivision of the larger houses and
villas;
Loss of small pubs for residential use.
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7 CONCLUSION
The early designation in 1971 of De Beauvoir as a Conservation Area, has resulted
in the good long-term preservation and protection of one of Hackney’s most important
early Victorian planned estates. After years of neglect during the mid-20th century, De
Beauvoir has been restored into an attractive residential enclave with a great sense
of community. Compared to other areas of Hackney, De Beauvoir has few examples
of the poorest types of inappropriate modern materials such as UVPC, especially in
window and replacement doors. However the positioning of satellite dishes on the
fronts of some houses in the Conservation Area is an unsightly intrusion to the
streetscape.
Many of the semi-detached villas and houses in short terraces are well maintained
and of exceptional architectural quality, recognised by their statutory protection as
listed buildings. Most retain their front gardens and original features. Despite being
surrounded by busy routes (Kingsland Road, Balls Pond Road, Southgate Road and
Downham Road) the roads within the Conservation Area are frequently quiet,
unusual for a Hackney location, which is due in part to road closures in the centre of
the estate. It is an area much favoured by families. The continued preservation of the
area is important if the architectural integrity of the housing is to be retained and
preserved for future generations.
In parts of the Conservation Area there are some (but relatively few) examples of
neglected buildings and poor maintenance. The overall retention of original features
of the 19th century houses is high and the current regeneration of nearby Dalston and
Kingsland Road will benefit the area. Where industrial/warehouse sites survive, some
have been redeveloped into housing and live/work units. Within the De Beauvoir
Conservation Area there have been a number of small scale modern developments,
which generally have been appropriate in scale and sometimes to a very high
standard of design (as in Orchard Mews).
Despite there being little public open space apart from De Beauvoir Square, the wide
streets, large numbers of mature street trees and green planting at the end of nothrough roads, ensure a leafy and verdant environment. The survival of many front
gardens adds to the ‘greenness’ of the Conservation Area. However on some main
roads (especially those with bus routes), there has been widespread removal of
attractive front gardens and their subsequent conversion into off street parking. This
is especially true in Englefield and Southgate Roads. It is a trend that should be
resisted in the rest of the De Beauvoir Conservation Area.
Very many of the buildings within the Conservation Area are listed or locally listed;
others as a result of this report have been recognised as Buildings of Townscape
Merit. They all display a variety of historic features, materials and architectural styles
typical of the early to mid-19th century domestic middle-class house for which
Hackney is famous.
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APPENDIX A: HISTORIC MAPS OF THE CONSERVATION AREA
Roque’s Map of 1745
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Map of 1830
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OS Map of 1870
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OS Map of 1894
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Contemporary Map
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APPENDIX B: A SCHEDULE OF STATUTORILY LISTED AND
LOCALLY LISTED BUILDINGS
Statutorily listed buildings (all listed grade II unless otherwise noted):
Balls Pond Road
No. 47A (Maberly Chapel and attached school building)
Nos. 65-79 (odd)
Nos. 93-97 (odd)
Nos. 99-113 (odd)
Nos. 121-151 (odd)
No. 53
Nos. 155 and 157
De Beauvoir Road
Church of St Peter (C) and walls and gates
Nos. 75-85 (odd)
Nos. 87-105 (odd)
De Beauvoir Square
North Side Nos. 1 to 10 (consecutive)
West Side Nos. 13-20 (consecutive)
Railings around De Beauvoir Square Garden
South Side Nos. 21-30 (consecutive)
Downham Road
Nos. 96 and 98
Hertford Road
Nos. 97 to 107 (odd)
Mortimer Road
No. 85
Northchurch Road
Nos. 40-46 (even)
Nos. 48 and 50
Nos. 52 and 54
Nos. 1-15 (odd)
Nos. 17 & 19
Nos. 21– 7 (odd)
Nos. 29-35 (odd)
Nos. 37 and 39
Nos. 41-55 (odd)
Nos. 57-63 (odd)
Nos. 1-15 (odd)
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Northchurch Terrace
No. 10
Southgate Road
Nos. 110-116 (even)
K2 telephone kiosk at junction with Downham Road
K2 telephone kiosk at junction with Northchurch Road
Nos. 126-130 (even)
Locally listed buildings:
Locally listed buildings are those which are on the Council’s own list of buildings of
local architectural or historic interest. The Council’s policy (EQ20) in the Unitary
Development Plan is to retain the character and appearance of these when
determining planning applications.
Balls Pond Road:
Nos. 1-17 (odd)
Nos. 31-37 (odd)
Nos. 43-47 (odd)
Nos. 57-63 (odd)
No. 163
No. 165
Buckingham Road:
Nos. 25-27 (odd)
De Beauvoir Road:
Nos. 106-110 (even)
Nos. 114-120 (even)
No. 161
Downham Road:
No. 54
Nos. 60-62 (even)
No. 71 (The Mitre Tavern)
Enfield Road
No. 27
Englefield Road:
Nos. 36-38 (even)
Mortimer Road:
Nos. 46-80 (even)
Nos. 51-53 (odd)
Nos. 57-81 (odd)
No. 99
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Northchurch Road:
Nos. 4-38 (even)
No. 56
Nos. 14-28 (even)
No. 58
No.1
Southgate Grove:
Nos.1-6 (consecutive)
No. 100 -102 (even)
Nos. 118-122 (even)
Nos. 1-4 (consecutive)
Southgate Road:
Nos. 100-02 (even)
Nos. 118-22 (even)
Nos. 1-4 (consecutive)
Nos. 84-90 (even)
Stamford Road:
Nos. 1-3 (odd)
Wall to NW of 1 Stamford Road
Nos. 5-9 (odd)
No. 35
No. 2
Tottenham Road:
Nos. 130-152 (even)
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APPENDIX C: BIBLIOGRAPHY
Buildings of England: London 4 North
Bridget Cherry and Nikolaus Pevsner
(Penguin Books 1999)
De Beauvoir Town Study
LB Hackney
(1969)
Balmes House
P. Metcalfe
Architectural Review, June 1957
De Beauvoir Town Millennium
Scrapbook
Twentieth Century Buildings
In Hackney
From tower to tower block:
The buildings of Hackney
Brian MacArthur (1999)
Elizabeth Robinson
(Hackney Society publication 1999)
Written and published by
The Hackney Society1984
Victoria County History: Middlesex
Out of print - copy available at Hackney
Archives or online
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APPENDIX D: LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure 1: Original plan of the proposed Beauvoir Estate c.1821
Figure 2: Semi-detached villas in Northchurch Terrace
Figure 3: St Peter’s Church and former vicarage with No. 19 De Beauvoir Square c.
1841
Figure 4: Houses on north side of De Beauvoir Square
Figure 5: Balmes House and grounds in 1707
Figure 6: James Burton’s and William Rhodes’s plan of 1821
Figure 7: Detail of De Beauvoir in Greenwood’s map of 1826 showing Rhodes Farm,
Park Place and ‘Mad House’ formerly Balmes House.
Figure 8: De Beauvoir depicted on the Booth Poverty Map of the mid-1890s
Figure 9: Planting in Ufton Grove
Figure 10: No. 62 Downham Road
Figures 11 & 12: Fine buildings in apex sites (Nos. 176 & 178 Southgate Road and
Scolt Head (corner of Ardleigh and Culford Roads)
Figure 13: Northchurch Terrace
Figure 14 & 15: ‘Bookend Terraces’ of 4 and 6 houses in De Beauvoir Town
Figures 16 & 17: Cast iron porch at No. 31 Balls Pond Road and Nos. 57-63 Balls
Pond Road
Figure 18: Former Maberley Chapel
Figure 19: Nos. 65-79 Balls Pond Road
Figure 20: Nos. 93-113 Balls Pond Road
Figure 21: Maisonettes on the Kingsgate Estate
Figure 22: De Beauvoir Primary School, Tottenham Road
Figure 23: South side of Tottenham Road
Figures 24 & 25: Old tiled adverts
Figures 26: Houses on south side of Buckingham Road
Figure 28: Nos. 104 to 94 Buckingham Road
Figure 29: Ardleigh Road c. 1910
Figures 30 & 31: The Sussex Hotel c. 1997 (from Booth notebooks) & The Scolt
Head today
Figure 32: House in Culford Road
Figures 33 & 34: No. 114 Culford Road in 1960s and today
Figure 35: No. 110 Southgate Road
Figure 36: Off street parking in Southgate Road
Figure 37: Nos. 35-41 Englefield Road
Figure 38: Removal of front gardens on the north side of Englefield Road
Figure 39: Terrace on west side of De Beauvoir Road
Figure 40: Factories on the east side of De Beauvoir Road south of Englefield Road
Figure 41: Timber house by David Adjaye built in 2006
Figure 42: St Peter’s, De Beauvoir Town c.1850
Figure 43 & 44: Nos. 20 & 21De Beauvoir Square
Figure 45: Modern flats on west side of De Beauvoir Square replicating the original
houses
Figure 46: De Beauvoir Square with houses on the north side
Figure 47: Partly stuccoed semi-detached villas in Northchurch Road
Figure 48: Fully stuccoed villas in Northchurch Road
Figure 49: No. 10 Northchurch Terrace
Figure 50: Nos. 2-8 Northchurch Terrace
Figure 51: No. 2 Stamford Road
Figure 52: Dangerous structure on apex site of Stamford and Mortimer Roads
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Figures 53 & 54: Houses in Mortimer Road
Figure 55: Former vicarage to St Peter’s in Mortimer Road
Figure 56: Warehouse at Nos. 87-95 Hertford Road
Figures 57 & 58: New developments on Hertford Road
Figure 59: Benyon Cottages, Hertford Road
Figure 60: Cottages in the north part of Hertford Road
Figure 61: Ufton Gardens
Figure 62: Nos. 3-6 (consecutive) Southgate Grove
Figures 63 & 64: Orchard Mews and wall in De Beauvoir Square
Figure 65: No. 98 Downham Road
Figure 66: View to Balls Pond Road from De Beauvoir Road
Figure 67: View from Hertford Road to the former Metropolitan Hospital Nurses Home
in Enfield Road
Figure 68: Planting and street trees at the junction of Northchurch Terrace and De
Beauvoir Road
Figure 69: Shops at Nos. 82-102 Hertford Road c. 1960 (demolished)
Figure 70: The Lockner Estate on the east side of De Beauvoir Square
All images are copyright of Hackney Archives / LBH, unless otherwise stated
London Borough of Hackney, LA08638X (2004)
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APPENDIX E: FURTHER INFORMATION
Urban Design, Sustainability and
Conservation Team
Neighbourhoods and Regeration
London Borough of Hackney
263-265 Mare Street
Hackney
London E8 3HT
Tel:
020 8356 8033 / 8071 /
8217
Fax:
020 8356 8087
Website:
www.hackney.gov.uk
English Heritage
1 Waterhouse Square
138-142 Holborn
London
EC1N 2ST
General inquiries: 020 7973 3000
Customer Services: 020 7973 4916
For further information relating to listed
buildings and conservation areas
The Victorian Society
1 Priory Gardens
Bedford Park
London
W4 1TT
Tel: 020 8994 1019
For the “Care for Victorian Houses”
leaflet, etc.
De Beauvoir Conservation Area Appraisal
The Georgian Group
6 Fitzroy Square
London
W1P 6DY
Tel: 020 73871720
For an excellent range of technical
advice leaflets and courses on
Georgian architecture
The Hackney Society
The Round Chapel
1d Glenarm Road
London
E5 9LY
Tel: 020 8806 4003
Hackney’s local amenity society and
umbrella organisation for conservation
area advisory committees
De Beauvoir Association
www.debeauvoir.org.uk
[email protected]
The local amenity society for De
Beauvoir Town
Kingsland Conservation Area
Advisory Committee
www.kcaac.org.uk
[email protected]
Covers planning and other local issues
for De Beauvoir Conservation Area
May 2008