As we look to develop a new Design Code - a tool that will shape future development within the National Park - we want to get your thoughts on the below profiles and short films that we have created based on our villages.
Within these we have tried to identify the aspects of design that create a village’s ‘sense of place’ and are asking you to think about places in the same way. We are inviting you to look around a village and tell us what you like about the area, and what you notice. What are the 'design cues' which make a place distinctive? What is good design within the context your local area?
You can submit your thoughts via the following the link at the end of each profile. The villages included on this page include: Mickleby, Nether Silton, Newholm, Newton on Rawcliffe, Newton under Roseberry, Old Byland, Oldstead, Osmotherley, Oswaldkirk, Over Silton, Pockley and Port Mulgrave.
Mickleby
Mickleby lies west of Lythe. The village has a distinctively agricultural character with many working farms within the village. Its historical core is centred around the White Hart Pub, the Methodist Chapel and the Congregational Chapel. The traditional building material is sandstone and predominantly natural red clay pantile. The only brick building is the former Manse house (1920s) which has more of a railway character and is unique to the village. The village is laid out in linear form where dwellings are generally of single plot depth, facing the highway, set back behind well-maintained gardens. Expansion has occurred at the edges of the village with 20th century bungalows and pebble-dashed semis.
Windows and doors are a mixture of styles, colours, and materials, but where traditional timber detailing exists these contribute to the architectural character. Boundary treatments are predominantly drystone walls interspersed with hedging, but timber picket and metal railings can also be found. Dwellings generally face the highway, often set back behind a well-stocked garden which contributes to its rural character. Although predominantly residential, several farms are still in operation at either end of the village.
Negative factors: Loss of boundaries and wide gateways. Overhead wires and poles. Loss of traditional fenestration styles.
Nether Silton is a linear village, lying to the southwest of the National Park, with close associations to Over Silton to the north. Only the buildings on the northern side of the main road through Nether Silton are included within the National Park boundary, although all make a positive contribution to the village. This is reflected in the Conservation Area which is spread across the boundary and includes All Saints Church and Silton Hall. There is a record of Nether Silton, or a combined ‘Silftune’, in the Domesday book and 10 households were recorded in the 1301 lay subsidy. Given the slightly elevated position and sloping nature of the entrance and exit roads, there are dramatic views to the south, comprising agricultural land shadowed by prominent hills (Brenk, Mill, Leake, Rush and Beanlands). Some pockets are covered in woodland and there are glimpses of moorland to the east. Lighting is limited throughout the village, and together with surrounding land cover lends a sense of isolation and tranquillity.
Within the village, there is a strong relationship with the wider landscape, with a wide village green, grassed verges, mature trees and often well-maintained gardens to the front and back. Down the side of the Old Post Office, there is a grassed track that leads behind the plots and to a timber crossing point which forms part of the historic footpath that connects Nether Silton, Over Silton and St Mary’s Church. This provides a characterful view from the rear and includes low-level stone and hedge boundaries throughout the village, many with timber picket gates. Dwellings fronting the highway tend to be set back in substantial plots, whereas those perpendicular to the highway have the gable end adjoining the pavement and often appear to have been extended in a linear form down the long plots. Buildings are mostly constructed from sandstone and pantile or slate with many examples of traditional white Yorkshire horizontal sliding or multipaned vertical sash windows. With many local farms, there is also a high degree of agricultural character and many intermittent small outbuildings with timber panelled doors. Next to the Old Post Office (with inset Georgian Post box), and behind the Gold Cup Inn, is the Grade II Listed Forge Cottage, now one dwelling, with a listed K6 red telephone box at the front.
Negative factors: Overhead wires, tired signage, tarmac, and pavement repairs with a different surface material.
Newholm is a smaller village, located in the coastal hinterland on the northeast coast of the National Park. The village is characterised by its linear form, with intermittent open landscape views across adjacent fields to the east. The buildings on the southern side are typically more traditional in their construction with sandstone under pantile. Buildings have strong agricultural links, with many 2 storey dwellings featuring attached single storey converted barns, large curtilages to the rear and stone walling bounding the front elevation.
To the northern end of the village are a mix of dwelling types, including a row of 19th century terraces with modest dormer windows and more modern 2 storey dwellings and bungalows. Notable buildings include the Grade II Listed Ye Olde Beehive Inn, a 17th Century drovers inn and now a public house, notable for its white painted masonry, traditional timber Yorkshire sliding sash windows and catslide dormer windows. Adjacent to this is the Grade II Listed former Methodist Chapel.
Negative factors: Mix of building styles, including modern dwellings which do not reflect local vernacular. Large areas of tarmac for parking which also detract from the character of the locality.
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Newton on Rawcliffe
Newton on Rawcliffe lies four miles north of Pickering. The village is linear in form with a central expansive village green and duck pond. Many buildings share an outlook over the green, including a cluster of farms and cottages and several listed buildings which suggests that this area could be the historic core of the village. Only buildings on the eastern side of the main road are included within the National Park boundary. It appears from historic maps that the plots along this side were particularly long with buildings set right up to the front boundary, adjoining the pavement of the main road. Many of these dwellings have outbuildings to the rear, some in agricultural use. Today the boundaries of the plots are much less defined as many gaps between buildings have been infilled with new dwellings, creating a fairly continuous frontage albeit some separation that remains for access to the rear.
Buildings are set behind a grassed verge and walkway, as houses are set at a slightly higher level than the main road on both sides. Buildings are mostly limestone, reflecting the local geology and have clay pantile roofs often with brick chimneys. There are a few brick buildings to the north of the village, presenting a characterful contrast. Although many windows have been replaced with uPVC, they often reflect historic multi-paned patterns with several examples of flatter roofed dormers that cut through the eaves. Where boundaries are present, they are low stone walls, hedges and timber gates. Within the National Park boundary, there are several public buildings, including the village hall, schoolhouse, old chapel, and St Johns Church, some of which have been converted to residential but still present hallmarks of former uses. St. John’s Church is the largest religious building in the village alongside former chapels. However, it is mostly concealed at the southern end, set back behind a stone wall and tall mature trees, presenting a surprising, picturesque view on the approach. The Old Vicarage has an unusual patterned slate roof. Although views are mostly insular, given the tightly knit layout of buildings, when exiting to the south in the direction of Pickering there are glimpses of vast views across surrounding agricultural land and pockets of forest.
Negative factors: Mix of building styles, including modern bungalows which do not reflect the local vernacular.
Limestone Hills Landscape Character Type
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Newton Under Roseberry
Newton Under Roseberry lies on the northwestern edge of the North York Moors. It lies on flat ground in linear form, with the landmark shape of Roseberry Topping providing an impressive backdrop. The name Roseberry Topping comes from a time when invading The Danes revived pagan names. It is a long corrupted version of ‘Odin’s Bjarg’ meaning rock or crag in Old Norse, with ‘Toppen’ Old Norse for hill. Its partner, Freeborough Hill near Commondale is thought to be a derivation of ‘Friga’s Berg’, Friga being Odin’s queen.
The National Park boundary runs along the main A173 with buildings on the Roseberry Topping side within the National Park. The focal point of the village is the 18th century King’s Head Inn, which retains architectural details from its time as a coaching inn. A large village green lies over the road, providing the village with a spread out, spacious character.
Newton under Roseberry has a mix of buildings from different periods. Older buildings are typically sandstone with red pantile (with some slate) and are set back from the main road, separated by small green areas and hedges. The village is ‘bookended’ by more modern developments – one to the south which replaced a 1960s white rendered dwelling with a more vernacular design to the front and one to the north of a more contemporary design, which extended a bungalow.
Roseberry cottage and Numbers 6 and 7 The Green, with their sashes with glazing bars and upper windows in dormers breaking the eaves are Grade II listed, as are (although not within the National Park) the Old Village Hall and Newton Hall.
St Oswald’s Church is medieval in origin, although it was rebuilt in 1855 with the tower constructed in 1901.
Negative Contributors: Some 20th century developments haven’t followed the traditional pattern of development. Modern fenestration and materials in some places.
Old Byland is situated on the plateau of the limestone hills in an elevated and open landscape to the southwest of the National Park. The name derives from the Old English ‘Bega’s land’ which suggests there was a community living there 1,200 years ago. The village itself is arranged in a nucleated form around a central village green and the whole village is included in the Conservation Area, designated in 1983. Properties are set back some distance from the highway behind the green with small well stocked front gardens bounded by white painted picket fences, dry stone walls and wrought iron fences.
Properties are generally modest in size consisting of simple vernacular 1 ½ storey linear cottages. Limestone is the only building material under red clay pantile roofs, most with simple mortared verges and traditional brick chimney stacks. Byland Hall is the exception to this, forming a substantial 2 storey house with a slate roof and All Saints Church is unusual in its location, slightly obscured behind the building line. Windows and doors are almost all white painted timber with horizontal sliding sashes to the cottages, vertical multi-pane sliding sashes to the larger houses and almost all with 4-panel doors, some incorporating glazing. Stone twin trod lanes provide vehicular access across the green with timber 5-bar gates.
Negative factors: Poles and overhead wires. Some erosion of the grass verges.
Oldstead lies to the southwest of the National Park between Wass and Kilburn. Historically, Oldstead was a scattered settlement with most development occurring in the latter half of the 20th century, creating a more linear village. Limestone and natural red clay pantile are the predominant building material, with properties fronting directly onto the highway with large gardens to the sides and rears, interspersed with fields. Brick is evident but not common. Boundaries are predominantly mature hedges with drystone walls and timber picket fencing although metal is also evident. Timber 5-bar gates are also common. Windows are generally white, or cream painted timber sashes (horizontal and vertical). Doors are also timber painted but some are encased with small timber porches of individual design.
To the north of the village are ‘’Scotch Corner’ and ‘Hell Hole’ – whose names likely date back to the Battle of Byland in 1322. The battle, between King Edward II of England and King Robert I (‘the Bruce’) of Scotland took place during the Scottish Wars of Independence. On 14 October, the Scots army arrived at the foot of Sutton Bank to find the cliff defended by a strong English force. Robert sent troops to circle around to reach the higher ground. The names Scotch Corner and Hell Hole are strong clues that this is the site of the Scottish breakthrough.
Negative factors: Some 20th century developments haven’t followed the traditional pattern of development. Modern fenestration and materials. Large modern outbuildings.
Osmotherley lies to the west of the National Park close to the A172/A19. Osmotherley appears in the Domesday book as ‘Asmundrelac’ meaning ‘a clearing belonging to Asmund.’ Centuries later, the village had developed into a small town in part due to its proximity to a priory and chapel, which led to an influx of visiting pilgrims and Quaker and Methodist congregations. Clues to Osmotherley’s religious past are everywhere. In the village itself, there’s a small green where John Wesley, founder of the Methodist church would preach, a chapel (one of the oldest in the UK) and St Peter’s Church.
Osmotherley is a nucleated settlement, laid out in a broad and subtly curving ‘T’ form. The market cross and bartering table lies at the core of the village. Buildings principally date from the 18th and 19th centuries and are predominantly constructed from local sandstone. Houses to the core are tightly packed townhouses and terraces of two or three stories. These face the streets behind large grassy verges and elevated cobble pavements. Away from the core a parallel narrow lane (Back Lane) is aligned to the east of the main street off North End. Buildings in this area are more varied in massing with single storey former farm buildings and stone boundary walls to rear gardens creating a less dense built form than on the main streets. There are distinctive wide cobbled and grassed verges at North End and West End.
Osmotherley has a strong historic core, the only exception being the line of modern houses with a suburban character perched high on Ruebury Lane to the north, and the ribbon development of small 20th century housing estates and detached bungalows aligning Clack Lane and West End. Between the 1930s and the 1970s homes tended to be constructed on the edge of the village or as infill properties, often in the form of bungalows.
A number of historic shop fronts still survive and a ‘ghost sign’ for Magnet Pale Ale can be seen above the traditional ‘K6’ red telephone box in the centre. Traditional buildings have stringcourses immediately below the eaves at the front and rear elevation, which cantilever approximately 50mm from the face of the wall. The stringcourse also helps support the kneeler stone and provides a better fixing for the rise and fall gutter brackets. The stringcourses sometimes continue across the gable end.
Negative factors: Loss of historic bow windows, loss of historic shop fronts. Excessive signage. Parked cars detract from character.
Oswaldkirk lies on the southwestern edge of the National Park, close to Helmsley. Most of the village sits on a steep hill, and its elevated position offers fine views over the Coxwold to Gilling gap. The historic core of the village is in linear form where development is situated on both sides of the main road. A modern 20th century cul-de-sac development has extended the village to the south and this, along with the southern side of Main Street, falls outside of the National Park. The Oswaldkirk Conservation Area encompasses the extent of the built form of the village prior to the mid-twentieth century.
Main Street forms the historic core of the village dating largely from the 18th and 19th centuries. Development to the northern side and within the National Park is noticeably more sporadic in its form where dwellings sit in substantial plots, providing large open gaps in the street scene which are well planted and allow a close visual connection with the wooded hillside behind. While some buildings directly front the footpath, most are sat back behind well-kept gardens, bounded by small drystone walls and/or native hedging contributing to the natural character of the streetscape. Oswaldkirk Bank is characterised by its grouping of distinctive early 20th century houses, built into the Bank above the road. Due to their siting on the hillside, they feature prominently in distant views. Development here reflects the prevailing styles of their time, illustrating a change in the way of life from that which was historically agricultural.
Buildings constructed before the early 19th century are commonly built using limestone rubble while the majority of later 19th and 20th century buildings are constructed from more formal sandstone blocks. Render is generally a characteristic of houses of the first half of the 20th century reflecting the style of that time. Brick is limited to the 1930s bungalows. Roofs are typically red clay pantiles although slate is evident on higher status buildings along with water tabling and brick chimney stacks. Barge boarding is a feature of later developments. Windows are generally white painted vertical or horizontal sashes, but casements are common, including Edwardian style casements. Doors are a mixture but those of 4-panelled construction are more typical. Hedges of native species and stone boundary walls bordering the road are important features that provide definition to the village streets. The K6 model public telephone box, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1935 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V (this example dates from between 1935 and 1955) is a notable feature of the streetscape. Aidan's Roman Catholic Chapel, built in 1963 (now closed) is also a rare example of 1960s architecture.
Negative factors: Large parking areas, particularly where extensive hard surfacing exists Boundary treatments have been removed.
Over Silton is a small historic village to the west of the National Park, close to the A19. It is said to date from the 11th century. In 1301, eight households were recorded in the lay subsidy. Although there has been some modern expansion to the south of the village, it is mainly linear in form, with elongated plots and dwellings set behind cobbles, grass verges, low level stone boundaries, stone gateposts, worn stone paths and front gardens. Set into one of the walls is a traditional Victorian post-box. Often behind the main dwelling is a long single storey row of outbuildings, many of which have been converted into accommodation, some forming their own dwellings. Surrounding the village is evidence of old quarries and limekilns where current public footpaths would have led to. This has possibly influenced the predominant construction material, which is sandstone with slate or pantile. There is often a contrast in roofing material between the main dwelling and lower single storey extensions or outbuildings, providing some characterful and colourful roofscapes. There are high quality examples of traditional timber boarded doors and sash windows, both of a traditional Yorkshire horizontal sliding style and large multi-paned vertical sliders.
Although the village is mostly traditional farmsteads and cottages, there is a Manor House sited at the entrance to the village which is surprisingly not listed given that many of the surrounding traditional cottages are listed. Throughout Over Silton, there are many landscaped gardens, evidence of orchards and mature trees which form a strong relationship with the woodlands (or former quarries) on the hills sheltering the village. Although there is a very modest chapel within the village, the 12th century St Mary’s Grade II* Listed Church sits isolated on the periphery, positioned between Over and Nether Silton with historic footpaths reaching both. Given the isolated location and slight elevation, there are extensive picturesque views with a tranquil and contemplative atmosphere. Several monuments are recorded in the graveyard, with several tombstones Grade II listed themselves.
Negative factors: Overhead wires, loss of timber windows, loss of timber picket gates, some overgrown areas, and higher fences, preventing views across the village.
Pockley lies two and a half miles northeast of Helmsley, in the southern part of the National Park. The National Park boundary runs along the main road through the village, with land to the west within it. Pockley has mediaeval origins (it is named in the 1086 Domesday Book as Pochelac/Pochelaf, although it had no recorded population at the time) It is a small, village with a quiet, agricultural character, and the village is laid out in a linear form to north and south. The focal point is a large sycamore tree and a traditional ‘Gilbert Scott’ telephone box. The Grade II Listed church of St John the Baptist was built in 1870 and designed by his father George Gilbert Scott. Pockley sits on a gentle climb, sloping down towards the south, providing wide open views from outside the village.
Buildings are spaced out, with a sense of a gap between the northern and southern parts of the village. The most notable feature of Pockley is its fine selection of traditional thatched cottages, a feature that cannot be found in such a concentration elsewhere in the North York Moors. Building materials are typically limestone. Boundary treatments are commonly dry-stone walls, often with patches of grass separating them from the highway. Other than the thatched cottages, natural red clay pantile is the most common roofing material, with brick chimneys common. Pointing is lime mortar and limewash may have previously been applied to buildings in previous centuries but has since been removed to expose stonework. Windows are a mixture of casements with Yorkshire sliding sashes predominant in thatched buildings. Gutters are cast iron open piping supported with metal brackets or fixings attached directly to the stonework.
Negative factors: Few, but some modern agricultural buildings and overhead wires and poles. Occasional loss of traditional window and door designs.
Port Mulgrave is a small port developed in the mid-19th century to serve the port and later Grinkle Ironstone mines which can be seen on historic maps. Whilst a lot of the harbour was lost during the World War years and because of more recent coastal erosion, evidence of its former uses is abundant. A handful of fishermen's huts remain down by the harbour and structures relating to the mines can be found, including piers, docks, and tramways. There are very few dwellings, but most relate to the industries.
At the top of the cliff are various forms of workers’ cottages. To the northern end of Port Mulgrave are presumed former coastal or workers cottage which comprise an unusual intertwined back-to-back layout as seen on historic maps. To the south is an extensive ‘long row’ of Victorian workers’ terraces which are prominent across the cliff, mainly comprising rubble stone with contrasting brick outhouses and pantile or slate roofs with hardly any interruptions. The laying of stone would suggest they were mostly rendered, which is still seen on some, although in modern materials. Most workers’ dwellings previously had allotments and as such, the plots are surprisingly long, many now with modern garages. They almost appear the wrong way round given the original rear outhouses face the sea. Many now have rear extensions which make the most of the sea view. Although an unusual style in the National Park, these houses remain modest and characterful, presenting a hallmark of previous industry which remains. Besides these, there are a few modern bungalows and singular stone dwellings which are either modern additions or relate to agricultural or managerial accommodation. From the edge of Port Mulgrave, there are spectacular views across the cliffs and sea, with a backdrop of mainly agricultural land, typical of the coastal hinterland character type.
Negative factors: Poor quality garages, higher boundary walls, modern renders, overshadowing rear extensions, loss of traditional outhouses, lack of parking, windows not set in a traditional deep reveal but instead flush with the front face of the building face, loss of stone cills.