Conservation Areas in Harborough district - Gumley Conservation Area

The Conservation Area of Gumley embraces the whole village and much of the adjacent parkland (covered by a Tree Preservation Order) of the former Gumley Hall.

The village of Gumley lies along a minor road in open countryside. The linear settlement falls for 400 metres along Main Street, its only road. The previous presence of Gumley Hall, demolished in 1964, pervades the village; the well wooded parkland remains to the north of the Main Street and extends across the top of Main Street. At the top of the street the road bends around the park, but a trackway extension of 100m into the park leads up to the small 14th century stone church of St. Helen whose short spire stands in contrast to the dark coniferous parkland trees. Gumley Hall was a large red brick palladian house of 1766. Its large square stable courtyard of 1870 remains to dominate the top of the Main Street. This is of orange red brick with gatepiers topped by two massive stone ball finials. In the mid-late 1990s the derelict stable buildings were converted into four modern dwellings. A very large italianate clock and water tower with elaborate wind vane, lead roof and blue clock face (along with the white stone church tower) form prominent landmarks from the surrounding countryside. A further influence of the former Hall and estate is the tall brick wall at the top end of the village and a weighbridge on the verge below it.

The form of the linear street dropping from the stables and church is slightly sinuous with gables of houses facing the street and facing up the street. There are granite kerbs. The yew trees by Hall Farm and the groups of beech trees just below are very significant features of the street scene.

The buildings are of varied ages, sizes and materials and set in different ways to the street. Although red brick predominates, there is some stone and stone plinths; roofing material is Swithland slate, slate or tiles. Amongst the 17th and 19th century buildings are elaborate Edwardian cottages with tiled roofs.

Below Leys Farm, where the 18th century house was modernised in the late 19th century and where the farmyard is to the rear, the street opens out as the road descends, with terraces and houses set back from the road to the west. To the east an encased water pump stands alongside a red brick wall, backed by paddocks. At the lower entrance to the village housing of 1987 in red brick with very steep slate roofs has been developed out of a former farmyard. The Conservation Area embraces just the linear settlement, excluding most of the parkland of the former Gumley Hall, except near the church. It also excludes the motte (a Scheduled Ancient Monument) to the south-west, which is within the open parkland. Nevertheless outside the actual Conservation Area there are three Scheduled Ancient |Monuments In the parkland and surrounding fields. These relate to the mediaeval settlement:- i) the motte west of the village; ii) the rabbit warren and field systems alongside the road to Laughton; iii) the mediaeval settlement remains and field systems to the south and east of Main Street.

Gumley Conservation Area map