Conservation Areas in Harborough district - Lutterworth Conservation Area

Lutterworth is a small market town which evolved in mediaeval times and developed in subsequent centuries. It experienced considerable public and private building and refacing in the Georgian and Regency period. It is notable that there are almost no significant developments or buildings for the Railway Age period 1840 - 1900; the railway did not come to Lutterworth until 1899.

In the 20th century there has been residential and industrial expansion, but this is mainly outside the Conservation Area. The Conservation Area incorporates the mediaeval core, and extends south to the River Swift, north to include the Police Station complex and westwards to include the significant open space of the cricket ground beyond the extensive churchyard. The Edwardian homes on the Coventry Road entrance to the town, and Woodmarket the former route to Coventry are included.

The town core is dominated by the A426 road rising from the river towards Leicester. This forms, with Church Street, the main retail area. In parts medieval burgage layout is still discernible with narrow frontages having long plots behind. The town buildings are a medley of build-and-rebuild and of reface and stucco with some fine regency frontages such as the Denbigh Arms and Nos. 4-6 and 13-17 High Street and regency houses as No. 22 High Street and The Manor House (1840) in Market Street. Timber framing was once common, but is now mainly disguised as in 2-8 Church Street and 11 and 12 Market Street, or is a remnant survival. Even where the timber framed walls have been replaced, early timber framed roofs or upper floors remain. The variety of road frontages in the Conservation Area is paralleled by the variety of roof lines and roof slopes seen from behind above the rear yards.

Just beyond the core towards Leicester, prominently set in a triangle at the bifurcation of the Leicester and Gilmorton Roads is the Police Station complex, the Police Station of 1843 being at the apex facing south towards the town. Behind are the Police buildings and the Courthouse. This group is included in the Conservation Area because of its visual importance and for its historic significance being the oldest purpose built Police Station in the county.

Another important vista and grouping occurs at the junction of George Street, Coventry Road and Bitteswell Road. Regency dwellings curve round the northern side and artisans dwellings (now shops) curve round the south corner, both leading to the large square Wycliffe Memorial at the apex of the Coventry and Bitteswell Road. This dominant vista is closed by the Methodist church and softened by birch trees.

From a distance the pinnacled tower of the Church of St. Mary and the tall frontage of the 18th century town house of 26 Bank Street are prominent. Near to, however, the church terminates the vista at the upper end of Church Street. Here the churchyard gates and churchyard entrance are guarded by the small 1876 Mechanics Institute. This vista up Church Street and into the churchyard is important. The upper end of Church Street is small scale, mainly residential (though including the timber-framed former Coach and Horses Inn) and intimate compared with the retail use of the market end of the street; the division between the two sections being marked by a cross roads and the calm open space of the Memorial Gardens.

Scattered within the town’s streets are notable larger and more formal buildings: private homes and former private houses; there are three inns, with archways through to rear yards, The Denbigh Arms, The Hind and The Greyhound. The Regent Court flats (1969) and The Terrace (c1840) are both prominent buildings at the road junction at the lower end of the High Street. The eastern end of Church Street towards the Market Place is also narrow with a row of disguised mediaeval buildings, now shops. The slightly staggered cross roads by the Memorial Gardens open space gives a prominence at the vista closure to 26 Church Street (at the corner of George Street) of which the present building is not worthy.

A notable characteristic is the mixture in the town centre of building uses, with many town buildings still retaining a residential use or the appearance of residential use. Baker Street in particular is mainly residential as is Woodmarket, both have a variety of older buildings, 19th century cottages and 20th century infill. No 68 Woodmarket, Hythe House, is notable s one of the finest intact houses in Lutterworth.

Within the street pattern are a number of significant open spaces, groupings, vistas, and quieter areas. The largest open space lies to the west of the Conservation Area and comprises the churchyard with the dominant towered Church of St. Mary, the extension of the churchyard and the adjacent tree-surrounded cricket ground which faces the Coventry Road and gives an open aspect to this town entry.

The second open space is where the A426 broadens into the Market Place in the town centre, from which leads off Church Street. The Market Place which tapers northwards is heavily trafficked and its open space, when not in use for the market, acts as a car park. At its southern edge by the downhill entrance to the High Street, is the Town Hall of 1836, a small classical two storey building of an unusual rounded lozenge shape. Northwards, varied buildings front the tapering Market Place including the thatched late 15th century Shambles Public House and elegant regency Manor House, whilst opposite are a row of well detailed Edwardian artisans’ cottages and the 18th century Greyhound Inn which was subsequently stuccoed. The view is closed by the part timbered Cavalier Public House disguising an earlier timber framed building.

Lutterworth Conservation Area map