Conservation Areas in Harborough district - Scraptoft Conservation Area

Scraptoft is an ancient village centred on Hamilton Lane and Main Street, and on Scraptoft Hall and All Saints Church off Church Lane. The historic core areas are still clear, despite modern housing developments between Main Street and Stocks Road and to the north of Beeby Road. The Conservation Area incorporates the original village core of Main Street, Hamilton Lane to the complex of Nether Hall and its outbuildings, and Scraptoft Rise. Within the core village area a number of buildings exhibit an attractive vernacular quality and include examples of Swithland slate roofing.

The Conservation Area also includes the large square of open space of the Edith Cole Memorial Ground which with its surrounding hedges recalls the agricultural history of the settlement. Physically apart from, but historically linked to the old village core streets is the area east of Church Hill which comprises the Church with churchyard, Scraptoft Hall (Listed Grade II*) with some of its grounds. Much of the original setting of Scraptoft Hall remains and is included in the Conservation Area. Of particular importance are the screen gates to the west, the pond to the north and the garden spaces to the south and west. In front of this screen and to the north of the churchyard is an area of green which is important open space providing a setting for the church for the screen and for the Hall.

The Hall and its grounds are now part of De Montfort University. The Conservation Area includes the Hall and the early outbuildings to its immediate north and small pond to its immediate east. It includes the large pond and area of open space to the north between the Hall and Beeby Road. It also includes the garden area of the Hall to its west and south. The west front of the Hall is the principal facade and between it and the wide wrought iron screen gates is a long walled garden; the gates and walled garden give a formal setting to the Hall, and to the south is an extensive lawned area which merges into woodland which is part of the carefully planned 18th century landscaping of the Hall grounds. These two garden areas are important to the setting of the Hall.

The area to the east of the Hall itself is excluded as this is now occupied by the buildings of De Montfort University such that much of its historic relationship with the Hall and its landscaped grounds has now been obscured.

The character of the Scraptoft Conservation Area consists of the relationship between the former agricultural village around Main Street linked by areas of open space to the Hall and Church to the east. The relationship of the village with the visually dominating Hall, screen gates and Church is very significant.

Scraptoft Conservation Area map