Hallstile Bank & Market Place
Contents
Page
Introduction
1
Hexham
1
History
1
The Study Area
2
Defining the Area
2
Historical Changes
3
Characters
4
Townscape Studies
5
Walkthrough
5
Featured townscape
7
Changing scenes
9
Opportunities
11
Conclusion
12
References
13
Conservation & the Cities Project
Jingrong Zhang 120360125
Introduction Hexham Hexham is a market town in England’s most northerly county, Northumberland. As it shows in the map, it’s a stopping point on the Newcastle-Carlisle railway. Besides, A69 trunk road bypasses it 0.1km to the north (Figure 1). As the former administrative center of Tynedale District, Hexham has become the shopping center of this area. Meanwhile, schools, hospitals and industrial estates can be found here. Since the World Heritage, Hadrian’s Wall is close to this town, so it’s experiencing a boom of tourists. Situated in the Tyne valley, Hexham “is built on a raised terrace above the south bank of the river (2009:2).” These pronounced slopes not only define the historic core of the town, but also form the natural boundary of it. Arable farmlands occupy the lower level of the surrounded valley sides, while woodlands are spread above them. Below the town center, flatbottomed and broad valley is subject to flooding and used for considerable industrial development. History With a rural backdrop of fields and lush green slopes, Hexham attracted early Saxon settlement. “The first recorded mention of it is from 674, when the area of Hexhamshire was given to Wilfrid, the Bishop of York (2009:11).” This formed the original layout of the town and led to the construction of its great medieval buildings, Hexham Abbey and St Mary’s Church. Then in the 9th century, it lost its cathedral and bishop
Figure 1 Hexham Location Map. th
Source: Google Earth. Accessed 15 April Tynedale Local Development Framework
1|Page
Conservation & the Cities Project
Jingrong Zhang 120360125
status and under the Norman Conquest. When it came to 1113, the ruined Cathedral was re-founded by the Archbishop of York and the current nave and transepts are added at that time. In 1330, Archbishop William Melton ordered the construction of the Old Goal. Then Moot Hall was built as the offices for local bailiff and his officers
In the late 19th century, large amount of Victorian and Edwardian housing development were taken place to accommodate more residents around the southern and western edges of the historic core. By the early 20th century, Hexham was known as a tourism destination with its Abbey and industries were becoming less important.
It is said that the market Place lodged in front of the Abbey may has been used since the Saxon period and probably been colonized by stalls and workshops, which later became permanent buildings. “The collapse of the religious center and Archbishop’s regality following the Reformation encouraged the growth of Hexham as a market town and the development of rural based industries including skin works, crop processing and market gardening (2002:9).” The industrial development brought in various hide and tanning works, which became a danger to public health and polluted the river (Shown in Figure 2). Moreover, car parks took place of the market gardens spread over the floor of the valley.
The Study Area Defining the Area As it illustrated in the Figure 3, the main historical building in the town center are the Hexham Abbey, the Moot Hall and Old Goal, and the Market Place between Hexham Abbey and Moot Hall is the significant congregated place for citizens and weekly-held market.
Figure 2 Hexham Surrounded Landscape Change with Three Historical Landmarks
Figure 3 Hexham Town Center Map
Hand Drawing
Source: Google Earth. Accessed 5 March
th
Page | 2
Conservation & the Cities Project
There are six main routes heading to the Market Center, as it indicated in the picture below (Figure 4). For this report, the concentration is put on the Market Place and the street called Hallstile Bank, which links the main outside route with the town center. Additionally, this street curves with the layout of the buildings and rises higher when accessing towards the Abbey. Now it is used for both vehicles and pedestrians, while cars only go one direction, from the town center to the outside.
Jingrong Zhang 120360125
Historical Changes The forming of the other side of the street is between 1860S and 1890S, before that there only exists houses one side (Figure 5). This residential housing development brought in an enclosed view at the entrance of the street. And these special designed staggered houses are not along the roadside which directly opening up to the street, but provide some space for the residents to make their gardening out confronting the street. Thus the serrated outline of the buildings replaced the normal smooth line of the building-street boundary. These endeavors decorate the street with human scale and liveliness as well as indicate the direction of the street.
Figure 5 the Forming of Hallstile Street Hand Drawing Figure 4 Main Street Heading to Town Center th
Source: Google Earth. Accessed 5 March
The reason choosing this street as a study area is because walking in the street is not only an experience with a series of view changes but also a transition process of entering urban core from suburban valley. The juxtaposition of intensive urban structure and extensive natural landscape can be an interesting and impressive memory for pedestrians.
Figure 6 Staggered Houses & Lively Confronted Gardens Photo by author
3|Page
Conservation & the Cities Project
The building surrounded the square changed several times, the most dramatic two are the houses built in front of the Abbey and the Moot Hall, which were built to compress the size of the Market Place and then being knocked down to clear the vision of these two significant buildings (Figure 7 &8).
Figure 8 the Demolition of the House Next to the Moot Hall Hand Drawing
Jingrong Zhang 120360125
The disappearance of the buildings near the Abbey opens the view and reveals the details of the tracery and façade material. Thus the original proportion of the façade can be observed by visitors. The vertical elements of the abbey are no longer broken by the block so that the magnificent atmosphere the abbey created regained. A tree was planted in the position of the original building, the Moot Hall now stands out and the archway is no longer in the shadows of the adjoining house. Besides, the complete façade is telltale of the building’s history. Now the tree acts not only as a foil of the historical building but also provide some rest space for the pedestrians. Characters “The advantage of living in a small town is having the countryside ever-present (Cullen: 1961).” As the town being lifted, this street discloses the distant pastoral landscape. Getting close to the Market Place, the buildings are more concentrated, the street is more crowded. These intricate and jostling scenes all come into eyes, which become a surprise for the pedestrians. It is this intensity of urbanity which acts as a good foil to the wide countryside.
Figure 8 Demolition of Houses in the Market Place Source: Hexham Conservation Area Character Appraisal
Whereas this street is not that attractive for tourists since the cars driving down from the town-center pose dangers to pedestrians and change the human scale amenities into vehicleoriented facilities. People are pushed to walk on one side of the street, the frequently appearance of the cars force them pay more attention to their safety instead of the lovely gardens and houses stand along the road. The car-dominated street spoils the walking experience and makes the front house gardens less vigorous and even disserted.
Photos by Author
Page | 4
Conservation & the Cities Project
Jingrong Zhang 120360125
Townscape Studies Walkthrough Walking up to the Market Place is a continuous experience of coming across various buildings of different times, while the opposite direction of walking down is a process of getting close to nature. These can prove the saying that “the act of ascending implies going up to the unknown and the act of descending implies going down to the known (Cullen: 1961).”
Figure 9 Serial Vision (up) Photos by author
Figure 10 Up-hill Route Hand Drawing
At the first point, the residential houses stand side by side along the street with small gardens facing the street, various roofs and materials show altered styles of time. Then a tall tree appears at right hand and draws your attention to the plants on the slope, which is divided by rails from the walkway.
Reaching point three, the red brick building at the top of the descent gives you a hint that you need to climb up after turn around the corner. When you arrive at point four, a building doesn’t conform to the road come into your eyes. The closure effect effectively implies that the road will change its direction at front. Going ahead, the recessive Moot Hall suddenly appears at left hand, the rough stones remind you of the old time. Finally, the deflection of the street ended with an open vista of the Market Place. And the Abbey, as a focal point, emerges gives you a surprise just like an unfolding drama. 5|Page
Conservation & the Cities Project
Jingrong Zhang 120360125
Figure 12 Down-hill Route Hand Drawing
Starting from Point 1, the remote scenery offers a feeling of exhilaration and superiority, the red telephone box delivered a message that this road can lead to a far-away place. Further walking, the colorful ground shops become dominated, and you become aware that there is another walkway passing through the shops. Around the corner, the light is erected alone in the middle, thus offers a focus of this scene. Besides, the red house, which doesn’t conform to the road bring some anticipation to the pedestrians. Unfortunately, here it’s not difficult to notice the smoke produced by the factories near the river. Turing around the corner, the dynamic curved line of the buildings changes as you move on (point 4 and 5). And the outside landscape now appears below the eye-level, which makes the sense of intimacy and enclosure much stronger. This ended up with a traffic roundabout and a monster supermarket which
Figure 11 Serial Vision (down) Photos by author
may be a little bit disappointed. Above the head, the electricity line extends to the end of the road suggests the endless and wildness of the countryside. A walkthrough of this street is an adventure through a sequence of space formed by groups of buildings. It is noticeable that on the plan even the slightest deviation in projections or setbacks has a disproportionally powerful effect in the third dimension (Cullen: 1961). Moving through these spaces is a discovery of various solid geometries. As it shows in Figure13, the linear space is made of attached houses, which being interrupted by a wider area around the corner, and lastly finishes with a square. Page | 6
Conservation & the Cities Project
However, it is a pity that the walkway is not wide and only continuous on one side (Figure 14). Plus the coming down cars and pedestrians often conflicts with people going up. Thanks to the green space keep in company with the walkway, these pressures can be relieved to some extent.
Jingrong Zhang 120360125
Featured Townscape 1. Step-way and Lamppost It is a way people rarely use, it is a way with steps, and it is a way with shops on one side while it is a way full of changes. If you walk up, it’s like a hide-and-sick game between you and the buildings (Figure 15).
Figure 15 Views on the Step-way (up) Photos by author
Figure 14 the Sequences of Spaces in the Street
If you walk down, it’s like a discovery from a small path to the wide seaside. The open countryside is in contrast with the solidly built-up street (Figure 16).
Figure 16 Views on the step-way (down) Photos by author
Figure 14 the Walkway System with green space Hand Drawing
No matter how you move, the lamppost always stands in the middle of each photo, which brings imaginations about waiting. 7|Page
Conservation & the Cities Project
2. Details on the Roofs and Walls “All the intricacy of penetration and the sudden bunching of emphatic verticals into a dramatic knot are the rewards of the moving eye (Cullen: 1961).”
Figure 17 details on the Roofs Photos by author & Hand drawing
The wind vane is an art of delicate ironwork on the roof (Figure 17 Left). The roofline is changed for this small note comes in. It reminds me of the craftsmen’s small house in a village and adds some interesting flavor to the house builder. The special designed roof is not very recognizable, but when the sun shines, its rhythmic shadow on the ground shows its uniqueness (Figure 17 Middle). Plus the bright color flowers are energetic elements in comparison with the shade on the other side. Another factor needs to focus on is the wired lamp hang on the wall. Since the walkway is narrow, it’s obvious that there is no place for the lamppost. But it’s common sense that roads need to be lighted up at night so they came up with this solution to put the lamp on the wall.
Jingrong Zhang 120360125
The electricity line post situates at the end of the street, the radial lines coming from this vertical component draw your attention to the blue sky decorated by white clouds and the faraway hills colored with lush green (Figure 17 Right). This makes your eyes rest away from the bustle and hustle traffic flows. And if some birds stand on the lines, it will magically become a stave above your head. The details on the wall is consists of windows, doors, materials, vegetation and letterings. The match of red brick walls and vibrant flowers is relaxing and enjoyable (Figure 18 Left). It makes you curious to see a beautiful hostess standing near the window and smelling her lovely flowers. These two warmcolored doors in the middle of the old stone house deliver the message of welcome (Figure 18 Middle). Humble letterings are on the section of the wall instead of façade. When you come across it, it’s like a secret entrance full of mysteries (Figure 18 Right). Moreover, these two cute potted plants add liveliness to the monotonous pavement. But the colorful flags and letterings on the façade look a little bit noisy.
Figure 18 Details on the Walls Photos by author
Page | 8
Conservation & the Cities Project
3. Plants and Shadows Trees are usually accepted in its own right as living organisms, which incorporate with buildings to create space for people. In the left picture, the foliage in the foreground provides a frame to the shot of Moot Hall in the background; the buds imply the vigor and vitality of spring; the shadows obscure the existence of the column and make you focus on the Moot Hall. In the right photo, this fluffy tree strengthens the toughness and roughness of the stones. Besides, it produces a shelter and intimate place for pedestrians to have a rest.
Jingrong Zhang 120360125
more flavors and changes (Figure 20 Middle). If the pedestrian acts as a moving element in the drawing of shadows, this image gives you the feeling of loneliness and imagination of a waiting silhouette (Figure 20 Right).
Figure 20 Shadows Photos by author
Changing Scenes 1. Changing with Time When the night falls, the world turns into darkness, the details of the buildings disappear, only the lonely outlines can be recognized, but the orange light shows you direction and gives you warm (Figure 21). Figure 19 Trees Incorporated Photos by author
The shadows of the exquisite rails are projected on the white wall, marking the edge of the steps. Between the shadow and the real rails, there exists a down-ward space (Figure 20 Left). Sometimes the shadows are regarded as calligraphy, so when the paper becomes the tedious tarmac, they give the pavement Figure 21 Day and Night (orange light) author
Photos by
9|Page
Conservation & the Cities Project
In the day-time, the white house next to the Abbey stands out for its brightness. When it comes at night, it hides itself so the Abbey is more obvious and magnificent (Figure 22).
Jingrong Zhang 120360125
3. Changing with Event “In the fertile market places of towns it is the focal point which crystallizes the situation, which confirms ‘this is the spot’ stop looking, it is here (Cullen:1961)!” Unfortunately, now the primary function has been stripped away by the hazards and swirl of traffic except the market days. The stalls are very flexible, on market days these colorful canopies provide shelters, but when there is no market, the square is fully occupied by vehicles. Even on market days, sellers and buyers are disturbed by the traffic noises, and the square is like a safety island.
Figure 22 Day and Night (white house) Photos by author
2. Changing with Climate Everything is dull in rainy days; the ground gets wet and reflects the surroundings; the historical buildings seem older with darker stones and green moss. By contrast, everything is bright in sunny days; the shades draw the edge of buildings clear; the blue sky and green plants make the street scenes lively (Figure 23).
Figure 23 Rainy and Sunny Photos by author
Figure 24 Market Day and Normal Day Photos by author
Page | 10
Conservation & the Cities Project
Opportunities 1. Pedestrians-oriented To meet the demands of the vehicles, the pavements, physical signals and lamppost all follow the rule of securing a continuous and smooth route for cars. Namely this large scale street furniture isn’t in harmony with the surrounded townscape (Figure 25).
Jingrong Zhang 120360125
Figure 27 shows that ground is not divided until the invention of vehicles. Separated pavements are used for cars and pedestrians. Then the square is filled up with cars, occasionally used for markets. To secure the right of pedestrian, the solution is illustrated in. Trees are used to protect them from traffic flows. Just imagine a lively square being used for talking, playing, performing and commercial activities (Figure 28).
Figure 27 Square Changes Hand drawing
Figure 25 Car-dominated Facilities at the Entrance Photos by author
If cars are forbidden to drive on this way, thus we can remove these facilities and change the pavement, making it more comfortable and enjoyable for pedestrians. Then the character of this street can be changed (Figure 26).
Figure 26 Changes to the Entrance of the Street Figure 28 Various Activities on the Pedestrian-dominated Market Place Hand drawing Photo by author & Hand drawing
11 | P a g e
Conservation & the Cities Project
Jingrong Zhang 120360125
This archway with these rough materials looks old and nostalgia, but too many bright color sign posts spoil its original flavor. The removal of them can clear the views and attract more pedestrians to walk through it for the dark and mysterious gateway it offers.
2. Reduction of publicity
Conclusion
Figure 29 Reduction of Publicity
Photo by author & Hand drawing
This blue shops’ board catches viewer’s eyes, and doesn’t fit in its environment. If we remove it, at night the light will shot on the space around the corner, creating an impressive scene and revealing the significant presence of the Abbey. 3. Selected sign-posts
Figure 30 Selected Sign-posts
Townscape contains various elements, buildings, trees, nature, traffic, advertisements and so on, when all these are woven together, a journey through pressure and vacuum, a sequence of exposure and enclosure, of constraint and relief is formed. It’s not a hotchpotch, but a reasonable growing mode related to history and people’s activities. After all, townscape is not only a feast for eyes, but also a walking experience for people to enjoy. If you can walk in the space, you will be surprised that you can get more than you bargain for, since vision evokes your memories and experience. Hexham is a lovely historic town which preserves the layout of the town center and owns some important historical buildings. However, after Industrial Revolution factories and cars show up in the town. Then the number grows up very quickly and occupied almost every corner of the city. Natural landscape is polluted; pedestrians lost their space for activities and streets wear uniform and mainly load the flow of cars. Therefore, pedestrians have less time and space to enjoy the townscape and are not aware of the damage brought by cars. If restrictions of car-use applied to some parts of the city, so that more and more people can walk into the town center and have a better understanding of Hexham. If this can be achieved, the street will be more interesting and lively since people will not be afraid of passing cars and more activities can be stimulated.
Photo by author & Hand drawing
Page | 12
Conservation & the Cities Project
Jingrong Zhang 120360125
References Council, T. C. (2007). Tynedale Local Development Framework. Council, T. C. (2009). Hexham Conservation Area Character Appraisal. Cullen, G. (1962). Townscape. Architectural Press. Cullen, G. (1995). Concise Townscape. Routledge. Worskett, R. (1969). The Character of Towns: An approach to conservation (Vol. 3). London: Architectural Press.
Pictures Cover Home, G. 1924 Offset Lightograph Gordon Home Hexham Abbey Church Moot Hall Northumberland . Available at: < http://www.ebay.com/itm/1924-Offset-Lithograph-Gordon-Home-Hexham-Abbey-Church-Moot-Hall-Northumberland-/370801513638>
[Accessed 12 March 2013].
Figure 1 Council, T.C. (2007) Tynedale District. Tynedale Local Development Framework.
Figure 8 Council, T.C. (2009) Properties built against the east end of the Abbey, which link Gilesgate with St Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chare, and against the Moot Hall compress the size of the Market Place. Hexham Conservation Area Character Appraisal.18
13 | P a g e
Conservation & the Cities Project
Jingrong Zhang 120360125
``
Page | 14