04 Carlton Crescent & Carlton Place

ContextThis character area is at the northern fringe of the studyarea and lies on gently rising land to the north. Itcomprises of two roads leading from London Road whichconnect to Bedford Place. The planned street patternand buildings are an important survival of late Georgiandevelopment outside of the historic core ofSouthampton. This was a period when trade andpassenger traffic through the port was increasing. In theearly nineteenth century this area lay adjacent to theparks of some large houses and the late eighteenthcentury failed development of the Polygon lay to thesouth-west.

GrainThe built form to Carlton Crescent follows the sweepingline of the road leading from London Road but becomesmore fragmented to the northern section of the road withstraight terraces and a pronounced kink in the road.Buildings comprise very grand broad-fronteddetached/semi-detached and terraced villas. Thespacing and gaps between buildings are important onthe outer sweep and form memorable townscape whenviewed from near its junction with London Road. The plotgrain is medium but the architectural detailing to indi-vidual buildings gives the appearance of a more finegrain of townscape. The building line is consistent toback of pavement or set back from small area railings tosemi-basements. Density is medium to high and enclo-sure is comfortable and consistent throughout.

Carlton Place comprises a more modest townhouse andis of a finer grain with the street section providing moresignificant enclosure and sense of intimacy. This is incontrast to the wider streets and set-back houses withgaps to Carlton Crescent.

ScaleThe built form is a grand historic three and four storeysto Carlton Crescent to the back of pavement with strongparapet eaves lines throughout. Roofs are largely hiddenfrom view and principal rooms are raised by semi-base-ments.

Carlton Place is two and three storey back of pavementand of a more modest domestic scale. Views areenclosed by the built form within this character area butthe massing of buildings does not feel oppressive.

UsesThere is a mix of uses within the character area fromsmall independent shops to public houses and officeand residential uses side by side. Notably, the legalprofession has a number of establishments convenientlylocated adjacent to the magistrate courts which back onto Carlton Crescent. There is a quiet respectable institu-

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tional business character to this area with a number ofancillary uses; restaurants, bars and independent shopsservicing the offices.

Public RealmThe public realm is of a high quality with a good survivalof historic street finishes (Purbeck stone kerbs and pave-ments) helped by the presence of traditional cast ironrailings with gates and stuccoed gate piers. Traditionalcast iron lamp standards survive. The survival of a smallnumber of street trees adds to the street scene and therecently completed pavement re-alignment and materialimprovements provide a good setting for the historicbuildings.

ConnectivityThe character area acts as a valuable and well-used linkbetween Bedford Place and London Road. Carlton Placein particular is a well-used link. It is disappointing thatthe link to the relatively recently completed law courts isvia a multi-storey car park, a building which dominatessome views between the houses on the north side of theCrescent.

ViewsThere are a number of key local views from the junctionof Carlton Crescent and London Road into the characterarea. The corner building to the southern side of theCrescent forms a focal point for these views and thecrescent is then seen unfolding beyond as a series ofvillas. The compositional quality of this street is bestappreciated from this vantage point.

Building typesThe large detached, semi-detached and terraced villasand townhouses of the early nineteenth century predom-inate. These comprise private flats, apartments andoffice uses retro-fitted into these buildings. None of thevillas (Carlton Crescent) or townhouses (Carlton Place)remain as single family dwellings. There remains a mixof uses particularly to Carlton Place where shops andoffices occupy ground floors with residential above.Historically, these buildings are likely to have beenhouses with shops added later and conversion andsubdivision to flats or ancillary accommodation for theshops above.

Architectural qualitiesThe Crescent was constructed around 1830 and is a setpiece and must be viewed both as individual well-detailed buildings of high quality and as a collectivearchitectural composition. It is overtly classical in itsexecution with rusticated ground floors and projectingmoulded cornices to parapets, string courses andcentral window hoods on console brackets. Archedground floor openings accentuate the principal rooms ofthese buildings and emphasise the hierarchy and propor-tions of their facades. Projecting doorcases, balconets,

01 View looking n along Carlton Crescent02 Historic paving and area railings – Carlton Crescent03 Carlton Place – modest early nineteenth century terrace

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shallow curving bays and full height bow windows helpenliven and articulate the facades. There is a highdegree of rhythm and repetition to the facades whichhelps them to be read as one composition.

Carlton Place appears to be slightly later and more piece-meal in its construction. However, there is a fine groupof smaller townhouses with projecting first floor oriel bowwindows refined with multi-paned curving sashes. Aconsistency to the groups of townhouses provides asense of place with the late Georgian facades strippedto very basic well-proportioned elevations (Nos. 8, 8A, 9and 10). Further along Carlton Place The PensionersArms expertly turns the corner to Upper Banister Streetand the inset double height round-headed archescontinue the late Regency theme of other sections of thecharacter area.

Heritage AssetsThe area is considered to possess a high degree ofevidential value due to the survival of its Regencyterraces and the potential for evidence for Roman occu-pation having been found within the area. During themedieval period the area was agricultural land. The arealies within a Local Area of Archaeological Importance toreflect this potential to yield evidence for past activity inthe area.

The majority of buildings on Carlton Crescent are listedGrade II. They possess a high degree of architecturalquality due to their design and cohesive compositionalqualities as a group. There are a number of smallgroups of listed buildings along Carlton Place includingNo 32 which incorporates an early nineteenth centuryindoor riding school. The school is an important survivaland has historical illustrative value as a rare survival ofthis building type as well as forming an important partof the townscape of Carlton Place. The remainingunlisted historic buildings are mostly nineteenth centurybuildings, which have aesthetic significance as plannedtownscape, though some of these values have beenlost, mainly through the removal of historic fabric(windows, doors, roofs). However, due to their town-scape (design) value they are considered to make apositive contribution to the character and appearance ofthe area.

The compositional quality of the historic built environ-ment, together with parts of the adjacent Character

Areas 3 and 5, is acknowledged in the designation of theCarlton Crescent Conservation Area.

MaterialsTraditional materials are predominant with the wide-spread and consistent use of painted stucco and naturalslate roofs. Natural slates are also used as a wallcladding to exposed elevations. The stucco or render isconsistently painted white and this is an important partof the cohesive character of this area. The survival ofcast iron area railings is a notable feature and whencombined with the traditional street surfaces makes forvery attractive historic townscape.

ConditionThe condition of buildings, streets and spaces is verygood, with a regime of repair and maintenance beingevident throughout.

OwnershipThere is a mix of private leasehold owners for flats andinstitutional ownership for office conversions andmodern office space.

Interventionn Continued replacement of modern street surfacing

with traditional materials and detailing. n Removal of all modern lamp standards from the public

highway. Replacement where possible with bespokelighting attached to buildings and using the buildingsto reflect light where possible.

n Widening of pavements and planting of more streettrees.

n Removal of yellow lines and designation of a no-parking zone – signed at the entrances from LondonRoad and Bedford Place.

n Improvement to the signage and ground floor treat-ment of Avondale House.

Key design principlesn Any proposals for development should respond posi-

tively to the overt and clearly readable classical archi-tectural language of the dominant buildings in thecharacter area.

n Parking should be taken away from the roads and theforecourts of the buildings wherever possible.

n The proportions and hierarchy of facades shouldrespect their neighbours in any proposals for redevel-opment which relate to the listed terraces.

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City Characterisation Project

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Southampton document pt.1 20/1/09 10:31 Page 47

Southampton City Council

City Characterisation Project

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Heritage Assets

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City Characterisation Project

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Townscape