Character and relationship of spaces
The spaces within the conservation area are based on the street pattern, so spaces are essentially linear, their width determined by the distance buildings are set back from their road boundaries.
The spaces are characterised by the front gardens to individual properties, sometimes containing mature trees, by the brick or stone boundary walls and their related gateposts, by the pavements, kerbs and highway surfaces.
There is evidence of earlier floor surfaces throughout the area. It is clear that the characteristic pavement detail was comprised of riven surfaced natural stone flags, bonded at right angles to the boundary walls, contained by a 300mm wide stone kerb.
Road surfaces, as seen on St Clements Road, had 3 or 4 courses of either granite or gritstone setts bonded parallel with and next to the kerb, whilst the rest of the carriageway was bonded at right angles, but in the same sett.
As identified in other suburban districts within the city the rear gardens of properties that line streets provide an important amenity facility to the wider area, because they can be viewed from the roads between buildings. They can be regarded as being within the public realm, even though they are privately owned.
Collectively, gardens, both front and rear, provide important spatial characteristics relevant to the conservation area.
Whilst the size and shape of the spaces between buildings vary they are essentially street dominated. There are no consciously-designed contrasting spaces, although the spaces around the larger public buildings, such as the churches, tend to be bigger.