Planning Policy and Design Adopted March 2007 Supplementary Guidance to the City of Leicester Local Plan 2006 Granby Street Conservation Area Character Appraisal
Planning Policy and Design
Adopted March 2007
SupplementaryGuidanceto the City of
Leicester Local Plan 2006
Granby StreetConservation Area
Character Appraisal
�
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
Cover images, from the top:
128-132 Granby Street, (Blunts Shoes).31 Granby Street.24 Granby Street, (The Turkey Cafe).88 Granby Street, (Balmoral House).
�
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA
c h a r a c t e r a p p r a i s a l(Adopted: March 2007)
�
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
contents
1.0 Introduction 7
�.0 PlanningPolicyFramework 7
�.0 Definitionofthespecialinterest 8
�.0 Assessmentofspecialinterest 9
�.1 Locationandsetting 9
�.� Historicdevelopmentandarchaeology 9
Characteranalysis 17
�.17 Purpose 17
�.18 Townscape 17
�.�� Prevailingandformeruses 18
Architecturalcharacterandkeybuildings 19
�.�7 Area1(GranbyStreetNorth) �0
�.�6Area�(GranbyStreetSouth)EastSide ��
�.�� Area�(GranbyStreetSouth)WestSide �6
Buildingsmaterialsandthepublicrealm �9
�.5� Buildingmaterials �9
�.5� ThePublicRealm �0
�.56 Greeneryandgreenspaces �0
�.57 Negativefactors �1
�.60 Generalconditionsoftheareaandbuildings �1
�.61 Problems �1
�.6� Pressures ��
�.6� Capacityforchange ��
5.0 Communityinvolvement ��
6.0 ConservationAreaboundary ��
7.0 Managementandenhancementproposals ��
8.0 Acknowledgements,contactsandappendices ��
list of maps
Map1 CityofLeicesterConservationAreas 5
Map� BoundaryofGranbyStreetConservationArea 6
Map� Robert’smapof17�1 9
Map� Fowler’sMapof18�8 10
Map5 OrdnanceSurveymapof1885 1�
appendices
Appendix1 ListofbuildingsintheGranbyStreetConservationArea �5
Appendix� ListoflistedbuildingsintheConservationArea �5
Appendix� ManagementandEnhancementProposals �6
Appendix� RelevantLocalPlanandotherPolicies �7
Appendix5 Glossaryofarchitecturalterms �8
page
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1. New Walk
2. Castle Gardens
3. Cathedral/Guildhall
4. Town Hall Square
5. Old Humberstone
6. Braunstone Village
7. Belgrave Hall
8. Market Place
9. Aylestone Village
10. Knighton Village
11. Stoneygate
12. Evington Footpath
13. South Highfields
14. Spinney Hill Park
15. Loughborough Road
16. St. George’s
17. Market Street
18. High Street
19. Evington Village
20. Ashleigh Road
21. All Saints’
22. Church Gate
23. Granby Street
24. West End
Listed chronologically
City Centre detail
Crown copyright. All rights reserved Leicester City Council. 1001 9264. (2007)
Not to scale
N
16
Map 1. City of Leicester Conservation Areas
6
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
GRA
NBY
ST
REET
DOVER STREET
YORK STREET
CHATHAM STREET
RUTLAND STREET
NORTHAMPTON ST
BELVO
IR S
TREET
Boun
dary
of G
ranb
y Stre
et Co
nser
vatio
n Area
Listed
build
ings
Build
ings o
f loc
al int
erest
Not t
o sca
le
©Cr
own c
opyr
ight.
All ri
ghts
reser
ved L
eicest
er Cit
y Cou
ncil.
1000
1926
4.200
6
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Map 2. Boundary of Granby Street Conservation Area
7
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Acharacterappraisalisthefirststepina
dynamicprocess,theaimofwhichistopreserve
and enhance the character and appearance of
each conservation area. It provides a basis for
making decisions about an area’s future and
identifies, defines and records the factors that
makeconservationareasspecial.Italsoidentifies
featuresorproblemsthatdetractfromthisspecial
quality and suggests, bymeansofmanagement
andenhancementproposals,thewaysinwhich
the special interest could be safeguarded or
improved.
1.� The Granby Street area has been
part of the Council’s conservation area review
programme since �005 but its priority was re-
evaluatedinJune�006followingconcernabout
thepotential lossofan important,butunlisted,
buildingonthecornerofRutlandStreet.TheGranbyStreetConservationAreawasdesignated
onthe�1stJune�006,
1.� Thesurveyandappraisalwerecarriedoutduring�006followingthemethodology
suggestedbyEnglishHeritage.Toensurethatacompletepictureofthevalueandcharacter
oftheareacanbebuiltuplocalpeople,includingthosewholivein,workinorvisitthearea,
willbeaskedfortheirviewsaboutthearea,suchaswhattheylikeordislikeaboutthearea,
andhowtheythinkitcouldorshouldbeimproved.
2.0 Planning Policy Framework�.1 Theprotectionand/orpreservationofhistoricenvironmentsarenowextensively
recognisedforthecontributiontheymaketothecountry’sculturalinheritance,economic
well-beingandqualityoflife.Publicsupportforconservationareasasplacesthatgiveidentity
topeopleandcommunities iswellestablished.National legislationandregionalguidance
reflectthis.
�.� Theconceptof ‘conservationareas’was first introduced intonational legislation
in1967intheCivicAmenitiesActwhichdefinedaconservationareaas“anareaofspecial
architecturalorhistoricinterestthecharacterorappearanceofwhichitisdesirabletopreserve
orenhance”.Itisnotthepurposeofaconservationareatopreventchangebuttomanage
changeinwaysthatmaintainand,ifpossible,strengthenanarea’sspecialqualities.
�.� Current legislation is setout in thePlanning (ListedBuildings andConservation
Areas)Act1990.Thisplacesadutyonlocalplanningauthoritiestodeclareasconservation
areasthosepartsof theirareathat theyconsidertobeofspecialarchitecturalorhistoric
interest[s.69(1)].Italsoimposesonthemadutytoreviewpastdesignationsfromtimeto
Aerial view of Granby Street Conservation Area from the 2005 survey
A close up of the bearded Viking figure-head to 68-74 Granby Street.
8
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
time [s.69(�)]. Conservation area status
alsomeansthat therearestrictercontrols
onchanges thatcanbemadetobuildings
and land including the need for planning
permission to demolish a building or part
of a building, strengthened controls over
someminorformsofdevelopmentandthe
automaticprotectionofalltrees.
�.� The Council has a further duty
to formulate and prepare from time to
time proposals for the preservation and
enhancement of its conservation areas
[s.71(1)].TheCouncilmustalsopayspecial
attentiontothedesirabilityofpreservingand
enhancing the character and appearance
of conservation areas when determining
planning applications for sites within such
areas[s.7�(1)];see(section6andAppendix
�below).
�.5 The City of Leicester Local Plan
contains a range of conservation policies
(see Appendix 5) to ensure that the
most important parts of Leicester’s built
environmentareprotectedandenhanced.
Thereisageneralpresumptionagainstthe
demolitionofbuildingsthatmakeapositive
contributiontothecharacterorappearance
of a conservation area. These policies
help to ensure that new developments
and conservation-led regeneration reflect
the character and value of the historic
environment.
3.0 Definition of Special Interest
�.1 ThefollowingappraisalwillshowthatthespecialinterestoftheGranbyStreet
ConservationAreaisaproductofseveralfactors.First,ithasalargenumberofcitycentre
scalebuildingsofconsiderablearchitecturalqualitythatcreateanareaofhightownscape
value.Secondly,thereisageneralconsistencyofbrickandcarvedstoneworkacrossthe
conservationarea,occasionallyhighlightedbymodernbuildingsthatalsocontinuethe
brickandstonetheme,albeitusing‘modern’brickcoloursandPortlandstone.Thirdly,the
areahassevenlistedbuildinginaninterestingrangeofcommercialarchitecturalstylesand
fashionsthatspantheyearsbetweenthemid-19thandtheearly�0thcenturies,comple-
Granby Street photographed around 1900 by the crossing of Belvoir Street/Rutland Street. Just to the left of the tram is the General Post Office building and beyond the Midland Bank building of 1870.
Two of the biggest losses to Granby Street have been the Britannia Works (left), with its statue of Britannia and the adjacent Temperance Hall,(centre). Both were demolished in the 1960s.
9
mentedbyafurther15buildingsoflocalarchitectural
andhistoricinterest.
�.� Thespecialinterestoftheareaisalsoa
productofhowtheconservationareahasfunctioned
throughitstwocenturiesoflife.Developedasamain
arterialroadearlyinthe19thcentury,GranbyStreet
remainsanimportanthighwayaswellanintegralpart
ofthecommercialandsociallifeofthecity.Itsbuildings
remindusoftheeraof19thcenturyprosperityand
civicprideandthegrowth,andchangingface,of
leisurepursuits.
4.0 Assessment of Special Interest
Location and setting
�.1 TheGranbyStreetConservationAreaison
thesouthsideofthecitycentre.Itincludesbuildings
oneachsideofGranbyStreetonly,soitsshapeis
longandthin,stretchingsouth-eastwardsforabout
0.5kilometrefromitsjunctionwithHorsefairStreet
(andtheTownHallSquareConservationArea)toits
junctionwithCharlesStreetinthesouth.Itisgenerally
flat,lyingonasand,gravelandboulderclayriver
terraceataround6�.5mabovesealevel,butrisingat
thesouthernendtowardsthemudstonesoftheTriassicperiodandtheJurassicshalesof
theLondonRoadridge.
Historic development and archaeology
�.� GranbyStreet,atitsnorthernend,liesjustoutsidethelineofthedefencesof
RomanandmedievalLeicester.ARomancemeteryisbelievedtoliesomewhereeastof
today’sGallowtreeGateandpartscouldthereforelieunderthenortheastendofGranby
Street.Atrackwouldprobablyhavefollowedthewallsontheeasternsidealongtheline
ofpresent-dayGallowtreeGateandthencetoGranbyStreetandonecertainlyransouth
fromthetownupthe(LondonRoad)hilltothegallowsthatweresitednearthepresent-
dayentrancetoEvingtonFootpath.AneditionofSpeede’smapfrom1610showsbuildings
onwhatwouldbecomeGranbyStreetanda‘cockpit’closenearwhatisnowthesiteof
theTurkeyCafé.
�.� Inthe16thcenturythemainroutefromLeicestertoLondonwasviaHighcrossStreet
andSouthgateStreetthroughtheheartoftheoldtown.However,duringthelate16thandearly
17thcenturies,thepreferredroutetoLondongraduallychangedtofollowwhatwenowknowas
GallowtreeGateandGranbyStreetthenwestalongBelvoirStreetandWelfordRoadtoMarket
HarboroughandLondon.JohnSpeede’smapof1610callsit‘TheLondonWaye’.
map 3 Roberts’ map of 1741. The approximate location of Granby Street Conservation Area is shown edged in brown.
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GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
�.� Thischangewasduetoseveral
factors.First,anadditionalgate(onthe
siteofMarketPlaceApproach)hadbeen
openedupsometimeinthe16thcentury
throughthesouth-eastcornerofthetown
wallsthat,byprovidingbetteraccessto
themarketplace,attractedmoretraffic
tothispartofthetown.Second,many
unlicensedmarkets,fairsandinnswere
becomingestablishedaroundthesiteof
today’sClockTowerandHaymarket(a
‘no-man’s-landwherelandownership
andtaxrightswereindisputebetween
theBoroughCorporationandtheowner
ofthenearbyEastFields).Theseactedas
furthermagnets,drawingpeopleandbusi-
nessawayfromtheoldtown.Third,and
perhapsmostimportantly,itwasbecoming
increasinglydifficultforcoachestousethe
oldcoachroad-thetowngateswere
narrowandthestreetswerebecoming
increasinglycongested.Aroutearound
theoldtownalongSanveyGate,Church
GateandGallowtreeGatewastherefore
mucheasier,buttheconsequencewas
thefurthermigrationofcommerce
awayfromtheancientheartofthetown
aroundHighcrossStreetandHighStreet.
ContemporarymapssuchasStukeley’sof
17��thusshowmanybuildingsoutsidethe
townwallsonbothsidesof‘GoltreGate’
(GallowtreeGate)andalsoonthecorner
ofHorsefairStreet(‘MilstonLane’).
�.5 TheprecedenceofGallowtreeGateandGranbyStreetasthemainroutefrom
LeicestertoLondonwasconfirmedin17�6whentheywereimprovedbytheTurnpike
Trust.TheThreeCrownsInn,Leicester’smostfamouscoachinginn,wasopenedinthat
yearandcontinuedtooperateuntil1870,whenitwasdemolishedtomakewayforthe
NationalProvincialBank(nowtheNatWest).AlthoughfurtherdevelopmentalongGranby
Streetdidnottakeplaceimmediately,Roberts’mapof17�1clearlyshowsthenew
turnpikeaswellasbuildingsonGranbyStreetclosebyitsjunctionwithHorsefairStreet.
Italsoshowsthe‘horsepool’thatwasusedbythegroomsatthenearbyThreeCrowns
Innforwateringandwashinghorses.Tothenorthofthepool,onthesitenowoccupied
bytheTurkeyCafébuilding,asmallthatchedinncalled‘TheJollyMiller’stoodinagrove
oftreeswiththemainPostOfficeopposite.Aseriesofcoachinginnsalsodevelopedin
GallowtreeGateandGranbyStreetandtheseflourisheduntilthecomingoftherailways
inthemid-19thcentury.
map 4 Fowler’s Map of 1828. The approximate location of Granby Street Conservation Area is shown edged in brown.
11
�.6 GranbyStreetseemstohave
beennamedaroundtheendofthe18th
century,andSusannahWatts,inher
book‘AWalkThroughLeicester’(180�),
mentionsitandremarksthat“manyranges
ofbuildings…have…beenhereerected
withinthelastfifteenyears”.BishopStreet
(namedaftertheAldermanWilliamBishop
whoownedtheland)waslaidoutin1809
andBelvoirStreet(namedfortheDuke
ofRutlandwhoownedlandinthearea)
followedin181�.The‘BarleyMow’atthe
cornerofCalaisHillmarkedthesouthern
limitofLeicesterbutthefirstmapreference
toGranbyStreetisonFowler’smapof
18�8.NamedaftertheMarquisofGranby,
aprofessionalsoldierandsonoftheDuke
ofRutland,themapshowsthatGranbyStreetwaswellbuilt-upasfaras
NorthamptonStreet.Bythelastquarterofthe19thcenturyithad
becomeanimportantcommercial,industrialandleisurelocation
withshops,houses,offices,hotels,factoriesandotherservices
mixedtogethertocreatewhatearlyphotographsshowtobe
abustlingandsuccessfulstreet.
�.7 GranbyStreetowes
itsmanyfineandimportant
buildingstothe19thcentury,
reflectingLeicester’sindustrial
successandcivicpride.Atthe
northend,twobanking
houses–theNational
ProvincialBank(now
theNatWestbuilding)
andtheLeicestershire
Bank(nowoccupied
byHSBC)–viedwith
eachotherin1870
toerectbuildingsthat
wouldproperlyreflect
theirimportance.The
resultisthatwenow
haveaclassicalrevival
stylestoneandwhite
brickbuildingon
thesoutherncorner
ofHorsefairStreetThe former Victoria Coffee House at 38 & 40 Granby Street, dates from 1888 - the year of the Queen’s Jubilee, and hence the name. The architect was Edward Burgess.
A view of William Flint’s General News Room of 1838, this was certainly Flint’s finest building but was unfortunately lost when Granby Street was widened in 1897/8.
1�
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
andanexhuberantFrenchGothicbuildinginredbrickandstoneonthenorthcornerof
BishopStreet.ThecornerofHalfordStreetisdefinedbyaredbrick,redsandstoneand
terracottabuilding,possiblyofaroundthesamedate.Nearby,theVictoriaCoffeeHouse
of1888,withitstallconicalroof,lanternsandturrets,canstillbeseenat�8-�0Granby
StreetwiththeformerWellingtonHotel,anotherclassicalrevivalbuildinginpalebrickand
stone,nextdoor.
�.8 GranbyStreetwasalsothelocationofVictorianLeicester’sPostOffice(s).There
hadbeenasmallpostofficeonthecornerofGranbyPlacebeforetheserviceremoved
toHalfordStreet.However,in18�6,theBoroughCorporationwasauthorisedtobuild
anewpostofficeandchoseasiteclosetotheGranbyCoffeeHouse,todaythesite
betweentheHSBCandNatWestBanks.Thissmallclassicallystyledbuildingremained,
enlargedfromtimetotime,untilGranbyStreetwaswidenedin1868,whenanew
buildingwaserectedonasitehalfwaybetweenBishopStreetandBelvoirStreet(previ-
ouslythelocationoftheCorahfamily’shosierywarehouse,whichitselfmovedoutto
newpremises,StMargaret’sWorks).ThisbuildingwasofarathersevereItalianatedesign
butwasreplacedin1885byabuildingintheGothicstyle,echoingtheFrenchGothic
map 5 The Ordnance Survey Map of 1886: Granby Street Conservation Area is shown superimposed. Crown copyright and Landmark Information Group Limited. All rights reserved, 2009. Map not scale.
A close-up of ‘Balmoral House’, 88 Granby Street; it dates from 1873 and was designed by local architects Shenton and Baker
1�
styleofitsneighbour,theLeicestershire
Bank.Finally,in19�5thislastbuildingwas
demolished,andthePostOfficeremoved
toitspresentsiteinBishopStreet.Thesite
leftvacantisnowoccupiedbytheshops
andofficesat�5-�7GranbyStreet.
�.9 In1897/8GranbyStreetwas
widenedagainandseveralbuildingsdate
fromthattime,suchastheelaborately
decoratedstone-builtNewsRoomatthe
cornerofBelvoirStreet.Thisreplaced
whatmayhavebeenthefinestbuilding
bylocalarchitect,WilliamFlint,theGreek
revival‘GeneralNewsRoom’of18�8.In
contrast,theoppositecornerisoccupied
bytheredbrickandstoneGrandHotelof
1898,whichitselfreplacedtheformerBlue
Lioncoachinginn,theCarltonHoteland
theConservativeClub.Itslargeballroom
wasoriginallyacinema,theKing’sHall,and
wasenteredfromBelvoirStreetbut,after
severalchangesofname,itclosedin19�8,
possiblyowingtothehighcostofupdating
theequipmenttocaterforthenew‘talkies’.
In1881,thecornerofRutlandStreetand
GranbyStreetwasthelocationofLeices-
ter’sfirsttelephoneexchange.
�.10 GranbyStreetisassociatedwith
thewell-known19thcenturyLeicester
figure,ThomasCook,thetravelpioneer,a
leadingmemberoftheTemperanceSociety
andalifelongteetotaller.Itwasathisinstiga-
tionthattwoofthetown’smostimportant
temperancebuildingswereconstructed-theTemperanceHotelandtheTemperance
Hall,bothbuiltin185�.TheformerwasmanagedbyCook’swife,Marianneand,despite
severealterationstothegroundandfirstfloorsbothinsideandout,thebuildingthatstands
at1��GranbyStreetisstillrecognisable.Immediatelyadjoiningthehotelonthesouth
sidewastheTemperanceHall(advertisedasthe‘NewMusicHall’).Thiswasthelargest
concerthallinthecity,withaseatingcapacityof1800,untiltheopeningofDeMontfort
Hallin191�,andthefirstbuildinginthetowntobesuppliedbywaterfromthenew
ThorntonReservoir.Ithadanimposingstuccoedclassicalfaçadewiththreelargewindows
separatedbyCorinthianstylecolumns,thewholetoppedoffwithabigtriangularpedi-
ment.Manyfamouspeopleperformedthere–CharlesDickens,MarkTwain,JennyLind,
CharlieChaplin–butwiththedeclineoftheTemperanceMovementitwaseventually
soldandconvertedintoacinema,endingitsdaysastheEssoldo.Itwasdemolishedin
An image from around 1920 showing the hustle and bustle of Granby Street.
The Britannia Works at the corner of Calais Hill and Granby Street just prior to its demolition in 1962.
1�
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
1960tobereplacedbyamodernoffice
block(1�7-1��GranbyStreet).
�.11 ThesamefatebefelltheBritan-
niaHosieryWorkswhichadjoinedthe
TemperanceHalltothesouth.Thislarge
imposingbrickandstoneclassicalrevival
factoryandwarehouseprobablydated
fromaround1870-80andmadeavery
strongcontributiontothearchitecture
andtownscapeofthestreet.Itsloss,and
thatoftheTemperanceHall,isamatterof
someregrettoday.However,onesmall
VictorianGothicfactoryremainsat88
GranbyStreet.ThisisBalmoralHouse,
builtin187�tothedesignsofShenton
andBaker(whoalsodesignedtheWater
BoardofficesonBowlingGreenStreet)
and,togetherwiththesmallwarehouse
at97GranbyStreet,istypicaloftheway
inwhichsmall-scaleindustrialpremises
existedinVictorianLeicesteralongside
housesandshops.
�.1� Despitetheselossesthe
twentiethcenturyhas,nevertheless,
contributedseveralinterestingbuildingsto
theconservationarea.Themostunusual
istheTurkeyCafé,aneccentricdesign
thatisfacedwithcolouredRoyalDoulton
ceramictiles.Itwasdesignedbyoneof
thecity’sbest-knownarchitects,Arthur
Wakerley,andbuiltin1901.Itisperhaps
notsurprisingthatthefirstoccupantwas
J.S.Winnas,between1895and1900,
Wakerley’sofficehadbeenaboveWinn’s
‘OrientalCafé’intheMarketPlace.
Another�0thcenturybuildingworthyof
noteistheGradeIIlisted1�8Granby
Street(Blunt’sShoes),anexampleof
theArtDecostylepopularinthe19�0s
(otherscanbeseenat�5-�7and��-��
GranbyStreet).Builtonasitecleared
in19�1fortheconstructionofCharles
Street,NathanHunt’snewup-market
furnitureshopinPortlandstonewithgreen
glazedrooftileswasveryfashionable.The
Above: Two views of the Art Deco building at128-132 Granby Street; it was originally Harris’ Furniture Store as can be seen in the top picture dating from the 1960s. The corner building is now occupied by Blunts’ Shoe shop.
15
currentownershavekepttheoriginalpalegreencolourschemefor
thewindowsandexternalmetalwork.Theshallowcurvedfaçadeofits
fivestoreyneighbourat1��-1�6GranbyStreetmarksthisasanArts
andCraftsbuildingdatingfromtheturnofthe�0thcenturybutthe
YMCAbuildingof1901onthecornerofLondonRoadandEastStreet
is,byfar,GranbyStreet’sgrandest�0thcenturybuilding.
�.1� Acomparisonofthemapsof1886andthepresentday
showshowthecharacterofthestreethaschangedfromamixtureof
housesandgardens,shops,pubs,workshops,leisureandindustrial
usestothemoredenselybuiltupcommercialandretailusesoftoday.
Smallshopandresidentialunits(suchasbetweenChathamStreetand
YorkStreet)havegivenwaytolargepurpose-builtshops,suchasthe
oldMaplesstoreat91GranbyStreet.Similarly,theoldWaggonand
Horsespubandstables,alongwithtinycottagesonDoverStreet,
wereredevelopedinthemid-�0thcenturyandthecrampedhousing
courtsonAlfredPlacehavebeendemolishedtoformcarparks.One
ofthebiggestchangesisatthecornerofGranbyStreetandLondon
Road.HerethesmarthousesofStockdaleTerrace(namedafterthe
localarchitectStockdaleHarrisonwhosefatherlivedatnumber17)
weredemolishedtomakewayfortheYMCAbuilding.
�.1� DuringthelatterpartofthetwentiethcenturyGranby
Streetwasaffectedbymanychangingtrends,butmostparticularly
thoseofindustry,shoppingandtraffic.Frombeingabusyshopping
andindustriallocation,GranbyStreetbecameasecondaryshopping
locationfollowinginvestmentintheClockTowerarea.LargeVictorian
factoriessuchastheBritanniaWorksbecameincreasinglyunviableas
cheapforeigngoodscompetedwithLeicester’straditionalmarkets.
Therewaslittlerecognitioninthe1960softhearchitecturalvalue
orpotentialofsuchbuildingsandwithouttheprotectionoflisted
buildingstatus,andbeforetheadventofconservationareasin1967,
theirdemolitionandreplacementwasprobablyinevitable.Thus
theTemperanceHall,theBritanniaWorksandothers,suchasthe
VictorianGothicshopandwarehouseoftheInstitutionfortheBlindat
50GranbyStreet,weredemolishedandreplacedbyshopsandoffices
ofuninspireddesigns.Forcinemas,itwasasimilarstoryandLeicester
lostmanyofitscinemasduringthe1960s.Oneofthecasualtiesinthe
conservationareawasThePictureHouseat1�-17GranbyStreet,
(demolishedinthelate1970s).
�.15 Duringthelatterhalfofthe�0thcenturyGranbyStreet,like
allotherroadsinthecity,sawasubstantialgrowthinthenumber
ofvehiclesusingit.Itwasamainroutefeedingintothecitycentre,
amajorbusrouteandthemainvehicleandpedestrianlinktothe
railwaystation.TheclosureofGallowtreeGatetovehiclesinthe
1980srequiredchangestotrafficcirculationwithinandaroundthe
Top: A view of the Turkey Café taken in the early years of the 20th cen-tury and above: a close up of the brightly coloured tiling.
16
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
citycentre,particularlythediversionofnon-essentialtrafficawayfromthenarrowcity
centrestreets.GranbyStreetwasmadeonewaynorthwardswithpavementextensions
andparkingbaysintroducedtonarrowtheroadandcalmtrafficspeeds.Acentralring
roadwasalsoplanned,withtheCityCouncilfavouringaroutethatwouldtakeitsouthof
therailwaystationsoastomaintaindirectpedestrianlinksbetweenitandthecitycentre.
However,thiscouldnotbesecuredandthecentralringroadwasbuiltnorthofthesta-
tion,withapedestriansubwayprovidingaccesstothestation.Thesubwaywasunpopular
withpedestriansandatrafficlight-controlledsurfacelevelcrossinghadtobeinstalledafew
yearslater.
�.16 Thelastdecadeofthe�0thcenturyandthefirstyearsofthe�1sthaveseen
otherchangesinthecitycentreofwhichthemostobviousisthegrowthininvestmentin
regenerationschemes.WhilemostoftheGranbyStreetConservationAreaisnotdirectly
affected,itisclosetotwoofthemainregenerationareas.TheCulturalQuartersits
�00mtothenorthandisthefocusofarts-based,leisureandhousingprojects.Thearea
betweenDoverStreet,NorthamptonStreetandEastStreetispartofthenewBusi-
nessQuarter,the‘OfficeCore’.Aspirationsforthisareainclude,amongstotherthings,
softeningthebarrieroftheringroadandtheestablishmentofdirectlinkswiththestation,
providingthehighestqualityenvironmentalimprovementstothepublicrealm,creatingan
enhancedsetting
The range of architectural styles along Granby Street is exceptional. Here at the corner of Chatham Street the chosen style was Flemish, adjoining is the Grand Hotel with its varied skyline.
17
forconservationareasandbuildingsof
architecturalandhistoricinterestandre-
orientingthemainentrancetotherailway
stationtowardsCharlesStreetandGranby
Street.Thecarparksitetotherearofthe
1960sofficebuildingsat1�7-1�1Granby
Streethasbeenidentifiedasapotential
officedevelopmentsite
CharacterAnalysis
Purpose
�.17 Theaimofconservationarea
designationisthepreservationand
enhancementofthecharacterandappear-
anceofanareaofarchitecturalorhistoric
interest.However,eachconservationarea
isdifferentandcharacterandappearancewilldifferinmanyways.Thestyleandscaleof
thebuildingsmaybedifferent,aswellastheirlayoutandrelationshiptoeachotherand
thespacesaroundthem.Theymayhaveadaptedtochangesinfashionoruseindifferent
waysandtheircharactermaybeinfluencedbylesstangiblefactorssuchassounds,smells,
busynessortranquillity.Itisimportant,therefore,thatthedifferentcharactersaswellas
thephysicalappearanceofeachconservationareaisdefinedanddescribedinorderthat
informeddecisionscanbemadeaboutanyfuturechangestothebuiltformortheusesof
buildings.
Townscape
�.18 Generally,thedistinctivecharacterofGranbyStreetConservationAreaiscreated
byitsgoodquality,citycentrescalebuildingsandarchitecturewhichscaledownfrom
thelargepublicbuildingsnorthoftheGrandHoteltotheshopsandofficessouthofYork
Street.Brickandstonepredominatebutavarietyofotherbuildingmaterialsareusedfor
decoration,acombinationthataddsinterest,colour,andtexture.Thestreetisbusywith
peopleandvehicles;thesouthendissoftenedbytrees.Buildingheightsaregenerally
�and�storeys,occasionallyrisingto5or6storeys.Windows,sills,stonebandsand
stringcoursescreatehorizontalpatternswhilebaywindowsanddoubleheightwindows
emphasisverticalrhythms.ThetownscapeisnotablyenhancedatthejunctionwithBelvoir
StreetandRutlandStreet,animportantvisual‘hinge’,whosecornersareframedand
addressedbylargewell-designedbuildingsthatreinforcetheimportanceofthespace.The
viewsouthfromRutlandStreettowardstherailwaystationisveryeffectively‘closed’by
theElizabethHousetowerblock,whiletheClockTowerterminatestheviewnorthatthe
junctionwithGallowtreeGate.
�.19 Topographyalsoplaysapartincreatingthearea’scharacter,particularlythe
approachdowntheLondonRoadhillfromthesouth.FromheretheentrancetoGranby
The Leicester YMCA at the corner of East Street and the building opposite,Blunts Shoes are two large contrasting buildings that frame the approach to Granby Street from London Road.
18
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
Streetisframedbytwolargeandcontrastingbuildings(theYMCA
and1�8GranbyStreet),whiletheviewfurtherintothestreetis
obscureduntilitisactuallyentered.Thebuildingsateachendof
GranbyStreetalsoform‘gateways’,eachofwhichcreatesa‘sense
ofarrival’.AsubtlebendpartwayalongGranbyStreetobscures
viewsinbothdirections,invitingfurtherexploration.
�.�0 Thecharacterofanareaisalsoafunctionofhowitis
viewedandused.InthecaseoftheGranbyStreetConservation
Areaitisanimportantpedestrianlinktotherailwaystationandis
themainbusrouteintothecitycentrefromthesouth.Itbustles
withpeopleenroutetoorfromtherailwaystation,workor
shopping,whilethebars,restaurants,fastfoodoutlets,shops,
offices,flats,alargehotelandartgalleryprovideavarietyoflocal
destinations.Asthemainfeederroadintothecitycentrefromthe
south,trafficlevelsonGranbyStreetarehighatpeaktimes.This
isparticularlynoticeableattheGrandHotelwherethedistance
betweenbuildingsdecreasesandbuildingheightsincrease.With
pavementsalsobeingnarrowerherepedestriansandvehiclesare
broughtintomuchclosercontact.
�.�1 Theconservationareadivides,intermsofappearance,
architectureandprimaryfunction,intotwo‘sub-areas’–thearea
fromtheGrandHotelnorthwards,andtheareatothesouth.The
appraisalwillthereforeaddressthearchitecturalcharacterandkey
buildingsofeachareaseparatelyasArea1(GranbyStreetNorth)
andArea�(GranbyStreetSouth).
Prevailing and former uses
�.�� ThegrowthanddevelopmentofGranbyStreethas
alreadybeendescribedinparagraphs�.�to�.16.Thisshowshow
theareadevelopedsouthwardsfrom,andasanextensionto,the
GallowtreeGatecoachroadandturnpiketobecomeadensely
builtupareafilledwithshopping,industrial,businessandleisure
usesduringtheVictorianandEdwardianperiods.Itwasalsothen
oneofthecity’sprincipalshoppingstreetsandwasakeylinkon
footortrambetweenthecitycentre,therailwaystationandthe
suburbsofHighfieldsandStoneygate.
�.�� However,theprimaryfunctionsandimportanceof
thestreetchangedduringthelatterhalfofthe�0thcentury.
Thiswasthetimewhentheindustrialbuildings,thearea’sthree
cinemasandtheconcerthallwerefallingoutofuse.Thebuildingstheyoccupiedbecame
unfashionableoroutofdateand,notbeingprotectedinanywaybydesignationaslisted
buildings,weredemolishedtomakewayforoffices.Withtheredevelopmentofthe
Haymarketarea,GranbyStreetcontinuedtoloseitsimportanceintheshoppinghierarchy
The impressive public entrance to the NatWest bank premises at the corner of Granby Street and Horsefair Street.
Number 1 Granby Street was designed in the classical revival style. The stone work is particularly fine with a strong horizontal rhythm created by the large stone console brackets and the stone cornices at first and second floor levels.
19
andbecameasecondaryshoppinglocation.
Theprovisionofshort-stayon-streetpark-
ingaspartofthecitycentretrafficimprove-
mentsinthe1980swaspartlydesigned
toboostshoppinginthestreet.More
recently,however,thefortunesofGranby
Streethavebeguntorise.Stillprimarilyan
officeandshoplocation,theincreasein
theavailabilityandpopularityofcitycentre
living(suchastheflatsintheNewsRoom,
1BelvoirStreet,thewarehouseandoffice
conversionsat97and1�5-1�1Granby
Street)hasattractedmorelocalresidents,
leisureusessuchascafesandbars,aswell
assmallsupermarkets.
�.�� GranbyStreet’sfunctionasthe
mainrouteoutofthecitycentrehasalso
ceasedinresponsetomeasuresdesigned
tominimisetheimpactoftrafficinthecity
centre.Itbecameonewaynorthwardsin
the1980saspartofthetrafficmanagement
schemethatincludedthepedestrianisation
ofGallowtreeGate;atthatdateitwas
resurfacedandredesignedtoprovide
pavementextensionsandstreettrees.In
the�1stcentury,continental-stylestreet
cafesarenowbecomingafeatureofthe
streetanditisbecomingbusyagain.There
arefewvacantbuildingsorshops.
Architecturalcharacterandkeybuildings
�.�5 Therearesixlistedbuildingson
GranbyStreetandafurthertwelvethatare
includedonthedraftlistofbuildingsoflocal
interest(seeMap�).Thebuildingsarean
eclecticmixofarchitecturalstylesdating
fromthe19ththroughtothe�0thcentury.
Thebuildings,andhowtheycontributeto
thecharacter,appearanceandqualityofthe
conservationarea,aredescribedindetailbelow.
�.�6 Inthetextbuildingsthatmakepositivecontributionstothecharacterandappear-
anceoftheconservationareaareshowninbold.Referenceto‘thelocallist’indicatesthat,
althoughabuildingisnotincludedinthestatutorylistofbuildingsofarchitecturalorhistoric
‘Imperial Buldings’ at 2 - 4 Halford Street
Number 2 Granby Street features a very fine orial bow window
�0
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
interest,itisofsufficientlocalinteresttobeincludedinthedraft,
non-statutory,locallist.
Area1(GranbyStreetNorth)
�.�7 ThejunctionofGranbyStreetwithHorsefairStreetand
HalfordStreetisoneofthetwo‘gateways’toGranbyStreet.
Eachofthethreebuildingsonthejunctionisafocalpointand
landmarkframingthenarrowentrancestoGranbyandHalford
Streets.Twoofthebuildingsareinaclassicalrevivalstyleand
oneintheQueenAnnerevivalstyle.Thegrandestbuildingis1
Granby Street(NatWestBankandGradeIIlisted)whichis
builtinpaleyellowbrickwithstonedressingswithafinelydetailed
curvedcornerdefiningtheentrance.Stronghorizontalrhythms
arecreatedbywindowsills,cornicesandtheirlargedecorated
consolebracketsupports,stonebandsandabalustradedparapet
(nowsadlydevoidofthedecorativeurnsthatusedtostandon
topoftheparapetpiers).Therearekeystonesabovethesecond
floorwindows,smallcarvedmotifsabovethefirstfloorwindows,
rusticatedquoinsateachendandaroundthecornerentrance
whichalsohasashallowbalusteredbalconysupportedbyvery
largeconsolebracketstoemphasiseitsimportance.Thecorner
entrancenotonlyaddstothearchitecturalcharacterofthe
conservationareabutalsotothebusycharactercreatedbypeople
andtheiractivities.
�.�8 Ontheoppositecorner,2 Granby Streetisamuch
simplerbuildingbut,again,itaddressesthejunctionwellwith
afeatureorielwindow(withoriginalcurvedandglazedsashes)
atfirstfloor,stonequoinsandasubtlycurvedandrenderedfaçadetoHalfordStreet.
Beyond,andofferinganinterestingvisualcontrast,isthestone-builtandlocallylisted3
Halford Street.Thebusyfaçadeofthisbuildinghasfive-sidedpilasters,Tuscancolumns
ontheinnerfacesofitsrecessedfirstfloorbalcony,abull’s-eyewindowinthemiddleof
acentrallyplacedpedimentandballandcrownfinialsatparapetlevel.Onthenorth-east
corneristheinteresting‘ImperialBuildings’,2-6 Halford Street,afourandahalfstorey
redbrick,redsandstoneandterracottapropertythataddsanotherelementofcolour
anddecorationtothejunction.Thisunusualbuildingisonthelocallistandhasawealth
ofdetail;windowshavearedsandstonemullions,transomsandsurrounds,withcarved
stonepilastersandbandsbetween.Stronghorizontalpatternsarecreatedbythemoulded
stonestringcoursesbetweeneachstoreyandthedormerwindowsabovethefourthfloor
haveround-archedwindows,cornicesandpedimentedgablessupportedbyscrolls.
�.�9 Thesmallgroupofbuildingsat�-18GranbyStreethaveallbeenrefacedand
makelittlecontributiontothearchitecturalqualityofthearea.Beyond,however,there
areseveralbuildingsofdifferentsizes,designsanddecorationthatareimportanttothe
characterandappearanceoftheconservationarea.Twoearly�0thcenturyneo-Classical
buildingsinbrickandrender,22 and 26-28 Granby Street,enclosethemostunusual
The Turkey Café was built to the designs of Arthur Wakerley in 1901. The exotic Turkish/Persian style moulded and glazed terracotta was made at the Doulton Pottery in Lambeth.
�1
buildingintheconservationarea,The Turkey Café, 24 Granby
Street.Thethreebuildings,despitetheirdifferentdesigns,
maintainstronghorizontalpatterns–thewindowsareallatthe
samelevel,asaretheparapetlines,whiletheverticalrhythmsof
brickandrenderat��GranbyStreetcontrastwithandemphasise
thepatternsontheTurkeyCafé.Theplainfaçadeof�6-�8Granby
Streetactsasafoilforitsmoredecorativeneighbours,highlighting
theirarchitecturaldetails.TheTurkeyCaféitselfisaGradeII
listedbuildingdesignedbythewellknownlocalarchitect,Arthur
Wakerley,andbuiltin1901.Itscastironframeiscladinbrightly
colouredmatt-facedcarrarawaretilesbyRoyalDoulton.Unique
inLeicester,itwasrestoredin198�whenthethenoccupiers,
RaynersOpticians,commissionedHathernwareCeramicsof
Loughboroughtore-makeandinstalltheMoorish-stylearchover
theshopfrontandthetwoturkeysoneithersideoftheentrance.
�.�0 Beyond�6-�8GranbyStreet,buildingheightsincreaseto
fourstoreys.Thepurpose-builtshopat30-32 Granby Street
isbuiltindarkredbrickswithalargedoubleheightshopfront.A
mouldedcornicerunsacrossthewholefaçadebetweenfirstand
secondfloors,abovewhicharefivesashwindowswithsegmental
archesandmouldedkeystones,fiveplainsashesatthirdfloor
levelandadeeplyoverhangingeavescornice.Adjoiningitonthe
southsideis34-36 Granby Street,aneo-Classicalbuildingin
paleyellowbrickswithstonedetailingsuchasquoins,window
surrounds,segmentalarchedpedimentsonscrolledbracketsover
thefirstfloorwindowsandahorizontalstonebandabove.The
eavescorniceissupportedonsmallpairedbrackets(modillions)
andthesecondandthirdfloorwindowsretaintheiroriginal
sashes.Unfortunately,theverydeepshopfrontfasciabreaksup
therhythmsofthefaçadebutthebuildingretainssufficientmeritto
warrantitsinclusioninthelocallistofbuildingsofarchitecturalor
historicinterest.
�.�1 TheformerVictoria Coffee House, 38-40 Granby
Streetisthenextbuildingonthispartofthestreet.ItisGrade
IIlistedandwasdesignedbyanotherlocalarchitect,Edward
Burgess,andbuiltin1888,oneofthetwelvetemperancemove-
mentcoffeehousesinLeicesterinthelate19thcentury.Itisone
ofthefewstonebuildingsinGranbyStreetanditshighlydecorativefacadescombine
largewindows,horizontalbands,stonequoins,Doriccolumns,splayedupperfloorswith
octagonalandroundturretsandtoppedoffbyaprominenttiledconicalroofcrownedbya
woodenlantern.
�.�� OnthewestsideofGranbyStreetthesiteofthethreestoreyGranbyCoffee
Houseanditssuccessor,ThePictureHouse,havebeenreplacedbyatwostoreybuilding
Two views of the extraordinary former banking premises at 31 Granby Street. It is listed Grade II star and dates from 1870 and was designed by the notable local architect Joseph Goddard.
��
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
indarkred-brownbrick,1�-17Granby
Street.Itmakessomearchitecturalconces-
sionstoitsneighbours–horizontalbrick
bandsaboveshopfrontleveltolinkwith
thestonebandson1GranbyStreetand
aneaveslinethatcoincideswithdecorative
elementson1and�1GranbyStreet–but
thescaleandmassingaregenerallyout
ofproportionwithitssurroundings.Its
designfailingsareperhapsemphasisedby
itsneighbourtothesouth,thebankat31
Granby Street.GradeIIlistedanddating
from1870,itwasdesignedbythelocal
practiceofGoddard&Paget.Thislarge
elaboratestructureisacitycentreland-
mark,inredbrickwithstonedecorations
inaflamboyantFrenchGothicstylewith
aVenetianentrance.TheGranbyStreet
façadehasthreelargeGothicwindows
withpolishedpilastersandpointed
archesbuiltinalternatingbrickandstone.
Entranceisobtainedatthecornerwith
BishopStreetviaasinglestoreyporchwith
bigpointedarches,adecoratedbalustrade
overwhichrisesalargebowwindow
andpyramidalrooftoppedbyarailing.
ThewindowsanticipatetheArtNouveau
styleandarefilledwithflowingformsin
colouredglassandthereareterracotta
panelsfilledwithbirdshapesclosetoeye
levelaboveandbehindtheoriginalrailings.
Thebankinghallceilingisopentoshow
thedecoratedtimberroofstructure.
�.�� Thebuildingsinthenextblock,
35 to 55 Granby Street,datefromthe
19�0sorthelate1890s.Thethreestorey
19�0sshopandofficebuildingat�5-�7is
facedinPortlandstoneand,despitesome
inappropriateshopfronts,isawell-de-
signedfeaturewhoserestrainedmaterials
anddecorationenhancethestreet.The
formerbankat53 Granby Streetalso
datesfromthistimeandhasawell-pro-
portionedPortlandstonefaçadedivided
intwobyashallowbalconyabovealarge
round-archeddoubleheightentrance.The
Granby Street/Belvior Street corner is dominated by the tower of the Ramada Jarvis Grand Hotel. The architects may have been inspired by the churches of Sir Christopher Wren.
Part of the Belvior Street elevation of the Ramada Jarvis Grand Hotel showing the three round-arched windows to the first floor ballroom/function room.
��
rusticatedstoneworkatgroundfloorlevel
giveafeelingofsoliditywhiletheprojecting
eavescorniceandbalconycreateinteresting
shadows.
�.�� TheBelvoirStreetjunctionis
markedbyfourbuildingsthatdifferfrom
eachothermarkedlyinstyle,colourand
decoration.However,theyhaveeachbeen
designedtoacknowledgeandaddressthis
importantspaceinsomeway.Onthenorth
cornerthelocallylistedformerWellington
Hotel(nowHepworth Chambers),2-4
Rutland Street,doesthisintheform
ofacurvethathasmorehighlydecorated
windowsandrusticatedstonepiers.Atthe
formerNews Roomonthewestside,
55-59 Granby Street & 1-3 Belvoir
Street,thecornerfeatureisacovedand
rusticatedcurvewithasegmentofadomeatsecondfloorlevel.TheRamada Jarvis
Grand Hotel, 61-79 Granby Street and 2-14 Belvoir Street,onthesouthcorner
againmarksthejunctionwithacurvedfaçadebutaddspairedcolumnstoeachfloor
surmountedbyatwo-stagestonedomedcupola.Theeastcorneristheplainestbuilding
butittooacknowledgestheimportanceofthejunctionwithasplayedcornerandsimple
geometricdecoration.
�.�5 Architecturallythesefourbuildingsarealldifferent.HepworthChambersisa
threestoreyyellowbrickneo-Classicalbuildingwithdecorativestoneeavesbrackets,
windowsurrounds,stonebandsandquoins.Itisincludedindraftlocallist.Therecentloss
ofitsoriginalsashes,andtheaggressivecleaningmethodusedonbothelevations,have
bothalteredtheappearanceofthebuildinganddamagedthestonework,tothedetriment
ofthebuildinganditsenvirons.TheNewsRoomisGradeIIlistedanddatesfrom1898.
ItwasdesignedbyGoddard&Coanditsexuberantlycarvedanddecoratedstonework
hasthreewindowbaystoeachelevation,Ioniccolumnsandpilasters,friezes,cupolas,
domes,archeddormerwindowsandcarvingsofthenineMusesbetweennicheswith
shelldecoration.Thecornerisroundedatfirstfloorlevelwithasegmentofadomeat
secondfloorlevel.ThelefthandendoftheBelvoirStreetelevationistoppedbyastone
domedcupola.TheGrandHoteldatesfrom1896and1898andwasdesignedbyCecil
OgdenandSimpsonandHarveyina“Franco-GermanRenaissance”stylewhiletheBelvoir
StreetfrontageandthecornerextensionweredesignedbyAmosHall.TypicalLeicester
orange-redbrickscontrastwithwhitestoneworkonfacadeswhosestronghorizontal
rhythmsaresetbylonglinesofwindowsseparatedbystonebands.Thehotel’sentrance
canopyisplacedincentreoftheGranbyStreetelevationandisfurtherdefinedbythree
storeyhighstonebaysthatarecrownedbyornategablesandturretswithtent-shaped
roofs.TheBelvoirStreetelevationboastsaverylargepediment,octagonaldomedturrets
andthreelargeround-archwindows.Theeastcornerbuildingis,incontrast,verysimple
withPortlandstonefacadesbrokenbydoubleheightwindowsthatareseparatedbyblack
At the corner of Granby Street/Belvoir Street the former General Newsroom was designed in the Baroque style - a popular choice of architecture for large public buildings at the end of the 19th century.
Detail of entrance to former General Newsroom, Belvoir Street.
��
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
panelsdecoratedwithbronzedzig-zag
pattern.Simpleflutingalsodecoratesthe
parapetandthefaçadeatfirstfloorlevel.
Area�(GranbyStreetSouth)Eastside
�.�6 Mostofthebuildingsontheeast
sideofGranbyStreetarethreestoreysin
height,withtallerbuildingstendingtobe
onthewestside,suchasthoseat�1and
91GranbyStreet.Alterationshavebeen
madetomostbuildingsovertheyears
butmanystillmakepositivecontributions
tothecharacterandappearanceofthe
street.Withinthethreestoreygroupof
buildingsbetween��GranbyStreetand
AlfredPlace,thereare,however,onlya
fewthatmakeapositivecontributionto
theconservationarea.Thoseworthyofnoteare48, 60 and
62-66 Granby Street.Thefirstofthese,�8GranbyStreet,has
asmoothrenderedfaçade,scoredtolooklikestonejointing,two
roundarchedfirstfloorwindows,squaresecondfloorwindows
andtwohorizontalbandsatparapetlevel.Occupyinganarrow
plot,60GranbyStreetisbuiltinyellowbrickswithclassical
detailingandtwodormerwindowswithsegmentalpediments
andsquarebalusterstotheparapet.Therefacingoftheground
floorindarkbuffrustic-finishbricksdetractsfromtheappearance
ofthebuilding.ThecornerofGranbyPlaceismarkedby6�-66
GranbyStreetwhichisbuiltinorange-redbrickswithdecorative
stonework,tallfirstfloorwindowswithawiderelievingarchdetail
aboveandasplayedcornerfeature.
�.�7 Theblockat68-100GranbyStreetcomprisesbuildings
fromthelate19thandfirstdecadesofthe�0thcentury,some
ofwhichareonthedraftlocallistofbuildingsofarchitecturalor
historicinterest(68-8�GranbyStreet).Datingfrom190�,68-74 Granby Streetisa
symmetricalthreestoreybuildingwithanatticstoreyformedbytwolargecentrallyposi-
tioneddormers.Thestoneworkonitsbrickfacadeisdecoratedinasomewhateclectic
stylecombiningelementsofGothic,QueenAnne,JacobeanandArtsandCrafts(thislast
mostobviousintheelevationtoAlfredPlace).HelmetedandbeardedVikingsdecorate
bracketsabovethecentralshopfrontfasciawhilethedormersaresupportedbysmall
flyingbuttresses,withfinialsandscrolls,andtheDutch-styledormergableshavefinialson
eitherside.Evenitstallchimneysaredecoratedwithhorizontalstonebandsandangled
bricks.Itsneighbour,76-82 Granby Street,incontrast,isintheDomesticRevivalstyle
inorange-redbrickwithstonedressings.Thereismockhalf-timbering,decoratedtimber
bargeboardsonthetwodormers,whichhavebiggablessupportedonstubbybrackets,
Only the upper, top two floors of Thomas Cook’s Temperance Hotel at 123 Granby Street remain intact. Both the shopfront and first floors having been altered drastically. Beyond can be seen the large Portland stone building that was originally the Maples furniture store, built in the 1950s.
Numbers 76-82 Granby Street at the corner of Alfred Place combines a range of architectural styles and features a series of decorative carved backets supporting the stone fascia.
�5
aconcaveeavescorniceandstonewindowmullions,transoms
andsurrounds.Thefaçadenextdoorat8�-86GranbyStreetis
arecentadditiontothestreetfrontage,withbricksandwindows
replacingthemosaictilecladdingthatusedtofacethis1960sshop.
Whilestilllackingthepitchedroofthatwouldhaveaddedfurther
interesttotheenvironment,thedesignneverthelessacknowledges
thescaleandmaterialsofthesurroundingbuildings.
�.�8 Balmoral House, 88 Granby Streetwasdesignedby
Shenton&Bakeranddatesfrom187�.ItistheonlyRenaissance
GothicbuildinginGranbyStreetandwasoriginallybuiltasaboot
andshoefactory.Itisplacedgable-ontothestreetanditsname
ispickedoutinGothic-styleletteringinatiledfriezeoverthefirst
floorwindows.Abovearefourlancetwindowswithhoodmoulds
andasmallroundwindow,reminiscentoftherosewindowof
achurch.Theoriginalpillarsoneithersideshopfrontcanstillbe
seenandaddfurtherinteresttothebuilding.
�.�9 BeyondtheCityGalleryat90GranbyStreetisathree
storeyblockofmuchaltered19thcenturyshopsat9�-100
GranbyStreet.Someclassicalrevivaldetailssuchasadentilled
eavescornice,somemouldedwindowsurrounds,quoinsand
lintelssupportedonscrolledbracketsremainbutotherwisethe
buildingshavelosttheiroriginalarchitecturalintegrity.Thesmall
shoponthecornerwithNorthamptonStreet,100 Granby
Street,wasrefacedinbrickwithrenderedpanelsprobablyinthe
19�0sor19�0sandistypicaloftheratherseveredesignsofthe
time.
�.�0 Thefaçadeof10�-10�GranbyStreetontheopposite
cornerisnowhiddenbehindmetalcladdingbutthelastgroupof
buildingshasmuchofinterest.106-108 Granby Streetisbuilt
inbrickandstone,withthecentresectionsofeachbayprojecting
slightlyforwardtoaddinterestandarticulationtothefaçade.Thereareshallowcurved
baywindowsatfirstfloorlevel,decorativestonebandsandpilasters,aprojectingeaves
courseandornamentalgablesabovethesecondfloorwindows.Theyellowclaychimney
potsareoriginalasisthe‘bull’s-eye’window,completewithoriginalglazingbars,thatcan
beseeninthecentreoftherighthandgable.Itstwintothelefthasbeenbrickedup.The
nextgroup,108-120 Granby Street,ismuchplainerandhasbeensubjecttosome
alterations,notablythelossoforiginalwindowsat11�,118and1�0,someratherover-
largeshopfasciasandthepaintingofafaçadeattherighthandend.However,theirfourth
floorhippeddormers,segmentalwindowarchesanddecorativebrickeavescorniceadd
interestingshapesandrhythmstothispartoftheconservationarea.
�.�1 ThelasttwobuildingsonthissideofGranbyStreetareofparticularnote.The
fourstoreysof122-124 Granby Street isaninterestingexampleoftheArtsandCrafts
Number 97 Granby Street dates from the last quarter of the 19th century.
Detail of 151 Granby Street showing the original decorative sign above the first floor windows. The building is designed in the Arts and Crafts style and dates from the 1900s.
�6
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
styleoftheturnofthe�0thcenturyandisincludedonthe
locallistofbuildingsofarchitecturalorhistoricinterest.Itisbuilt
inpaleredbrickswithbuffcolouredtilescladdingthegently
curvingfacadethatcontainsthefirst,secondandthirdfloor
windows.Thelowerpartofthemansardroofsweepsdown
fromtwogableddormerstoformdeeplyoverhangingeaves.
Themouldedleadrainwaterpipesandhopper-headsare
original.Theunfortunategapsiteonitssouthsideisthecon-
sequenceofafirein1977whichresultedinthelossofthelast
remaining‘stephouses’of1861(so-calledbecausetheyhad
stepsleadingtothefrontdoors).Thelastbuildingonthisside
is128-132 Granby Street,aGradeIIlistedbuilding,whichwasbuiltas
ahighclassfurniturestoreinthe19�0stothedesignsofSymington,Prince
andPike.ItisintheArtDecostyleinPortlandstonewithgreenglazedroof
tiles,bronzeplaquesanddecorativeironwork.Thefaçadeissymmetrical
aboutthecurvedcornerwithwindowsgroupedinblocksseparatedby
fourgiantpilasterswithdark-colouredcapitalfeatures.Takentogetherwith
theYMCAoppositeand1��-1��GranbyStreet,thesebuildingsforman
importantgroupframingthemainentrancetothecitycentrefromthe
south.
Area�(GranbyStreetSouth),Westside
�.�� ThewestsideofGranbyStreethasexperiencedthemostchange
inthe�0thcentury.Itbuildingsaregenerallylarger(fourstoreysormore)
andoccupywiderplots.Theskylineismorevariedandthereis,from
ChathamStreetsouthward,lessuseofornament.Thereisalsoconsider-
ablymoreverticalrhythmtothestreetfaçadethanthatoftheeastside.
�.�� Theplotsfrom83-85 Granby Streetadjointhelargeornate
GrandHotelanddatefromthelate19thcentury.Thefaçadeofthethree
storeybuildingat8�GranbyStreetistimberwithlargewindowsacrossthe
upperfloors.Thewindowmullionsandtransomsarefinelymouldedwithfieldedpanels
andcarvedJacobean-stylepilastersateachend.Atriangularpedimentwith
acentralroundwindowfacesthestreetandcontinuesthethemeofgables
anddormerssetbyitsneighbour,theGrandHotel.Thethemeistakenup
againat85 Granby Street,anotherredbrickbuildingwithstoneusedto
pickoutthecentrallyplacedwindowsanddormer.Decorationisre-
strained,withsquarestonepilasters,mouldedstonestringcourses,carved
rectangularstonecartouchesbetweenthewindowsandapedimented
stonegablerisingabovethedormer.Brickandstonewrapsharplyround
theChathamStreetcorner,leadingtheeyearoundtoafaçadethatechoes
thatofthefrontelevation.
�.�� Thenextblockisoccupiedbyalarge19�0sfiveplusattic
storeyedbuilding,91 Granby Street.Itpresentsamarkedcontrasttoits
YMCA, detail of winged figures at first floor level.
179 Granby Street, (part of YMCA). East Street corner of building showing entrance detail in green glazed tiles.
A detail of the moulded terracotta bird shapes and decorative ironwork to 31 Granby Street.
�7
neighbours,notonlyinitsscaleandmassingbutalsoinitsuseofmaterials
anditisanimportantpieceof‘punctuation’inthestreet.Thefacades,
splayedatthecornersoneachside,havelargeareasofpalebuffbricks,
brokenatsecondandthirdfloorlevelbytallwindowopeningswithstone
surrounds.Themezzaninefloorispickedoutinstoneworkandgreen
slateisusedtocladtheshopfrontatfascialevel.Thebuildingpresents
symmetricalfacadestoGranbyStreet,ChathamStreetandYorkStreet
withmouldedlintelsabove,andrailingsacrossthebaseof,thetallwindow
openings.Thesearebalancedbysquareanddormerwindowsinthetop
twofloors,thedormersprojectingthroughthegreentiledroofbehindthe
parapet.
�.�5 Thethreebuildingsat97-107 Granby Streetareaninteresting
mixof19thand�0thcenturybuildingtypes.Thefirst,97GranbyStreet,is
asmallVictorianfactorybuildingfromthelastquarterofthe19thcentury.
Itsbuildershaveusedsimplearchitecturaldetailstoemphasiseitspresence
inthestreetsuchrusticatedstonequoinsateachendandoneithersideof
thecurvedcornertoYorkStreet.Twoplainstonebandsrunhorizontally
acrossthefaçadesandthewindowopeningshavesegmentalgaugedbrick
archesaboveandround-edgedbricksoneitherside.Decorativeelon-
gatedstonekeyblockshavebeenaddedabovethesecondfloorwindows,
linkinguptoaprojectingeavescornicedecoratedwithpaleyellow/white
dog-toothbricks,claytilesandpairedmouldedstonebrackets.The
adjoiningpropertyprobablydatesfromthemiddleofthe19thcentury.
Itwouldhavebeenashopwithlivingaccommodationintheuppertwo
storeys,andisthereforebuilttoadomesticscalewithlowerfloorheights
andsmallerwindowsthanitsneighbourtothenorth.Feworiginalbuilding
featuresremain,otherthantherighthandsashwindows.
�.�6 ThesouthendofthisshortblockisthelargewhitebulkoftheformerMaples
furniturestoreat107 Granby Street.Builtinthe1950sithasadeepcanopyover
theentrance,fivefloorscladinPortlandstoneslabsandaverylargecentralrecessfacing
GranbyStreetthatcontainsthemetalframeworkofthefirsttothirdfloorwindows,each
ofwhichareseparatedbysixprojectingmetal‘fins’.Abovethisareeightshorthorizontal
flagpolesandtheshadowsleftbythebronzelettersspellingoutthe‘Maples’nameand
remindingpassers-byofthebuilding’shistory.Abovethisareaprojectingcorniceandthe
topfloorwindowsliningthroughwiththosebelow.Aboveanothershallowcornicethere
isalowparapethidingtheflatroof.
�.�7 Numbers109and111GranbyStreetaresmalltwostoreyVictorianbuildings
thathavebeensubstantiallyalteredandareoflittlearchitecturalmerit.Theadjoiningoffice
andshopbuildingat115-121 Granby Streettowersoverthemandisanotherexample
ofGranbyStreet’s19�0sarchitecture.Portlandstoneisusedagainasafacingmaterialand
thegroupofsixlongthinwindowslightingthefirstandsecondfloorsintroducestrong
verticalrhythmsintoanotherwiseundecoratedfaçade.TakentogetherwiththeMaples
One of the two replacement “Turkeys” produced by Hathernware Ceramics of Lougborough for the 1984 restoration of the Turkey Café.
Window detail showing the flowing forms and fine coloured glass at the former bank premises, 31 Granby Street,
�8
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
shopandnumber91,thissideofGranbyStreetdisplaysacompletely
differentarchitecturalcharacterfromtheeastside,andonethatismore
firmlyrootedinthe�0th,ratherthanthe19thcentury.
�.�8 Thelastremaining19thcenturybuildinginthe109-1�1Granby
StreetblockistheformerTemperanceHotelat123 Granby Street.
Builtin185�,thefaçadewassymmetricalaboutatallrecessedcentral
featurewitharoundarchandrusticatedlong-and-shortstonework
framingtheoutside.Thefirstfloorwindowhadasmallcurvedbalcony
thatactedasacanopyoverthemainentrance.Onlytheupper(round
arch)partisnowvisible,thefirstfloorwindowswiththeirtriangularand
segmentalpedimentshavinglongbeenreplacedbyafullwidthwindow
atfirstfloorlevelandalargeshopfrontatgroundfloor.Therusticated
quoinscanstillbeseenupeachsideofthefaçade.Theofficebuildings
at1�7-1�1GranbyStreetwerebuiltinthe1960sandintroducefurther
stronghorizontalrhythmsintothetownscapethatareatoddswiththe
surroundings.TheblankfaçadeoftheDoverStreetelevationof1�1
GranbyStreetloomsovernearbybuildings.
�.�9 Neitherthename,theBarley Mow (149 Granby Street),
northepresentappearanceofthebuilding,datefromtheestablishment
ofthisuseonthissite.Inthe1850sitwastheNag’sHeadanditsthree
storeys,aswascommononGranbyStreetatthattime,hadamore
domesticscaleandappearance.By1886ithadbecomeTheBarleyMow
butthepresentfaçadesprobablydatefromthefirstquarterofthe�0th
century–asortofneo-classicalstylewithastuccoedandpaintedfinish
withlongquoinsdownthecorners,mouldedwindowsurroundsandtwo
eye-catchingmoulded,paintedandgildednameplaquestothefrontand
sideelevations.FromtheBarleyMow,thebuildingsstepupinheightto
thetallthreestoreysof151-159GranbyStreet.Unicoat House,151
Granby Street,isanearly�0thcenturybuildinginanArtsandCrafts
styleinredbrickwithitsoriginaltall,narrowsashwindowsatsecondfloor
levelandafinelyletterednamesigninglassoverthefirstfloorwindows.
Thebuildingisdecoratedwithstonebands,squarepilasters,amoulded
stonesillbelowthesecondfloorwindowsanddecorativecartouchesin
placeofcapitalsonthepilastersatfirstfloorlevel.Theoriginalshopfront
fasciabracketsanddecorationremaininsitubutthemodernshopfascia
belowisoverlydeepandoutofscale.Onasimilarscaleandwithafull
widthfirstfloorwindow153 Granby Streetretainsitsoriginalsplayed
shopfrontandiscrownedbyatallgentlycurvedparapet.
�.50 TheVictorianGothicstyleFoxandTigerpublichousenextdoorat157-159
Granby Streetaddsmoreinteresttothisblock.Atfirstfloorlevelthereisacentral
windowwithtwosplayedbaywindowswithhippedroofsoneitherside,eachdecorated
withpilasterswithfoliatecapitals,shoulderedarcheswithdentilmouldingsandmock
bracketssupportingtheeavescoursesor,inthecaseofthecentralwindow,acornice.
Thesecondfloorwindowsarelesselaboratebutaremadeafeatureofthefaçadeby
One of the two moulded and painted signs to the Barley Mow Public House at 149 Granby Street.
Green glazed tiles, Portland stonework, bronze panels and steel window frames are used to great effect at 128 - 132 Granby Street.
�9
beingplacedinrecessedopeningsandby
theuseofsegmentalandroundarches
withprojectinglintelssupportedbymock
brackets.Theratherboldcolourscheme
chosenbythecurrentoccupierspicksout
theoutlinesofthewindowmouldingsand
thequoinsonthecornersofthebuilding.A
mouldedeavescoursewithsmallbrackets
completesthedecoration.
�.51 Thelastbuildinginthecon-
servationareaistheGradeIIlistedlate
(1898-1901)VictorianBaroqueYMCA
thatoccupiestheplot1-7 East Street
& 161-179 Granby Street.Thisvery
largebrickandKettonstonebuildingisa
keylandmarkattheentrancetoGranbyStreetand,withtheArt
Decobuildingopposite,createsanimpressivegatewayintothe
citycentreproper.Withpurpose-builtshopsonthegroundfloor
thebuildinghastwoquitedifferentfacades.TheGranbyStreet
elevation,asthemostimportant,isonasomewhatmonumental
scale,havingafirstfloorcladinstoneandninegiantstonecolumns
dividingthefacadeintobays.Therearegables,balustrades,
dormers,ornamentalchimneystacks,steeplypitchedstoneslate
roofs,keystonesandsculpturesrepresenting,amongotherthings,
Architecture,Sculptureand,possibly,theContinents.Thebuilding
curvesroundintoEastStreetandthecornerisdecoratedwith
morecolumns,ashell-likefeatureoverthedoorandtheoriginal
darkgreenglazedtilestotheshopfront.TheEastStreetfaçadehas
lessdecorationbutneverthelesscontainstwolargegroundfloor
windowswithdecorativetransoms,twoorielwindowsabove
andmatchingdormersatrooflevel.Unfortunately,theoriginal
windowshaveallbeenreplacedinplastic.
Buildingmaterialsandthepublicrealm
Building materials
�.5� TheGranbyStreetConservationAreadisplaysawidevarietyofbuildingmaterials
butthemostcommonarebrickandstone.Redandorange-redbrickspredominatebut
thereareseveralbuildings(somequitelargesuchas91GranbyStreet)inpaleyellow,buff
or‘white’bricksandoneinamoderndarkred-brownbrick.Limestoneisgenerallythe
materialusedfordecorationonbrickbuildings,althoughadistinctiveredsandstoneisused
onthecornerofHalfordStreetandGallowtreeGate.Thenextmostcommonmaterialis
Portlandstone,thematerialofchoiceinthe19�0sand19�0s.Otherfacingmaterialsare
marble,polishedgranite,slate,renderandstucco,concrete,glazedtiles(TurkeyCafé)and
Part of the former General Newsroom designed by Joseph Goddard and dating from 1898. This replaced William flint’s building of 1838, (see page 28).
Detail of the stone cupola to the Ramada Jarvis Grand Hotel.
�0
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
oneexampleofexternalmetalcladding.Roofs,wherevisible,aregenerallycladinWelsh
slate,butthereareafewexamplesofredclaytiles78-8�GranbyStreet),stoneslatesand
glazedclaytiles.Wheremodernshopfrontshavebeeninstalledtheyaregenerallymade
ofcolour-coatedaluminium.
�.5� Othermaterialscanalsobeseenbuttendtobeusedfordecoration.These
includecolouredglassinleadedwindows(HSBCbuildingonthecornerwithBishop
Street,�-6HalfordStreet),castironrailings(HSBC)andappliedmetalwork(�8,��-��,
5�,8�-86,91,97,107,119and1�8-1��GranbyStreet,�HalfordStreet),leadsheet
(1�-17GranbyStreet)andmouldedclaytiles(97GranbyStreet).Mostwindowsare
constructedintimber,althoughplasticcanbefoundonseveralbuildings.Timberisused
inshopfrontsandalsofordecoration,asat76-8�GranbyStreet(bargeboards,mock
half-timbering).Largeareasofplainglazingoccurgenerallyinmodernbuildingssuchas91
and1�7-1�1GranbyStreet.
The public realm
�.5� TheGranbyStreetConservationAreaislocatedinsidethecity’scentralringroad
andisanimportanttrafficarteryfeedingbuses,deliveryvehiclesandcarsintothecentral
shoppingandofficezones.GranbyStreetthereforehaslargenumbersoftrafficcontrol
anddirectionsigns,aswellastelecomandtrafficsignalcontrolboxes,CCTVcamera
polesandmobilephonemasts,allofwhichcontributetoaratherclutteredappearance,
particularlyattheRutlandStreet/BelvoirStreetjunction.GranbyStreetwasmadeoneway
northwardsinthe1980sandthesouthpartwasredesignedandresurfacedtoincorporate
parkingbaysseparatedbypavementextensions.Theroadsurfaceisblacktarmacwithred
granitechippingssouthofRutlandStreetandgreygranitetothenorth.Agreencyclelane
wasinstalledinGranbyStreetNorthin�005.Streetlightingismountedonbuildings.
�.55 Therestofthepublicrealmconsistsofawidevarietyofmaterialsandcolours,
givingpartsofthearea,notablythemainroadjunctions,anunsightlyanduncoordinated
appearancethatdoesnotenhancetheconservationarea.Thereareyellowandgrey
concretepavingslabs,redgraniteandgreyconcreteandclaykerbs,grey,redandyellow
blockpaversaswellasredandgrey’blister’pavingunits.Pavementsarecracked,broken
orstainedinmanyplaces,furtherimpoverishingthevisualenvironment.
Greenery and green spaces
�.56 Oneofthebenefitsofthe1980strafficmanagementschemeonGranbyStreet
wastheplantingofeightlimetreesinthepavementextensionsalongtheeastsideofthe
road.Whilstthetreeswillnotgrowtoforestsize,theyneverthelesshavepositiveamenity
valueinthestreetscene.However,thisenvironmentisstressfulandthishasaffectedthe
trees’vigourandtheyareshowingsymptomsofstresssuchaslowgrowthrateandsome
scaleinsectinfestation.
�1
Negative factors
�.57 Thereisonlyonesitewhosenegativeeffectontheconservationissufficientto
detractseriouslyfromthecharacterandappearanceoftheconservationarea:
• thevacantsitebetween1��and1�8GranbyStreet.
‘Gapsites’createunsightlybreaksinotherwisecompletelybuilt-upstreetscenes.Inthe
caseofGranbyStreet,thegapatthesouthendhasexistedfornearly�0yearsandhas
neverbeenthesubjectofaplanningapplicationforinfilldevelopment.Thisisanunsatisfac-
toryposition,particularlyinviewofthearchitecturalvalueofthebuildingsoneitherside.
�.58 ElsewhereonGranbyStreetthereareotherissuesthatareofsomeconcern:
• theconditionandappearanceofthepublicrealm;
• themodernshopfrontsthathaveoverly-deepfasciasorwhoseproportionsor
designotherwisedonotcomplementthebuildingsofwhichtheyformapart
(��-�6,5�-58,80-8�,106-1��,8�,87,151GranbyStreet);
• theuseofplastictoreplaceoriginaltimberandsteelwindows;
• thevisibleevidenceofstructural/drainageproblemsorpoorbuildingmaintenance
(5�-56,96,109-111GranbyStreet);
• therefacingorpaintingoffacades(suchas10-1�,50,5,90,10�-�and1�0
GranbyStreet);
• vacantupperfloorsgenerally;
�.59 Mostofthesecanberesolvedsatisfactorilyduringimprovement,alterationor
otherrefurbishmentworks,thedetailsofwhichwouldbesubjecttothecompliancewith
conservationareapoliciesintheLocalPlan.Theuseofplasticreplacementwindows
requiresplanningpermissionbutmanymayhavebeeninstalledwithoutpermission.
However,notallwould,orcould,justifyactionbeingtakentorestorethewindowsto
theiroriginalappearanceandactioncannotbetakenifthereplacementwindowshave
beeninplaceformorethanfouryears.
General condition of the area and buildings
�.60 Theexternalconditionoftheareaanditsbuildingsisgenerallygood,although
somebuildingsrequireworkssuchastimberrepairsorrepainting,particularlyfromfirst
floorlevelupwards.Thisgoodconditionisprobablyduetothecontinuedimportanceof
thestreetinthecitycentreshoppingandleisurehierarchyaswellasitslowvacancylevels.
Theunsatisfactoryappearanceofpavements,theunco-ordinatedsurfacetreatmentsand
theclutteredsignagehavealreadybeennotedinparagraph�.55above.
Problems
�.61 Therearefewproblemsintheconservationareabut,ofthese,theoneinmost
needofresolutionisthegapsiteadjoining1��GranbyStreet.Originallyoccupiedbya
��
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
threestoreyshopandhouse,thissitehaslongrequiredredevelopment.Manyshop-
fronts,fasciaadvertisementsandfacadesarealsoinneedofimprovement.
�.6� Elsewhere,theuncoordinatedappearanceofthepublicrealmisanissuethat
needstoberesolved.Co-ordinatedstreetfurnitureandwell-laidattractivesurfaceswould
makeasubstantialdifferencetothetownscape.
Pressures
�.6� Ashasbeennotedinpara.�.16aboveGranbyStreetispartoftheOffice
QuarterandclosetotheCulturalQuarter.Futureredevelopmentandregenerationcould
increasesubstantiallythenumberofpeopleliving,workingandvisitingtheGranbyStreet
area.AstheseareasdevelopGranbyStreetcouldcomeunderpressureforchange,such
asredevelopment,ormorebars,restaurants,offices,residentialusesetc.
Capacity for change
�.6� Conservationareastatusdoesnotprecludechange.Redevelopmentorother
physicalalterationstotheenvironmentaretobeexpectedovertimeinanurbanenviron-
ment.However,itisaprerequisitethatanyproposalsthatwillresultinchangemust
preserveorenhancethecharacterorappearanceoftheconservationarea.Designsneed,
therefore,totakeaccountoftheexistingcharacterofthearea,itsarchitecture,scaleand
massing,itsbuildingmaterialsandproportions.PoliciesintheLocalPlanaredesignedto
ensurethatsuchaccountistaken.
�.65 IntheGranbyStreetConservationAreathereisonevacantsitewithinthe
conservationarea,theappropriateredevelopmentofwhichneedstobeencouraged.A
muchlargersite,thecarparkbehind1�7-1�1GranbyStreet,isalsoapotentialredevel-
opmentareawhichcould,eitherdirectlyorindirectly,affecttheconservationarea.Inthe
caseofthepoorshopfrontsandsignagementionedabove,conservationareastatuswould
providethejustificationforseekingbetterdesignsthatwouldbemoreinkeepingwiththe
scaleandproportionsofthebuildingstowhichtheyrelate.
�.66 Theappraisalhasalreadynotedthepoorappearanceofthepublicrealmandits
needforimprovement.Worksarecurrentlyunderwaytoimprovetheshoppingstreets
aroundtheShires(now,HighcrossQuarter)shoppingcentre,theLanesandGallowtree
Gate.SimilarimprovementswillbemadetoGranbyStreetintheshorttomediumterm
(Appendix�refers).
5.0 Community involvement
5.1 ThedraftCharacterAppraisalwasmadeavailableontheCouncil’swebsite,in
theCustomerServicesCentreattheCouncilofficesinNewWalkCentreandinthe
CentralReferenceLibraryonBishopStreet.Officerssetupanexhibitionfortwoweeks
inacentrallocation,publicisedbyaPressReleaseandsentletterstoalloccupiersinthe
conservationarea(andagents/owners/otherinterestedpartieswheretheywereknown).
AllviewsexpressedduringtheconsultationperiodwerereportedtoCabinetwhenthe
��
AppraisalwasconsideredforadoptionassupplementaryguidancetotheLocalPlan.The
reportincludeddetailsofhowtheviewsexpressedbypeopleinwriting,byphoneor
attheexhibitionhadbeentakenintoaccountinthepreparationoftheAppraisalandits
ManagementandEnhancementproposals.
6.0 Conservation Area boundary
6.1 Theconservationareaboundarywasfirstdefinedtoincludeonlythosebuildings
frontingontoGranbyStreetthatwerenotalreadywithinaconservationarea.Buildingson
sidestreetswereincludediftheyhadatleastoneelevationtoGranbyStreet,whilethe
buildingknownas�HalfordStreetwasincludedbecauseofitsarchitecturalcharacterand
proximityto1-�HalfordStreet.Themodernblockat1�-17GranbyStreetwasexcluded
becauseofitspositionbetweenthetwobanksat1-11GranbyStreetand�1Bishop
Street,bothofwhichareintheTownHallSquareConservationArea.
6.� However,themainfacadesofthetwobanksfrontontoGranbyStreetandthey
arealsoimportantlandmarksinthearea.Theshopsatnumbers�5-51(recentlyincluded
intheTownHallSquareConservationArea)alsohavetheirmainfacadesontoGranby
Street.Inviewofthis,itwouldbelogicaltoincludethem.Theboundaryhastherefore
beenamended.Themodernblockat1�-17GranbyStreetmakeslittlecontributionto
thearchitecturalcharacteroftheconservationareabuthasbeenincludedinviewofits
positionbetween1-11and�1GranbyStreet.
7.0 Management and enhancement proposals
7.1 Conservationareasarecomplicatedplacesthatderivetheirspecialcharacterfrom
theinteractionofmanydifferentelements.Theyarethereforevulnerableandsensitive
tochange,particularlyifthatchangeistheresultoftheaccumulationofaseriesofsmall
changesthat,takenindividually,makelittleimpact.However,theintentofconservation
areadesignationisnottopreventchangeandtheCouncilrecognisesthatsuchareasneed
toadaptandevolvetomeetchangingneedsanddemands.Bydeclaringconservation
areastheCouncilindicatesthatthesearetheparticularpartsofitsareathatareimportant
heritageassetsandthatitintendstomanagechangeintheseareascarefullysothatallnew
developmentsandalterationscancontributepositivelytotheircharacterandappearance.
TheapplicationoftheLocalPlanpoliciesonlistedbuildingsandconservationareasare
thereforetheprimarymanagementtools.
7.� Withinconservationareasthereisalsoageneralpresumptionagainstthe
demolitionofbuildingsthatmakepositivecontributionstothecharacterorappearanceof
theirareas.IntheGranbyStreetConservationAreatheseincludethesignificantnumber
ofunlistedbuildingsoflocalarchitecturalorhistoricinterest,aswellasothersthatareof
townscapeimportance(Map 6).
7.� Proposalsforthemanagementandenhancementoftheconservationareaare
setoutinAppendix�,andincludeimportantchangestothepublicrealmaspartofthe
Council’son-goingPublicRealmStrategyfortheCityCentre.
��
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
8.0 Acknowledgements, contacts and appendices
8.1 TheCouncilwouldliketothankallthepeoplewhocontributedtothewritingof
thisreport,includingmembersofthepublicwhovisitedtheexhibitioninOctober�006
andsubmittedtheircomments.
8.� Ifyouwouldlikefurtherinformationonthis,oranyotherconservationareayou
cancontacttheCouncilasfollows:
• ConservationTeam,PlanningPolicy&Design,RegenerationandCulture,
LeicesterCityCouncil,NewWalkCentre,WelfordPlace,Leicester,LE16ZG
• OnLeicester(0116)�5�7�17
• ByFaxLeicester(0116)��711�9
• OntheCouncil’swebsiteatwww.leicester.gov.uk/conservation areasand
searchunder‘ConservationAreas’
�5
Appendix 1: List of buildings in the conservation area
BelvoirStreet Nos.1,�,�-1�(even)
BishopStreet No.�
ChathamStreet Nos.1,5
EastStreet Nos.1,�,7
GallowtreeGate No.56
GranbyStreet Nos.1-17(odds).�1,�5-55(odd),61-85(odd),91,97-107
(odd),109-1�1(odd),1�9-179(odd),�-�0 (even),Hepworth
Chambers,��-66(even),HallatrearofCharlesStreetBaptistChurch,68-100(even),
10�-1��(even),1�8-1��(even)
HorsefairStreet No.�-�
HalfordStreet Nos.1,�,�,�-6(even)
RutlandStreet Nos.�-7(odd),�-�(even)
YorkStreet No.1
Appendix 2: List of listed buildings in the conservation area
BelvoirStreet 1,(TheNewsRoom)
EastStreet Nos.1-7(odd)(YMCA)
GranbyStreet Nos.1-11,�1,55-59 (formerNewsRoom),61-79 (Grand
Hotel),161-179(YMCA)
��,�8-�0,1�8-1��(BluntsShoes)
HorsefairStreet �
�6
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
Appendix 3: Management and enhancement proposals
Location Enhancement ProposalConservationareagenerally 1.NationallegislationandLocalPlanpolicies–theCityCouncilwillmakeuseofthepowers
affordeditbynationallegislationtoencourageappropriateformsofdevelopmentandwill
applythepoliciessetoutinitsLocalPlantoencouragegooddesignintheconservation
area.Therewillbeageneralpresumptionagainstdemolitionofbuildingsintheconservation
areaandarequirementthatanydevelopmentshouldpreserveorenhancethecharacter
orappearanceoftheconservationarea.
Delivery:On-going
�.Undertakeacomprehensivephotographicsurveytoestablishbaselinedataforassessing
andmonitoringchange
Delivery:Shortterm
GranbyStreet 1.Encourageasympatheticpermanentdevelopmentforthevacantsiteadjoining1��
GranbyStreet
Delivery:On-going
�.Identifybuildingswhereimprovementstoshopfrontsorotherfeaturescouldbemade
torestoretheappearance,designandproportionsoftheelevations.
Delivery:Shortterm
�.Seekgrantfundsfortheimprovementofshopfrontsandotherarchitecturalfeatures
Delivery:Mediumterm
�.Undertakeimprovementstothepublicrealm,includingsurfaces,lighting,streetfurniture
andcoordinatedsignage(trafficandother)
Delivery:
GranbyStreetNorth�008
GranbyStreetSouthmediumterm
�7
Appendix 4: Relevant policy documents
Subject Policy No. DetailsThePlanStrategy PS01 a) the creation of an improved city
centre….b) conservation and enhancement of theCity’sbuildings…..
SpecialPolicyAreas
RetailingwithintheCentralShoppingCore SPA01 Enhancementof thephysicalenvironment,accessibility,
RetailingwithintheCentralShoppingCore SPA0� Offices for f inancial and professionalservices
RetailingwithintheCentralShoppingCore SPA0� FoodandDrinkuses
BuiltEnvironment
Archaeology BE01 Preservation of the City’s ArchaeologicalHeritage
BE0�-05 ListedBuildings
BE06-07 ConservationAreas
BE08 BuildingsofLocalInterest
BE10-1� Shopfronts,SecurityandAdvertisements
BE�� OutsideLighting
BE�1 Noise
BE�� TelecommunicationsEquipment
Otherpolicies
SupplementaryPlanningGuidance Officecore(�00�) AreaStrategyGuidancefortheOfficeCoreadjoiningtherailwaystation
SupplementaryPlanningGuidance A�ClassusesintheCityCentre(�00�) PoliciesforacceptabledensitiesofFoodandDrinkusesintheCentralShoppingCore
�8
GRANBY STREET CONSERVATION AREA: character appraisal
Appendix 5: Glossary of architectural terms
baluster uprightsupportforabalconyorrailing
balustrade aseriesofshortpostsorpillarssupportingarail
bargeboard projectingboardplacedagainsttheoutsideinclineoftheroofofabuilding,oftenuseddecoratively
bracket asmallpieceofstoneorothermaterialsupportingaweightegeavesbracket[consoleorscrollbracket–inthe
form ofascroll]
bull’s-eyewindow ellipticalwindow,usuallywithfourkeystones
canted havingsplayedsides
capital theheadorcrowningfeatureofacolumn
cartouche acarvedelementresemblingpaperorparchmentwithrolledendsorcorners,usuallycontainingcarved
decorationsornames
cornice horizontalprojectingsectionatthetopofabuildingorwall
cupola adomeonaturretorroof
dentil asmallsquareshapedblock,usuallyoneofaseries,creatingatooth-likedpattern
fieldedpanel timberpanelwithaflatraisedcentralpartthatisthickerthantheedges
finial aformalornamentattheapexofagableorspire
foliate carvedtoresembleleaves
frieze adecoratedbandalongtheupperpartofawal
gaugedbrick fine,precisebrickworkusedforarches
half-timbering theexternalvisibletimbersofatimber-framedbuilding(ormockhalf-timberingwheretimbersareapplied
externallytocreatetheimpressionofhalf-timbering)
hoodmould aprojectingmouldingoveradoororwindowdesignedtothrowrainoffthefaceofthebuilding
keystone thecentralwedge-shapedstoneatthetopofanarchthatlocksthearchinplace
lancet aslenderpointedarchwindow
lantern asmallturretwithopeningscrowningarooforadome
lintel ahorizontalbeambridginganopening
mansard adouble-slopedroof,thelowerpartbeingmoresteeplypitchedthantheupper
mullion theverticalpostbetweenthepanesofawindow
oriel acurvedbaywindowprojectingoutfromanupperfloor
parapet alowwallalongtheedgeofaroof
pediment alowpitchedgableshapeoveradoororwindow
pilaster ashallowcolumnattachedto,andslightlyprojectingfrom,awall
quoin dressedstoneslaiduptheexternalcornersofbuildings,usuallyinalternatinglargeandsmallblocks
relievingarch anarchbuiltaboveanopeningtoredistributetheweightofthewallabove
rusticated ofacolumn–squareblockswhichinterrupttheshaftatregularintervals
ofawall–chamferededgemasonryblockslaidwithverydeepjoints
segmentalarch averyshallowarch[ofabaywindow–averyshallowcurvedbay]
shoulderedarch adecorativeframetoawindowordoorwheretheverticalmembercurvesjustbelowthetopandthenreturns
totheverticaltomeetthelintel
stringcourse acontinuousdecorativehorizontalbandprojectingfromawallandusuallymoulded
stucco acement-typerenderusedforfacingexternalwalls
tile-hanging acoveringofoverlappingrowsoftilesonaverticalsurface
transom thehorizontaldividersbetweenwindowpanes