7.2.3 Mercia Mudstones are the main geological
outcrop represented throughout the area although less widespread in
the north-eastern section east of Pensford. The Mercia Mudstones
consist of red siltstone and mudstone of the Triassic desert basins
resulting in the underlying characteristic of the gently rolling
valley landscape. Bands of Butcombe Sandstone of the Triassic
period occur as outcrops within the Mercia Mudstones. They
generally form minor ridges or shelves, as for example through
Nempnett Thrubwell towards Chew Stoke, that contribute to the
undulating character of the area.
7.2.4 Outcrops of Lias Limestone from the
Jurassic period occur to the west of Chew Valley Lake giving rise
to shelves of higher ground such as to the north and east of
Nempnett Thrubwell, east of Butcombe and around Breach Hill
Farm.
7.2.5 There are also more recent alluvial
deposits beside the course of the River Chew.
7.2.6 Most of the western part of the area and
around Stanton Drew have neutral to acid red loamy soils with
slowly permeable subsoils. They mainly occur on the Mercia
Mudstones. Soils to the eastern part of the area are slowly
permeable clayey and fine silty soils. They are found on
Carboniferous clay and shales typical of the Supra-Pennant
Measures. They are frequently waterlogged where the topography
dictates. They tend towards being acid and are brown to grey brown
in colour.
Major Planning Designations
7.2.7 Only a small part near the Chew Valley
Lake falls within the Mendips AONB. Most of the undeveloped area is
within the Bristol/Bath Green Belt.
Description
Landform and Drainage Pattern
7.2.8 The principal characteristic of the area
is the gently undulating landform of the broad Chew Valley. The
tributary valleys of the River Chew and, in the extreme south-west,
tributaries of the River Yeo dissect the landscape leaving
occasional hills. The old coal spoil heap at Pensford has modified
the local landform in a dramatic way.
Land-uses
7.2.9 The land is mainly under grass and
occasionally in places is used for cereals particularly eastwards
from Chew Valley Lake and south of Keynsham. Horticulture is rarer
and is found for example at Byemills Farm near Belluton. In the
past apple orchards were common around the settlements as was
typical throughout the area.
7.2.10 There are several historic parks that
include Stanton Drew, Hunstrete, Stowey House and Sutton Court.
Fields, Boundaries and Trees
7.2.11 The medium and small fields are
generally bounded by hedges and occasionally by tree belts and
woodland. The hedges are typically trimmed and mostly contain
trees. Mature oak and ash trees are characteristic of the area with
occasional groups of Scots Pine particularly around the Chew Valley
Lake. Many elm trees have been lost in this area and dead / dying
elms are evident across much of the area. The hedges generally
contain a diverse range of species.
7.2.12 The small fields in the western part of
the character area are particularly characteristic of the Chew
Valley and date back to the most evident period of enclosure of
earlier open fields which took place in the late medieval period.
Fields of this category are generally small in size, regular in
outline and often the boundaries preserve the outlines of the
earlier strip field system. Regional variations in field size and
pattern do occur. For example there is evidence of medieval
clearance of woodland on the slopes around Nempnett Thrubwell,
south of Bishop Sutton and west and south of Chelwood. The
resultant fields are irregular or organic in form; the smaller
fields being more typical of piecemeal clearance and the larger and
more regular fields characteristic of organised clearance.
7.2.13 Woodlands form an important component
of the landscape and are particularly evident on the hills and
slopes. There are many small woods giving the landscape a
well-wooded appearance. Towards the east of the area there are a
number of large woods such as at Lord’s Wood, Hunstrete Plantation
and Common Wood.
Settlement and Communications
7.2.14 The area is well served by a dense
network of mainly minor routes. The major routes are the north to
south A37 linking Bristol and Shepton Mallet via Pensford and the
west to east A368 linking Weston Super Mare and Bath. Numerous
footpaths criss-cross the area including the north-south aligned
Three Peaks Walk and the westeast aligned Two Rivers Way which
cross near Chew Magna.
7.2.15 Chew Stoke, Chew Magna and Pensford are
the main settlements. Each is located on the lower valley slopes at
the junction of several routes. There are also several moderate to
small villages such as Stanton Drew and Chelwood and a few
distinctive smaller groups of mainly more recent houses arranged
along a single road in elevated positions.
7.2.16 The traditional building material is
white Lias Limestone; sometimes incorporating red sandstone or
conglomerate, with red clay tiled roofs. Red Sandstone buildings
are characteristic of the villages north of Chew Valley Lake such
as Chew Magna. Many dwellings are also painted or rendered in
shades of white, grey and cream. Historically houses were also
built of Pennant Sandstone where it was locally available, such as
in the area of Stanton Wick.
7.2.17 Farm buildings and settlements are
generally nestled into the valley sides taking advantage of minor
depressions in the landscape. They are generally well integrated
into the landscape and are often nestled in amongst trees.
Landscape Characteristics
7.2.18 The landscape of the Chew Valley
is distinctive and generally harmonious. It results from the
balance of hedges, trees and woodland within the enclosed farmland
and from the ‘well-treed’ setting of the settlements which are
generally integrated well into the topography. This balance
reflects the historical evolution of the landscape.
7.2.19 The undulating nature of the landscape
gives rise to extensive views across the Chew and Yeo Valleys and
across the Chew Valley and Blagdon Lakes to the Mendips, Dundry
Hills and the plateau around Hinton Blewett. Well-wooded slopes
form prominent elements within the view. The tributary valleys by
contrast have a more intimate quality. They are enclosed by hedges,
trees and the valleys themselves.
7.2.20 Features within this landscape include
the Chew Valley and Blagdon Lakes bordering the area and at
Blackmoor the distinctive chimney marking the remains of an engine
house put up by Bristol Waterworks in 1859 to pump water from an
exploratory well.
7.2.21 The varied topography has given rise to
several notable sunken lanes sometimes bounded by high
hedgebanks.
7.2.22 The line of the now disused North
Somerset Railway runs south from Bristol crossing over the River
Chew on the surviving distinctive viaduct at Pensford and on to
Midsomer Norton. It is identifiable in the landscape from the scrub
along its course and its gently curved alignment that forms the
boundaries of fields.
7.2.23 The area around Pensford was an
important mining area and the old tip is a prominent legacy.
Patches of bracken within hedges and in fields of rough grazing are
characteristic of this area forming distinctive fresh green fronds
in spring and warm brown coloured dead leaves in autumn and
winter.
7.2.24 The area includes a number of visible
archaeological and historic features including the Stanton Drew
Stone Circles Scheduled Monument, the Stowey Castle earthworks and
Marksbury church tower. The mills of the River Chew, sometimes
dating back at least to Domesday, are also an important feature
whilst old quarries, limekilns and early field boundaries are now
only evident as undulations on the ground.
7.2.25 The landscape is generally very
tranquil with the silence broken only by occasional tractors, other
vehicles, aircraft and farm animals. There are however less
tranquil areas dictated by proximity to main routes and to local
activities and land-uses.
