Physical Influences
Geology
7.20.1
The plateau tops are formed from the Greater Oolitic Limestone. The
formations include Bath Oolite, Twinhoe Beds and Combe Down Oolite
which are the flat tops of Odd Down.
Landform and Drainage Pattern
7.20.2
The plateau is relatively flat and level. It is generally higher
than 160m above sea level.
7.20.3
The nature of Odd Down is a generally flat area of high ground with
porous limestone. This means there are no significant surface
watercourses. Springs however emerge on the lower slopes in the
neighbouring character areas.
Land Use and Buildings
Land Use
7.20.4
The area is primarily residential with houses mostly between Old
Fosse Road and the Wansdyke. More recently a housing estate has
also been built south of the Wansdyke. The area also includes St
Gregory’s, St Martin’s Garden Primary and Wansdyke Schools, St
Martin’s Hospital, other playing fields and a number of
smaller uses such as workshops, offices, shops and a petrol
station.
Building form
7.20.5
The commonest building form is short terraces and semi-detached
houses. Detached houses are rarer but are seen in Old Frome Road
and a few other parts.
Heights
7.20.6
Most of the dwellings are two storey with a small proportion of
bungalows such as in Upper Bloomfield Road. Taller three storey
buildings are rarer. They are generally limited to public and
institutional buildings such as St Martin’s Hospital and St
Gregory’s School.
Building Age
7.20.7
Houses dating from the mid C18 to late C19 are present along the
older roads such as Wellsway and Frome Road and would have been
built within open agricultural land. At this time there were also
several farmhouses as well as quarries with associated workers
houses and works buildings across the area.
7.20.8
One of the most significant buildings in the area is the hexagonal
arrangement of buildings at St Martin’s Hospital built in 1838 as
the Union Workhouse.
7.20.9
The bulk of the housing was built in the interwar and postwar
periods. More recently the Sulis Manor estate was built in the late
C20.
Materials and Architectural Details
7.20.10
The older buildings are mainly built of Bath stone with either
slate or clay tile roofs. Recent buildings are most frequently
reconstituted stone and concrete tiles.
Streets and Civic Spaces
Street Pattern
7.20.11
The area has a very strong pattern of routes that radiate from a
point near the south western corner of the area with crossing,
broadly concentric, routes. The detailed housing layouts are varied
but often follow a grid layout.
Density and Degree of Enclosure
7.20.12
The density of development is generally medium but areas of open
space, particularly in the vicinity of St Martin’s Garden Primary
School, give the general feeling of being lower. The area has an
open character because of generous street widths. Enclosure is
often provided by hedges, walls and trees.
Vitality and Tranquillity
7.20.13
The area contains a number of key roads such as Frome Road and the
Wellsway which are particularly busy at peak times. Away from these
routes the area is quite tranquil.
Materials and Boundary Treatment
7.20.14
The footways are usually tarmac and have concrete or occasionally
pennant stone kerbs. Grass verges are also characteristic in parts
of the area such as at Upper Bloomfield Road.
7.20.15
Boundary treatment varies across the area. Stone walls are found in
association with older buildings, for example at St Martin’s
Hospital. Hedges and concrete or reconstituted stone walls are a
particular feature of the C20 estates. The original post and wire
fences also survive in places and more rarely there are some low
wooden fence boundaries.
Influence of Vegetation and Open Space
Trees and shrubs
7.20.16
Trees and shrubs make an important contribution to the character of
the area. There are for example street trees along Upper Bloomfield
Road and Mendip Gardens. Elsewhere trees, shrubs and hedges in
front gardens provide year round interest and variety to complement
the buildings.
Open Space
7.20.17
There are some important areas of open space both within and just
outside the area. Some of these such as The Green and the
playground on the Fosse Way estate are set behind buildings and are
therefore not particularly visible.
Features, Landmarks and Views
7.20.18
The most important landmark is the distinctive hexagonal
development and chapel at St Martin’s Hospital.
7.20.19
From within the area generally views are contained by
development. However, there are splendid views to the north
of the city framed by the Cotswold hills and over beautiful rural
countryside to the south west. To the south, generally views
are contained by vegetation at the edge of the plateau but on clear
days very distant rural hills to the south are visible.
7.20.20
Trees in back gardens and in areas of open space such as around the
edges of playing fields, within school and the hospital grounds,
make a major contribution to views within the area.
Cultural Influences
Historic Uses
7.20.21
The area has signs of occupation far into prehistory. It is likely
to have been in continuous agricultural cultivation from then until
development in C20. The Fosse Way Roman road and then the early
Saxon Earthwork the Wansdyke both cross the area. The C19 workhouse
and its associated buildings are the most significant surviving
historic buildings
