Physical Influences

Geology

7.9.1               The geology comprises foundered layers from the lower and middle Jurassic period. They comprise river terrace gravels and alluvium as well as Lias Clay.

Landform and Drainage Pattern

7.9.2               The landform is mostly flat with a gentle north west facing slope that rises from Sydney Gardens to the canal.

7.9.3               The area is bounded on its western edge by the River Avon and on its eastern edge by the Kennet and Avon Canal. No other visible watercourses remain in the area.

Land Use and Buildings

Land Use

7.9.4               The area is largely residential. Pulteney Bridge and Argyle Street are important shopping and commercial areas adjoining the eastern edge of the city centre. Open space (Sydney Gardens and Henrietta Park) is also an important land use in this area.

Building form age and heights

7.9.5               Terraces are the principal building form in the area and vary from late C18 two storey to early and mid C19 three storey, including both stepped and straight terrace forms. There are further areas of semi-detached houses and a group of mid to late C19 houses. A series of early C19 villas flank the west side of Henrietta Road.

7.9.6               An enclave of early C20 short two storey terraces encircle Powlett Road and Rockcliffe Avenue while Forester Road's three storey late C19 detached houses look over the one and two storey houses opposite.

Materials and Architectural Details

7.9.7               Most of the area's buildings are built of natural Bath stone ashlar with natural slate roofs. Powlett Road and Rockcliffe Avenue have clay or concrete tile roofs and feature some red brick houses.

7.9.8               The fire station on Bathwick Street is a example of a functional building that has been thoughtfully designed on account of its sensitive location opposite St John the Baptist’s Church.

7.9.9               There is a disciplined regularity of unaltered gables and roof lines. 

Streets and Civic Spaces

Street Pattern

7.9.10             The set piece architecture of Great Pulteney Street channels views in two principal directions – westwards to the city, shops, Pulteney Bridge and Victoria Art Gallery and eastwards culminating in the view of the Holburne Museum of Art set against the magnificent trees of Sydney Gardens.   The major street pattern of this area has been determined by the set piece architecture – the relationship of Great Pulteney Street and Sydney Gardens. Older roads, Grove Street and St John’s Road align with the river. Henrietta Road and Henrietta Street are parallel with Grove Street.  The Bathwick estate is on a rough grid pattern contained by the river and older road structure. 

Density and Degree of Enclosure

7.9.11             The tremendous variety in building scale within this area influences the perception of density and enclosure. Great Pulteney Street appears as a continuous building, dense and high with built ‘stops’ at each end of the street and so creates a strong sense of enclosure.  Bathwick Street has greater variety in its built form with more gaps and some lower development. Views appear to Mount Beacon and other hillsides through these gaps and over the lower buildings which create a far less controlled and enclosed feeling. 

7.9.12             The Bathwick estate development is dense and generally enclosed, but where streets are directed towards hillsides it is more open. Clipped hedges to the fronts of small gardens on the Bathwick estate contribute to the sense of enclosure in many of the streets.

7.9.13             The tall dense tree cover within Henrietta Park and Sydney Gardens increases the sense of enclosure within adjacent streets. 

Materials and Boundary Treatment

7.9.14             In Henrietta Street the boundaries are stone walls and railings. They are overhung by many trees of a variety of species, many evergreens. In Great Pulteney Street, iron railings and the occasional overthrow border deep basement areas fronting the buildings.

7.9.15             In Powlett Road the well managed hedges give the area a distinct character, softening the street scene.

Vitality and Tranquillity

7.9.16             This varies throughout the area.  The narrowness of Grove Street restricts parking and there is so little traffic the street feels tranquil.  However parked cars often dominate the street scene such as in Henrietta and Bathwick Streets as well as throughout the Bathwick estate. There is car parking in Great Pulteney Street too but here the great width of the road carries it better and it does not dominate.

7.9.17             The route of the railway through Sydney Gardens results in considerable noise at regular intervals.

7.9.18             The A36 runs alongside Sydney Gardens and is always busy but most other streets are quieter. Great Pulteney Street and Pulteney Bridge are major bus and pedestrian routes linking the area to the town centre.

Influence of Vegetation and Open Space

Trees and Shrubs

7.9.19             Massive mature trees dominate Sydney Gardens and provide an impressive treed framework to the Holburne Museum of Art when viewed down Great Pulteney Street.   In Henrietta Park the stature of the large mature trees complement the adjoining tall terraces and large villas.

Open Space

7.9.20             Sydney Gardens is the major set piece of the area. Originally a late C18 subscription garden in the form of an elongated hexagon, the planned development around its perimeter was never completed.  Later the canal and railway were routed through the gardens.  Their alignments have been cleverly disguised and structures such as bridges and gates are attractive features.

7.9.21             The tranquil Henrietta Park is overlooked by early C19 villas and gives an oasis of calm adjoining the busy city centre. Originally intended to be a continuation of the late C18 and early C19 development of the Pulteney Estate, the land was given to the City in 1897 for the creation of the park.

Features, Landmarks and Views

7.9.22             The River Avon defines the west side of the area. The river is only seen in its full glory while passing under Pulteney Bridge and over the weir.  Elsewhere it is unceremoniously channelled between the backs of dense urban development on both banks and between private gardens.  There are a few glimpses between buildings towards the space occupied by the river but no direct views of it, except from Cleveland Bridge and Bathwick Boating Station. The open space on Grove Street is right next to the river but separated from it by a hedge.

7.9.23             The canal defines the east side of the area.  The canal and former tow path are now valued by boaters and walkers and there are opportunities to access it from this area where the tranquil relaxed atmosphere is a marked contrast to the adjacent streets.

7.9.24             The Church of St Mary’s, Bathwick is a landmark within the area, at a junction of roads.  The towers of St Michael’s Church, St Stephen’s Church, Lansdown and St Matthew’s, Widcombe, are landmarks seen from the area.

7.9.25             The notable landmarks within the area include Pulteney Bridge, Laura Place and Holburne Museum of Art.   More quietly located on the river edge is the Bathwick Boating Station, distinctive for its C19 ‘boathouse style’ architecture, and the early C19 Cleveland Baths whose design relates to the riverside setting and screened from the river by a row of horse chestnuts.

7.9.26             Some very special views have resulted from the planned architecture within this area: north east along Great Pulteney Street culminating at the Holburne Museum of Art framed by mature trees; the opposite view towards Pulteney Bridge, the Victoria Art Galley and adjacent C18 townscape and views along Bathwick Street culminating at trees within Sydney Gardens.

7.9.27             Views to surrounding hills are also an important characteristic of the area, north west along Bathwick Street the treed skyline of Mount Beacon and Camden terraces on the lower slopes dominate the view. There are fine views to the Bathampton Down treed skyline and Widcombe hillsides.  The consistent use of Bath stone in Camden unifies the buildings in the adjacent areas.

Cultural Influences

7.9.28             The mediaeval village of Bathwick and the developments of several generations of the Pulteney family have evolved to form the area's varied buildings and plan form.  The River Avon has been a focus for industrial activity in the past, but is now a tranquil predominantly well treed corridor popular for leisure activities.